Weather in Cairns in December
December in Cairns is a hot month. Plan the serious walking for morning. The rest of the day wants shade and a slower pace.
In Australia, this is how Cairns actually wears December, not how a country centroid would. December is high summer in the southern year. Do not pack Cairns as if it were a northern winter. Compared with January and July, December sits in the middle of Cairns's year.
- Average temp
- 25°C
20–31°C
- Rainfall
- 128 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
What to expect
Daytime
Hot days in Cairns. Ruins, markets and hills are a morning job. Midday sightseeing is how people remember December for the wrong reason.
Nights stay warm. Air-con, if you can get it, is part of the brief. A jumper for December in Cairns is almost always a waste of bag space.
Rain
December is a wetter month in Cairns. Showers are part of the deal, not a spoiled surprise.
Waterproof shoes matter more than a rain plan for a beach, especially if a beach is not why you came. Build indoor hours into the afternoon.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What to pack
Sun protection
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Cairns
Dates are a starting point for December.
Travel guides for Cairns
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Cairns
TemperatureRainfall
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about Cairns
Climate averages for Cairns, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Cairns is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
December is the hottest month, with an average around 25°C.
February is the wettest month, with about 278 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
