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Top things to do in Cairns

Kuranda Scenic Railway Heritage Class Ticket
Parks & gardens • Cairns

Kuranda Scenic Railway Heritage Class Ticket

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (181) • 8K+ booked
From NZ$ 66.35
NZ$ 71.65
Green Island Snorkelling & Glass Bottom Boat Day Tour
Tours • From Cairns

Green Island Snorkelling & Glass Bottom Boat Day Tour

Book now for tomorrow
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.4 (158) • 7K+ booked
NZ$ 156.90
Cairns Aquarium Ticket
Zoos & aquariums • Cairns

Cairns Aquarium Ticket

Book now for tomorrow
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (173) • 10K+ booked
NZ$ 75.39
Great Barrier Reef Half Day and Full Day Tours
Cruises • From Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Half Day and Full Day Tours

Book now for tomorrow
Hotel pick-up
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.5 (182) • 4K+ booked
NZ$ 222.79
Daintree Rainforest & Mossman Gorge Day Tour from Cairns
Fall deal
Tours • From Cairns

Daintree Rainforest & Mossman Gorge Day Tour from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (56) • 1K+ booked
NZ$ 234.85
20 off
Sale
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway Tickets
Observation decks • Cairns

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway Tickets

Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (114) • 3K+ booked
NZ$ 137.15
Great Barrier Reef Full Day Snorkel or Dive Tour from Cairns
Klook's choice
Cruises • From Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Full Day Snorkel or Dive Tour from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
Hotel pick-up
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (248) • 6K+ booked
NZ$ 339.05
Great Barrier Reef Snorkel, Dive & Helicopter Full Day Tour
Klook's choice
Cruises • From Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Snorkel, Dive & Helicopter Full Day Tour

Book now for tomorrow
Hotel pick-up
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (188) • 4K+ booked
NZ$ 542.45
Great Barrier Reef Classic Scenic Flight from Cairns
Tours • From Cairns

Great Barrier Reef Classic Scenic Flight from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Up to 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (36) • 1K+ booked
NZ$ 357.05
Half Day Green Island Reef Cruise from Cairns
Cruises • From Cairns

Half Day Green Island Reef Cruise from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.2 (36) • 3K+ booked
NZ$ 135.90
Cairns Southern Hemisphere Stars Half-Day Natural Wonders Tour
Tours • From Cairns

Cairns Southern Hemisphere Stars Half-Day Natural Wonders Tour

Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (27) • 300+ booked
NZ$ 147.05
Cairns Skydive Experience
Fall deal
Outdoor & sports activities • Cairns

Cairns Skydive Experience

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Up to 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.8 (147) • 2K+ booked
NZ$ 437.65
Green Island Ferry Transfer Ticket from Cairns
Ferries • Cairns

Green Island Ferry Transfer Ticket from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (7) • 700+ booked
From NZ$ 116.15
Cairns car rentals | Rent a car for Great Barrier Reef, Green Island, Kuranda
Car rentals • Cairns

Cairns car rentals | Rent a car for Great Barrier Reef, Green Island, Kuranda

Instant confirmation
6K+ booked
From NZ$ 280
NZ$ 317.50
12 off
Cairns|Cairns International Airport Private Airport Transfer
Private airport transfers • Cairns

Cairns|Cairns International Airport Private Airport Transfer

Bestseller
Instant confirmation
★ 3.9 (19) • 100+ booked
NZ$ 97.29
Fitzroy Island Ferry Transfer Ticket from Cairns
Ferries • Cairns

Fitzroy Island Ferry Transfer Ticket from Cairns

Book now for tomorrow
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.5 (33) • 1K+ booked
NZ$ 133.45
Cairns Private Car Charter
Car charters • Cairns

Cairns Private Car Charter

Customized itinerary
Free cancellation
100+ booked
NZ$ 593.05

Hotels in Cairns

Shangri-La Hotel The Marina, Cairns
Hotels • Cairns

Shangri-La Hotel The Marina, Cairns

Instant confirmation
★ 4.5 (1,009)
From NZ$ 352.10
20 off
Crystalbrook Bailey
Hotels • Cairns

Crystalbrook Bailey

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (1,004)
From NZ$ 285.05
Crystalbrook Riley
Hotels • Cairns

Crystalbrook Riley

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (1,002)
From NZ$ 321.37
20 off
The Abbott Boutique Hotel
Hotels • Cairns

The Abbott Boutique Hotel

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (1,002)
From NZ$ 268.00
Hides Hotel Cairns
Hotels • Cairns

Hides Hotel Cairns

Instant confirmation
★ 3.6 (1,003)
From NZ$ 149.79
Crystalbrook Flynn
Hotels • Cairns

Crystalbrook Flynn

Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (1,002)
From NZ$ 310.55
Cairns Southgate Hotel
Hotels • Cairns

Cairns Southgate Hotel

Instant confirmation
★ 4.9 (9)
From NZ$ 181.84
NZ$ 193.37
Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre
Hotels • Cairns

Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre

Instant confirmation
★ 3.7 (1,007)
From NZ$ 186.96
Hilton Cairns
Hotels • Cairns

Hilton Cairns

Instant confirmation
★ 4.5 (1,012)
From NZ$ 285.38
Bohemia Resort Cairns
Hotels • Cairns

Bohemia Resort Cairns

Instant confirmation
★ 3.1 (1,000)
From NZ$ 120.91
Palm Royale Cairns
Hotels • Cairns

Palm Royale Cairns

Instant confirmation
★ 4.1 (1,000)
From NZ$ 225.82
Pullman Cairns International
Hotels • Cairns

Pullman Cairns International

Instant confirmation
★ 4.4 (1,001)
From NZ$ 259.95

Reviews of Cairns activities

클룩 고객
2026-08-03 01:57:53
Fantastic 5.0
I went on a snorkeling tour. It included boat transportation to and from the island, snorkeling gear rental on the island, and access to showers and a swimming pool there. For lunch, I had Thai food that I bought at the night market the day before. The snorkeling was truly wonderful. The water was very shallow, with lots of coral, and I saw turtles, stingrays, sharks, giant clams, and lionfish. There were many other fish as well. It was a bit cold due to the strong wind and lower water temperature, but I was able to warm up again on the sandy beach.
Thuc *******
2026-08-24 22:17:26
Fantastic 5.0
Service was fast and convenient. The train made a stop at Barron Falls station for us to have a look. Do keep in mind the weather can get windy at times (especially when ascending uphill), so keep a light jacket & hat with you. Upon arriving at Kuranda you'll have roughly 3-4 hours to explore around.
Hwee ****************
2026-06-23 05:14:14
Fantastic 5.0
View of Daintree rainforest from the sky. we switched to 2-way Cable car as the return train ride was pretty late and we were staying at Port Douglas. There were 3 stops and we could see Baron Falls plus walk around the Kurang Village.
Alexander ****
2026-05-17 08:19:11
Fantastic 5.0
Great Tour, very comfortable ship, good Team, good food, very good Overall experience!! Very Special thanks to Simon!! Great German Guido who helped us with our 6year or Child to See everything during the snorkeling! Outstanding guide, he is the Best, especially if you Need help around the Boat and or snorkeling!
Thuc *******
2026-09-02 03:06:16
Fantastic 5.0
Great day tour at the Reef, we got to stop at 2 diving spots and my package also includes 1 helicopter flight. The operator also has a photographer, who helped you took underwater photos which you can purchased later (though it is quite pricey at $20/pic). Lunch is basic (steak, prawns, grilled fish, salad & pasta) but delicious, and the prawns were very fresh. What I wish could have been better is the helicopter flight announcement - it would have been better if they announced my turn roughly 10-15 mins before the flight took off, so I'd have enough time to change to normal clothes (I was snorkelling right before that). Also I believe if passengers are given at least 30 mins before departure to take motion sickness pills, it will work better. Some passengers on my trip took the pill but still got sick, maybe bcoz the pill did not have enough time to take effect (you gotta take it after breakfast, at least 30 mins before departure).
Helen ***
2026-07-01 04:47:30
Fantastic 5.0
the sea turtle hospital is very educational and worthwhile to go
Klook用戶
2026-05-24 08:49:02
Fantastic 5.0
Wonderful experience! Well ogranized for over 100 passsengers, from safety, seating, equipment to lunch and afternoon tea. Great for our first time snorkelling, and staff were friendly. unfortunately, the helicopter was cancelled due to the weather but everything else was good. Even though we got really seasick (although we took tablets), it was totally worth it!
Thuc *******
2026-09-02 03:10:58
Fantastic 5.0
Great day tour to the Daintree, but I do feel like the itinerary is a bit rush. We got too little time stopping at the Mossman River Creek & Cape Tribulation (I really wished we had more time in those places). On the other hand, I really love the welcome to country ceremony & introduction to local indigenous culture - really eye opening experience. The river cruise and walk thru the rainforest also came with clear introduction & excellent guide.
Klook会員
2026-05-21 23:06:37
Fantastic 5.0
I came to Australia for a solo trip to go skydiving. The original date I booked a month in advance was canceled due to operational reasons, and I was asked to reschedule, which also extended my itinerary. However, I still believe it was absolutely worth it to go skydiving. The scenery was incredibly beautiful and truly breathtaking. Although my instructor was a foreigner, they explained everything thoroughly, making it the best experience of my life and an amazing trip. It was around 8:30 AM in late May, and my attire of a T-shirt under a hoodie with long pants was just right. While it was hot on the ground, it's very windy at altitude, so I recommend wearing long sleeves for the jump. Facilities: We met at the site, watched an instructional video, stored our belongings in lockers, and then met our instructors. We then drove to the jump site in a car, with about six people per group.

Quick facts about Cairns

Local weather

  • JAN - DEC
    31°18°

General info
  • Time zone

    No time difference

  • Currency

    1NZD = 0.81AUD

  • Official languages

  • Best time to visit

    Pohoda Music Festival

    Christmas Markets in Bratislava

    Cairns Festival

  • Recommended trip duration

  • Flight time

    When departing from Auckland

What to know before visiting Cairns

Best Cairns Attractions

Great Barrier Reef

When you visit Cairns, exploring the Great Barrier Reef is a must. You can join a boat tour to snorkel or dive among bright coral and tropical fish. It’s one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty around Cairns.

Cairns Esplanade & Lagoon

The Cairns Esplanade is a popular waterfront area where you can walk, bike, or relax by the sea. You can cool off at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, a large saltwater pool that’s perfect for swimming year-round. When you’re in Cairns, this is one of the best free spots to enjoy the city’s outdoor lifestyle.

Kuranda Scenic Railway & Skyrail

A trip to the rainforest village of Kuranda is one of the top things to do in Cairns. You can ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which takes you through waterfalls and mountains, then return on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, gliding above the treetops. This gives you amazing views of the rainforest near Cairns.

Cairns Botanic Gardens

The Cairns Botanic Gardens is the perfect place to see rare tropical plants and learn about the rainforest environment. When you visit Cairns, you can walk through shaded paths, explore different garden sections, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. It’s a great spot for nature lovers and anyone looking for a quiet escape.

Cairns Aquarium

The Cairns Aquarium is a fun and educational attraction where you can learn about reef creatures and rainforest wildlife. When you're in Cairns, this is a great place to see sharks, rays, jellyfish, and even freshwater animals up close. It’s perfect for families and a great indoor activity on rainy days

Tips before visiting Cairns

Prepare for the tropical weather

Cairns has a warm and humid climate, so pack light clothing, sunscreen, and a hat. If you visit during the wet season, be ready for sudden rain and higher humidity

Plan your reef and rainforest tours early

Popular activities like Great Barrier Reef trips, Kuranda tours, and Daintree day trips can sell out fast. When you visit Cairns, it’s best to book these experiences ahead of time so you get the dates and times you want

Stay safe while swimming

If you're visiting during stinger season (November to March), always wear a stinger suit when swimming in the ocean. You can still swim safely at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon or on certain islands with protected swimming areas.

Get a convenient Australia eSIM

For easy internet access and navigation in Cairns, consider buying an Australia eSIM on Klook. It’s quick to set up on your phone and helps you stay connected during tours, driving, and exploring around the city

FAQs about Cairns

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