"I LOVED LIVING IN PARADISE - THERE WAS SO MUCH TO DO!"
Tours & Adventure
WHERE DO WE BEGIN!
Cairns is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia. Millions of tourists visit Cairns each year attracted by the gorgeous natural beautiful and fantastic, tropical weather.
You can book directly with tour operators, or check out Tropical North Queensland’s tourist site for inspiration.
Here is a quick summary of some of the most popular areas to visit
uranda is a village tucked into the rainforest only 40 minutes drive from Cairns City tucked up in the mountains. Most guests take the famous Skyrail Cable Car Ride up and over the rainforest to arrive in Kuranda. Kuranda is small and quaint, with plenty of touristy shops, markets and opportunities to pick up souvenirs.
We love visiting the Butterfly Sanctuary and the Honey House where you can see the bees busy in action before trying the honey.
You can then return back to Cairns via the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a taste of the old days, or catch a local bus.
Port Douglas is a famous town by the sea located 1 hour north from Cairns. Everyone from Hilary Clinton to Brad Pitt has visited at one time or another. It is a small town with one main long street full of shops, boutiques and eateries. At one end of the street is the famous ‘Four Mile Beach’ and the other end is a gorgeous space overlooking the sea and mountains. A very popular place to watch the sunset with a few drinks under the palm trees. In fact the drive to Port Douglas was once voted the most beautiful drive in Queensland. A great day visit, especially on Sundays for the Markets.
Located approximately 2 hours north of Cairns is where the rainforest literally meets the sea! One of the areas in the world where 2 World Heritage Listed areas meet, The Daintree has some of the oldest rainforest in the world (rivalling the Amazon) and Cape Tribulation is where there are a few places to stay and a pub! This is where you will see beautiful beaches, glossy green rainforest and big signs saying ‘crocodiles live here!’. Best to cool off in the hostel pools. Most guests like to visit for the weekend and there are some great activities such as horseriding, crocodile night spotting and beach yoga to keep you out of trouble.
The spectacular Great Barrier Reef really does not need an introduction, being one of the natural wonders of the World. You can visit Green & Fitzroy Islands by boat within 1 hour, however the best reef is on the Outer Barrier Reef. Most tour operators can get to the outer reef within 90-120 minutes depending on the size of the boat. There are various options to consider such as snorkelling, diving, glass bottom boat rides, island visits and the best way to choose is to talk to Peterpans Adventure Travel when you arrive. Each boat is different and depending on your needs they will recommend the best operator to suit you.
The Atherton Tablelands is the area found on the top of the mountains around Cairns (like a table top). This area is rich and fertile and full of plenty of sites to see. Visit dozens of waterfalls, feed wild kangaroos and taste tropical fruits and aussie country culture. There are some great tour operators doing day trips up to the Tablelands, or you can hire a car with a group and make it a full day.
