CAIRNS SUBURB GUIDE
Cairns North
Walk to the Esplanade, the night markets, and the CBD: the suburb closest to everything Cairns has to offer.
Median house price
12-mo growth
Median days on market
Median rent (house)
Gross yield (house)
Houses sold (12 mo)
Source: realestate.com.au suburb profile, 12 months to May 2026. Figures are suburb-wide; your specific property may differ.
Cairns North is the suburb immediately north of the CBD, which means the Cairns Esplanade, Muddy's Playground, the night markets, and the city centre are all within a short walk. It is Cairns' most walkable suburb and has a large apartment market that attracts investors, first-home buyers, and downsizers. The median house sale price is $750,000, up 2.0% over the past 12 months (realestate.com.au, to May 2026). House growth is modest, but units are the real story here with 236 sold and 18.2% median growth.
The location advantage
Cairns North is as central as you get without being the CBD itself. The Esplanade boardwalk, Muddy's Playground, Fogarty Park, the night markets, and the main shopping streets are all walkable. This is the suburb for people who want to step out the front door and be in the middle of Cairns life without getting in a car.
Houses vs units
Freestanding houses are relatively rare in Cairns North, which is why only 24 traded in the profile year, and the recorded medians show what scarcity does: $1,100,000 for a 4-bed and $790,000 for a 3-bed across the 12 months to July 2026. The apartment and unit market is where the action is, 236 units sold in the profile year with a median of $437,500 and 18.2% growth (realestate.com.au, to May 2026). Recent recorded sales run from Esplanade apartments at $740,000 and city-view units at $587,500, through the three-bedroom apartment stock on Lake Street, Smith Street, Digger Street and Lily Street at $615K to $715K, to two-bed units around $505K to $575K.
Investment fundamentals
If you are running the numbers on an investment, units in Cairns North have compelling metrics: $540/wk median rent, 6.3% gross yield, 320 leased in the past 12 months, and 18 median days to rent. realestate.com.au recorded 150 Cairns North sales in the 12 months to July 2026, nearly three a week, so comparables are strong and valuation is more reliable than in low-volume suburbs.
The Cairns North market
House growth was modest at 2.0% over 12 months (realestate.com.au, to May 2026), reflecting thin freestanding stock rather than a soft market: there simply are not many houses to sell, and the recorded 12-month top sale reached $1.56M. If you own a freestanding home here, supply-demand dynamics favour vendors. Always verify current data and get a local appraisal before pricing decisions.
Recent Cairns North sales
| Address | Sold | Property | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202/279 Esplanade | $740,000 | 2 bed apartment | Sep 2025 |
| 381 Lake Street | $720,000 | 3 bed house, pool | Mar 2026 |
| 3/279 Lake Street | $715,000 | 3 bed apartment | Nov 2025 |
| 2/16-18 Smith Street | $648,000 | 3 bed apartment | Oct 2025 |
| 23/34-40 Lily Street | $615,000 | 3 bed apartment | Dec 2025 |
| 15/293-301 Esplanade | $587,500 | 2 bed, city views | Aug 2025 |
| 8/67-71 Digger Street | $575,000 | 2 bed townhouse | Apr 2026 |
| 135/166-168 Lake Street | $507,680 | 2 bed unit | Jan 2026 |
Recorded sales from realestate.com.au public sold results, 12 months to July 2026, all sold by TS Property Group, Alexie's agency (28 of the suburb's 150 recorded sales in that period, an 18.7% share; 381 Lake Street sold by Alexie personally). Prices are the published sold figures.
What buyers love
Most walkable suburb in Cairns, Esplanade, CBD, markets on foot
High unit yield, 6.3% gross on $437,500 median
Government, hospital, and tourism employment base sustains rental demand
Large volume of unit transactions gives strong comparable data
Things to consider
Limited freestanding house stock, thin market for houses
Urban density and noise levels may not suit buyers seeking a quieter residential setting
Modest 2.0% house price growth over 12 months
Frequently asked questions
What is the median house price in Cairns North?
The median house sale price in Cairns North is $750,000 as at May 2026, up 2.0% over the prior 12 months (realestate.com.au), and the recorded medians for the 12 months to July 2026 were $1,100,000 for a 4-bed and $790,000 for a 3-bed. There were only 24 house transactions in the profile year, so the figures are based on thin data. The suburb's primary residential product is units and apartments. Request a local appraisal for your specific property.
Which Cairns North buildings and pockets stand out?
On recent recorded sales, Esplanade apartments trade at $587K to $740K depending on size and outlook, and the three-bedroom apartment stock on Lake Street, Smith Street, Digger Street and Lily Street sits at $615K to $715K. Two-bed units around $505K to $575K carry the volume.
Is Cairns North good for investment?
The unit market is one of the most active in the region: 236 sold in 12 months, $437,500 median, 6.3% gross yield, and 320 leased with an 18-day median (realestate.com.au, to May 2026). Proximity to the CBD, hospital, and employment centres underpins tenant demand. Run your own due diligence on body-corporate fees and specific building history.
How far is Cairns North from the Esplanade?
The Cairns Esplanade boardwalk is walkable from most of Cairns North, typically 5 to 15 minutes on foot depending on the street. It is the suburb most directly connected to Cairns' waterfront lifestyle.
Thinking of selling?
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Selling resources
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What's My Home Worth?By Alexie Aristides, Your Cairns Selling Specialist