There’s so much to do in Cairns, it can be tough to know where to start. With the Great Barrier Reef in its front yard and the Wet Tropics rainforest out the back, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in this Tropical North Queensland capital. If it’s your first time in Cairns, start with this list of six must-do activities.
Experience magic on the Great Barrier Reef
Reefs weave through oceans across our globe, but there is no system more famous than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a natural phenomenon so vast and dramatic it can be seen from space. A collection of 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching more than 2300km, it’s a spectacle of colourful critters, mighty marine mammals and curious deep-sea organisms.
The Reef Magic Pontoon is the perfect way to take in the reef as it caters for all activity levels.
You’ll start the day with a speedy 90-minute trip on a fast stable motor catamaran before entering the pontoon for a five-hour stay to explore the wonders of the reef, both above and below the water. You can snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon, join Reef Magic’s resident marine biologist on a Guided Snorkel Safari, try Scuba Diving or even Sea Trek Helmet Diving.
If simply relaxing and soaking up the tropical warmth is more your style, then stretching out with a good book on the spacious sundeck might be right up your alley.
In between all the activities, or the relaxation, you’ll be served a delicious morning and afternoon tea plus a hot and cold buffet at lunch time.
Best of all, when travelling with Reef Magic you’ll benefit from the expert local knowledge of an Australian-owned, Cairns-based crew who bring a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.
Read: Splash out on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef
See the city from new heights at Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome
If you’re looking for an adventure in Cairns, take a trip to Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome, the world’s first challenge ropes course in a wildlife park. The immersive wildlife park allows you to get up close and personal with animals during a full-day or half-day tour.
You can have your photo taken with a koala, enjoy interactive Australian wildlife presentations and experience adventure on the Mid-ZOOM and Hi-ZOOM courses with three zip lines – one of which takes participants directly over Goliath, a four-metre saltwater crocodile!
Wander the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Looking for something free to do in Cairns? Check out the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Established in 1886, this 38-hectare paradise is home to rare tropical plants, including one of only two Amorphophallus Titanums in Australia. This Jurassic-looking flowering plant can grow up to 70kg, with each leaf reaching almost seven metres. That makes it comfortably the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world!
The gardens also offer a number of guided walks so you can explore and spot wildlife.
Read: Plan your Tropical North Queensland summer trip
Get your art fix
The stunning natural environment of Tropical North Queensland has been a source of inspiration for many artists over the years. If you’re interested in seeing how this unique landscape has influenced local art, be sure to check out the Cairns Art Gallery and Court House Gallery.
For a taste of Indigenous art, pay a visit to Bulmba-ja, which showcases the works and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Stay in luxury
There are plenty of luxury places to rest your head at night in Cairns.
Shangri-La The Marina puts you in the heart of Cairns, connected to a shopping centre and within a 20-minute stroll of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal.
All rooms have private balconies along with memorable views of the city, the hotel’s tropical gardens, Trinity Bay or Marlin Marina. The rooms are also decorated with local artworks that express the natural beauty of the tropical north.
Crystalbrook Riley goes a step beyond a hotel room feeling like “a home away from home”. Instead, the 5-star hotel thinks your hotel experience should feel better than being at home.
Spend your days lounging in a cabana by the pool sipping on a signature cocktail and book in for some me-time at Eléme Day Spa, where the therapists will personalise your experience to suit your desires. Wind down the day overlooking the ocean at Rocco, Cairns’ only rooftop bar.
Read: Three-day self-drive itinerary on the stunning Tablelands
Hit the shops
Souvenirs come in all shapes and sizes in Tropical North Queensland from pocket-sized linen tea towels to hand-painted didgeridoos.
For treasures from the tropics, hit the shops in the CBD, wandering the Cairns Night Markets, Cairns Central, Oceana Walk, Grafton Streets boutiques, or one of the many local markets.
Have you visited Cairns? Is there anything else you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Having had the pleasure of living/working in FNQ for 4 years, I would add:
Train to Kuranda, cable car back to Cairns – that way you get spectacular views from above the trees coming towards the coast.