Destination Info
Welcome to Cairns
Your gateway to the reef and a vibrant seaside city, Cairns is a laid-back tropical city, perfect for sunny days by the water and balmy nights under the stars. From Edmonton to Palm Cove, the heart of the tropical city is the perfect place to stay for many bucket-list experiences. Close to two World Heritage Listed sites, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, from here you can experience land and sea at its best.
City
At the centre of all the action, Cairns city is lined with the popular Cairns Esplanade. Right beside the beautiful Coral Sea, here you’ll find beautiful sunny parks, plenty of alfresco dining options, the sprawling and inviting Cairns Esplanade Lagoon pool, markets and more. With many beautiful resorts and 5-star hotels here, all you want is within walking distance, including your port-of-call for reef experiences, the Cairns Marina.
Visit excellent and exciting attractions like Cairns Aquarium, Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome, The Reef Hotel and Casino and Hemingway’s Brewery near Cairns Marlin Marina. Only 25-minutes inland and you’ll find the most heavenly, pristine natural wonder, Crystal Cascades. Fresh flowing water from waterfalls cascade over large boulders to make for the perfect refreshing swimming holes and natural playground.
Sea
Salty sea air, warm sunshine on your skin and the breathtaking rainbow coral wonderland beneath the water, a reef experience is a must. The world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef is so big it can be seen from space. With so many options to experience this natural wonder, you can snorkel and dive the reef from the Cairns Pier at Reef Experience or head further out to sea on a day cruise. The outer reef pontoons are complete with diving, glass-bottom boat, snuba, helicopter and snorkelling experiences.
Sail across the everchanging turquoise and blue sea and experience the coral reef from the surrounding islands. Green Island, Fitzroy Island, Bedarra Island, Frankland Islands and Lizard Island are lush and vibrant offering incredible reef viewing plus beautiful nature opportunities on land.
Rainforest
Become immersed in beautiful mountainous rainforest, gorges and beaches on a tour or self-drive from Cairns city. Lush green figs, winding vines, giant fan palms and more thrive under the tall canopy of humid rainforest, providing a life-giving experience like no other. Wander the tracks, swim under waterfalls, and see one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Indulge at local restaurants to experience native berries with almost magical qualities and delicious local cuisine. Incredible Daintree Rainforest experiences include Millaa Millaa Falls, Mossman Gorge, Atherton Tablelands and local indigenous tours from Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
Step aboard the historic Kuranda Rail for an experience that will stay with you forever. Travel up to the historic village, see the thunderous Barron Falls, try your hand at spotting a cassowary and float back down above the canopy to the city on the awe-inspiring Skyrail cable cars.