Visiting the tropical north and wondering what to do in Cairns? From hiking to sailing, there are tons of epic activities you can try. Lucky for you, we made the ultimate travel guide for the most epic things to do in Cairns!
From cruise tours to the World Heritage Site, the Great Barrier Reef to close encounters with crocodiles and butterflies, we’ve got it all for you! So, pack your bags and tick off more stuff on your bucket list as you explore things to do in Cairns!
Here are things to do in Cairns that you can book with Klook:
- Great Barrier Reef Full Day Tour from Cairns
- Whole Day Green Island Reef Cruise Tour from Cairns
- Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail Self- Drive Day Trip
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Park
- Australian Butterfly Sanctuary Cairns
- Fitzroy Island Cruise Transfer
- Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Scenic Helicopter Flight Tour
- Frankland Islands Reef Cruises All Inclusive Day Tour
- Cairns Aquarium
- Barron River Rafting Experience
- Fitzroy Island Day Tour & Water Activities
- Atherton Tablelands Waterfall and Rainforest Tour
- Skydive Experience Cairns
- The Night Markets
- Josephine Falls Tour
1. Great Barrier Reef Full-Day Tour from Cairns
Uncover the Great Barrier Reef’s secrets with this full-day tour! Credits: @downundercruiseanddive
Ever wanted to visit the Great Barrier Reef? Then don’t let this chance slip away, and spend a whole day touring the UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Board a spacious luxury superyacht and enjoy 5 hours of fun-filled exploration of the outer Great Barrier Reef as well as two exclusive reef sites, Saxon or Norman Reef and North Hastings Reef, you can only visit from this tour. Hop into the water and snorkel, or dive deep to see multicoloured coral and other marine life. Be joined by turtles and diverse schools of fish that live in the area. Snorkelling equipment and floatation devices are provided. Professional dive instructors will also be there to help guide you around.
Ride in comfort at the superyacht as they serve a delicious BBQ lunch of fresh fish, steak, salad and prawns after your swim as well as a free glass of wine, cheese, and fruit platter on the return journey.
2. Whole Day Green Island Reef Cruise Tour from Cairns
Get your daily dose of vitamin sea at Green Island!
Embark on a whole day journey on Green Island via a catamaran. Spend at least five hours exploring the reef island’s marine beauty. You can either borrow snorkelling gear onboard and go diving to meet marine wildlife; discover underwater treasures; spend a day on the white sand beach; stroll along rainforest boardwalks to see unique rainforest flora, or opt to view the spectacular underwater reefs in a glass-bottom boat! On the way back, listen to a reef presentation to know more about the surrounding reef.
Choose from the 9 AM tour or the 11 AM package tours, and you’ll soon be on your way to explore the magnificent tropical island.
3. Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail Self- Drive Day Trip
Enjoy Kuranda any way you want! Credits: @kurandavillage
Go beyond the city of Cairns and visit the quaint rainforest town of Kuranda! Explore the area in two ways: by riding the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Kuranda Scenic Rail.
Rise above the lush foliage of the rainforest with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and descend or ascend through the mountainous region of Kuranda, past some waterfalls and rainforest viewpoints. A stop on the Edge lookout gives you an incredible view of Barron Falls.
Going by the Kuranda Scenic Rail takes a little longer, but it doesn’t give you any less of a scenic view! Pass through the sea of trees and you’ll be able to get stunning views of raw Australian nature as you move along.
4. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Park
Discover more about crocodiles at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Park!
Get up close and personal to this famous reptilian predator: the crocodile at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Park! Enjoy an awesome day out as you visit this award-winning park. Go on a journey of learning and meet crocodiles and other local wildlife of the North as well as the coastal melaleuca habitat and the evolutionary process of Australian animals.
Upgrade your experience by booking our Breakfast with Koala package. Enjoy a hot Aussie breakfast by the lagoon and be joined by a friendly Koala.
5. Australian Butterfly Sanctuary Cairns
Befriend butterflies as you tour around the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary! Credit: @australianbutterflysanctuary
Step into the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and be greeted by over a thousand multi-coloured tropical butterflies. Learn more about the different kinds of these gentle creatures, and hear myths and legends from all around the world pertaining to butterflies.
Enjoy a guided tour of the butterfly lab and aviary as well as admission to attractions inside the sanctuary. Don’t forget to snap photos of the beautiful butterflies, most of which are endemic to Australia.
6. Fitzroy Island Ferry Transfer Ticket from Cairns
Stroll along the white sand beach of Fitzroy Island
Looking into going to Fitzroy Island? Book this ferry transfer ticket for the quickest and most effective way to get to the beautiful and unspoiled island. You may pick between a half-day option or a full day. A half-day tour gives you around 2 hours to explore FItzroy Island, departing from Cairns at 11am then departure at Fitzroy is at 2pm. When you avail of the full day tour, you get up to 6 hours to enjoy water activities at Fitzroy Island, as departure from the marina is at 9am while departure at Fitzroy is scheduled at 4pm.
Sail from Cairns Marina aboard a comfortable vessel and reach the pristine shores of Fitzroy Island. Get to visit Australia’s most beautiful beach, Nudie Beach located on the tip of the island, and make sure to snap photos to flex on your Instagram feed! Take part in a range of land and water activities including snorkelling, glass-bottom boat tours, kayaking, island adventures, hiking and much more.
7. Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Scenic Helicopter Flight Tour
Wake up the kid in you with the Sunlover Sunslide! Credits: @sunloverreefcruises
Get the most amazing view of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef in the best way possible: from up above! With this Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Scenic Helicopter Flight Tour, witness more of the Heritage Site landmark than ever before.
Ride on a cruise boat going to Moore Reef then board the pontoon and start the exploration of the largest coral reef on the planet. Kids will absolutely love Sunlover Sunslide, a theme park water slide on the reef, while adults can go snorkelling. Then finally, go on a 10-minute scenic helicopter ride where you'll be treated to a jaw-dropping bird’s eye view of the serene waters. For lunch, feast on a scrumptious lunch buffet and enjoy the ocean view from a window.
8. Frankland Islands Reef Cruises All Inclusive Day Tour
Learn snorkelling from Master Reef guides. Credits @franklandislands
Still looking for things to do in Cairns? Spend your free time doing water activities at the tropical paradise Frankland Islands. Start your day travelling by coach south of Cairns towards Deeral where you'll board a stunning water cruise along the Mulgrave River.
Enjoy a 30-minute cruise to Frankland Islands where you get to spend four hours of a fun-filled tour of the unspoiled island. Borrow snorkelling gear onboard to check out the majestic coral reefs or lay by the beach to get yourself a nice good tan. A marine biologist and Master Reef is also available to guide you on a walk around the island as you discover the diverse wildlife living within the rock pools.
If you prefer to discover the island on your own, you may book the Transfer Only package.
9. Visit Cairns Aquarium
Know more about Australia’s rich marine diversity at Cairns Aquarium! Credits @cairns_aquarium
If you’re looking for time to spend indoors, then visit Cairns Aquarium where you will get to meet (and even feel!) Australia’s diverse marine life and exotic land animal species including grey reef sharks, freshwater sawfish, pythons, tree monitors and more!
Get to travel to ten North Queensland ecosystems in 70 different exhibits at one place, and be prepared to learn many fun facts about the underwater world! Enjoy a savoury lunch surrounded by the life-size aquarium with the lunch package option.
10. Half-Day Barron River Rafting Experience from Cairns or Port Douglas
Conquer the Barron River’s rapids with your crew! Credits: @chdevente
Searching for a thrilling activity to do in Cairns? This exciting rainforest adventure is the one for you!
Experience 2 hours of white water rafting and paddle through the World Heritage-listed Barron Gorge National Park to take on the heart-racing Grade Three rapids of the Barron River. Make sure to hold on tight, and don’t let go when the currents come at your raft!
You may choose a round-trip transfer from Cairns or Port Douglas, or opt for a self-drive.
11. Fitzroy Island Day Tour & Water Activities
Paddle across Fitzroy Island’s calm waters on a paddle board.
Planning to travel to Fitzroy Island? Discover more of the tranquil island when you book this day tour and water activities package!
You may choose from a half-day tour, where you can either pick one from Snorkel Hire or Glass Bottom Tour, or a full-day tour of both water activities. With convenient cruise transfers to and from the island, you get to enjoy the tour as much as you can with less worries! Other water activities on the island include jumping up on an ocean trampoline and exploring the island on a paddleboard.
12. Atherton Tablelands Waterfall and Rainforest Tour
Take a quick dip during this Atherton Tablelands Waterfall and Rainforest tour
Take a break from the busy city life of Cairns and drive to the splendid scenery of Atherton Tablelands. One of the best things to do in Cairns is embarking on the best rainforest hikes and waterfalls in the area with this tour!
Visit the famous Mt. Hypipamee crater and secret Dinner Falls as you stroll along Mt. Hypipamee National Park and discover the gorgeous variety of flora and fauna to majestic waterfalls and world-famous rainforests. Don’t forget to pack your swim gear and go for a dip at Lake Eacham. Josephine Falls, and Millaa Millaa Falls.
13. Cairns Skydive Experience
Cross off skydiving in your bucket list with this Cairns skydive experience! Credits: @1300skydivecairns
It’s time to conquer the skies with this Cairns Skydive Experience! Gather up your courage as you take the plunge and experience 60 seconds of freefall after jumping out of a plane from up to 15,000ft!
Soak in a 360-degree view of the gorgeous landscape of Cairns's tropical climate as you glide over the amazing views of the Great Barrier Reef, World Heritage Rainforest, and Trinity Inlet. Free all your worries as your tandem jumpmaster will take care of your safety. All you have to do is enjoy a bird’s eye view of the most stunning scenery below you.
14. The Night Markets
Search for good finds at Cairns Night Markets! Credits @cairnsnightmarkets
It’s nighttime, which means it’s time to buy souvenirs to commemorate your trip to Cairns! At Cairns Night Markets, purchase locally made goods from 131 stalls. Hunt for bargains from over seventy retail stores then shop from the wide selection of food from the Food Court! From handmade jewellery to glass blowing to Chinese massages, everything can be found at Cairns Night Markets!
15. Josephine Falls Tour
Experience a fun day in the water at Josephine Falls! Credits @tildemah
Book a Josephine Falls tour and enjoy a swim at one of Australia’s most beautiful waterfalls. You may choose from fun day tours to hiking trips, making Josephine falls a perfect destination for backpackers and thrillseekers alike. Public facilities even allow you to set up a BBQ and enjoy a cool picnic beneath the rainforest. Keep an eye out for local wildlife too! The region is known for its wide variety of butterflies and tropical birds.
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