Top 5 Things to do in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

There is nowhere on earth quite like Tropical North Queensland. Nestled between two UNESCO World-Heritage sites, Far North Queensland is where the rainforest meets the reef. Blessed with spectacular beauty, there truly is no better place to connect with nature.

A holiday to Cairns & Great Barrier Reef offers something for everyone, whether you dream of lazing on sun-soaked beaches, exploring pristine islands or soaring through the rainforest. If you’re looking for things to do during your next tropical escape across the ditch, here are five of our must-do Far North Queensland experiences.

Snorkel the Great Barrier Reefsnorkelling-at-the-great-barrier-reef

 

Start your Tropical North Queensland adventure with a snorkelling tour to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Stretching over 2,300 kilometres across the Queensland coast, a trip to this breathtaking natural wonder should be on everyone’s bucket list. With 3,000 separate reefs and over 900 continental islands and coral cays, there’s so much to discover here.

Snorkellers are spoiled for choice in Tropical North Queensland. Trips depart to both the inner and outer reef every day from Cairns, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and Mission Beach, many of which are accompanied by a marine biologist who will point out specific corals and marine life while you snorkel. Plus, many islands, like Fitzroy Island and Green Island, are blessed with fringing coral reefs, so you can simply strap on your mask and snorkel straight from the beach!

As you explore the spectacular underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef, be sure to keep your eye out for the Great Eight. This checklist of must-see marine life includes clownfish, giant clams, manta rays, Maori wrasse, potato cod, sharks, turtles and whales. Who knows, you may just see them all!

Walk Through Ancient Rainforestsswimming-in-the-ancient-daintree-rainforest

Discover the wonders of the ancient Daintree Rainforest during your Tropical North Queensland holiday. Spanning 1,200 square kilometres, the Daintree is one of the most complex ecosystems on earth, home to unique ancient plants as well as thousands of species of animals, birds and reptiles.

Did you know that the Daintree is by far the world’s oldest rainforest? At an estimated 180 million years old, it is tens of millions of years older than even the Amazon! There are endless experiences just waiting within the Daintree Rainforest, from luxury spa treatments and forest trekking to spearfishing and connecting with local Indigenous culture.

Despite its size and rugged nature, the Daintree Rainforest can be easily accessed on a day trip. Join Billy Tea Safaris on their full-day Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation Tour, during which you’ll spot crocodiles on a river cruise, uncover history on a guided boardwalk tour, ride 4WDs through the rugged Bloomfield Track and laze on the sands of Cape Tribulation Beach. Add this one to your Far North Queensland bucket list!

Explore the Atherton Tablelandsswimming-by-a-waterfall-at-the-atherton-tabelands

If you’re looking for more things to do in Far North Queensland, the gorgeous Atherton Tablelands are just waiting to be discovered. This fertile region of rainforest, wetland and savannah is filled with breathtaking scenery and offers a host of unforgettable experiences, from scenic country drives and wildlife spotting to leisurely boat rides and sampling local delicacies.

Foodies in particular will love the Atherton Tablelands. Celebrated for having some of the best food experiences in Tropical North Queensland, there’s an abundance of exciting flavours to try. Here, you can visit Australia’s oldest coffee plantation, graze your way through the farmers’ markets in Yungaburra, enjoy a cheeky drink at a local distillery and sample home-grown produce at one of almost 2,000 farms.

If you need to cool off on a hot Queensland day, the Atherton Tablelands are brimming with natural swimming spots. Go searching for freshwater creeks, natural waterslides and azure lakes dotted throughout the rainforest or follow the World-Heritage Wet Tropics waterfall circuit, which includes natural wonders like Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls.

Get Your Adrenaline Up in Cairnsfeeding-a-crocodile-at-cairns-zoom-and-wildlife-dome

As the gateway to the wonders of Tropical North Queensland, you’ll most likely base yourself in sunny Cairns. If you’re looking for things to do in Cairns, this tropical city is home to an array of exciting local attractions, like the Esplanade Lagoon Pool, Cairns Aquarium and the iconic Cairns Night Markets.

Cairns is also a paradise for adrenaline junkies. Known as the ‘Adventure Capital of Australia’, there are plenty of experiences on offer around Cairns to get your heart racing. Why not brave the rapids of the impressive Barron or Russell rivers on an epic white-water rafting adventure? If you’d rather soar through the rainforest, the world-famous Bungy tower at AJ Hackett Cairns offers an adrenaline-pumping 16-option ‘Jump Menu’.

However, our favourite adventure activity can be found right in the heart of Cairns. Adventure meets wildlife encounters at Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome, where visitors can tackle a high ropes course through a wildlife park. Choose to cuddle a koala or zipline over Goliath, a giant four-metre saltwater crocodile! There’s something for the whole family at this iconic Cairns attraction.

 

Relax on White Sandy Beachesthe-coastline-of-port-douglas

Far North Queensland is blessed with year-round sunny weather, making it the perfect destination for a beachside holiday. You simply can’t visit this Tropical North Queensland without spending a day on a white sandy beach. Whether you’re looking for an endless stretch of sand to laze upon or clear blue water perfect for swimming, the beaches here are sure to hit the spot.

While on a Cairns holiday, you’ll have to head north to find the region’s best beaches. Four Mile Beach in the resort town of Port Douglas boasts a postcard-perfect curve of family-friendly, golden sand while the palm-lined beach at Palm Cove has been named both the cleanest and friendliest beach in Queensland.

Find Your Escape to the Tropics

Ready to hop across the ditch to beautiful Tropical North Queensland? My Queensland offers a range of perfectly packaged holidays, complete with exclusive bonus extras, like room upgrades, resort credits, included dining, local experiences and so much more. It’s all part of the My Queensland difference, which simply can’t be found anywhere else.

You can explore My Queensland’s range of unmissable Cairns & Great Barrier Reef holiday packages here.

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