Cairns: 3 days of adventures in north Queensland
Cairns is the largest (and only) city in the far northern part of Queensland, Australia. Its a city that often appears on travellers itineraries when visiting Australia, despite being almost a 20 hour drive up the east coast from Brisbane. Cairns is definitely a tourist town. The main reason people come here is to explore the natural wonders found in the surrounding Australian tropical north. With the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Atherton Tablelands in close proximity, a trip to Cairns is all about experiencing nature at its best.
Cairns is very easy to get to from within Australia. Domestic flights depart from most major cities. While its been a while since I’ve been to Cairns personally, you won’t struggle to find accommodation as there are PLENTY of options in this tourist hub. The city is easy to get around on foot, and as mentioned you’ll be wanting to get out of it more often than not to explore the surroundings. You’ll want to spend some time relaxing by the city’s famous Esplanade lagoon, but in this itinerary, I’ll be taking you out on three different tours of the region surrounding Cairns to make the most of your trip to Australia’s tropics.
Day One in Cairns: Snorkel the Reef
Australia’s most impressive natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef, is comprised of a series of coral reefs that date back at least 500 million years. Covering an area of approximately 350,000 square kilometres and impossible to explore fully in one hit, Cairns is one of the best spots to take a tour out onto the reef and see this extraordinarily diverse ecosystem.
Moore Reef Day Trip with Sunlover Cruises
For your first trip out of Cairns, book a day tour out to the reef such as this one from Sunlover Cruises. Most day trips start boarding from Cairns Marina at around 8.30am so be up bright and early to make sure you don’t miss your boat. Once on board, its about a two hour cruise on a high speed catamaran out to the reef, normally stopping it at either Green Island or Fitzroy Island along the way to pick up fellow reef-goers. Spend the trip out on the top deck (make sure you wear your sunscreen) and take in the beauty of the open waters surrounding you as you leave the mainland behind.
Sunlover Cruises operates a platoon out at Moore Reef which is where you’ll spend the day. You’ll be served a buffet lunch on board the catamaran, and from there its reef time. You’ll have around 3 to 4 hours to go out into the surrounding waters to snorkel over the various corals and marine life. The reef is home to over 2,000 species of fish and other marine species – see how many you can spot while following the ropes across the water and exploring your surroundings. You’ll encounter turtles, clownfish (hi Nemo!), anemones and so much more.
When you’re ready to dry off, take another look at Moore Reef by taking a ride on the pontoon’s semi-submersible tour, sit in the underwater observatory chamber or head over the reef on a glass bottom boat. The hours will flick by quickly as you’re out on the Great Barrier Reef. At around 3.30pm you’ll board the catamaran once again for the trip back to Cairns just in time for dinner. What a way to spend a day in the north!
Day Two in Cairns: Kuranda and the Scenic Tablelands
Kuranda is a village perched on the eastern edge of the Atherton Tablelands, abound a thirty minute drive north-west of Cairns. On today’s adventure you’ll be visiting this old hippie village turned arts and culture hub and taking in the scenic ridges of the rainforest covered tablelands. You can do this through another day trip such as this one, or do it yourself by using a ride-share app to get back at the end of the day.
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Start the day by heading over to Cairns Railway Station to board the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which departs daily at 8.30 and 9.30 AM. Get the earlier train to maximise your time out at your destination. Once on board, you’ll set out on a two hour ride up into the tablelands, winding along 34 kilometres of hand dug railway tracks that date all the way back to 1891. The railway is heritage protected and offers incredible views, passing by waterfalls, gorges and mountains. You’ll take this all in from the comfort of an old fashioned train carriage, with audio commentary filling you in on the history of the railway and the surrounding area.
Kuranda and Rainforestation
When you arrive at Kuranda Village, disembark the train and spend a little bit of time wandering through the Heritage Markets where you’ll find merchants selling local handicrafts and souvenirs. The area is home to the local Tjapukai People, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to check out indigenous works of art at the markets.
When you’re ready to move on, take the short trip to the Rainforestation Nature Park. You’ll quickly find there’s a lot to do here, so plan on spending a few hours in the area. Start out by taking a tour of the Koala and Wildlife Park to see koalas, kangaroos, wombats, crocodiles and various other kind of Australian fauna. Get some insight into Aboriginal Australian culture by taking part in the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience which includes a traditional Dance Performance and Dreamtime Walk.
You can even take a tour through the rainforest on board World War II Army Duck vehicles for a completely unique look at thenatural surroundings. Each transport holds 30 people and takes you out for around 45 minutes, both on land and through water, complete with a guide pointing out the key vegetation and wildlife found along the way. The Army Duck Rainforest Tour is definitely one of Rainforestation’s highlights.
If you’re looking for even more to do in Kuranda, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is located nearby, and while I haven’t visited, its another popular tourist attraction in the area. Its the largest butterfly aviary in the Southern Hemisphere.
Return to Cairns via the Skyrail
After spending the day exploring Kuranda and Rainforestation, return to Cairns in style on board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, one of the longest gondola rides in the world. On board, you’ll travel high above the canopy of the rainforest below on board a suspended carriage for 7.5 kilometres. The 45 minute trip provides incredible views and panoramic mountain vistas.
Make sure you stop off along the way at both Barron Falls and Red Peak stations to get even more out of the experience. At both stations you’ll be able to take a quick hike around a boardwalk loop. At Baron Falls you’ll take in views of the cascading falls and mountainous gorges, while at Red Peak you’ll be in the heart of the rainforest at the cableway’s highest point. Back on board your gondola, you’ll eventually arrive at the Caravonica Terminal, for a 15 minute drive back into Cairns.
Day Three in Cairns: Explore the Daintree
Cairns is often referred to as the place where the rainforest meets the city. The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest in the world, going back to over 250 million years ago (yep, that’s dinosaur time!) and being yet another of Australia’s natural wonders. Getting out into the Daintree National Park is a must when you’re in Cairns. You’ll be travelling quite a bit of distance today, so you’ll either need to rent a car or join a tour such as this one.
Mossman Gorge
Your trip into the rainforest to the north of Cairns begins with just over a one hour drive to Mossman Gorge. Upon arriving at the visitor’s centre, take a hike into the gateway to the Daintree. Along the way, your senses will be overcome by nature as you travel along the boardwalks through the vegetation filled surroundings. You’ll see gigantic boulders strewn throughout a river covered valley as you explore the gorge. As you explore, keep an eye out for various forms of rainforest life and listen to the chirping of birds in the tree tops above you. Mossman Gorge is gorgeous and you could easily spend hours wandering about the designated national park. If you have more time, you might want to take the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk to learn the stories of the area from the land’s traditional owners, but on this day trip you’ll need to move on.
Daintree River Cruise
From Mossman Gorge, take a drive through the Daintree Rainforest for another half hour until you arrive at the Daintree River Cruise Centre. Taking a river cruise is the best way to experience the Daintree rainforest, as it also gives you the highest chance of seeing the river’s resident saltwater crocodiles in the wild. Most cruises along the river run for about an hour and provide a relaxing adventure as you make your way downstream. Keep your eyes open for reptiles and and birdlife from on board your boat.
After the cruise, grab lunch at the nearby Daintree Tea House Restaurant which specialises in local fruit produce.
While you could head further north and make it all the way up to Cape Tribulation, known for being the site where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef (the only place on the planet where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet), given that its another few hours to get to the overlooking Alexandra Lookout, its probably a bit too far for a single day trip out of Cairns. I haven’t made it that far north, although I will say the photos of the area look beautiful.
Port Douglas
On your way back to Cairns, stop in at Port Douglas. This town is another popular getaway for tourists in the area and is known for its beautiful Four Mile Beach. After taking a stroll along the beach, spend the rest of your time in town at the excellent Wildlife Rainforest Habitat. This wildlife sanctuary is broken up into three themed zones – the Wetlands, Rainforest and Grasslands, with each area containing different Australian wildlife. Take a guided tour, feed a kangaroo or take a photo with a koala – there’s plenty to keep your occupied on your visit. The animals are all well cared for and are showcased in enclosures emulating their natural habitats. I really enjoyed the Rainforest Habitat and found it to be a great way to follow up exploring the actual rainforest earlier in the day.
After your brief stop in Port Douglas, head back to Cairns for some much needed rest and relaxation after your big day in the Daintree. That’s yet another world heritage site that you’ve seen on your time in the Australian far-north.
How would you spend your time if you were heading to Cairns? Do you have any favourite things to do in the city? Or are there are places you’d visit if you heading beyond?