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Experience the best of Cairns & the Tropical North

Cairns is the gateway to Far North Queensland, with the Great Barrier Reef offshore, Daintree rainforest to the north and the Atherton Tablelands inland.

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Cairns sits on Trinity Bay between the sea and a wall of forested ranges. The Esplanade has a public saltwater swimming lagoon and a long boardwalk beside mudflats where wading birds feed, and the Botanic Gardens hold tropical plants and a rainforest boardwalk. The city is the departure point for boats to the Great Barrier Reef, including the coral cay of Green Island and the rocky Fitzroy Island, and for flights over the reef.

North of the city, the Captain Cook Highway follows the coast past Palm Cove to Port Douglas, with the Daintree rainforest and Cape Tribulation beyond, where forest meets reef. Inland, a cableway and a scenic railway climb to the village of Kuranda, and the Atherton Tablelands have crater lakes, waterfalls and farmland. The Wet Tropics rainforest is World Heritage listed and counts among the oldest in the world.

Barramundi, a firm white river fish, is on most menus, alongside tropical fruit such as mango, lychee and custard apple, and coffee grown on the Tablelands. The dry season, from May to October, brings the clearest skies for the reef.

  • 1 hop-on hop-off route
  • Free cancellation on 94% of experiences
  • 4.6 across the top 24

Top 10 attractions in Cairns & the Tropical North

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  1. Number 1

    Great Barrier Reef

    4.717k reviewsfrom $77
  2. Number 2

    Barron Gorge National Park

    4.65k reviewsfrom $92
  3. Number 3

    Green Island

    4.44k reviewsfrom $78
  4. Number 4

    Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

    4.54k reviewsfrom $114
  5. Number 5

    Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

    4.53k reviewsfrom $18
  6. Number 6

    Atherton Tablelands

    4.83k reviewsfrom $163
  7. Number 7

    Kuranda Scenic Railway

    4.43k reviewsfrom $114
  8. Number 8

    Birdworld Kuranda

    4.43k reviewsfrom $17
  9. Number 9

    Rainforestation Nature Park

    4.42k reviewsfrom $50
  10. Number 10

    Cairns Aquarium

    4.71k reviewsfrom $8

Special offers in Cairns & the Tropical North

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Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.

Hop-on hop-off in Cairns & the Tropical North

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Day trips from Cairns & the Tropical North

82

Museums and galleries in Cairns & the Tropical North

6

Cruises and boat trips in Cairns & the Tropical North

11

Guided tours in Cairns & the Tropical North

71

Walking and bike tours in Cairns & the Tropical North

9

Food and drink experiences in Cairns & the Tropical North

8

Outdoor and adventure activities in Cairns & the Tropical North

55

Nature and wildlife tours in Cairns & the Tropical North

13

Desert and safari experiences in Cairns & the Tropical North

8

Family days and theme parks in Cairns & the Tropical North

16

Signature experiences in Cairns & the Tropical North

Go beyond Cairns & the Tropical North

  1. Palm Cove · 23 km

    Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

    6 hr4.5422 reviewsfrom $85
  2. Port Douglas · 59 km

    Mossman Gorge

    8–10 hr4.89k reviewsfrom $106
  3. Port Douglas · 59 km

    Daintree Rainforest

    9 hr4.97k reviewsfrom $32
  4. Mission Beach · 111 km

    Paronella Park

    10 hr4.81k reviewsfrom $44
  5. Townsville · 282 km

    The Strand

    1 hr, 30 min4.634 reviewsfrom $82
  6. Airlie Beach · 484 km

    Coral Sea Marina

    2 hr4.95k reviewsfrom $21
  7. Airlie Beach · 484 km

    Conway National Park

    3 hr, 30 min5.0273 reviewsfrom $53
  8. The Whitsundays & Hamilton Island · 507 km

    Whitehaven Beach

    8 hr4.815k reviewsfrom $88
  9. The Whitsundays & Hamilton Island · 507 km

    Hill Inlet

    8 hr4.811k reviewsfrom $167
  10. Agnes Water · 1,031 km

    Eurimbula National Park

    1 hr4.9313 reviewsfrom $32
  11. Fraser Island · 1,202 km

    Lake McKenzie

    2 days4.97k reviewsfrom $198
  12. Fraser Island · 1,202 km

    Eli Creek

    2 days4.97k reviewsfrom $198

Questions about Cairns & the Tropical North

What is there to do in Cairns & the Tropical North?
We list 255 experiences in Cairns & the Tropical North. The largest groups are day trips (89), attraction tickets (20), hop-on hop-off (6), museum tickets & passes (5).
What are the top attractions in Cairns & the Tropical North?
Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Cairns & the Tropical North are Great Barrier Reef, Barron Gorge National Park, Green Island, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
What is the most popular experience in Cairns & the Tropical North?
By number of traveller reviews it is "Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns", rated 4.7 out of 5 from 3,949 reviews.
Is there a hop-on hop-off bus in Cairns & the Tropical North?
Yes. We list 1 hop-on hop-off bus tour in Cairns & the Tropical North; the most reviewed is "Cairns Hop on Hop Off" with 0 reviews.
How long do tours and tickets in Cairns & the Tropical North take?
The typical experience in Cairns & the Tropical North lasts about 6 hours; the middle half run between 1.5 hours and 9 hours.
Can I cancel a booking in Cairns & the Tropical North?
The operator lists free cancellation on 95% of the 255 experiences we hold for Cairns & the Tropical North. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.

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