We will be in Cairns on Christmas and Boxing Day. Will anything (restaurants/shops etc) be open on these two days? Does the Kuranda Skyrail run on 25/12? Are we best off renting a car and driving around?We are doing reef tours on 27/28. Thanks for your suggestions.

Restaurants will be open but not most retails stores. Skyrail is closed for Christmas day only.

Most people will be at home on the 25th but the 26th many go for picnics and barbeques in the outdoors.

I should know this because I live here, but always spend Christmas Day with friends at their home in Palm Cove, so don't go into Cairns city. You'll find most of the bigger hotels do a special traditional style Christmas lunch or dinner, but to get more detailed information it would be a good idea to check with your accommodation in Cairns city.


As Saltuarius said, Skyrail/Kuranda Train closes on Christmas Day and so do many of the smaller landbased trips, but are back in business on Boxing Day. If you rent a car for Christmas Day, you'll find very little traffic on roads and public transport is pretty abysmal on Christmas Day.

Thanks for your replies... We are leaning towards getting a car and driving around. That will at least give us some options.