Cairns

Things to do in Cairns

Australia’s dazzling tropical city, with sunny days and epic natural wonders. With so many sights to see in Cairns, it’s hard to know where to begin, but trying out what the city is famous for usually is a great place to start.

• The City Itself

  We knows Cairns as the gateway to Australia’s best natural wonders, but don’t set off just yet, For Cairns city is a smorgasbord of activities and attractions right inside the city itself. With stunning Harbourfront restaurants, beaches, and an endless amount of boutique shops, you’ll find it hard to fit it all in!

• Atherton Tablelands

  Immerse yourself in the lush greenery of Atherton Tablelands! With thick tropical plants, unique wildlife, and a patchwork of swimming spots, you can bliss out at loads of dreamy destinations within a credit card’s throw of Cairns. With famous sites such as Millaa Millaa Waterfall and ancient volcanic crater lakes, you cannot truly understand the beauty of this region until you see each and every site for yourself. Are you up for the challenge?

• Great Barrier Reef

  What is Australia’s tropics most famous attribute? Why the Great Barrier Reef of course! The city of Cairns is the main hub for tours and boats begin from, picking up travellers straight from their hotel or meeting them at the marina. Visitors can spend their entire day engulfed in blue waters, watching colourful fish and epic marine life whizzing through the stunning coral forest.

• Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation

  Home to the only place in existence where two world heritage sights sit side by side. As luck would have it, Cairns is only a short drive away, giving you a perfect day trip, or even a long weekend away within the lush tropics of the rainforest and beach land. Have your troubles melt away in this simple slice of paradise.

• Palm Cove

  Pictured on many of Queensland’s postcards, Palm Cove is the perfect place to relax. This tropical paradise is a small quiet village, home to pristine beaches, stunning paperback trees, and resort amenities for the rich, famous, and big travel spenders. Only 27 kilometres north of Cairns, you can spend a day or night within this luxury town, and indulge in food, wine, and stunning views.

Related article: When’s the best time to visit Cairns?