July is the ideal time to visit Cairns.
With great weather and an array of exciting events, there are a number of reasons to visit Cairns and the Tropical North in July. For sports fans, the Toyota ALF Premiership will take place in Cairns July 11 at Cazalys Stadium. This year, the main match between the Western Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Suns will start at 4:25 p.m, and general admission tickets go for $25.50.
Athletic types can take their interest beyond game time at the field and out to play by trying out some of the water sports in store in the area. Thrill seekers will love going on a full-day white water rafting excursion down Tully River. The trip is guaranteed to get the adrenaline flowing as you wind around grade four rapids through the forest. If you are not a sports enthusiast or thrill seeker, there’s still plenty to do in July around the Tropical North.
For travelers looking to delve deeper into Indigenous culture, July 30 is the UMI Arts Big Talk One Fire Indigenous Cultural Festival. A free event, the celebration showcases Aboriginal dancing, music. storytelling, and performances that represent people from the Far North Queensland region. The one-day event is only the beginning of exploring Aboriginal culture in the Tropical North as there are plenty of ways to get a more in-depth experience. July also happens to be a great time to get outside in the Tropical North because it’s one of the driest months of the year and temperatures are fair, in comparison to the hotter and wetter months of the year like December.
A great thing to do during this time of year is take an Aboriginal Cultural Daintree Rainforest Tour from either Cairns or Port Douglas. A full-day adventure, the tour will take you to Cooya Beach where you will learn hunting and gathering techniques with a guide before visiting the Daintree Rainforest. Your guide will talk you through the forest while also sharing Dreamtime stories in addition some key insights into the land. You might even get the chance to swim in a private water hole in the forest if you wish. From here, you can choose to further explore the outdoors by venturing to Mossman Gorge or spying on crocodiles on a cruise down Daintree River.
July is also a very special time to visit the Tropical North because it’s reef walking season. That’s right, in July you can access Kurrimine Beach which has one of the closest accesses to the Great Barrier Reef in the region. In fact, the beach is so close, you can walk out to King Reef during low tide to explore the coral world by foot. You’ll need water shoes for the 30-minute walk in thigh-deep water and definitely a sun hat. If you prefer swimming through the underwater world, instead of exploring it by foot, then perhaps try your hand at either snorkeling or diving while on a cruise from Cairns.
Why July is the Best Time to Visit the Tropical North from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do