Cairns is a city in the Queensland state of Australia. The city sits on the northeast coast of Australia in the Cape York Peninsula facing the Great Barrier Reef. The city is surrounded by a variety of landscapes and some of the best things to do in Cairns, Queensland involve exploring those terrains and the animals that reside there.
Towards the ocean side of the Cairns, you will find beaches, bays, islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and the boundless coral sea. Here you will find some of the most beautiful things to see in Cairns, both above and underwater. You can start Cairns sightseeing with the pristine white sand beaches where you can just chill overlooking the ocean. Or leap out of the deckchairs for some fun activities to do in Cairns, Queensland. You enjoy water sports, jet skiing, beach volleyball, restaurants, bars, clubs, and events.
If you venture further towards the ocean, you will come across some of the most exciting Cairns tourist attractions. Here you can go for boat tours to explore the Great Barrier Reef in different ways. You can just cruise over the reef enjoying the view of the ocean and sometimes whales or you can head to the islands to check out some Cairns attractions. Some of these islands have wonderful resorts as well as nature trails. If you feel like enjoying the ocean even more, you go swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving to see corals and aquatic animals. On the other hand, if you want a bird’s eye view of the Great Barrier Reef, try skydiving or a helicopter tour.
On the land side of Cairns travel, you can enjoy a variety of natural landscapes such as forests, wetlands, marshes, river valleys, hills, and more. These are some of the best places to visit in Cairns, Queensland if you want to see native Australian animals like kangaroos, koalas, wombats, crocodiles, and more. There are quite a few nature reserves and national parks to explore during Cairns’s travel. If you wish to go deeper into the woods, you can take a train ride to Kuranda and explore the hills.
Some of the places to go in Cairns have a variety of wildlife safaris in jeeps, boats, and even amphibious WWII army duck. These tours are also popular to see birds and animals in their natural habitats. On the other hand, the zoos and animal parks in the city let you get up close with some of these animals. These are some of the most memorable things to see and do in Cairns. You can feed a kangaroo, zipline over crocodiles, and hug a cute koala bear. If nothing else, you should visit Cairns just for this experience.
As for the top things to do in Cairns city, you can visit the museums to learn about the history of the city and that of aboriginal tribes. The city also has several art galleries that celebrate Australian and aboriginal arts and crafts. Although, for true cultural experiences you should head to cultural centers like the Rainforest Nature Park. It is one of the must-see places in Cairns.
This place is a living museum, where you can also engage in the aboriginal culture through art, music, dance, and cuisine. You can even learn to throw a boomerang and play didgeridoo. This place also shows you how the aboriginal tribes live in harmony with nature. It is one of the most insightful places to see in Cairns.
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Top 17 Tourist Places to Visit in Cairns in 6 Days (Trip Itinerary)
Day 1
1. Rainforestation Nature Park
This World Heritage Rainforest is spread over 100 acres and is home to many indigenous plants and animals. There are 4 experiences that you can enjoy in this park. First is the Army Duck Rainforest Tour where you explore land and waters to see indigenous plants and animals in an amphibious WWII army duck. It is one of the top things to do in Cairns, Queensland for nature lovers. Second is Koala Wildlife Park where you can take a boardwalk tour to see crocodiles, wallabies, dingos, kangaroos, and more. The other two tours, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and Bushtucker Walk, are cultural Cairns tourist attractions. You can take a guided Dreamtime walk, check out boomerangs, and enjoy traditional dance, music, and food. You need 2 to 3 hours to experience this place.
I suggest you should book your Ticket to Rainforestation Nature Park in advance.
2. Northern Beaches
These Cairns beaches are known for very fine sand, translucent waters, and scenic coastal trails. The northern area also has narrow white sand beaches. These are the best places to visit in Cairns, Queensland for beach activities, leisure, water sports, nightlife, dining, resorts, and shopping. Between November & May, called stinger season, these beaches in Cairns are flooded with box jellyfish. So you should only swim at places with stinger nets. Some of the most popular northern beaches in Cairns include Trinity beach, Kewarra beach, Clifton beach, and Ellis beach. You can easily spend a couple of hours at any of these beaches when you visit Cairns.
I suggest you should try Hot Air Ballooning at Clifton Beach.
3. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
The Barron Gorge National Park in the McAlister Range is one of the oldest forests in the world. The cable car ride takes you above this forest and you can get amazing views of the forest extending endlessly. If you go for Diamond View Gondola, you can also get a cabin with a glass floor. This is one of the top activities to do in Cairns, Queensland for nature photography. You will need an hour for this experience.
I suggest you should book a Kuranda Tour which includes a Ticket to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway.
4. Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
This aboriginal cultural park says that “This is where Australia begins”. The park goes back 40,000 years back exploring the history of Torres Strait Islanders. It is one of the best Cairns attractions if you want to learn about aboriginal culture. The parks peep into religion, music, dance, weapons, warfare, household items, hunting equipments, houses, traditions, art, and more. This place is also known for a variety of fun things to do in Cairns, Queensland including boomerang practice, traditional dance performance, playing a didgeridoo, starting a fire, trying out handicraft, and so on. You will need about an hour or so to experience this place.
5. Cairns Botanic Gardens
These gardens houses more than 4,000 species of plants, both native and foreign. You can get a map for guided tours or audio tours to explore the gardens. The place is popular for natural things to see and do in Cairns. Some of the popular sections in the complex include Aboriginal Use Plants, Bamboo Gardens, Munro Conservatory, Flecker Garden, Mangrove Boardwalk, and Rainforest Boardwalk. The garden is also popular for birdwatching. You need at least an hour for these gardens.
If you are interested in Photography then you must go for a Bug Photography and Nature Walking Tour at Cairns Botanic Gardens.
6. Cairns Esplanade Boardwalk
This beachside boardwalk is the route for some of the best things to do in Cairns city. The boardwalk stretches for 800 meters with beaches, public art, monuments, memorials, picnic spots, playgrounds, swimming pools, skate park, boulder park, volleyball courts, and more. You can also participate in several free activities to do in Cairns such as Zumba, yoga, water aerobics, and other sports. You can easily spend an hour or so along this boardwalk.
Day 2
1. Kuranda Koala Gardens
Although the name says Koala, this place is home to a variety of native Australian animals. It is one of the top things to see in Cairns if want to catch a glimpse of kangaroos, wombats, monitors, crocodiles, quokkas, pademelons, potoroos, geckos, lizards, turtles, snakes, and many more. But, Koalas are still the star attractions of this place. One of the best activities to do in Cairns includes holding a cute & cuddly Koala in your hand and getting a picture taken for memory. You will need about 2 hours to explore this place.
I suggest you should get your Ticket to Kuranda Koala Gardens in advance.
2. Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
This sanctuary houses more than 2,000 of butterflies, all of which are native to Australia. You will see butterflies exhibiting a variety of colours and patterns. It is one of the most interesting places to go in Cairns. You can also learn about the butterfly and silkworm breeding process. One of the exhibits gives you butterfly sight and you can see the world from their perspective. You will need an hour from Cairns travel to explore this place.
I suggest you should book your Entry Ticket to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in advance.
3. Fitzroy Island
This island sits on the Great Barrier Reef Marine park and you need to take a 45-minute boat ride to get here. It is one of the most beautiful places to see in Cairns. The island has pristine beaches, lush forests, and rich wildlife. It was once used as artillery gun emplacement during the second world war. It is also popular for outdoor activities to do in Cairns, Queensland such as kayaking, nature trails, hiking, scuba diving, and snorkeling. You will get to see the beautiful coral of the Great Barrier Reef if you go underwater around this island. You can easily spend half a day or more on Fitzroy Island.
You should book a Full Day Trip to Fitzroy Island from Cairns.
Day 3
1. Kuranda Scenic Railway
This train ride takes you through the McAlister Range and Barron Gorge National Park, both are must-see places in Cairns if you enjoy the wonders of mountains and forests. The train runs between Cairns and Kuranda. You will come across mountains, cliffs, river valleys, waterfalls, and other natural terrains. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this ride.
I suggest you should book a Full Day Trip to Kuranda Scenic Railway in advance.
2. Cairns Wildlife Dome
Under this glass dome is a recreated forest filled with native animals. It is the top spot for adventurous indoor activities to do in Cairns. You can get on a zipline over a crocodile pond, use high ropes to climb the dome (inside & outside), walk over trees, climb rocks, and hug koalas. The place has some of the most fun things to do in Cairns, city. If you to leave with a memorable experience, take a few hours to enjoy here with nature, animals, and adventure.
I suggest you should get your Admission Ticket to Cairns Wildlife Dome in advance.
Day 4
1. Green Island
This is a low island on the coral reef, also called a coral cay, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. You can use a boat or helicopter ride to get to this island. It is known for its luxury resort, pristine white sand beaches, blue water, forests, wildlife, and corals. It is also one of the best Cairns tourist attractions for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boat cruises, and nature trails. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Cairns sightseeing to tour this island.
I suggest you should go for a Full Day Trip to Green Island from Cairns.
2. Palm Cove Beach
This is one of the best and cleanest beaches in Australia. It is a beautiful Cairns beach with fun vibes, beach activities, leisure facilities, restaurants, bars, spas, and more. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this beach in Cairns and enjoying the place.
3. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
This 10 hectares park has 2100 meters of boardwalk, trails, and pathways surrounded by forest and a variety of wild animals. The park also has a lagoon area where you can take a boat ride to see crocodiles and birds. You will need about an hour from Cairns sightseeing to explore this place.
I suggest you should book your Trip to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures in advance.
Day 5
1. Daintree Rainforest National Park
This forest spans 1200 sq km and is the largest continuous tropical rainforest in Australia. It is one of the best places to visit in Cairns to see birds and animals in their natural habitat. The forest is home to 7% of all Australian bird species and 3% of Australian reptiles, amphibians, and marsupials. The national park has several attractions for outdoor activities to do in Cairns, Queensland including boardwalks, ziplines, wildlife tours, river cruises, nature trails, and more. You can easily spend 3 to 4 hours exploring this forest.
I suggest you should book a Full Day Tour of Daintree Rainforest National Park in advance.
2. Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
Spread over 8 acres, this habitat has elevated boardwalks that let you walk across wetlands, forests, and grasslands. The park has a variety of animals and birds, but it is better known for its unique wildlife interaction experiences. You can enjoy breakfast with crocodiles and birds, hug koalas, swim with crocodiles, photograph with animals, and more. The nocturnal tour at this place is one of the most fun things to do in Cairns at night. You can see how animals behave after the sun goes down. You will need at least 3 hours to explore this place and enjoy experiences with animals.
I suggest you should get your Entrance Ticket to Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas in advance.
Day 6
1. The Great Barrier Reef
This underwater natural landscape is home to 400 types of corals, 4000 molluscs, and 1500 species of aquatic animals. Lucky for those who visit Cairns, it is just a few minutes off the city’s coast. There are actually a lot of ways to explore the wonders of the Barrier Reef. You can cruise over the ocean in a helicopter or skydive towards it from a plane. These are the only ways to admire the scale of the Great Barrier Reef. If you want to get up close, get on a boat. There are a variety of boat tours to choose from, some of which will take you to islands on the Reef. People can also go underwater with snorkeling, scuba diving, and submarine tours to see corals and underwater creatures. These are some of the most beautiful things to see in Cairns. You will need at least 2 to 3 hours to explore the Great Barrier Reef.
I suggest you book a Full Day Great Barrier Reed Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns.
If you are looking for more places to go in Cairns, check out the sections below. We have listed out attractions and activities to do in Cairns and around it.
Things to do in Cairns
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Cairns
- Cairns Art Gallery
- The Australian Armor & Artillery Museum
- Cairns Museum
- Tanks Arts Centre
- Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
- Saint Monica’s Cathedral
- Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours
- Mulgrave Settlers Museum
- Emu Ridge Gallery
- Peter Jarver Gallery
- Bulmba ja Arts Centre
- Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artifacts
- Didi La Baysse Art Studio & Gallery
- Northsite Contemporary Arts
- UnderArt Gallery
- Landmark Gallery
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Cairns
- Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
- Barron Falls
- Rainforestation Nature Park
- Crystal Cascades Waterfalls
- Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
- Barron Gorge National Park
- Daintree Rainforest National Park
- Stoney Creek Falls
- Fitzroy Island National Park
- Dinden National Park
- The Great Barrier Reef
- Centenary Lakes Nature Play Space
- Glacier Rock
- Mount Whitfield Conservation Park
- Kuranda National Park
- Trinity Inlet
- Cattana Wetlands
- Crater Lakes National Park
- Earl Hill
- Fairy Falls
- Russel River National Park
- Speewah Conservation Park
- Lake Morris
- Isabella Falls
- Jumrum Creek Conservation Park
- Flynn Reef
- Josephine Falls
- Babinda Boulders
- Lake Eacham
- Stoney Creek
- Emerald Creek Falls
- Granite Gorge Nature Park
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Cairns
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Kuranda Scenic Railway
- Cairns Aquarium
- Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome
- Kuranda Koala Gardens
- Cairns Botanic Gardens
- Birdworld Kuranda
- Sunflower Reef Cruise
- Muddy’s Playground
- Skypark Cairns
- Paronella Park
- Tinaroo Falls Dam
- Sugarworld Adventure Park
- Cairns Butterfly Sanctuary
- Munro Martin Parklands
- Cow Barnwell Farms
- Cazalys Cairns
- Flecker Botanic Gardens
- Cairns Wake Park
- Goomboora Park
- Smithfield Mountain Bike Park
- Fig Tree Playground
- Copperlode Dam
- Aeroglen Lookout
- Fogarty Park
- Crocodile Park
- Golden Drop Winery
- De Brueys Boutique Wines
- Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery
- Murdering Point Winery
Shopping in Cairns
- Rusty’s Markets
- Cairns Central Shopping Centre
- Oceana Walk Arcade
- Cairns Night Markets
- Civic Shopping Centre
- Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets
- DFS Galleria
- Rusty’s Markets
- Smithfield Shopping Centre
- Clifton Shopping Village
- DFO Cairns
- Earlville Shopping Town
- Mount Sheridan Plaza
Beaches & Islands in Cairns
- Fitzroy Island
- Palm Cove Beach
- Green Island
- Davies Creek
- Double Island
- Yorkeys Knob
- Trinity Beach
- Normanby Island
- Haycock Island
- Barron Beach
- Holloway Beach
- Palm Cove
- Nudey Beach
- Clifton Beach
- Four Mile Beach
- Myall Beach
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Cairns
- Cable Car Ride
- Train Ride
- Boat Cruise
- Snorkeling
- Scuba Diving
- Surfing
- Wildlife Safari
- Hiking
- Trekking
- Zipline
- Water Sports
- Swimming
- Boardwalk Trails
- Nature Trails
- Beach Sports
- Island Tours
- Bungee Jumping
- Skydiving
- Helicopter Tour
- Kayaking
- Animal Interaction Experience
- Birdwatching
- Whale Watching Tours
- Semi Submarine Tour
Sightseeing in Cairns
- Cairns Esplanade
- Captain Cook Highway
- Palm Cove Jetty
- Williams Esplanade
- Charles Street
- Taylor Point
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Cairns
- Skybury Cafe & Roastery
- Ochre
- The Chambers
- Prawn Star
- Muddy’s Cafe
- Moku Bar & Grill
- Mi Piace
- Dundee’s Restaurants
- Jaques Coffee Cafe
- Ganbaranba
- Guyala Cafe
- Tamarind
- Cock & Bull
- Oaks & Vine
- NOA Eat Drink Share
- Waterbar & Grill
- Salt House
- Corea Corea
- Mama Coco
- Rocco
- The Woolshed
- Crystalbrook Flynn
- Nu Nu Restaurant
- Caffiend
- Yungaburra Pub
- Apex Milk Bar
- Chill at Portofino
Where to Stay in Cairns?
Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Cairns. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Cairns.
Luxurious Hotels
- Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
- Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
- Mantra Esplanade Cairns
- Pullman Cairns International
- Hilton Cairns
- Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut
- Pacific Hotel Cairns
- Crystalbrook Riley
- North Cove Waterfront Suites
- Cairns Plaza Hotel
Mid-Range Hotels
- Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
- Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside, an IHG Hotel
- Tropical Heritage Cairns
- BreakFree Royal Harbour Cairns
- Park Regis City Quays
- Cairns Harbour Lights
- Sunshine Tower Hotel
- The Benson Hotel
- Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns
Budget Hotels
- Travellers Oasis Backpackers
- Reef Palms
- Summer House Backpackers
- Tasman Holiday Parks – Cairns Cool Waters
- Gilligans Backpackers Hotel & Resort
- Cairns Colonial Club Resort
- Coral Tree Inn
- The Jack Backpackers
- Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront
- NRMA Cairns Holiday Park
Custom Tours Package in Cairns
How to Reach Cairns?
By Air
The city is served by Cairns International Airport. This airport sits 4.3 km northwest of the city. You can get direct flights to visit Cairns from Auckland, Port Moresby, Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne, Osaka, Tokyo, Perth, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, and a few other cities in Australia.
You can get buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport. Some people also choose to walk to the city center, while enjoying Cairns sightseeing. The city center is only 7 km from the airport.
By Road
Cairns sits on one Spirit of Queensland train route. You can embark on Cairns travel from Longreach, Mount Isa, Charleville, Brisbane, and all cities on route to these cities. Through Brisbane, you can reach Cairns from other major cities of Australia. You can also take train from Cairns to visit Kuranda and Forsayth.
You can reach Cairns by road through Bruce Highway route A1. This route directly connects Cairns to Brisbane. Other routes to reach Cairns include National Highway 1 and Captain Hook Highway.
By Water
There are no direct water routes to visit Cairns.
Image Reference
- Rainforestation Nature Park – TNQ Kazu / Wikimedia Commons
- Northern Beaches – Lenny K Photography / Flickr
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – Matthew and Heather / Flickr
- Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park – David Wipf / Flickr
- Cairns Botanic Gardens – brewbooks / Flickr
- Cairns Esplanade Boardwalk – rjcox / Flickr
- Kuranda Koala Gardens – Larry Koester / Flickr
- Australian Butterfly Sanctuary – Larry Koester / Flickr
- Fitzroy Island – Markus / Flickr
- Kuranda Scenic Railway – Sei F / Flickr
- Cairns Wildlife Dome – John / Flickr
- Green Island – skyseeker / Flickr
- Palm Cove Beach – John / Flickr
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – Travis / Flickr
- Daintree Rainforest National Park – Sam Gao / Flickr
- Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas – jshyun / Flickr
- The Great Barrier Reef – Kyle Taylor / Flickr
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