Is Cairns Safe for Women? Crime Rate in Cairns
Safety rating
Women living in Cairns consider the safety level to be relatively high, with an overall safety rating of 3.7 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in Cairns consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 2 out of 5.
Violence rating
On average 6.8% percentage of women in Australia have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.
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Crime & Safety Statistics
Based on 4 experiences
Safety rating: | 3.7/5 | Safe |
Safety walking alone after dark: | 2.3/5 | Unsafe |
Safety using public transport: | 2.8/5 | Moderate |
Crime rate: | 2/5 | Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being physically attacked: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | 1.4/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
How safe is Cairns?
Cairns is generally pretty safe, I’m not worried about walking around during the day. I would be more wary walking around the night club area at night but that could be just me. But other places are ok. There have been a few drunk aboriginal people I’ve been wary of when walking around at night but there is a lot of security and police officers making sure intoxicated people are safe (to themselves) but also the general public.
Posted: February 14, 2025
Hannah
Most areas in Cairns City are safe at night if you have a buddy with you or if you stay in the main streets. You can tell pretty easily from the vibes of each street whether or not it's going to be safe there. Suburbian areas are best explored during daytime. Pretty everywhere in Cairns is perfectly safe during the day. Public transport is generally very reliable and I have personally never had any safety issues having used it since I was 13.
Posted: December 26, 2024I feel like cairns is really safe, I feel very comfortable walking around at night I have never been harassed and never been catcalled actually either which is good. There are areas with higher crime rates but it’s never targeted at women more like car theft. Anyway feel safe!
Posted: December 1, 2024
Kerrin
Cairns is a beautiful place, but it does have its social problems like many places. I wouldn't recommend a solo female walking at night by herself, as I don't feel comfortable doing that. During the day in public areas you should be fine. Make sure you lock up at night.
Posted: October 27, 2024Is Cairns worth visiting?
Travel rating
based on 4 experiences from female travelers
Paris
Australia
Family travel
Cairns was great. Loads to see and do. Aquariums, zoos, butterfly sanctuary, rainforest, free outdoor pools. Loads of places to eat too. Definitely recommend, some of the locals can be intimidating but you move past it
Posted: February 6, 2025Group travel
Felt pretty safe, although there is not much of a nightlife and the town is quite small. Great day trips that are accessible from cairns to great beaches and towns close by. If you’re there for the reef it is highly recommended, but if you’re looking for a nightlife and bustling city it is not cairns
Posted: March 31, 2024Meet locals in Cairns
Chloé
About Me
Hi there ! My name is Chloe. I am a 29 year-old french woman travelling down the east coast of Australia. I'd love to meet people who could teach me the australian way of life and help me discover things about this country. I love discovering new cultures, food, stories. I love cinema, sport, reading and going out having a drink. I started my trip in Cairns, will go a bit north and then down south all the way to Adelaide (or maybe Perth). If you allowed me to stay at your place for one or two nights, it would help me a lot and it would be a real pleasure to meet you and to learn all the things you could teach me :) See you soon !
Speaking
Kerrin
About Me
Hi, I'm a social introvert who loves travelling & connecting with people.
Speaking
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Frequently asked questions
Is Cairns safe?
Is Cairns safe to walk alone at night?
Is public transport safe in Cairns?
What is the crime rate in Cairns?
What is the risk of being sexually harassed in Cairns?
What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in Cairns?
What is the risk of being physically attacked in Cairns?
What is the risk of burglary in Cairns?
What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in Cairns?
What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in Cairns?
