Sunrise and Sunset in Cairns Today
In Cairns, Australia, the sun rises today on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 05:54 and sets at 18:15. The day length is 12h 20m. Solar noon is reached at 12:04.
Cairns: sun and clock
Today the sun is highest in Cairns at 12:04 – almost exactly at 12:00.
The earliest sunrise of the year is on November 24 at 05:33, the latest on July 7 at 06:47.
The sun sets earliest on June 3 at 17:50 and latest on January 19 at 18:57.
The longest day of the year has 2 h 1 min more daylight than the shortest.
Cairns through the year
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 15th of every month – and the direction in which the sun sets.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day | Direction | Sunshine | Day/night | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:55 | 18:56 | 13 h 2 min | west-southwest 248° | 215 h | 32/24 °C | 389 mm |
| Feb | 06:11 | 18:50 | 12 h 39 min | west-southwest 257° | 177 h | 32/24 °C | 475 mm |
| Mar | 06:19 | 18:31 | 12 h 12 min | west 268° | 204 h | 31/23 °C | 367 mm |
| Apr | 06:25 | 18:08 | 11 h 43 min | west 280° | 211 h | 30/22 °C | 179 mm |
| May | 06:33 | 17:53 | 11 h 20 min | west-northwest 290° | 221 h | 28/20 °C | 81 mm |
| Jun | 06:43 | 17:51 | 11 h 8 min | west-northwest 294° | 211 h | 27/19 °C | 42 mm |
| Jul | 06:46 | 17:59 | 11 h 12 min | west-northwest 292° | 233 h | 26/17 °C | 36 mm |
| Aug | 06:35 | 18:07 | 11 h 32 min | west-northwest 284° | 252 h | 27/17 °C | 27 mm |
| Sep | 06:12 | 18:12 | 11 h 59 min | west 273° | 268 h | 29/19 °C | 28 mm |
| Oct | 05:49 | 18:16 | 12 h 28 min | west 261° | 280 h | 30/21 °C | 63 mm |
| Nov | 05:34 | 18:28 | 12 h 54 min | west-southwest 250° | 258 h | 31/23 °C | 85 mm |
| Dec | 05:37 | 18:45 | 13 h 8 min | west-southwest 245° | 243 h | 32/24 °C | 185 mm |
Direction of sunset: west-northwest (294°) in June, west-southwest (245°) in December.
Over the year the point where the sun sets moves 49° along the horizon.
Sunniest month: October with 280 hours of sunshine, dullest: February with 177 – 2,773 hours a year.
As a destination: warmest in December at 32 °C by day, driest in August with 27 mm of rain.
Times for the 15th of each month, computed with the NOAA method. Sunshine: station Cairns/QLD, mean 1991–2020 (Deutscher Wetterdienst). Climate: 1991–2020 normals (DWD CLIMAT, NASA POWER).
Golden Hour in Cairns
Morning: 05:41–06:23 · Evening: 17:46–18:28
The Golden Hour, also known as 'Magic Hour', is the most popular time for photographers and filmmakers. In Cairns, the morning golden hour takes place today from 05:41 to 06:23. The evening golden hour extends from 17:46 to 18:28. During these times, warm, soft sunlight bathes the city in magical light.
Blue Hour in Cairns
Morning: 05:33–05:41 · Evening: 18:28–18:36
The Blue Hour in Cairns offers a unique, bluish-colored light in the sky. The morning blue hour takes place today from 05:33 to 05:41, just before sunrise. The evening blue hour extends from 18:28 to 18:36, right after sunset. This time is ideal for atmospheric cityscapes and landscape photography.
About Cairns
Cairns is located at a latitude of -16.92° and a longitude of 145.78°. The city is in the Australia/Brisbane timezone. Being in the tropics, Cairns has almost the same day length all year round: sunrise and sunset shift by only a few minutes between the seasons, and twilight is short because the sun rises and sets steeply.
Seasons & Daylight in Cairns
Spring brings 12h 6m of daylight to Cairns around the equinox – almost the same as in any other season. Close to the equator the length of the day barely changes; rainy and dry seasons shape the year more than daylight does.
Even the longest days in Cairns last only about 13h 9m. At some point of the year the midday sun stands almost vertically overhead, so shadows nearly disappear at noon.
Around the equinox Cairns has 12h 7m of daylight. Sunrise and sunset stay at nearly the same time all year, and the golden hour is short because the sun climbs and sinks steeply.
The shortest days in Cairns still offer 11h 7m of daylight – only a little less than in summer. There is no dark season here: the sun stays high and the midday light is intense all year.
On the same latitude as Cairns
These cities lie on almost the same latitude as Cairns (16.9° S): on every day of the year they get almost exactly as much daylight – 12h 20m today – only at other clock times and in a very different climate.
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Questions about the sun in Cairns
When does the sun rise in Cairns today?
Today the sun rises in Cairns at 05:54 and sets at 18:15.
How long is the day in Cairns today?
The day lasts 12h 21m today, from sunrise to sunset.
When is the golden hour in Cairns today?
In the morning from 05:40–06:22, in the evening from 17:46–18:28.
When is the longest day in Cairns?
The day is longest around the summer solstice with 13h 9m of daylight, shortest around the winter solstice with 11h 7m.
When does it get dark in Cairns today?
It is dark from 18:37, fully dark from 19:27.
Times are calculated using NOAA algorithms based on the geographic coordinates of Cairns. All times are in local time. How it is calculated