Trips
Top Places To Visit in Cairns
Hotels and Homestays in Cairns
Weekend Getaways from Cairns
Kuranda Scenic Railway
126-144 Bunda Street, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
4. Go around in the Kuranda Scenic Railway The historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, put on display a spectacular and exciting two-hour journey through Barron Gorge National Park’s rugged mountains, past beautiful teeming waterfalls, over 40 bridges spanning sheer drops and through 15 tunnels. Jump on the Skyrail, at Kuranda for amazing views over the lush rainforest.
Green Island
Green Island, Cairns, Queensland 4870
If only two words could summarise Green Island, those two words would be; Incredibly Beautiful. Green Island is a coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef, not far off the coast of Cairns. Although there are quite a few tourists and people, that does not disturb the overall beauty, calmness and paradise feel of the place. There are plenty of attractions to fill your half day or full day visit, including snorkelling, paragliding, relaxing on the pristine beach and having a trip in the glass bottom boat or the semi-submarine, both offering unforgettable views of the spectacular and awe-inspiring coral reefs fringing the little island. Green island also features a few shops and eateries as well as a small resort and walking trail that circumnavigates the island, all hidden within island rainforest behind the white beach surrounding the island. We did the half day tour with the tour operator Big Cat Green Island Reef Tours, which allows you 2 hours to explore the island. We got to and from the island from Cairns on the 45 minute high speed catamaran journey and we did a 30 minute Glass Bottom Boat cruise which was truly special and memorising. Green Island is a must do when in Cairns!
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
Cairns Western Arterial Road, Caravonica, Queensland 4870
5. Relive the Aboriginal Life The Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, built on traditional land in a beautiful rainforest setting 15 minutes out of Cairns is immersed in traditional Tjapukai culture with authentic music, dance and storytelling.
Rainforest Skyrail Mid-Station
Kennedy Hwy, Kuranda QLD, Australia
Another day, another tour. Today we set out for the Rainforest Skyrail Cableway and Kuranda Railway. Once again, Andrew drove us to the resort to catch our shuttle, but then ran back home to transport all of the others to the airport. We will be the only guests for the rest of our stay. After boarding it took about fifteen minutes to reach the Red Peak station, the highest point on the cableway at 545 meters or 1,788 feet high, where you get out and explore the rainforest at this point along boardwalks. Umbrellas are provided for those who did not think to bring one. A guide met us and offered us a free walking tour as he pointed out a number of trees and facts about them and this area of the rainforest in general. He was quite impressive with his knowledge. After he completed his tour, we were free to roam the area before boarding another gondola to the next section.
Dundee's Restaurant on the Waterfront
Harbour Lights, 3/1 Marlin Parade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Dundee's Restaurant on the waterfront is a bustling and modern restaurant along the Cairns marina serving up a large menu of high quality meals, including plenty of local seafood and great Aussie meals. The prices are a little on the high side, but the great food, service, atmosphere and energy more than make up for it. If you are adventurous, why not try their popular Seafood platter (2 or more people) or their bush tucker options, including the Kangaroo satay and the Crocodile Satay. We went there on our last night in Cairns for dinner (A Monday Night) before going home, and managed to walk straight in.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Cnr Cairns Western Aerial Rd & Captain Cook Hwy, Smithfield, Queensland 4878
The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a 7.5 kilometre (4.6 mile) cable car journey venturing above the canopy of the lush, hilly and sensational Barron Gorge National park, connecting Cairns with the historic and idyllic village of Kuranda. There are two stops along the way, Red Peak Station and Barron Falls Station. At Red Peak Station, you will stop there for around twenty to thirty minutes and will be able to explore some spectacular rainforest scenery on the boardwalk including some very large and ancient trees. There was a guided tour when we were there, which was very informative. The next stop, Barron Falls station, allows you a similar amount of time to savour in the environment there, which includes lush rainforest, historic displays and the views of the awe inspiring Barron Falls, which drops way down into the Barron Gorge. The trip up to Kuranda (including the two stops) is 1.5 hours while the trip back down to Cairns is 2-2.5 hours. A MUST DO while in Far North Queensland.
Dundee's Restaurant on the Waterfront
Harbour Lights, 3/1 Marlin Parade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Fitzroy Island Dive Centre
in Fitzroy Island National Park, Cairns, Queensland
9. Visit the Fitzroy Island National Park The Fitzroy Island, 29 kilometres south-east of Cairns can be reached with a ferry. Hike or kayak to discover one of the most unspoiled islands on the Great Barrier Reef, teeming with wildlife in mangroves, woodland, pristine rainforest and coral beaches.10. Enjoy the food and nightlife Places like the Red Beret, Salt House and Caffiend provide the exotic delicacies of Australia. Happy Journey!
Rainforest Interpretation Center
Cairns QLD, Australia
In another fifteen minutes of hovering over this incredible site of millions of trees and plants, we arrived at the Barron Falls Station where again we were able to walk around a boardwalk to see and read about various plants and trees. At this station is the Rainforest Interpretation Center where there are a number of displays on the rainforest and its inhabitants both animal and vegetative. We learned that Australia's rainforests are the oldest continually surviving rainforests one earth, dating back 120 million years. This rainforest occupies 900,000 hectares. Australia's rainforests have 2,800 plant species, of which 380 are considered threatened. Seven hundred of them are not found anywhere else in the world. Also calling the rainforest home is the Southern Carrowary, the largest flightless bird of Australia, two types of tree kangaroos, the primitive Musky Rat kangaroo, the largest butterfly of the continent, the Cairns Birdwing. There are three lookouts that provide a great view of Barron Gorge and Falls. We spent a good deal of time wandering here, before boarding another gondola for the balance of the journey.
Barron River
Barron River, Barron QLD, Australia
7. Get engaged in an adventure sport Of the best white-water rafting rapids in Australia on the Barron River and Tully River will make your adventure spirit to ignite. Bungy jump at AJ Hackett’s or ride their Minjin Jungle Swing. Other activities in the area include quad biking, horse-riding and hang-gliding as well.
