The team at Travel Hub has been lucky enough to call Cairns their home for the past year and even have our office based here. Life in Cairns is like living in a tropical paradise, and there is no place quite like it along the East Coast of Australia!
There are so many things to do and places to see while you are in Cairns; there is just so much to offer. We have done all that there is to do in Cairns, so we can give you all the best recommendations for your time in Cairns. Luckily for you, it means that you don’t have to find out for yourself what is good to do. All you need to do is read on to find out what the top things to do in Cairns are!
1. Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
Hitting number one on the list has to be scuba diving or snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. We are lucky enough that the place we call home, Cairns, is the best location to see the Great Barrier Reef! The reason Cairns is the best, is because the outer reef is only an hour’s boat ride out of Cairns. The outer reef has the healthiest coral and the clearest visibility, which means you will see a lot more variety in marine life. While scuba diving or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, you have the chance to see reef sharks and stingrays, and then there is my personal favourite, the turtle! It is such a memorable experience and one for the bucket list, seeing the Great Barrier Reef. There are over 50 different companies in Cairns, but the only difference between them is the style of boat, the capacity, and what reef sites they will go to in a day. So, what are you waiting for, get yourself out on the Great Barrier Reef!
2. Spotting crocodiles on the Daintree River.
The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world, and the Daintree River is the second-most crocodile-infested river in all of Australia. Which means it definitely is high on the list of things to do in Cairns for me personally. You can hop on one of the boats that go along the river with a crocodile expert who will help you spot crocodiles out in the wild. Watch out for one of the biggest crocodiles there, Scarface, who is 5 metres long! While exploring the Daintree Rainforest, you can go searching for a cassowary, which is the largest bird in Australia and has been around since the dinosaurs. Don’t get too close, though; they have been known to karate kick! Or you can visit the famous Cape Tribulation, which is a stretch of beach that unites the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. You definitely feel like you are on an episode of Lost when visiting this beach. To explore the Daintree Rainforest, you can choose between hiring a car to take yourself or going on a day trip where they will do all the hard work for you.
3. Drive the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit.
No trip to Cairns is complete without seeing a waterfall, as there are plenty of waterfalls surrounding Cairns! The majority of the waterfalls around Cairns can be found in the Atherton Tablelands. The best way to see these waterfalls is by hiring a car, grabbing a few friends, and doing the waterfall circuit in the Atherton Tablelands yourself. The first location to add to your itinerary is Lake Eacham. This is a huge volcanic lake where you can take a dip or do some paddleboarding. Another spot is Millaa Millaa Falls, where you can do the famous hair flick from the Herbal Essences advert. Lastly, there is Josephine Falls, where you can have some fun sliding down the natural waterslide! On your journey, you will also have the chance to spot freshwater crocodiles, eels, and even platypuses.
4. Skydive!
You can’t miss out on a skydive while you are in the adventure capital of Australia. Cairns is definitely one of the best locations across Australia to do a skydive. This is because you have breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains of the Wet Tropics Rainforest as well as of the Coral Sea. If you can manage to roll out of bed early enough, we definitely recommend booking the 5:45am session, so you can watch the sunrise as you’re skydiving. There is no better way to wake up in the morning; you certainly won’t need coffee afterwards!
5. Snorkel with turtles on Green Island.
Hop on a short 45-minute ferry journey from Cairns, and you will find yourself on the tropical Green Island. Green Island is a really small island; it actually only takes half an hour to walk straight across it! There is no better way to spend your day than relaxing on a tropical island. You can top up your tan on the beach or even go snorkelling straight off the beach. You might even be lucky enough to spot some turtles, as the island is surrounded by sea grass, which is what they feed on. The best thing is that all you need to do is pay for ferry tickets, and then you can spend your time on the island however you like.
6. Hike on Fitzroy Island.
Similarly, Fitzroy Island is only a 45-minute ferry journey from Cairns. However, Fitzroy Island is a much larger island where you can enjoy hiking within the rainforest on the island. There are a variety of different hikes; if you want something slightly challenging, then you can go for the lighthouse hike. Or for those fitness junkies out there, you can challenge yourself to hike to the summit! While you are there, you definitely have to visit Nudey Beach, which was voted one of the best beaches in the whole of Australia. After a day of hiking and relaxing on the beach, you can treat yourself to a strawberry daiquiri at one of the island bars!
7. Drive up to Port Douglas.
If you have a car while you are in Cairns or decide to hire one for a few days, then you have to make sure to take a trip up to Port Douglas. It is only an hour drive from Cairns, but the route up to Port Douglas is known as the Great Barrier Reef Drive, which is one of the most scenic drives in the whole of Australia. The drive takes you right along the coast, with breathtaking views of the sea and different beaches on route. Port Douglas is a beautiful, quiet coastal town where you can enjoy some delicious food or buy some long-overdue souvenirs. You can also visit Four Mile Beach, where you can enjoy some swimming or beach sports with your friends. Make sure to try some of the freshest seafood you will ever taste while you are up in Port Douglas.
8. Take the bus to the Northern Beaches.
For a cheap and cheerful activity that isn’t going to fit in your budget, you definitely need to visit one of the Northern Beaches by public transport. There are seven different beaches in total that you can visit, which the bus routes will take you directly to. The best thing is that a daily bus pass will only cost you between $5 and $10, depending on how far you are going. The closer beaches are Holloways or Machans Beach, which have a couple of cafes. You can enjoy some swimming or just a relaxing stroll along the coast. Further out, we have my personal favourite Palm Cove, which is one of the best beaches in the whole of Cairns. There are plenty of restaurants serving some tasty food, or you can even go fishing along the jetty.
9. Go white water rafting.
If you want to be the ultimate adrenaline junkie, then you need to go whitewater rafting while you are in Cairns. This will definitely get your heart racing and be an experience that you will never forget. You have two options in Cairns; if you want the most extreme experience, then you should definitely go for Tully River. It is only 2 hours outside of Cairns, and these rapids are graded at grade 4, which is the highest level you can actually experience as grade 5 is illegal! Over the course of 5 hours, you will go on a variety of different rapids that are surrounded by the beauty of the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Another option is the Barron River, which is a slightly calmer alternative. These are graded at level 3, and they only last 2 hours. However, this is still a great option if you are not quite brave enough for Tully River!
10. Explore Kuranda.
Kuranda is a quirky hippy village just outside of Cairns. They have artistic markets where you can get a variety of different bohemian treasures or treat yourself to some yummy food. There are also lots of different attractions to see here, such as the Butterfly Sanctuary, which is the largest butterfly flight aviary in Australia. You can also go see some of the different wildlife sanctuaries where you can see classic Australian animals like koalas, wombats, and kangaroos. On top of that, you can also learn about the Aboriginal heritage of the tribes who lived there, such as their traditional dance performances and how to throw a boomerang. The best way to get to and from Kuranda is to take the scenic railway one way and then the Sky Rail another way. With these options, you can have breathtaking views of the Wet Tropics Rainforest, and you will also make a stop at the spectacular Barron Falls, which is a huge waterfall just outside of Kuranda.
