Is Cairns safe?
Safe for visitors. Marine stingers, crocodiles and heat are the main risks; there is some petty crime and public drunkenness around the center.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-29.
- Homicide rate in Australia: 0.9 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Australia: 4.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 000 · Ambulance 000 · Fire 000 · All emergencies 000.
Safety in Cairns at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Theft from hostels and cars, and occasional drunk or aggressive behaviour in the city center at night. |
| At night | The Esplanade and Shields Street stay lively until late. Taxis and Uber are straightforward after midnight. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Use common sense at night and avoid empty parks. |
| Other risks | Box jellyfish and Irukandji, Oct–May; wear stinger suits; Saltwater crocodiles; obey signs and do not swim in rivers; Cyclones and floods, Dec–Apr |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake rental listings asking for a bond before any viewing
- Backpacker work offers with illegal pay deductions
Take care
- Swimming in rivers and creeks: crocodiles live in tropical waters
- The Esplanade late at night: drunk behaviour
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Driving while holding a phone is caught by cameras and brings large fines
- Nicotine vapes are legally sold only by pharmacies
- Drinking alcohol is banned in many streets, parks and beaches (alcohol-free zones)
How Cairns compares in Australia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Hobart | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Noosa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Blue Mountains | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sunshine Coast | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Great Ocean Road | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Port Douglas | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Canberra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Margaret River | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Launceston | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Magnetic Island | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sydney | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Melbourne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Brisbane | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Gold Coast | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Perth | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cairns | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Byron Bay | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Adelaide | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Bondi Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Whitsundays | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Uluru | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Darwin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| K'gari | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fremantle | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Broome | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Newcastle | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Manly | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alice Springs | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Cairns safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Use common sense at night and avoid empty parks.
Is Cairns safe at night?
The Esplanade and Shields Street stay lively until late. Taxis and Uber are straightforward after midnight.
What is the crime rate in Cairns?
Theft from hostels and cars, and occasional drunk or aggressive behaviour in the city center at night. Nationally, Australia records 0.9 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Cairns?
Police 000 · Ambulance 000 · Fire 000 · All emergencies 000.
More about Cairns
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Cairns Airport
- Tourism Tropical North Queensland
- TransLink Queensland
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.