Seasons · read 29 October 2026
Wet season, dry season: choosing your dates
Cairns has a tropical monsoon climate. The difference between months is less about heat than about rain, stingers and which venues close on public holidays.
The two seasons
Wikipedia's summary of Bureau of Meteorology data describes a wet season with heavy monsoonal downpours from November to May, and a drier season roughly from June to October in which light showers still fall. Annual rainfall averages just under 2,000 mm. Mean daily maximums run from about 26.2 °C in July to 31.7 °C in January.
| Roughly November – May | Roughly June – October | |
|---|---|---|
| Rain | heavy monsoonal downpours | drier, light showers |
| Warmth (mean max) | towards 31.7 °C in January | down to 26.2 °C in July |
| Sea swimming | stinger season — patrolled beaches, flags, suits | outside the usual stinger months |
| Rainforest | waterfalls at their fullest; tracks may close after rain | easier walking conditions |
Marine stingers
Douglas Shire Council says the stinger season generally runs from November to May and varies from year to year. Its advice: swim only at patrolled beaches, stay between the red and yellow flags, and wear a stinger suit — a wetsuit or full-body lycra. Stinger enclosures reduce but do not remove the risk. The city's Esplanade Lagoon, a short walk from the hotel, is open all year.
Dates when the hotel changes its hours
- Christmas Day: the casino is closed. In 2026 the hotel is holding a Christmas Day lunch in the Urchins Ballroom (Friday 25 December, 12–2:30 pm, bookings essential).
- Good Friday: the casino, Flinders Bar & Grill and BAR36 are closed; Merchant Cafe, Soy Kitchen and Tamarind keep their own holiday hours, listed on eat and drink.
- Anzac Day: the casino opens at 1 pm.
2026, the city's 150th year
Cairns marks 150 years since the colonial township was established. Cairns Museum and the Cairns Historical Society are running a year-long community history programme, which gives late-2026 visits a little more to see in the city itself.
Our honest advice
If the reef is your priority and you want calmer, drier days, the middle of the year is the safer bet. If you want the rainforest in full flow and do not mind afternoon storms, the wet season has its own rewards — choose a room you will enjoy spending a rainy afternoon in, such as a junior suite. Either way, ask your boat operator about its weather policy before you pay.
Sources for this page — read on 23–29 October 2026; where a source disagrees with another, the page says so.
- Wikipedia — Cairns, climate table from the Bureau of Meteorology (secondary source)
- Douglas Shire Council — beaches, foreshores and stinger season
- Cairns Regional Council — council facilities (Esplanade Lagoon hours)
- The Reef Hotel Casino — opening hours
- Christmas Day Luncheon 2026 (event page)
- Cairns Museum