Things to Do in Cairns

Book this opportunity to enjoy a hot Australian breakfast at Lilies Restaurant, which is perfect for animal lovers.

Glide over the Great Barrier Reef on a scenic flight from Cairns with picture-postcard views of Green Island, Arlington Reef, Middle Cay, and more, with an informative commentary from the pilot.

This 30-minute scenic helicopter tour departs Cairns airport and tracks out from the mainland with views of the city of Cairns and Trinity inlet, passing False Cape where you can see the remnants of WWII defences, Mt Yarrabah, Mission Bay and Cape Grafton. From there we strike out to the inner edge of the Reef and Green Island, a 6,000 year-old coral sand island that boasts its own native rainforest eco-system. Tracking to the north, we explore the western side of Arlington Reef, home to a diverse range of marine creatures – turtles, sharks and sting rays. Continuing north we’ll circle Vlasoff Cay a tiny sand island in the middle of the reef that reduces to only a few hundred square metres in size at high tide. From Vlasoff Cay we head west, over Upolu Cay and back to Cairns taking in fantastic views of the North Queensland coastline framed by the lush rainforest-covered eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

Experience a marine wildlife safari in one of Queensland's top aquariums

Explore the Great Barrier Reef by both sea and air on our Great Barrier Reef snorkelling & helicopter ride. You'll go on a yacht then hop in a helicopter!

Come face to face with over 15,000 animals, see live coral displays, diver shark feeds, marine and reptile touch tanks, and enjoy informative ecologist talks. Discover 70 different habitats showcasing the stunning diversity of the species

Visit Kuranda by traveling on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and returning by the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Explore the village located in the pristine rainforest and have free time to visit the area.

Diving by Design - Each dive trip is as unique as our guests. Your guide will tailor the day to you! We’re the only one providing genuinely privately guided scuba diving experiences from Port Douglas on the best of the Agincourt Reefs. You’ll experience the Great Barrier Reef in your own private group, with an expert instructor to guide you underwater and show you the best marine life. [Yes, there are other divers on the boat but we do our own thing as a private group.] If you are newly qualified or slightly nervous, our guide is right there to support and assist you. If you’re an experienced diver who wants the freedom to break away from the crowds, we make it happen. If your group is a mix of qualified and unqualified divers, we can still privately guide you all to a maximum of 12m. **Important: With the Viator booking System you must book Certified Divers and Introductory Divers separately with seperate vouchers. The system does not allow for "cart" feature unfortunately.

Visit Kuranda Rainforestation and return along the Kuranda Scenic Railway

Discover one of the most breathtaking ecosystems in the world on this snorkeling tour of the Great Barrier Reef, you'll explore an underwater paradise!

Sail and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and also see white coral sands, relax, take a dip in the shallow waters, and see a crocodile.

Embark on a thrilling ride to the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the stunning Upolu Reef, home to a variety of marine life.

Our travellers love our small groups of like minded people. We seat up to 11 passengers. Our tour guide is qualified and knowledgeable in the Wet Tropics he offers personalised and interactive experiences. The tour offers extensive information on culture, wildlife and history while offering a diverse range of scenery and interactive experiences. A 1 hour Daintree River Cruise to learn and explore the diverse eco system. The chance to see the elusive crocodile the array of birdlife and other species of wildlife. A succulent lunch of Australian Cuisine awaits at the Daintree Tea house before we continue our journey into the oldest rainforest on the planet. At Mossman Gorge we enjoy up to 3 hours of this extraordinary biodiverse environment of flora and fauna. An interactive journey with our guide into the rainforest you learn about cultural history and the significance of the flora and fauna in this region. It is a time to immerse and connect to this extraordinary life experience.

See the best of the best in the Kuranda Rainforest

Imagine soaring above the Queensland rainforest in a cable car and aboard a scenic train. Join us on this captivating journey to Kuranda from Cairns!

With this activity, you will cruise on a fast and comfortable 20M motor catamaran that arrives at the first reef site in the outer edge Upolu Reef in just over an hour.

Explore the diverse ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef on a snorkeling trip from Cairns. Discover the colorful underwater world, enjoy lunch, and upgrade to include a scuba dive.

This tour is so much more than a tasting tour! A full day exploring this diverse region heading west of Cairns is a plateau rising from 400 metres to 1200 metres above sea level on the Great Dividing Range, the Atherton Tablelands. Offering a full comprehensive guided tour visiting ten different locations in one day. We offer an interactive tour with wildlife, nature, history, culture and food. Our guide's experience and knowledge within the Wet Tropics Region deliver interesting and fascinating facts on tour. The tours are personable and intimate enhancing every traveler's experience. Visiting a number of National Parks, local produces, a nature park, and waterfalls while traversing across some of the most scenic natural landscapes in Far North Queensland. We travel in a comfortable modern Toyota Hiace. Please be sure to specify any special requirements for mobility and dietary as we will always do our best to accommodate all our passengers.

Travel through the rainforest aboard the famous Kuranda train

Delve into the rainforest landscapes of Daintree National Park, gaze at views of a World Heritage Rainforest & enjoy a local ice-cream.

Escape to Fitzroy Island, a tropical island on the Great Barrier Reef located only 45 minutes by high-speed ferry from Cairns. Spend your day doing as much or as little as you please, the choice is yours.

Enjoy an adventure of the Great Barrier Reef and visit the tropical Green Island to snorkel the reef and/or hop on the glass bottom boat tour. Take a walk in the rainforest or sip a drink by the pool.

Explore the World Heritage–listed Daintree Rainforest on this private 12-hour tour from Cairns. Traveling in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a naturalist guide, you'll visit Daintree National Park and its natural attractions such as Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation. Discover the lush landscapes of what is most likely the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth, check out the town of Port Douglas, take a ferry ride across the Daintree River, and more.

Spend the day on a tropical island in the Great Barrier Reef

If you want to spend a day among crystal clear waters, paradisiacal beaches and a relaxed atmosphere, choose the Fitzroy Island Ferry Transfer.

Start off your day with an adventurous cruise to Green Island from Cairns and find a tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef!

Set sail to 2 outer reef locations on a high-performance catamaran. Snorkel, swim, dive or just relax onboard as you spot turtles, fish, and exotic corals.

Take the opportunity to learn to dive while you’re in Cairns! With classes limited to eight participants, led by professional and friendly instructors, you’ll learn to dive and earn an internationally recognized PADI certification on your 4-day PADI Open Water dive course. Hotel transfers are included each day, and your course is gradual and safe. Learn basic scuba skills in the classroom, a pool, and confined water dives, then explore the Great Barrier Reef on open-water dives. Once you have successfully completed your course, you’ll be a qualified PADI diver!

Journey through the Australian rainforest, then float above it on a cable car

Visit the remnants of the ancient coral reef that stretched across the Australian outback millions of years ago on our Outback & Chillagoe Day Trip.

Enjoy the Great Barrier Reef snorkel indigenous experience including snorkeling. Visit two amazing Great Barrier Reef sites in one day with Indigenous sea rangers.

Embark on a half-day snorkeling adventure to the Outer Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Enjoy a highly personalized service with experienced snorkel guides and a selection of 15 exclusive moorings.

If you are a keen cyclist you can't miss the opportunity to tour this area with our experienced guide, showing you all the beauty of the area. Tropical North Queensland has a bounty of amazing mountain-bike parks but for sheer recognition one name stands above them all – Smithfield. This iconic rainforest trail network is the oldest mountain-bike park in the country, this world-famous facility offers more than 60km of green, blue and black-rated trails that twist through spectacular vine-clad jungle, over clear-flowing streams and along jagged ridges that overlook the Great Barrier Reef.

Discover northern Australia's amazing wildlife during your visit

Visit paradise on earth with this excursion to Green Island from Cairns. You'll be able to go snorkeling to explore part of the Great Barrier Reef!

Fitzroy Island adventures a half-day tour to one of the most unspoiled islands on the Great Barrier Reef, located only 18.5 miles (30 km) from Cairns to swim and relax.

Discover the only place on earth with 2 natural World Heritage listed sites side by side. Explore the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation Region, Mossman Gorge, all in one adventure-filled day.

Do you want to have your own private tour guide and vehicle all to yourself? Exclusive half day tour takes in three Wet Tropics Rainforest National Parks, and includes a visit to the most famous waterfall in Cairns, the Barron Falls. You’ll see stunning scenery, ranging from lush tropical rainforest to outback Savannah. Visit mighty trees, swim in crystal clear waters. If you have limited time, want to escape the crowds and experience the true tropical rainforest of North Queensland, book this tour today. Please note: the departure times are 7.00 am and 1.00pm, you can change the pick up time to suit but the return time is still 12.00 and 6.00pm

Swimming, snorkeling and a BBQ lunch at the Great Barrier Reef

Enjoy a unique experience and see the beauty of Australia like you've never seen it before with this Cairns hot air balloon ride. Remember this moment forever!

Discover Cairns as you explore the city's rich history, glimpses of its cultural heritage and iconic landmarks. And don't miss a visit to the Cairns Aquarium

Discover two spectacular Outer Great Barrier Reef sites on this full-day superyacht cruise from Cairns. Enjoy snorkeling, gourmet buffet lunch, a glass of wine and cheese, and crackers on the return.