What are the best things to do in Cairns?

The best things to do in Cairns include Reef Teach, bungy jumping, the Cairns Botanic Gardens, the artificial lagoon and the Skyrail to Kuranda. The best day trip options go to Cape Tribulation, the Atherton Tableland and the Great Barrier Reef.

Cairns might not be the largest city in northern Queensland – that honour goes to Townsville. But Cairns is indisputably the region’s tourism hub. This is largely because it is the most accessible gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, but it also has World Heritage-listed rainforest and the Atherton Tableland on the doorstep.

Best things to do in Cairns, Queensland: The City

It’s best to think of Cairns as a fun place to hang out and do day trips from – there aren’t that many things to do in Cairns itself. However, the Cairns Botanic Gardens are worth a look. The themed walking trails here are really informative.

If education is what you’re after, then Reef Teach should be regarded as an essential. This two hour evening presentation from marine biologists explains what the Great Barrier Reef is and how the underwater ecosystem interacts. You’ll learn a lot – including what to look out for while on the Reef. The presentation will almost certainly improve your experience on the Reef trip. The Cairns Aquarium gives good insight, too.

Other Cairns attractions are less intellectually nourishing. The giant artificial lagoon on the Esplanade is an enjoyable, if busy, place to spend a lazy day. It’s one of the world’s biggest swimming pools. It’s also a much better bet than the beaches north of Cairns, which are very much crocodile territory. Kewarra Beach does have a stinger net, however, if you really must.

Nearby is the Reef Hotel and Casino. This is home to the Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome, where you can cuddle a koala then take on a zipwire course.

Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance

From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.

Adrenalin activities in Cairns, Queensland

If the zipwire gives you the adrenalin bug, then Cairns is arguably Australia’s adventure capital. Jet boat rides with Bad Fishy can be taken close the city centre, while Skydive Australia offers tandem skydives from 15,000ft.

Plenty of white water rafting trips depart from Cairns, although they take place on either the Barron or Tully River. Raging Thunder is the main rafting operator.

North of the city in the suburb of Smithfield is Australia’s only bungy jumping site, which offers distinctly terrifying things to do in Cairns. Thrill activities on offer at the Skypark also include the Giant Jungle Swing, which descends 45 metres at speeds of up to 120km/h.

Things to do in Cairns, Queensland: Atherton Tableland

Smithfield is where the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway departs from, too. This cable car stretches 7.5km over the rainforest towards Kuranda. Combination tickets can be bought allowing you to take the Kuranda Scenic Railway in the other direction. This finishes at Cairns station, passing through Barron Gorge and passing several waterfalls. The Queensland town of Kuranda itself has a mediocre, touristy market and a few rather scratty wildlife attractions, including Birdworld Kuranda.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway from Cairns to Kuranda in far north Queensland — The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda is one of the best things to do in Cairns. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

If you want to see the Atherton Tableland properly, you might be better off picking up a hire car in Cairns and driving yourself. That way you can stop off at dozens of food producers such as the Golden Drop winery in Biboohra. You can also see the Cathedral Fig in Danbulla National Park and spot at platypus in Yungaburra or shop at the Yungaburra Markets. Experienced walkers can try climbing Mount Bartle Frere or walking to Windin Falls. Millaa Millaa Falls is further away, but requires less walking.

For rainforest scenery even closer to the city, try the Crystal Cascades, Fairy Falls and Copperlode Dam in the Lamb Range.

What to do in Cairns: Day trips to Cape Tribulation from Cairns

Alternatively, head north past Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures and Port Douglas. The drive from Cairns to Cape Tribulation is one of the most spectacular in the country. You can take in Mossman Gorge and rainforest boardwalks on the way, but the Daintree River is the highlight. Take the Daintree River ferry across, or take a crocodile-spotting cruise.

Once over the river, look out for cassowaries, and discover the jungle town where Captain Cook came a cropper. Cape Tribulation is an underrated base for small group Great Barrier Reef trips.

If you don’t want to drive, several companies offer Cape Tribulation day tours.

Great Barrier Reef cruises from Cairns

But let’s face it, the main reason people come to Cairns is to visit the Great Barrier Reef. There are seemingly hundreds of cruises, so do your research first. Do you want a marine biologist on board? Do you want plenty of beach and island time? Perhaps being able to dive is imperative? Each tour does it slightly differently, so read through what’s on offer before booking.

Find your ideal Great Barrier Reef tours by location

Great Barrier Reef tours run from numerous destinations along the Queensland coast. Different tours cater to different tastes – some make sure they go to the best snorkelling spots, others build in beach time and some throw in extra such as underwater observatories and glass bottom boat tours.

Use the following links to start picking the best Great Barrier Reef tour options where you’re going on holiday.

The best Great Barrier Reef tours in… 1770 | Airlie Beach | Bundaberg | Cairns | Cape Tribulation | Mackay | Magnetic Island | Mission Beach | Palm Cove | Port Douglas | Townsville.

The Cairns Visitor Centre sells several day tours, going to spots such as Green Island, Michaelmas Cay and the Frankland Islands. Fitzroy Island is also very popular, and the Fitzroy Island ferry only takes 45 minutes. But that’s more about fun in the sun than top quality snorkelling. The same applies with the Green Island ferry to Green Island, which also includes a glass bottom boat tour.

This is the great secret that Cairns tour operators prefer not to tell you. The Outer Reef is in much better shape than the Inner Reef, and many Great Barrier Reef cruises from Cairns go to the Inner Reef. Tours heading to the Outer Reef generally depart from Port Douglas after a bus transfer north along the coast. These include the excellent Quicksilver Cruises option, which heads out on a catamaran and moors at a large pontoon next to the Agincourt Reef. This offers great snorkelling, plus diving and underwater viewing in semi-submersible boat.

Outer Reef cruises leaving from the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns go to Moore Reef and Hastings Reef.

It’s also possible to do scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, sometimes landing on islands such as Vlasoff Cay.

Cairns accommodation options include Riley Cairns.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Cairns.

Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday

Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.