Cairns is gorgeous, once you know where to go. My brother and I were raised here and we frequently get asked:
What the heck can you do in Cairns?
What are the best swimming spots?
So, this post summarises some of our favourite spots and activities in the region.
It’s tailored for adventurous folks who don't want to empty their bank accounts while they travel.
Cairns is best visited while avoiding the tourist traps… but we have kept a few suggestions you'll be happy you paid for. We'll show you the best swimming spots in the region and share some "local tips" to help you dodge the crowds and make the most out of your trip to Far North Queensland.
Below is a short highlight reel which showcases some of the spots outlined in this post.
Alright. Let's get into it.
Mossman GorgeLink to section
Mossman Gorge is a cracker freshwater swimming spot.
Hidden in the dense rainforest (1.5hr north of Cairns) is a lovely spot to swim, birdwatch and relax. It hasn't got much in the way of cliff jumps, but some of the boulders create sections of fast(ish) moving water flow that are fun to cruise down.
You can access the water at a few different spots along the creek. It's all fairly similar, but once you're at the water's edge I'd suggest hiking along the river to find a quiet spot for yourself (upstream is nicer).
I went back for the first time in a while and found they'd put a fancy (privately owned) tourism/info centre at the base of the hill. They’ll try to charge you for a shuttle bus to take you to main entry, but you can walk/ride up the 2km road free of charge.
Free public vehicle access is allowed before 6am and after 8pm, otherwise you're either paying or walking. We parked at the bottom and just hiked along Mossman Gorge Road, past the aboriginal community and into the park.
No issues, no money spent.
There's no food, water or amenities nearby. Bring your own grub.
Babinda BouldersLink to section
Babinda Boulders has some amazing fresh water spots and awesome BBQ facilities. There's a couple of public swimming holes and a couple less public ones…
The council has restricted access to some spots because of past accidents. There are plenty of "no swimming" signs around.
Lots of folks choose to ignore them, which we obviously don't condone. Though fines may apply, you're unlikely to get busted.
Those that turn a blind eye to the signs often head to the lookouts and jump the fences. You can see a map of where I've seen people go below.
Devil's Pool is the best spot. There are a couple points people jump from. Including a little cave which doubles as a cliff jump. It seems pretty magical.
Stephane also reckons hiring a kayak and floating down the stream is a great way to see the area. A local business called 'Babinda Kayaking' offers very fairly priced kayak or stand up paddle board hire. It's like $50 for equipment hire and pickup. Bargain.
It's worth avoiding Babinda Boulders after heavy rain. The rapids and currents get dangerous when there's a lot of water moving over the slick rocks. If in doubt, stick to the main swimming area near the carpark.
Behana GorgeLink to section
I'll be honest, this one isn't going to win awards in the "scenery" department. You'll be going there for the waterfall and cliff jumps.
The hike up to the top section is pretty long. On a hot, humid, muggy, moist tropical day the walk is a draaaaaaag, but your efforts will be rewarded... You'll often be the only one(s) at the water hole and the area is good fun to explore. The approach path is very obvious—you couldn’t get lost if you tried, but here is a summary:
- Once at the carpark, follow the obvious concrete path and massive water pipe all the way to the top.
- You will walk past the a few "lookouts", keep going.
- Eventually, you'll reach an open area which drops off on the left.
- Keep walking until you reach a big wire fence. Set up there.
- The actual falls are here.
There is a clear jumping point at the central rocks. Check the depth, get a run up and jump in!
Fitzroy Island & Turtle Rehab CentreLink to section
Fitzroy Island is far enough away from the coast that you'll dodge Cairns' murky estuary water. You're going to need to catch a ferry to this island. Tickets for the Fitzroy ferry are about A$100 and the trip out takes ~45mins.
Once there you'll notice the water is tropical blue, teeming with life and the sandy white beaches are some of the best in FNQ.
There's a fair bit of stuff you can do on the island. I recommend you hike to the lookout and explore the protected little beaches. Nudey Beach and Hidden Beach are the best. Literally winnings awards?
There's also a little restaurant, a turtle rehabilitation centre and shops. There is a snorkel hire store too.
When you hit the water, keep an eye out for turtles! There’s a high chance you'll see a couple while snorkeling the area.
There's a healthy population of green sea turtles that roam the shallows, a lot of them were released from the turtle rehabilitation centre so they're quite confident around humans. If you move slowly they can get pretty close to you without being scared.
I did a bit of work at the turtle rehabilitation centre as a teenager. The public talks were free when I was there, but I think they might ask for donations now... Part with a bit of moolah and help them out, they're doing good work.
The centre is run by a team of dedicated volunteers.
Among the volunteers there are a couple who walk around with a pet goose! They're a bloody awesome couple; friendly, eccentric and a wealth of knowledge about the Cairns area.
The goose is pretty cool too, it knows how to count.
Freshwater Creek AreaLink to section
Freshwater Creek is nestled in the Redlynch valley. It hosts some of the area's best "go to" local swimming spots and is conveniently located 25mins from the city center.
Crystal Cascades and Fairy Falls used to be well kept secrets, but they now can get quite busy with families and backpackers. Still very worth visiting during the week though!
Free parking is available here, but don't blindly follow your GPS to this spot, you'll get stitched up. For whatever reason, Google likes to send people to the wrong spot...
I've outlined the main water holes at Freshwater Creek below. You can easily do all of them in a day.
Crystal CascadesLink to section
The first area is called "Crystal Cascades" by the locals, even though there's actually a few distinct waterholes.
Access is easy.
From the carpark head up the obvious path. As you walk up you'll go past the following spots:
- No Fear Jump
- Main Cascades
- Hidden Cascades
1. No Fear JumpLink to section
About three-quarters up the path to the top of Crystal Cascades, you'll see a rock with "No Fear" written in blue graffiti on your right. It's a well known cliff jump.
If you're keen to check it out:
- Jump over small railing fence onto the slanted rock platform.
- Climb down to the water's edge
- Swim across the water hole to access the cliff on the other side
- Climb cliff using the crack and rope that's usually left there. You can stop at whatever height you're comfortable jumping from.
Be careful, it can be slippery and it's a long way to fall, but the water is quite deep in the middle, so after checking for logs - it's usually safe to jump.
2. Main CascadesLink to section
This is the most popular spot. It also the easiest spot to get to.
As the name suggests there are small cascades there. It's suitable for confident swimmers to play around in. If you're with little ones, stick to the shallows away from the waterfalls.
After recent rain you can access the side of the waterfall and hide behind the wall of water. Tuck into the gap on the right side of the falls (when facing them, looking upstream). You should be able to hug the rock wall and slip past the falling water. There are a couple spots where the rock cuts away from the water, allowing you to hide in the air pocket.
It's a damn cool feeling to be tucked in there!
3. Hidden FallsLink to section
At the top of the main path you'll be met with a fence that blocks off access to an overgrown fire trail.
You won't be able to go further upstream following a path. You can however choose adventure and continue uphill past where most people stop.
Few people go up there, so you'll likely be alone and have the best spot in the valley!
Following the map:
- Look upstream from viewing platform near the main cascades
- Scramble up the rocks to the right of the main cascades
- Keep following the water way upstream until you get to a large 90° bend in the waterway.
- Again, keep heading up until you get to an open area.
- The depths of these waters are far less consistent than other spots at Crystal Cascades. Make sure you check the depth if you're going to do anything sketchy.
Fairy FallsLink to section
Fairy falls is Crystal Cascades' little sister. It's a smaller creek and tends to be quieter because the scramble up the rocks is a turn off for many.
You can access from the other side of the Crystal Cascades' carpark. You'll need to follow the dirt path to the only swimming spot. It's only a short walk.
There are shrimps in the top water hole. If you dangle your feet in the water and keep still they'll eventually come over and give you a free "nibble pedicure". No, they don't bite, but they do tickle!
Port DouglasLink to section
I don't love Port Douglas, it's just… OK?
Port Douglas has that "halfway gentrified" feel. Not quite tourist trap, but also no-longer an authentic tropical village. It's kinda like FNQ's version of Byron Bay.
I am adding it here because a lot of you will be doing reef trips that leave from the Port Douglas marina, so you may as well make the most of it!
Make a day of it if you're nearby, but I don't recommend heading out there without a reason.
Here is what it does have:
- Nice lookouts
- Gorgeous sunrises and a beautiful drive in from Cairns.
- Home to FNQ's best beach; Four Mile Beach.
Oh, it's also the gateway to the Daintree National Park.
Hartleys Crocodile FarmLink to section
On the way to Port Douglas you'll go past the best zoo experiences in Australia.
Hartleys Crocodile Farm is a great time. The demonstration shows they've put together are one of a kind; informative, hilarious and terrifying.
Yes it's a zoo, heavily focussing on reptiles, but there's no better way to gain a healthy respect for the animals whose environment you're visiting. The keepers are literally knee deep in crocodile water during the show. You'd be mad to miss out on it!
Granite GorgeLink to section
I know, I know… another waterhole. This one is a little different though.
Granite Gorge is located inland, in the Atherton Tablelands ranges so it's a lot less tropical. Think of it as an oasis in an otherwise semi-arid landscape. Everything changes, the type of heat, the animals and the plants. It's quite different to the coastal waterhole on this list.
It's privately owned so you have to pay to enter, but it's worth it.
There's plenty of wildlife around; you can feed the rock wallabies and the beautiful water holes are a nice way to cool off. The marked hikes in the area can provide entertainment for anything from 20mins to 4hrs. You decide which one you want to complete. Plenty of options.
For those of you with camping equipment there's a cracker camping spot there too. I recommend calling up before arriving to see if there's room for you and to check if there is much water flow. The gorge dries up considerably when it hasn't rained in a while. You also get stagnant water which brings on swarms of mozzies.
KurandaLink to section
This spot is a beautiful tourist trap, you'd be remiss not to visit the village if you're in the area. It's home to a cute rainforest village, boasts some gorgeous lookouts and close to some gorgeous nearby swimming holes; some legal and some a little less so.
Barron FallsLink to section
Barron falls is pretty much FNQ's Iguazy Falls.
In the wet season this waterfall is an absolute MONSTER! It's worth stopping off at Barron Falls Lookout to see it in action.
Swimming hole near Barron FallsLink to section
If you want to be a little naughty and swim in the mighty Barron you'll need to drive to the end of Weir Rd. Park your car, we're going on an adventure!
You'll see some train tracks at the end of that road, turn right and follow them until approximately this spot. Then turn left down the sketchy looking dirt paths that take you to the waters edge.
The trains go past relatively often so scatter into the nearby bushes if you hear them approaching. They're not going to stop for you and you probably don't want to be spotted.
Once you're on the rocks near the water your free to explore around the place; this spot and this spot are favourites. The dam upstream tends to control the flow of water fairly well, but in peak wet season this spot can be dangerous.
Stoney CreekLink to section
Stoney Creek has plenty of swimming options and it's a very convenient location.
The waterholes in this area are seldom visited by tourists, but its hidden in plain sight. You will drive past this area a few times as you visit the spots on this list. It's worth stopping off at least once during your travels.
Park here. There are plenty of hiking and swimming hole options in that area. There are paths you can follow, but I think scrambling up stoney creek is more fun. I'd keep going until you get to Old Weir Falls and swim under the big log at top of the track.
There are plenty of hikes in the area too. A classic would be to hike at glacier rock and then stop off for a swim at Stoney Creek. The walking tracks are all connected.
Black Rock WaterfallsLink to section
This is a Stephane (my brother) special. I've never been.
Hop in a car and head to this google maps pin.
The road there takes you through the nicest part of the Palm Cove to Port Douglas drive. Sunrises along that road are world class.
Stephane recommends you hike up to see the falls, but many of the swimming spots along the way up are more private. They're usually a better option if you're spending a whole day there. Those spots along the hike also have better cliff jumps if you're into that sort of thing.
Nandroya FallsLink to section
This cute spot is a bit out of the way for most. You going to want a car and enjoy bush walking… It's worth it though. I'll leave it at that.
ConclusionLink to section
That's it! This list is by no means exhaustive, plenty more to do in Cairns! It's the stuff. I hope this helps with planning your travels.
Shoot me a message if you have questions. Social links are at the bottom of this page.
Have a cracker holiday.