17 Amazing Places to Visit and The Best Things to Do in Cairns

March 2, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 842 Views

Cairns is a city in the Queensland state of Australia. The city sits on the northeast coast of Australia in the Cape York Peninsula facing the Great Barrier Reef. The city is surrounded by a variety of landscapes and some of the best things to do in Cairns, Queensland involve exploring those terrains and the animals that reside there.

Towards the ocean side of the Cairns, you will find beaches, bays, islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and the boundless coral sea. Here you will find some of the most beautiful things to see in Cairns, both above and underwater. You can start Cairns sightseeing with the pristine white sand beaches where you can just chill overlooking the ocean. Or leap out of the deckchairs for some fun activities to do in Cairns, Queensland. You enjoy water sports, jet skiing, beach volleyball, restaurants, bars, clubs, and events.

If you venture further towards the ocean, you will come across some of the most exciting Cairns tourist attractions. Here you can go for boat tours to explore the Great Barrier Reef in different ways. You can just cruise over the reef enjoying the view of the ocean and sometimes whales or you can head to the islands to check out some Cairns attractions. Some of these islands have wonderful resorts as well as nature trails. If you feel like enjoying the ocean even more, you go swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving to see corals and aquatic animals. On the other hand, if you want a bird’s eye view of the Great Barrier Reef, try skydiving or a helicopter tour.

On the land side of Cairns travel, you can enjoy a variety of natural landscapes such as forests, wetlands, marshes, river valleys, hills, and more. These are some of the best places to visit in Cairns, Queensland if you want to see native Australian animals like kangaroos, koalas, wombats, crocodiles, and more. There are quite a few nature reserves and national parks to explore during Cairns’s travel. If you wish to go deeper into the woods, you can take a train ride to Kuranda and explore the hills.

Some of the places to go in Cairns have a variety of wildlife safaris in jeeps, boats, and even amphibious WWII army ducks. These tours are also popular to see birds and animals in their natural habitats. On the other hand, the zoos and animal parks in the city let you get up close with some of these animals. These are some of the most memorable things to see and do in Cairns. You can feed a kangaroo, zipline over crocodiles, and hug a cute koala bear. If nothing else, you should visit Cairns just for this experience.

As for the top things to do in Cairns city, you can visit the museums to learn about the history of the city and that of aboriginal tribes. The city also has several art galleries that celebrate Australian and aboriginal arts and crafts. Although, for true cultural experiences you should head to cultural centers like the Rainforest Nature Park. It is one of the must-see places in Cairns.

This place is a living museum, where you can also engage in the aboriginal culture through art, music, dance, and cuisine. You can even learn to throw a boomerang and play didgeridoo. This place also shows you how the aboriginal tribes live in harmony with nature. It is one of the most insightful places to see in Cairns.

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Table of Contents

Top 17 Tourist Places to Visit in Cairns in 6 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Rainforestation Nature Park

This World Heritage Rainforest is spread over 100 acres and is home to many indigenous plants and animals. There are 4 experiences that you can enjoy in this park. First is the Army Duck Rainforest Tour where you explore land and waters to see indigenous plants and animals in an amphibious WWII army duck. It is one of the top things to do in Cairns, Queensland for nature lovers. Second is Koala Wildlife Park where you can take a boardwalk tour to see crocodiles, wallabies, dingos, kangaroos, and more. The other two tours, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and Bushtucker Walk, are cultural Cairns tourist attractions. You can take a guided Dreamtime walk, check out boomerangs, and enjoy traditional dance, music, and food. You need 2 to 3 hours to experience this place.

I suggest you should book your Ticket to Rainforestation Nature Park in advance.

2. Northern Beaches

These Cairns beaches are known for very fine sand, translucent waters, and scenic coastal trails. The northern area also has narrow white sand beaches. These are the best places to visit in Cairns, Queensland for beach activities, leisure, water sports, nightlife, dining, resorts, and shopping. Between November & May, called stinger season, these beaches in Cairns are flooded with box jellyfish. So you should only swim at places with stinger nets. Some of the most popular northern beaches in Cairns include Trinity beach, Kewarra beach, Clifton beach, and Ellis beach. You can easily spend a couple of hours at any of these beaches when you visit Cairns.

I suggest you should try Hot Air Ballooning at Clifton Beach.

3. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

The Barron Gorge National Park in the McAlister Range is one of the oldest forests in the world. The cable car ride takes you above this forest and you can get amazing views of the forest extending endlessly. If you go for Diamond View Gondola, you can also get a cabin with a glass floor. This is one of the top activities to do in Cairns, Queensland for nature photography. You will need an hour for this experience.

I suggest you should book a Kuranda Tour which includes a Ticket to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway.

4. Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

This aboriginal cultural park says that “This is where Australia begins”. The park goes back 40,000 years back exploring the history of Torres Strait Islanders. It is one of the best Cairns attractions if you want to learn about aboriginal culture. The parks peep into religion, music, dance, weapons, warfare, household items, hunting equipments, houses, traditions, art, and more. This place is also known for a variety of fun things to do in Cairns, Queensland including boomerang practice, traditional dance performance, playing a didgeridoo, starting a fire, trying out handicraft, and so on. You will need about an hour or so to experience this place.

5. Cairns Botanic Gardens

These gardens houses more than 4,000 species of plants, both native and foreign. You can get a map for guided tours or audio tours to explore the gardens. The place is popular for natural things to see and do in Cairns. Some of the popular sections in the complex include Aboriginal Use Plants, Bamboo Gardens, Munro Conservatory, Flecker Garden, Mangrove Boardwalk, and Rainforest Boardwalk. The garden is also popular for birdwatching. You need at least an hour for these gardens.

If you are interested in Photography then you must go for a Bug Photography and Nature Walking Tour at Cairns Botanic Gardens.

6. Cairns Esplanade Boardwalk

This beachside boardwalk is the route for some of the best things to do in Cairns city. The boardwalk stretches for 800 meters with beaches, public art, monuments, memorials, picnic spots, playgrounds, swimming pools, skate park, boulder park, volleyball courts, and more. You can also participate in several free activities to do in Cairns such as Zumba, yoga, water aerobics, and other sports. You can easily spend an hour or so along this boardwalk.

Day 2

1. Kuranda Koala Gardens

Although the name says Koala, this place is home to a variety of native Australian animals. It is one of the top things to see in Cairns if want to catch a glimpse of kangaroos, wombats, monitors, crocodiles, quokkas, pademelons, potoroos, geckos, lizards, turtles, snakes, and many more. But, Koalas are still the star attractions of this place. One of the best activities to do in Cairns includes holding a cute & cuddly Koala in your hand and getting a picture taken for memory. You will need about 2 hours to explore this place.

I suggest you should get your Ticket to Kuranda Koala Gardens in advance.

2. Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

This sanctuary houses more than 2,000 of butterflies, all of which are native to Australia. You will see butterflies exhibiting a variety of colours and patterns. It is one of the most interesting places to go in Cairns. You can also learn about the butterfly and silkworm breeding process. One of the exhibits gives you butterfly sight and you can see the world from their perspective. You will need an hour from Cairns travel to explore this place.

I suggest you should book your Entry Ticket to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in advance.

3. Fitzroy Island

This island sits on the Great Barrier Reef Marine park and you need to take a 45-minute boat ride to get here. It is one of the most beautiful places to see in Cairns. The island has pristine beaches, lush forests, and rich wildlife. It was once used as artillery gun emplacement during the second world war. It is also popular for outdoor activities to do in Cairns, Queensland such as kayaking, nature trails, hiking, scuba diving, and snorkeling. You will get to see the beautiful coral of the Great Barrier Reef if you go underwater around this island. You can easily spend half a day or more on Fitzroy Island.

You should book a Full Day Trip to Fitzroy Island from Cairns.

Day 3

1. Kuranda Scenic Railway

This train ride takes you through the McAlister Range and Barron Gorge National Park, both are must-see places in Cairns if you enjoy the wonders of mountains and forests. The train runs between Cairns and Kuranda. You will come across mountains, cliffs, river valleys, waterfalls, and other natural terrains. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this ride.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Trip to Kuranda Scenic Railway in advance.

2. Cairns Wildlife Dome

Under this glass dome is a recreated forest filled with native animals. It is the top spot for adventurous indoor activities to do in Cairns. You can get on a zipline over a crocodile pond, use high ropes to climb the dome (inside & outside), walk over trees, climb rocks, and hug koalas. The place has some of the most fun things to do in Cairns, city. If you to leave with a memorable experience, take a few hours to enjoy here with nature, animals, and adventure.

I suggest you should get your Admission Ticket to Cairns Wildlife Dome in advance.

Day 4

1. Green Island

This is a low island on the coral reef, also called a coral cay, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. You can use a boat or helicopter ride to get to this island. It is known for its luxury resort, pristine white sand beaches, blue water, forests, wildlife, and corals. It is also one of the best Cairns tourist attractions for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boat cruises, and nature trails. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Cairns sightseeing to tour this island.

I suggest you should go for a Full Day Trip to Green Island from Cairns.

2. Palm Cove Beach

This is one of the best and cleanest beaches in Australia. It is a beautiful Cairns beach with fun vibes, beach activities, leisure facilities, restaurants, bars, spas, and more. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this beach in Cairns and enjoying the place.

3. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

This 10 hectares park has 2100 meters of boardwalk, trails, and pathways surrounded by forest and a variety of wild animals. The park also has a lagoon area where you can take a boat ride to see crocodiles and birds. You will need about an hour from Cairns sightseeing to explore this place.

I suggest you should book your Trip to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures in advance.

Day 5

1. Daintree Rainforest National Park

This forest spans 1200 sq km and is the largest continuous tropical rainforest in Australia. It is one of the best places to visit in Cairns to see birds and animals in their natural habitat. The forest is home to 7% of all Australian bird species and 3% of Australian reptiles, amphibians, and marsupials. The national park has several attractions for outdoor activities to do in Cairns, Queensland including boardwalks, ziplines, wildlife tours, river cruises, nature trails, and more. You can easily spend 3 to 4 hours exploring this forest.

I suggest you should book a Full Day Tour of Daintree Rainforest National Park in advance.

2. Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas

Spread over 8 acres, this habitat has elevated boardwalks that let you walk across wetlands, forests, and grasslands. The park has a variety of animals and birds, but it is better known for its unique wildlife interaction experiences. You can enjoy breakfast with crocodiles and birds, hug koalas, swim with crocodiles, photograph with animals, and more. The nocturnal tour at this place is one of the most fun things to do in Cairns at night. You can see how animals behave after the sun goes down. You will need at least 3 hours to explore this place and enjoy experiences with animals.

I suggest you should get your Entrance Ticket to Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas in advance.

Day 6

1. The Great Barrier Reef

This underwater natural landscape is home to 400 types of corals, 4000 molluscs, and 1500 species of aquatic animals. Lucky for those who visit Cairns, it is just a few minutes off the city’s coast. There are actually a lot of ways to explore the wonders of the Barrier Reef. You can cruise over the ocean in a helicopter or skydive towards it from a plane. These are the only ways to admire the scale of the Great Barrier Reef. If you want to get up close, get on a boat. There are a variety of boat tours to choose from, some of which will take you to islands on the Reef. People can also go underwater with snorkeling, scuba diving, and submarine tours to see corals and underwater creatures. These are some of the most beautiful things to see in Cairns. You will need at least 2 to 3 hours to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

I suggest you book a Full Day Great Barrier Reed Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns.

If you are looking for more places to go in Cairns, check out the sections below. We have listed out attractions and activities to do in Cairns and around it.

Things to do in Cairns

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Cairns

Cairns Art Gallery
The Australian Armor & Artillery Museum
Cairns Museum
Tanks Arts Centre
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
Saint Monica’s Cathedral
Mandingalbay Ancient Indigenous Tours
Mulgrave Settlers Museum
Emu Ridge Gallery
Peter Jarver Gallery
Bulmba ja Arts Centre
Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artifacts
Didi La Baysse Art Studio & Gallery
Northsite Contemporary Arts
UnderArt Gallery
Landmark Gallery

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Cairns

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Barron Falls
Rainforestation Nature Park
Crystal Cascades Waterfalls
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
Barron Gorge National Park
Daintree Rainforest National Park
Stoney Creek Falls
Fitzroy Island National Park
Dinden National Park
The Great Barrier Reef
Centenary Lakes Nature Play Space
Glacier Rock
Mount Whitfield Conservation Park
Kuranda National Park
Trinity Inlet
Cattana Wetlands
Crater Lakes National Park
Earl Hill
Fairy Falls
Russel River National Park
Speewah Conservation Park
Lake Morris
Isabella Falls
Jumrum Creek Conservation Park
Flynn Reef
Josephine Falls
Babinda Boulders
Lake Eacham
Stoney Creek
Emerald Creek Falls
Granite Gorge Nature Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Cairns

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Cairns Aquarium
Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome
Kuranda Koala Gardens
Cairns Botanic Gardens
Birdworld Kuranda
Sunflower Reef Cruise
Muddy’s Playground
Skypark Cairns
Paronella Park
Tinaroo Falls Dam
Sugarworld Adventure Park
Cairns Butterfly Sanctuary
Munro Martin Parklands
Cow Barnwell Farms
Cazalys Cairns
Flecker Botanic Gardens
Cairns Wake Park
Goomboora Park
Smithfield Mountain Bike Park
Fig Tree Playground
Copperlode Dam
Aeroglen Lookout
Fogarty Park
Crocodile Park
Golden Drop Winery
De Brueys Boutique Wines
Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery
Murdering Point Winery

Shopping in Cairns

Rusty’s Markets
Cairns Central Shopping Centre
Oceana Walk Arcade
Cairns Night Markets
Civic Shopping Centre
Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets
DFS Galleria
Rusty’s Markets
Smithfield Shopping Centre
Clifton Shopping Village
DFO Cairns
Earlville Shopping Town
Mount Sheridan Plaza

Beaches & Islands in Cairns

Fitzroy Island
Palm Cove Beach
Green Island
Davies Creek
Double Island
Yorkeys Knob
Trinity Beach
Normanby Island
Haycock Island
Barron Beach
Holloway Beach
Palm Cove
Nudey Beach
Clifton Beach
Four Mile Beach
Myall Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Cairns

Cable Car Ride
Train Ride
Boat Cruise
Snorkeling
Scuba Diving
Surfing
Wildlife Safari
Hiking
Trekking
Zipline
Water Sports
Swimming
Boardwalk Trails
Nature Trails
Beach Sports
Island Tours
Bungee Jumping
Skydiving
Helicopter Tour
Kayaking
Animal Interaction Experience
Birdwatching
Whale Watching Tours
Semi Submarine Tour

Sightseeing in Cairns

Cairns Esplanade
Captain Cook Highway
Palm Cove Jetty
Williams Esplanade
Charles Street
Taylor Point

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Cairns

Skybury Cafe & Roastery
Ochre
The Chambers
Prawn Star
Muddy’s Cafe
Moku Bar & Grill
Mi Piace
Dundee’s Restaurants
Jaques Coffee Cafe
Ganbaranba
Guyala Cafe
Tamarind
Cock & Bull
Oaks & Vine
NOA Eat Drink Share
Waterbar & Grill
Salt House
Corea Corea
Mama Coco
Rocco
The Woolshed
Crystalbrook Flynn
Nu Nu Restaurant
Caffiend
Yungaburra Pub
Apex Milk Bar
Chill at Portofino

Where to Stay in Cairns?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Cairns. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Cairns.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Cairns

How to Reach Cairns?

By Air

The city is served by Cairns International Airport. This airport sits 4.3 km northwest of the city. You can get direct flights to visit Cairns from Auckland, Port Moresby, Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne, Osaka, Tokyo, Perth, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, and a few other cities in Australia.

You can get buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport. Some people also choose to walk to the city center, while enjoying Cairns sightseeing. The city center is only 7 km from the airport.

By Road

Cairns sits on one Spirit of Queensland train route. You can embark on Cairns travel from Longreach, Mount Isa, Charleville, Brisbane, and all cities on route to these cities. Through Brisbane, you can reach Cairns from other major cities of Australia. You can also take train from Cairns to visit Kuranda and Forsayth.

You can reach Cairns by road through Bruce Highway route A1. This route directly connects Cairns to Brisbane. Other routes to reach Cairns include National Highway 1 and Captain Hook Highway.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to visit Cairns.

Image Reference

Rainforestation Nature Park – TNQ Kazu / Wikimedia Commons
Northern Beaches – Lenny K Photography / Flickr
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – Matthew and Heather / Flickr
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park – David Wipf / Flickr
Cairns Botanic Gardens – brewbooks / Flickr
Cairns Esplanade Boardwalk – rjcox / Flickr
Kuranda Koala Gardens – Larry Koester / Flickr
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary – Larry Koester / Flickr
Fitzroy Island – Markus / Flickr
Kuranda Scenic Railway – Sei F / Flickr
Cairns Wildlife Dome – John / Flickr
Green Island – skyseeker / Flickr
Palm Cove Beach – John / Flickr
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – Travis / Flickr
Daintree Rainforest National Park – Sam Gao / Flickr
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas – jshyun / Flickr
The Great Barrier Reef – Kyle Taylor / Flickr