Cairns for cruise visitors – Photo by cog dog

Australia’s endless coastline, settled in pristine ocean waters, ultimately means that several cities serve as excellent ports of call for cruise ships down under. A cruise docking in Cairns allows visitors to take advantage of this beautiful tropical north hub city with local exploration and day trips out to the nearby rainforest, beach towns and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef.

Cruise ship visitors will have easy access to the city of Cairns and can simply walk around the shops and markets, visit various waterfront dining establishments, or hang out at the Esplanade with family. (See things to do in Cairns.)

Or, depending on the amount of time allotted in the cruise itinerary, visitors can venture further from Cairns city on one of the many unforgettable day trip options. Explore Mosman Gorge deep in the Daintree Rainforest, or go crocodile spotting on the Daintree River cruise. Cape Tribulation, also to the north, is known as a secluded rainforest-meets-beach getaway. To the west, the village in the rainforest, Kuranda, is best reached by taking either the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail that sits above the rainforest canopies.

A hot air balloon ride out in Mareeba will be harder to come by given they only set flight in the early morning hours. However, daytime adventurers will get their thrill by air by skydiving over Mission Beach, a hour south of Cairns.

Probably the best shore excursion one could take would actually involve getting back out on the water. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most fascinating natural attractions, and day trips out to a pontoon, from which swimming, snorkeling and diving are all possible, is perfect. Another option would be to check out the Viator shore excursions for Cairns, which at this time involve a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef and Green Island and/or the rainforest.

Just remember that a guided shore excursion is often better for cruise ship visitors since they will help you to keep track of time and get you to attractions in a timely manner.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a trip to Cairns and Cape Tribulation? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Cairns for Cruise Visitors from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

Tropical North Queensland proves itself as a thrill-seeker’s hotspot with this list of adrenaline-pumping activities. The adventure activities near Cairns include skydiving and jungle surfing among many others, and the best part is that these are all accessible from the city of Cairns as a day trip if necessary.

White Water Rafting – Tully
Tully, the home of the big gumboot and also a record for being one of the wettest places in Australia, offers that water curse (or blessing) right back to tourists in the form of adventure. The Tully River has become one of the hottest destinations in Australia for white water rafting.

Skydiving – Mission Beach
If there is one thing Mission Beach is known for, it would be skydiving. Hundreds of tourists up near Cairns add the famous sky dive over the beach experience to their bucket lists – an experience that gives visitors, on the best days, views out to the Great Barrier Reef and back across the rainforest.

Bungy Jumping – Cairns
If looking for a place to bungy jump, one better look to Cairns as it is home to the one and only bungy in Australia – the AJ Hackett. Swan dive from 164ft (50m), or try the Minjin Jungle Swing by yourself or with a mate.

Scuba Diving – Great Barrier Reef
The underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef is brilliant for exploring by swimming and snorkelling, but to get the real rush, one has to get close to the action. Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef can be done from a company’s pontoon as a day trip, or entire multi-day dive trips can be booked for enthusiasts.

Jungle Surfing – Cape Tribulation
The fun term used for ziplining through the rainforests of Australia is jungle surfing. A large jungle surfing setup lies to the north of Cairns in the rainforest canopies of Cape Tribulation. It gives visitors over an hour of tree-top views of one of Australia’s most famous regions – the Daintree Rainforest.

Hot Air Ballooning – Mareeba
Mareeba, to the west of Cairns in the Atherton Tablelands, is home to one of the world’s best environments for hot air ballooning. Rarely, if ever, are rides canceled, and the views once there of the rich farming region are clearly unforgettable.

Quad Biking – Kuranda
Kuranda might normally be known as the peaceful village in the rainforest, easily reached through a couple of other peaceful options (the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail), but quad biking once there brings a little excitement to the table. Get off-road through the tropical rainforest – a truly unforgettable experience. Check out Down and Dirty Quad Biking Tours for getting set up with adventure.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Adventure Activities Near Cairns from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

Cuddle a koala at Cairns Wildlife Dome.

Because Australian wildlife is adorable, unique and fun for all ages, one should not miss an opportunity to get immersed in sanctuaries and wildlife parks while traveling in Australia. The Cairns Wildlife Dome, located above the Reef Hotel Casino in central Cairns, offers visitors the chance to learn more about the Aussie environment, in any weather condition – and you don’t have to take a day trip to do it. Explore an enclosed rainforest ecosystem, chock full of lorikeets, parrots and cockatoos that roam freely next to you. Or, learn about the large reptile population that includes pythons, lizards and a giant crocodile known as Goliath.

Shows operate throughout the day at the Cairns Wildlife Dome and include:

• Bird Feed Out Tour
• Python Talk
• Freshwater Crocodile Talk
• Fish & Turtle Talk
• Koala Talk
• Mammal Talk
• Kookaburra Feeding

Visitors will be happy to know that photos holding koalas can be taken here.

Beyond a unique animal experience, the Cairns Wildlife Dome is also home to The Cairns ZOOm – a ropes challenge course. This course makes its mark as one of the first inside an enclosed wildlife exhibit. Turn a normal experience into something memorable by signing up for this course’s 50 elements – one of which takes visitors ziplining straight over Goliath!

Finish the day by taking a walk around the dome, both inside and out.

The Cairns Wildlife Dome is open from 9am to 6pm, every day of the year except for Christmas; the site closes at 5:30pm on public holidays. Entry fees run $22 for adults and $11 for children.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Cairns Wildlife Dome from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

Cairns Zoo, Red Panda. Photo by Bort1974 via Flickr.

A visit to Cairns will more than likely be filled with activities involving nature and wildlife, which also means that the list of things to do in Cairns with children tends to be pretty much the same as the things to do with people of all ages. Whether it’s snorkeling the reef or cuddling a koala, these activities appeal to travelers young and old. In any case, here’s our list of things to do in and around Cairns targeted to families with kids.

The Great Barrier Reef
Cairns makes a perfect hub city for a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Book a day tour on a boat that will get you out to a pontoon for a day of snorkeling, swimming, and exploring the world’s largest living reef. Children will enjoy trying to find Nemo.

The Cairns Esplanade
For days spent relaxing in the city, a visit to the Esplanade is always pleasing to little ones. The lagoon is a favorite among children, along with the Muddy’s playground.

Cairns Tropical Zoo
The Cairns Tropical Zoo is the place to cuddle koalas and feed kangaroos, as well as see all of Australia’s great creatures including crocodiles, cassowaries and wombats. The zoo is situated 20 minutes north of Cairns in Palm Cove.

Kuranda
The small village in the rainforest, Kuranda, provides children with countless enjoyable activities from ride there on the Kuranda Scenic Railway to the animal parks found once there. The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary gives them the possibly to gaze in awe at nearly 1500 butterflies. In addition, kids will love a visit to BirdWorld, the Koala Gardens or even the Australian Venom Zoo.

Atherton Tablelands / Mareeba
The Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba lie further west than Kuranda, but also provide a number of family friendly activities. For one, families can wake up together with an unforgettable hot air balloon ride. Another option is bush horseback riding around Atherton. Or, they can head to Granite Gorge outside Mareeba in order to feed cute little rock wallabies.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Things to Do in Cairns with Kids from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

A classic coastline outside of Cairns

Cairns Blues Festival: The 3rd annual Cairns Blues Festival will take place on Saturday May 11, 2013. If you’re in central Cairns on this day follow the sounds of the blues to Fogarty Park on the Cairns Esplanade. Check out http://cairnsbluesfestival.com.au/ for more details.

Port Douglas Carnivale: The Carnivale comes to this balmy seaside town for ten days in late May kicking off with a street parade. Join in the food and wine tasting, fashion parades, sporting challenges and awards. More information, including a calendar of events, at http://www.carnivale.com.au/events/.

Coral Coast Triathlon, Port Douglas: Queenslander’s sure love a challenge! Australia’s longest running triathlon kicks off on June 2nd. Participants take a dip in the warm waters of the Coral Sea, then cycle through Port Douglas’s palm-lined streets before running along Four Mile Beach.  Sounds idyllic, does it not?

- Emma McMahon

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

What’s Happening in May? from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

Dive with sea turtles on the Great Barrier Reef

Being located in the tropical north of Queensland, encapsulated with Australian rainforest, the fact that you can encounter a number of interesting creatures in the wild near Cairns is literally no surprise.

Just south of Cairns at Mission Beach, drivers are warned to keep an alert eye and drive slowly given the wild cassowary – a giant dinosaur-like bird – roams freely. Just north of Cairns, near Cape Tribulation, beach-goers are warned to choose their beaches carefully given the prevalence of crocodiles in certain areas.

While these wildlife encounters might be unforgettable, for a safer option, we have compiled a list of the great animal-based attractions available to visitors with comfort in mind.

Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome: A new remodeled Wildlife Dome, on the top level of the Reef Hotel Casino, has now launched an open sanctuary style animal park with ropes course.

Cairns Tropical Zoo: Set upon 14 acres of tropical gardens, the Cairns Tropical Zoo in Palm Cove features reptiles, birds and mammals. Crocodile feedings, bird shows and koala holding are all popular attractions here.

Wildlife Habitat: Walking into the Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas is like walking around in a petting zoo. The habitat houses everything from kangaroos to wallabies to cassowaries. You can also have breakfast or lunch with the birds, so keep tabs on your plate or you might miss out!

Granite Gorge Nature Park: If you have a car, head west past Kuranda for around 90 minutes until you reach Granite Gorge Nature Park. This park is the perfect place to pitch a tent to enjoy waking up with the birds, and it’s a great place to feed and pet the rare rock wallaby.

Great Barrier Reef: The world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef, is located off the east coast of northern Queensland. If you want to snorkel or dive with some unique fish and coral, it’s only a short boat ride away.

Daintree River: Around 2 hours north of Cairns lies the Daintree River on which you can take a boat cruise and do both bird watching and crocodile watching.

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary: Kuranda, the village in the rainforest to the west of Cairns, is home to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary where visitors can get an up-close glimpse of around 1500 tropical butterflies.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Wildlife Encounters Near Cairns from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

Cairns farmers markets – photo by yvonne81 via Flickr.

Outside of Cairns lies some of the most fertile farmland in all of Australia. The Atherton Tablelands, as this area is called, grows numerous types of tropical fruits, vegetables, nuts and coffee beans. Plus, the dairy farming market is popular meaning fresh milk, cream and cheeses are plentiful. Most of these types of products can be bought from the regular farmers markets in Cairns, those of which we explore further in this article.

Rusty’s Farmers Market

More than a place to simply buy your fruit and vegetables, Rusty’s Farmers Market has become an attraction in Cairns with multicultural appeal. Every weekend, locals and tourists gather to explore the spectacle that includes over 180 colorful stalls, food, music, and culture. Even stalls selling Aboriginal or islander specialties make an appearance.

Types of food on offer include: fresh breads, cheeses, nuts, local seafood, handmade pastas, and oils. Other merchandise commonly for sale includes jewelry and clothing. The market runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Sheridan Street in the city center.

Jonsson’s Farm Market

Located just down the Captain Cook Highway to the north of Cairns lies the Jonsson’s Farm Market, a market that comes with a more permanent structure than the weekly Rusty’s market. Still, the Jonsson’s Farm Market sources locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other products – like meat, flowers, and dairy — and sells them either direct or wholesale from their establishment. Think of this as a more permanent farmers market with excellent produce and good prices.

Jonsson’s Farm Market is run today by 4th generation farmers from the Atherton Tablelands area.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Farmers Markets in Cairns from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

Pubs and clubs come to life at night in Cairns. Photo by jemasmith via Flickr.

As a backpacking hub to all the northern Queensland attractions, Cairns houses numerous hostels and backpacker focused restaurants, bars and clubs. What that means is the nightlife is fairly big in Cairns, and also fairly affordable.

The main part of Cairns is but a handful of streets, so when preparing for your night on the town, you will most likely be heading in the same direction. The brunt of the top bars and clubs center on Shields Street, Spence Street, Grafton Street, and Sheridan Street. The beauty of this setup is the fact that most of the party-seekers will congregate into one region giving it an even livelier vibe.

Some top backpacker focused pubs and clubs include:

The Woolshed – Known for its wet t-shirt contests and people dancing on tables, The Woolshed is the ultimate bar for letting loose. They also serve cheap food, too.

Gilligan’s – Gilligan’s is both a 5-star hostel/hotel and a kicking nightclub. With the possibility of hundreds of backpackers on-site, you can be sure that the nightclub is also booming.

PJ O’Brien’s – PJ O’Brien’s boasts being your typical Irish pub, but come nightfall, there is nothing but crazy party shenanigans taking place. From Coyote Ugly girls, to Pole Idol girls, and on to live party bands – the entertainment at PJ’s is hot.

Note: While clubs might be open to the wee morning hours, it is known that they stop letting entry after 3am. Keep that in mind if you plan to step out at any time in the night.

Besides backpacker-focused party pubs and clubs, Cairns does offer a side for the more mature younger traveler. Try out salsa dancing on The Esplanade at the Casa de Meze, or just enjoy classy dinner and drinks right on the waterfront.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Nightlife in Cairns from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

Take a Daintree River Cruise to spot some crocodiles. Photo by Paleontour via Flickr.

Cairns, in Queensland’s tropical north, while a great place to relax acts better as a hub for all the wonderful natural attractions in the region. From here, it is easy to take day trips to explore the rainforest, the reef, a fertile food region and secluded beaches. There are gorges, rivers and plains, not to mention beach towns and rainforest villages. All can be reached on tours or independent exploration from the hub city of Cairns.

Great Barrier Reef
Visitors are but a boat ride away from a pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef – a place where it is possible to swim, snorkel, dive or fly by helicopter in order to explore a magical water world.

Cape Tribulation
Located within the Daintree National Park, accessing Cape Tribulation (an area north of Cairns) opens visitors to the feeling of secluded beaches surrounded by dense rainforest. It’s a beautiful retreat, but swimming here is not always recommended as there is a long stinger season.

Mission Beach
An hour south of Cairns lies Mission Beach, a small beach town known for its skydive the beach attraction, along with the ability to spot potentially a cassowary in the wild.

Kuranda
Known as the village in the rainforest, the act of getting to Kuranda is just as much an adventure as being there. Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail for the ultimate journey through or above the rainforest.

Atherton Tablelands
The Atherton Tablelands can provide a foodie escape for coffee, nut and tropical fruit lovers. Or, it can serve as a great place to take a morning hot air balloon ride.

Daintree River Cruise
The Daintree River serves as home for plenty of big Australian crocodiles. A river cruise allows visitors to relax while spotting birds and, yes, crocodiles from a safe distance.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Best Day Trips from Cairns from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

The beaches near Cairns are a great free thing to visit.

Cairns benefits from being a quaint beach town that works as a hub for dozens of top Queensland attractions. From Cairns, one can easily take a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation, the Atherton Tablelands, Port Douglas, Kuranda and Mission Beach. But, of course, getting to here and there takes a bit of that hard earned travel money, right?

Luckily Cairns is the type of place that is good for relaxing, lounging and having fun in the tropical sunshine while conserving cash for your next day trip adventure. The following list of free things to do in Cairns should keep you occupied.

Hang out at the Esplanade
The Cairns Esplanade, located right on the waterfront, provides a lagoon safe for swimming year round, along with plenty of parkland, barbecues and people. Relaxing at the Esplanade and lagoon can be a full-day affair, and it’s also just a short walk from the town center.

Enjoy the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Just a short 2.5 miles north of Cairns, the Cairns Botanic Gardens is the tropical getaway even those on vacation might just need. These peaceful gardens are filled with plants from both the Northern Australia topics and those from Southeast Asia. Enjoy the rainforest boardwalk, the Centenary Lakes and the Munro Martin Fern House to name a few of the attractions.

Visit the Farmers Markets
Happening every Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the Rusty’s Markets, an eclectic mix of stalls that have turned into a tourist must right in the center of Cairns. From fresh food and produce to handmade soaps and body products, Rusty’s has a little bit of everything – even a vibe that resembles something more like a carnival than anything else. Tourists tend to gather to browse, shop and people watch.

Take a Walk
Some of the most popular walking tracks near Cairns are the two at Mount Whitfield: the Red Arrow and the Blue Arrow. The Mount Whitfield Conservation Park is location just a short 3 miles from Cairns city. Once there, visitors have the option of exploring either the Red Arrow or the Blue Arrow walking track, the latter of which takes around 4-5 hours as opposed to the 1 hour of the former.

Northern Beaches
When the Cairns lagoon has lost its appeal, escape to the Northern Beaches – a collection of resort-style beaches within short driving distances of Cairns. Choose from Kewarra, Palm Cove, Yorky’s Knob and Trinity Beach.

You might also enjoy this post on things to do in Cairns in the summer and romantic things to do in Cairns.

- Brooke Schoenman

Planning a Trip? Browse Viator’s Cairns tours and things to do, Cairns attractions, and Cairns travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Cairns for a customized tour!

Free Things to Do in Cairns from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do