The gateway to Queensland's tropical north, Cairns is a laid-back city best enjoyed outdoors.

By Ellie Schneider

Visit Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest, but don't miss the great things to do in and around town. You'll find brilliant cafés, bustling markets and plenty of beaches nearby. Relax by a resort pool or spend your days exploring this tropical oasis.

Don't miss

• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Kuranda Village
• Tuck into tropical fruits and fresh seafood
• Explore the World Heritage wonders

Top things to do in Cairns

See the Great Barrier Reef

No trip to Cairns is complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system. It's made up of 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands and 300 coral cays. Book a day cruise with operators such as Passions of Paradise or Quicksilver Cruises to snorkel and dive among vivid coral gardens and colourful fish. Options are available to suit a range of budgets. For a longer stay, you can book a three-day liveaboard dive and snorkelling cruise with ProDive Cairns. Book a scenic flight to get an eagle's-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef.

Get your foodie fix

Cairns has a thriving café scene, with many trendy cafés dotted along Grafton and Spence streets. Start the day with breakfast at Caffiend, a laneway café plating up dishes such as chilli eggs and French toast, with cold drip coffee and coconut lattes. Sing Sing Espresso is another popular haunt for coffee and tasty vegan treats. Tuck into wholesome salads at Silk Caffe and then indulge on its Nutella ice coffee. Take advantage of Cairns’ balmy weather and dine alfresco on The Esplanade, with rustic Greek dishes from Yaya’s Hellenic Kitchen and modern Asian fusion from The Raw Prawn. Mingle with the locals at Rusty's Markets (Friday to Sunday), where you can stock up on fresh local produce, including exotic fruits, dairy and seafood, from more than 180 stalls.

Learn about Aboriginal culture

Explore the rich history of the world’s oldest living culture — dating back more than 40,000 years — at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Just 20 minutes outside Cairns, the centre gives guests the opportunity to experience authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through theatre, guided bush walks and didgeridoo shows. About 90 minutes north of Cairns is the Mossman Gorge Centre, an indigenous eco-tourism development that allows visitors to explore the gorge while learning about the local Kuku Yalanji culture and traditions. Travel the Bama Way, an Aboriginal journey from Cairns to north of Cooktown, and experience Queensland from a traditional perspective, from learning to throw a spear to hunting and gathering bush tucker in the mangroves. 

Trek through tropical rainforest...

The World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is about two hours drive north of Cairns and can be seen on a day trip from the city or over the course of two days, staying overnight in one of its wilderness lodges. The tropical rainforest is home to the most diverse range of plants and animals on earth, including the rare tree-dwelling kangaroo and the endangered cassowary. Start your day at the Daintree Discovery Centre where you can walk along the 125 metre (410 foot) long Aerial Walkway through the mid-level rainforest or take a self-guided rainforest tour. Join a gentle cruise down the Daintree River to spot wildlife in its natural habitat, including saltwater crocodiles. On foot you'll find that rainforest meets reef at Cape Tribulation, where you can easily lose hours walking through tropical lowland forest or along stretches of white sand.

...then experience it from above the canopy 

The mountain village of Kuranda is tucked within the tropical rainforest, and is known for its vibrant arts community. Local markets are open daily, selling a range of jewellery, leather goods and Aboriginal art, while bookshops, galleries and boutiques line the village streets. The journey to and from Kuranda is arguably the highlight. The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway glides above the rainforest canopy then descends deep into its heart. The 90 minute experience allows time at two rainforest stations, Red Peak and Barron Falls, where you can walk among lush palm and giant ferns. On your way back to Cairns, you can travel on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway. The two hour train journey traverses dense rainforest, winding past rugged mountains, tumbling waterfalls and the stunning Barron Gorge.

Get extreme 

In Cairns you'll find plenty of activities to get your heart racing. Find some of the best whitewater rafting rapids in Australia on the Tully and Barron rivers or a half day of tubing on the Mulgrave River. Tandem skydives are available for true adrenaline seekers – with aerial views of the Great Barrier Reef an obvious draw – as is bungy jumping at AJ Hackett (where you can also ride the Minjin Jungle Swing). Or discover the beauty of Behana Gorge on a canyoning adventure that will have you trekking, abseiling, cliff jumping and swimming through crystal-clear tropical waters and under the gorgeous waterfalls. Other activities in the area include quad biking, horseriding and hang-gliding.

Go island hopping

Discover some of the reef's unspoiled islands from Cairns. Jump on the 45 minute high-speed ferry to reach picturesque Fitzroy Island. Here you can explore rainforest walking tracks, snorkel straight off the beach at Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach and see the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef by sea kayak. Book a day tour to Green Island, a coral cay surrounded by sugar-white beaches and sapphire waters, just 30 kilometres (19 miles) off the Cairns shore. Go off the grid at Hinchinbrook Island, Australia's largest national park island, and discover a landscape of mangrove forests, isolated beaches and sheltered bays. For a truly exclusive experience, book accommodation at reef-fringed Bedarra or Lizard islands.

How to get there

International flights arrive at Cairns Airport, a 10 to 15 minute drive from the city centre.