Attractions

Cairns offers a wide variety of tours including Great Barrier Reef cruises, visits to ancient rainforest, adventure activities and more.

Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade (www.cairnsesplanade.com) is the city's main attraction with a lovely oceanfront promenade and a 4,800 sq m saltwater swimming lagoon. It also features barbecue facilities and a huge playground with slides, swings, water fountains and even a flying fox for kids.

Skyrail (www.skyrail.com.au)

Get a bird’s eye view of the lush rainforest on Skyrail, one of the world’s longest gondola cableways.

Kuranda Scenic Railway (www.ksr.com.au)

Enjoy a journey on this historic train that winds through hand-made tunnels, past spectacular waterfalls and across rugged mountains.

Rainforestation (www.rainforest.com.au)

Have fun at Rainforestation Nature Park, which has amphibious army duck tours, Aboriginal dances activities, a koala and wildlife park, and more.

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park (www.tjapukai.com.au)

Learn to throw a spear, try playing the didgeridoo or find out about bush foods at this award winning aboriginal park. It also a fascinating dinner show called Tjapukai By Night.

Hot Air Ballooning

Take a hot air balloon flight and enjoy the adrenaline rush while marvelling at the stunning views. Balloon operators include Hot Air (www.hotair.com.au) and Raging Thunder (www.ragingthunder.com.au).

Whitewater Rafting

Brave the rapids and have tons of fun on a half-day or full-day rafting trip. Conquer the famous Tully River, the world’s most exciting whitewater rafting day trip! Rafting operators include Foaming Fury (www.foamingfury.com.au), RnR (www.raft.com.au) and Raging Thunder (www.ragingthunder.com.au).

Quad biking (www.blazingsaddles.com.au)

Ride through the bush and up and down steep hills on a rugged All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or quad bike.

Horse riding (www.blazingsaddles.com.au)

Go horse riding along rainforest and bush trails overlooking beautiful beaches and islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Tandem Skydiving

Leap out of a plane and enjoy the ultimate high of a tandem skydive amid awesome views of the reef and rainforest! Skydive operators include Skydive Cairns (www.skydivecairns.com.au) and Paul’s Xtreme Skydiving (www.xtremeskydiving.com.au).

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest natural wonder, stretching over 2,000 km, and is the only living organism that can be seen from the Moon.
With its crystal clear waters and magnificent array of colourful marine life - more than 400 types of coral, 1,500 specieis of fish and 3,400 coral reefs - the Great Barrier Reef is truly a must-see.

Do a day tour and try snorkelling or scuba diving. If you can’t swim or prefer to stay dry, you can hop onto a semi-submersible or glass-bottom boat and view the coral and fish.

You can also get up close to the marine life by riding the Scuba Doo, an underwater motorbike, or trying the Seawalker (www.seawalker.com.au), where you walk underwater with a bubble helmet.

There are numerous cruise operators that you can choose from, including Quicksilver Cruises (www.quicksilver-cruises.com), Great Adventures (www.greatadventures.com.au), Sunlover Reef Cruises (www.sunlover.com.au) and Down Under Cruise & Dive (www.downunderdive.com.au).

For a truly over-the-top experience, take a helicopter flight over the reef and enjoy the breathtaking views. Fly with Great Barrier Reef Helicopters (www.gbrhelicopters.com.au) or Down Under Helicopters (www.downunderheli.com).

Hinterland

Palm Cove (www.palmcove.net)

Set amidst an idyllic stretch of beach and luxurious resorts just 20 minutes north of Cairns, Palm Cove is a haven for those who want some indulgence.

Spend your day lazing away on the beach or take a stroll along the esplanade through the chic boutiques and cafes.

Known as Australia’s spa capital, this charming coastal village has award-winning spa resorts, many of which offer lovely views of the ocean and signature spa treatments.

Visit Sebel Reef House and Spa (www.reefhouse.com.au), a sophisticated colonial-style boutique resort with a world-class health spa that uses natural Australian products.

The beautiful Sea Temple Resort & Spa (www.seatemple.com.au) offers indulgent spa treatments, as well as luxurious rooms, apartments, penthouses and villas.

Other popular choices include the beachfront Angsana Great Barrier Reef Spa and Resort (www.angsana.com/gbr), Mango Lagoon Resort & Wellness Spa (www.mangolagoon.com.au) and Peppers Beach Club & Spa (www.peppers.com.au/Beach-Club-&-Spa).

Port Douglas (www.pddt.com.au)

Port Douglas is one of Queensland's premier holiday destinations. Located just an hour north of Cairns, it offers a sophisticated and low-key escape for travellers from around the world.

Known as a glamorous hotspot for the famous, Port Douglas still manages to retain an unpretentious and relaxed ambience. You'll find only buildings up to three stories high, not much taller than the nearby palm trees.

Start the day with a delicious and fun-filled Breakfast with the Birds at Rainforest Habitat (www.rainforesthabitat.com.au), a delightful wildlife sanctuary.

Laze the day away on the pristine sands along Four Mile Beach, enjoy a picnic or try a range of water sports. Port Douglas also offers numerous day trips, including cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and 4WD tours to ancient rainforest.
Daintree / Cape Tribulation (www.daintreecoast.com)

The laidback township of Daintree, perched on a bend of the Daintree River, is the gateway to one of the world’s most ancient rainforests.

The World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest spans 1,200 sq km and has all kinds of plants and wildlife, hiking trails, camping sites, scenic lookouts, picnic tables and swimming holes.

Wildlife of every kind flourishes on the Daintree River and its banks. The area's most infamous inhabitants are the estuarine crocodiles. There are a number of river cruises where, from the safety of a boat, you can watch crocodiles sunning themselves on the mangrove lined banks or gliding through the water.

Cross the Daintree River by ferry, and travel north towards Cape Tribulation in a 4WD vehicle. Explore the excellent coastal lookouts at Cape Kimberley and Cow Bay, where the reef literally meets the rainforest.

Many people make day trips to Cape Tribulation from Port Douglas and Cairns, but there are camping spots and accommodation options available for those who would like to spend a little more time exploring the area.