CAIRNS SUBURB GUIDE
Redlynch
Family-friendly western valley with rainforest on the doorstep, one of Cairns' fastest-selling suburbs.
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, median sold prices, 12 months to May 2026 (REA modelled medians from QLD Government sales data). Figures are suburb-wide; your specific property may differ.
Redlynch is Cairns' standout family suburb. Tucked into the western valley with Barron Gorge National Park and Crystal Cascades as a backyard, it combines two Prep to Year 12 campuses of its own, a busy shopping hub at Redlynch Central, and newer estates on generous blocks. The median house sale price is $895,000, up 15.9% over the past 12 months (realestate.com.au, to May 2026), with strong capital growth underpinned by ultra-low rental vacancy. Well-presented stock still sells quickly, with a median of 24 days on market.
Why families choose Redlynch
The combination of two Prep to Year 12 campuses, proximity to Crystal Cascades and Barron Gorge National Park, and larger modern blocks creates a genuine family liveability package. It is one of the few Cairns suburbs where you can drop kids at school, swim in a natural rockhole at lunch, and be back for the afternoon pick-up, without leaving the valley.
Homes, streets & price ranges
Redlynch runs wider than its estate-suburb reputation. At the top, the acreage pockets around Esterina Close, Cashmere Court and Harvey Road trade from about $1.39M to $2.35M on lots measured in acres rather than square metres. The estate heartland, streets like Genesta Circuit, Halifax Drive, Regent Avenue and Noipo Crescent, carries the volume: 4-bed family homes mostly between $900K and $1M, with a recorded-sales median of $880,000 over the 12 months to July 2026. Established 3-bed homes sit in the high $700Ks to mid $800Ks (recorded median $825,000), and the unit and townhouse complexes along Redlynch Intake Road span roughly $520K to $635K, the suburb's main entry point for downsizers and first-home buyers.
Schools & education
Redlynch is rare among Cairns suburbs in having two Prep to Year 12 campuses of its own: Redlynch State College and St Andrew's Catholic College. Families can see out all of schooling without leaving the valley, a powerful driver of demand and low turnover among family households, and the St Andrew's catchment pulls buyers in from neighbouring Brinsmead and beyond.
Outdoor lifestyle
Crystal Cascades, the natural swimming hole on Freshwater Creek at the top of the Redlynch Valley, is the suburb's defining lifestyle asset. Barron Gorge National Park offers walking trails ranging from gentle valley paths to more demanding ridge tracks. The valley setting also means Redlynch sits slightly above the city's heat island, offering cooler mornings and evenings through much of the year.
Shopping & amenities
Redlynch Central shopping centre anchors the suburb's day-to-day convenience, supermarkets, medical services, specialty retail and food offerings are all within the valley, reducing the need to drive into the CBD for routine errands. Smithfield Shopping Centre to the north is also within easy reach for a wider retail mix.
The Redlynch market
This is a genuine volume market: realestate.com.au recorded 143 Redlynch sales in the 12 months to July 2026, about 2.75 a week, with a recorded-sales median of $870,000 across all property types and a top sale of $2.35M. The REA suburb profile puts the modelled house median at $895,000 with a median of just 24 days on market (to May 2026), one of the fastest-selling suburbs in the Cairns region, and well-presented homes in the right school catchment can still attract multiple buyers quickly. Rental income averages $773/wk for houses at a 4.7% gross yield. Verify current data before any pricing decision.
Recent Redlynch sales
| Address | Sold | Property | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Esterina Close | $2,350,000 | 5 bed acreage | May 2026 |
| 31 Genesta Circuit | $1,002,500 | 4 bed house | Jun 2026 |
| 24 Halifax Drive | $985,000 | 4 bed house | Feb 2026 |
| 30 Regent Avenue | $965,000 | 4 bed house | Oct 2025 |
| 22 Tyson Place | $780,000 | 3 bed house | Jan 2026 |
| 38/58-70 Redlynch Intake Road | $635,000 | 3 bed unit | Feb 2026 |
| 3/7 Tenni Street | $575,000 | 3 bed townhouse | Jul 2025 |
| 20/40-46 Redlynch Intake Road | $523,000 | 2 bed townhouse | Feb 2026 |
Recorded sales from realestate.com.au public sold results, 12 months to July 2026, all sold by TS Property Group (Alexie's agency, 17 of the suburb's 143 recorded sales in that period). Prices are the published sold figures.
What buyers love
Two Prep–12 campuses in the suburb: Redlynch State College and St Andrew's Catholic College
Crystal Cascades & Barron Gorge National Park on the doorstep
Larger modern blocks vs inner-city equivalents
Strong 12-month growth (+15.9%, realestate.com.au, May 2026)
Fast-selling market, median 24 days on market
Redlynch Central hub covers daily needs without CBD trips
Things to consider
Car-dependent, limited public transport into the CBD (~15–20 min drive)
Newest estates can lack mature trees and established streetscape character
Frequently asked questions
What's the median house price in Redlynch?
The median house sale price in Redlynch is $895,000 as at May 2026, up 15.9% over the prior 12 months (realestate.com.au modelled median). Across the 143 REA-recorded sales in the 12 months to July 2026 the recorded median was $870,000, with 4-bed houses at $880,000 and 3-bed houses at $825,000. Always verify current figures before relying on them, and get a local appraisal for your specific property.
What makes Redlynch a good suburb for families?
Two Prep to Year 12 campuses, Redlynch State College and St Andrew's Catholic College, mean kids can complete all of schooling without leaving the valley. Add Crystal Cascades as a natural playground, larger blocks, and a self-contained shopping hub, and Redlynch ticks most boxes families prioritise.
Which Redlynch streets and pockets are most sought after?
The acreage pockets around Esterina Close, Cashmere Court and Harvey Road hold the suburb's premium, with recorded sales from $1.39M to $2.35M in the year to July 2026. The estate streets, Genesta Circuit, Halifax Drive, Regent Avenue and Noipo Crescent among them, are the family heartland at $900K to $1M for a 4-bed. The Redlynch Intake Road unit and townhouse complexes offer the suburb's most affordable entry, roughly $520K to $635K.
How far is Redlynch from the Cairns CBD?
Around 15–20 minutes by car. The suburb is car-dependent. There is no direct bus route into the city, but the valley's own amenities mean many residents rarely need to make the trip for daily needs.
Is Redlynch a good investment suburb?
The numbers are compelling: gross yield of 4.7%, median rent of $773/wk, 15.9% capital growth over 12 months, and a median of just 24 days on market (realestate.com.au, to May 2026). The school catchment drives stable family tenant demand. Get a rental appraisal for your specific property before committing.
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Selling resources
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What's My Home Worth?By Alexie Aristides, Your Cairns Selling Specialist