Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do

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.

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.

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.

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?

There’s nothing quite as exciting as exploring the depths of a country you’ve never been to. Unless of course you’re doing it on a helicopter and cruise tour and that particular site happens to be the Great Barrier Reef. Undeniably the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most beautiful natural sites (one of the seven natural wonders of the world, in fact). You’ll get to enjoy not just a stunning 25 minute fly-over of the Reef, with complimentary commentary, but then you’ll give into your diving/snorkeling gear, and jump in for a first hand unforgettable experience.

No visit to Cairns is complete without some exposure to regional flora and fauna. The following opportunities are some of the best that the city and the region have to offer. No matter the weather, you’ll be eager and able to explore these wild features of Cairns.