Yes, you can get around Cairns without a car quite effectively, especially if you stay within the Central Business District (CBD). The city center is flat and highly walkable, with the iconic Esplanade, Lagoon, and Reef Fleet Terminal all located within a small radius. For longer distances, the Sunbus (now operated by Kinetic) provides a reliable public network that connects the CBD to popular northern beaches like Trinity Beach and Palm Cove. For the most popular tourist activities, such as visiting the Great Barrier Reef or the Daintree Rainforest, you don't need a car because almost all tour operators include hotel pickups as part of the package. Additionally, the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway offer their own transport links to the hinterland. For quick trips, Uber and local taxis are plentiful. While a car offers freedom to visit remote waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands at your own pace, a car-free holiday in Cairns is entirely feasible and often preferred by those who want to avoid the hassle of parking in a busy tropical hub.