Bursting at the borders with more ancient culture, diverse natural beauty, and adventure than imaginable, Cairns is home to not one but two World Heritage-listed areas: the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest.
Bursting at the borders with more ancient culture, diverse natural beauty, and adventure than imaginable, Cairns is home to not one but two World Heritage-listed areas: the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest.
Explore the Great Barrier Reef from the hub of Cairns, the seaside town of Port Douglas, or even off the Daintree Coast from Cape Tribulation, swimming alongside whales, turtles, clownfish, rays, and giant clams (see: 'The Great 8') before soaring above the rainforest canopy all in one day.
Or explore the Daintree rainforest on foot, walking among the prehistoric flora and fauna, hearing first-hand from your Indigenous guide of the Kuku Yalanji people.
The Atherton Tablelands, the ‘food bowl of the tropics’ is ripe with fruit farms, coffee plantations, gourmet food and wine trails. It’s also home to the unique tree kangaroo, a waterfall circuit, and the natural wonders of the Undara Lava Tubes, Curtain Fig Tree, and the twin crater lakes of Barrine and Eacham.
The vast array of Cairns accommodation options, from luxury resorts and hotels to beachfront villas, holiday apartments or backpacker resorts, means there is something available to suit all budgets and tastes.
Top things to do in Cairns Tropical North Queensland:
- Join a snorkel or dive tour to explore the amazing underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Try to time it with when the curious minke whales pass through (normally from June to August but exact timing varies) to experience an amazing swim with amazing friendly whales.
- Book an overnight or extended day liveaboard dive and sail tour to experience the magic of night diving, falling asleep to the gentle lapping of calm reef waters under a blanket of stars, and waking up to a breathtaking sunrise on the Great Barrier Reef.
- View the beauty and vastness of the Reef from above on a Great Barrier Reef scenic flight. An absolute must-do, once in a lifetime experience!
- Experience a truly unique, immersive Aboriginal cultural tour where you will spend the day walking, hunting, listening and learning all about the ways of the oldest culture in the world.
- Experience an incredible multi night Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest adventure spent getting up close to unique wildlife, exploring the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest, croc spotting on a river cruise and walking along pristine beaches, where the rainforest meets the fringing reef.
- Discover the thrill of Ziplining in the Daintree Rainforest above the untouched beauty of the rainforest canopy.
- From Cape Tribulation, venture along the rugged terrain of the famous Bloomfield Track to Cooktown on a 4WD tour.
- Head up to the Atherton Tablelands, the ‘food bowl of the tropics’ and home to the famous waterfall circuit. Visit up to seven of the best waterfalls on the Tablelands on a scenic, family-friendly Waterfall Day Tour.
- Soar high above the rolling green hills of the Atherton Tablelands at sunrise on a hot air balloon ride.
- After a day of boutique shopping, a luxurious spa treatment, and pool time, go on a sunset sail from the sophisticated seaside town of Port Douglas, sipping on bubbles as the sun sets behind the mountain range.
- Discover outback Queensland or north to Cape York for an adventure of a life time!
Top $$$ saving tip: Enjoy the best of the Great Barrier Reef with our Combo $$$ Saver Deals.
How to get to Cairns:
- Fly - All domestic airlines travel to Cairns Domestic airport. Located right next to the international terminal, both terminals are only minutes from the Cairns CBD.
- Train - Catch the Sunlander high-speed train from Brisbane to Cairns.
- Car hire and accredited coach transfer options are available to take you to your holiday base, whether it’s in Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation, or even south to Mission Beach.
- Palm Cove, halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas is only a 30-minute drive away.
- Port Douglas is only an hour's drive away along one of the most scenic coastal routes in Australia, with the rainforest on one side and the fringing reefs on the other. Hire a car if you want the freedom of venturing the region on your own.
Cairns Accommodation:
When choosing to visit Cairns and explore Tropical North Queensland, you have a great selection of Accommodation options to suit your preference. You can choose to stay in Cairns City with a range hotels and holiday apartments, and easy access to the Cairns Esplanade and dining options.
If you are seeking a beach holiday, then take a look at Cairns Beaches, with the most popular beaches being Palm Cove and Trinity Beach. Palm Cove offers an extensive range of beachfront resorts, holiday apartments and holiday houses. With a relaxed beachside village feel, beachfront restaurants and day spas, Palm Cove is a popular option for couples, honeymooners and also great for families with family friendly cafes, playground and family accommodation.
You could also choose to enjoy a few nights staying at one of the tropical Cairns Island Resorts, or amongst the Rainforest in the Daintree Rainforest.
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