Cairns
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Top 6 Essential Things To See Around Cairns

Cairns is in the north of the Australian state of Queensland. The area surrounding the city is a natural paradise - there's the Great Barrier Reef, for one thing - so here are a few exhilarating sights you can check out during a visit to the area.

Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Take a boat over to Green Island, where you can stop off and go swimming. Experience the unreal coral colors and stunning wildlife of the reef, illuminated by the sun.

Reef Snorkeling

You may not be able to delve 20,000 leagues under the sea, but you can go snorkeling, which is pretty close! Here's your chance to be a mermaid or merman for a couple of hours.

Kuranda Rainforest

Enjoy this lush tropical rainforest on the ground, or fly over it on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. You can also seamlessly glide from land to water in an amphibious vehicle!

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Experience the culture of the Aboriginal Djabugay people. Enjoy a didgeridoo show, visit a museum with ancient murals, try some Djabugay cuisine, and learn to throw a boomerang.

Undara Lava Tubes

Take a day to explore the Outback and walk around under a volcano - that's not something you get to do every day!

Tully River White Water Rafting

The Tully River hosted the 1991 Australian Canoe and White Water Rafting Championships. Don't worry, though, you're not alone, as each boat holds seven people.

Planning Your Cairns Visit

What should I wear?

Owing to its near-equatorial location, Northern Australia is very hot all year round. Make sure to wear cool, cotton clothing, stay hydrated, and definitely layer up on sunscreen and a hat.

Are there any health and safety tips I should be aware of?

Before your trip, consult your doctor about injections you may need to get. If you are walking around in the rainforest, be sure to bring mosquito repellent - ideally purchased locally, as creams from back home may not be suitable for the climate.

Do I need insurance for outdoor activities?

For extreme sports like white water rafting, it's essential. There can also be an age limit, so if you happen to be under 18, do check in advance if you need to have a parent or guardian with you.

Good to know

  • Language
    English
  • Currency
    AUD ($)
  • Time Zone
    UTC (+10:00)
  • Country Code
    61
  • Best time to visit
    August is the best month to visit, when the weather is warm and sunny, with low humidity, and the peak season is ending.

Things to Do in Cairns

  1. 1Tours
  2. 2Nature & Adventure Tours
  3. 3Nature & Panoramic Tours
  4. 4Cruises & Water Tours
  5. 5Activities
  6. 6Day Trips
  7. 7Sailing Trips & Boat Tours
  8. 8Water Sports
  9. 9Sightseeing Tours
  10. 10Bus & Minivan Tours

Top Attractions in Cairns

  1. 1Great Barrier Reef - Cairns
  2. 2Green Island
  3. 3Kuranda
  4. 4Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
  5. 5Kuranda Scenic Railway
  6. 6Daintree Rainforest

Cities in Australia

  1. 1Sydney
  2. 2Melbourne
  3. 3Adelaide
  4. 4Brisbane
  5. 5Darwin
  6. 6Arnhem Land Region
  7. 7Yulara
  8. 8Alice Springs
  9. 9Perth
  10. 10Hobart

Other Sightseeing Options in Cairns

Want to discover all there is to do in Cairns? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Cairns

Amazing trip! Carlos our guide was awesome!

We had an awesome day exploring! Thank you Carlos for making sure everyone had a great time and keeping us all entertained. Makes it all the better when you have someone who knows history and stories of the places being visited. You rock!

Waterfall, Wildlife and Rainforest Tour from Cairns Reviewed by Macy, 03/06/2019

Great fun, do research not really suitable for everyone. Be fit.

Great way to enjoy nature however rougher then we will all thought. I expected lots of floating and a bit of bumps but to be honest it was the other way round. It is not suitable for everyone you need a level of fitness as you do get tossed about. I am bruised quit a bit and only fell off once. Research a bit better them we did as there was only one person supporting us and really it needed 2 one at front and one at rear to keep us moving and to assist when we all had a tumble. Our guide however was great and supportive .Would I do it again absolutely NOT, others in the group however would. It was not just exactly what I thought.

From Cairns and Northern Beaches: Rainforest River Tubing Reviewed by Joy, 19/05/2019

We had a lovely day - great amenities, good food, riff locations okay.

Overall, we had a really good day! I'll keep it short and just mention what we liked the best and what the least. The best: The friendly staff equipped us with everything we needed, such as wetsuits, snorkeling equipment, floaties, and they offered guided snorkeling tours for swimmers who were insecure (they could hang on to a life preserver) which was amazing for my parents!!! The worst: We chose this tour because they advertised that they would pick from 24 locations depending on riff conditions... well, the second riff they stopped at was a big wall which you couldn't approach because the tide would suck you onto the wall's top which was too shallow that day... that's the opposite of good conditions, I'd say. Now, we still had a great time, which is why I happily give 5 stars, but I just didn't care for the exaggerated advertisement. To end with something positive, though, the food was delicious and the beer prices super fair and the main reef guide very funny and knowledgable.

From Cairns: Premium Great Barrier Reef Catamaran Cruise Reviewed by Anonym, 10/05/2019

Very dedicated staff and very well organized trip!

Really the team of OceanFreedom was very well prepared for all situations, their experience and skills were obvious! Recommend the tour to everyone!

Great Barrier Reef 2-Stop Cruise: Outer & Coral Cay Reefs Reviewed by Viktor, 06/05/2019

Upgrade to Gold Class worth it for adults but too exp. for kids!

More original crafts,clothing,arts, made by local artists/residents is better,too much imported items!Not enough time to see attractions,markets,food, earlier departures,later returns possible??More live performances by local aborigines, didgeridoo playing, traditional painting to show true culture(young gen. dont seem to be interested enough in their heritage), overall still a great exp. my 10 yr old daughter loved it so did l for the second time!

Cairns: Self-Guided Kuranda Day Trip, Scenic Rail & Skyrail Reviewed by Meylen, 06/05/2019
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