Things to Do in Cairns

Things to Do in Cairns, Australia - Cairns Attractions

Things to Do in Cairns

Ways to tour Cairns

Book these experiences for a close-up look at Cairns.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns
815
Full-day Tours
from $118.09 per adult
Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, and Daintree Rainforest Day Trip from Cairns or Port Douglas
347
Bus Tours
from $120.95 per adult
Fitzroy Island Day Trip from Cairns
126
Day Trips
from $58.69 per adult
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Outer Reef Pontoon Experience from Cairns
226
Lunch Cruises
from $142.43 per adult
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns
200
Cable Car Tours
from $124.05 per adult
Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
146
Day Trips
from $68.71 per adult
Skip the Line Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
81
Cable Car Tours
from $167.61 per adult
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Snorkel and Dive Cruise from Cairns by Luxury Catamaran
1,149
Lunch Cruises
from $132.41 per adult
Best of Kuranda Including Skyrail, Kuranda Scenic Railway and Rainforestation
44
Full-day Tours
from $193.15 per adult
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls and Rainforest Day Tour Departing Cairns
131
Bus Tours
from $92.33 per adult

Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours

Top Attractions in Cairns

1. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

Sports Complexes

Open now

Essentially a man-made pool of varying depths with lots of surrounding shade and sand to replicate a lagoon beach.

2. Cairns Botanic Gardens

Gardens

Open now

The tanks are a collection of remnant oil reservoirs, one of which is converted into an art museum.

3. Cairns Aquarium

Aquariums

Admission tickets from $31.49

By Freedom29373391227

The Aquarium is dedicated to the welfare of their animals and are breeding their own coral that will fill the aquarium.

4. Esplanade Boardwalk

Hiking Trails

Open now

Exercise areas including equipment plus informative displays on the history of Cairns & region.

5. Kuranda Scenic Railway

Scenic Railroads

This authentic train (built between1966and 1970) takes you through 15 hand carved tunnels, 55bridges.

6. Muddy's Playground

Playgrounds

Open now

Catering fro all ages up to (in my opinion) 12 years, it is a mixture of interactive water features, play equipment…

7. Josephine Falls

Waterfalls

The water feeding the falls come off Mount Bartle which from memory is the second highest in Queensland.

8. Atherton Tablelands

Nature & Wildlife Areas

The Atherton Tablelands is a unique landscape that has been shaped by recent and violent volcanic activities.

9. The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum

Military Museums

It is actually the largest single collection of armoured fighting vehicles and artillery that exists in the Southern…

10. Green Island

Points of Interest & Landmarks

Every day from 1000 to 1700, guests are no more than "animals in a zoo", for hordes of Chinese, Indians and everything…

11. Michaelmas Cay

Islands • Nature & Wildlife Areas

A large sand bar miles from nowhere mainly inhabited by protected wild life.

12. Rusty's Market

Flea & Street Markets

Once a venue for local producers of fruit and vegetables, locally made food-stuffs and crafts to sell their wares, it…

13. Cairns Museum

History Museums

Admission tickets from $10.74

By PiewackitBlue

Arranged over three levels, it brings the history of Cairns to life by curating personal stories and artefacts in a…

14. Behana Gorge Waterfall

Waterfalls

Heaps of butterfly's, fungi, insects and flowers hidden like jewels amongst the myriad of trees.

15. Night Markets

Flea & Street Markets

Imagine Food Fairs and Warehouse Sales setups held at Singapore's Expo Halls , operating under a "Lau Pa Sat"-like…

16. Captain Cook Highway Rock Stacks

Points of Interest & Landmarks

Dozens of rock stacks standing on the beach at the side of the Captain Cook Highway.

17. St Monica's Cathedral

Churches & Cathedrals

By christinefC2217CH

A series of 24 stunning, large stained glass windows depicting Creation to modern day times( rainforest/ Great Barrier…

18. Nudey Beach

Beaches

By jeanettem190

and multitudes of butterfly fish, gobies, lionfish, barramundi, parrotfish, octopuses - or more correctly, octopodes…

19. Freshwater Station

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

By pauldY7550NU

This historic railway station offers an insight to the early days of the rail line up to the tablelands.

20. The Reef Hotel Casino

Casinos

Open now

By adelaidiantraveller

This is a compact two level casino with table games, poker machines, keno and a betting auditorium.

21. Great Barrier Reef

Reefs

By udaykumarh2015

It is the largest reef structure and Marine Park in the world.

22. DFO Cairns, Direct Factory Outlets

Factory Outlets

Colour and movement with Santa and Elf on electronic animals.

23. Copperlode Dam

Dams

Lake Morris is Cairn's water supply and not unlike other Australian dams managed by Water Supply authorities.

24. Munro Martin Parklands

Parks • Gardens

Open now

Since the 1800s, the park has had many roles from sporting precinct to botanic garden, military base and home to…

25. Cairns Library

Libraries

Open now

The building, which is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, was constructed in 1929 and served as Cairns City…

26. Samurai Gallery Australia

Art Museums

By K2472IQkarenw

This private collection gallery has some japanese shogunate, armour, samurai, and scrolls.

27. Tobruk Memorial Pool

Sports Complexes

Open now

different pools - one heated + Flowrider and Trampolines with inflatable activity course!

28. Mt. Uncle Distillery

Distilleries

By Gabster130913

Award winning distillery providing vodka, gin, rum and liqueurs in botanic inspired bottles.

29. Doongal Aboriginal Art Gallery Cairns

Art Galleries

Open now

We are very happy with our purchase and the lady who sold it to us.

30. Figtree Playground

Playgrounds

By 612daniellal

This beautiful tree has been paired with a giant cubbyhouse of slides and rope bridges and secret hideaways.

1

Day Trips

From quick jaunts to full-day outings.

Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours

Snorkeling

*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cairns

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The best day trips from Cairns according to Tripadvisor travelers are:

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The most popular things to do in Cairns with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:

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