Car Hire Cairns
Home to the iconic Great Barrier Reef, the lush Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and the rugged outback and Gulf Savannah, there really is no place in the world like Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns is a bustling cosmopolitan city with a fantastic restaurant and bar scene. Explore the iconic Cairns Esplanade, take a dip in the Esplanade Lagoon or enjoy a spot of shopping at some of the local boutiques. Head north to explore the Northern Beaches or point your compass south to Southern Cairns and explore the Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls and Behana Gorge. Or head out to the big blue to discover the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island, Fitzroy Island or the Frankland Islands.
Just north of Cairns is the stunning seaside village of Palm Cove, home to luxury hotels, innovative dining and beach family-fun. Continue further north to Port Douglas for barefoot luxury flanked with rainforest and reef. Eat and shop your way through the town, visit the stunning Four Mile Beach or venture a little further to the Low Isles or Mossman Gorge.
Take a step back in time and into the Wet Tropics Rainforest in the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. Continue north to explore Cooktown and Cape York or simply spend time enveloped in nature.
Head “up the hill” to the Atherton Tablelands to explore tumbling farmlands, incredible waterfalls, volcanic crater lakes and local produce. The funky rainforest village of Kuranda is home to iconic markets and wildlife parks. Head further inland to discover the Gulf Savannah & Outback and explore Undara Volcanic National Park and Cobbold Gorge.
Roadtrips
Hit the road for one of Australia’s best road trips. Drive the epic trip to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, venture through red dust to the outback oasis of Lawn Hill Gorge on the Savannah Way or discover one of Australia’s most beautiful drives on the Great Barrier Reef Drive. If you’re looking for a shorter driving venture, steer your way to paradise on mini road trips from Cairns, explore the Atherton Tablelands on a 3 day road trip or discover the waterfall circuit.
Seasons
Summer
Summer in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is a full sensory experience. Listen to the summer rains, feel the cool relief of jumping into a rainforest waterfall and taste sweet tropical produce.
Autumn
Summer lives on in autumn in the tropics. Here, we catch raindrops rather than leaves. The landscape is lush and green, the waterfalls are pumping and wild swimming is a must.
Winter
In Tropical North Queensland, your typical idea of winter doesn’t really exist. Temperatures remain within the mid-twenties and dry and cooler conditions make for perfect camping weather.
Spring
Kick start summer early with spring in the tropics. Warm and sunny days and glassy reef conditions are synonymous with spring and fruit-laden trees see flocks of colourful bird arrive.
Family & Kids Activities
Cairns and Tropical North Queensland is the perfect family destination. There are many kids activities in Cairns and surrounds including wildlife parks, child-friendly Great Barrier Reef tours, playgrounds and the Cairns Aquarium.
Fuelling Locations in Cairns
There are several service stations throughout Cairns city and the surrounding area, so it’s convenient to fill up your rental vehicle before returning it to Avis. The closest to the airport is Puma on Arnold Street, just off Aeroglen Drive. There’s also a Mobil and Stratford Driveway Discount fuels on Rinks Close. Caltex on Sheridan Street is the closest service station to our Cairns city rental location.
Distances to Cairns Attractions
The following distances are from Cairns Airport, where you can find one of Avis’s car rental locations, to some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.
- Cairns Esplanada 5.5km
- Cairns Aquarium 5.5km
- Cairns Botanical Gardens 4km
- Josephine Falls 80km
- Daintree Rainforest 125km
FAQs
What is Cairns, Australia famous for?
Cairns is most famous for being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also known for its Aboriginal culture and location close to the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest.
What can you do for free in Cairns?
The beaches, mountains, waterfalls, and rainforests around Cairns are completely free to explore. In the city, the Esplanade Pool offers great facilities for families with no entrance fee. There are also several free art galleries in the city.
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