Your go-to guide for the best tours in Cairns by interest

Add these Cairns tours to your travel itinerary.

Don’t let all those laid-back tropical vibes distract you from your travel goal: to see as much of Tropical North Queensland as possible. Cairns tours and day trips are a wonderful way to explore more, but sometimes it’s nice to have someone else show you the way, sharing interesting information along the way.

From voyages out to the Great Barrier Reef and tasting adventures on the Tableland to a jet-ski excursion with crocs, here are the top tours to book in and around Cairns.

Day tours and trips near Cairns

Whether you want to meet the local wildlife, learn something new or raise your adrenaline on the rapids, let go of the reins and jump into one of these epic day tours.

Daintree River Cruise Centre: Ultimate Wildlife Experience Cruise

a boat cruising through the Daintree River — Join a wildlife cruise in the Daintree to see the unique tropical ecosystem. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Perfect for: Nature fanatics

Take a journey on an acclaimed wildlife adventure cruise to fully immerse yourself in the Daintree Rainforest. Leisurely glide along the river as a local guide shares their expert knowledge about the unique tropical ecosystem. Along the way, you’ll see native wildlife such as Estuarine Crocodiles in their natural habitat. Complimentary morning or afternoon tea is included.

Just a three-minute drive away is Daintree Ecolodge if you wish to pick up a deluxe picnic hamper or stop in for a spa treatment or cocktail class.

Price: $40 (adults), $20 (children), or $110 (family)
Location: 2914 Mossman – Daintree Road, Daintree
Tour duration: 60-90 minutes

Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre: Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk

an Indigenous guide on Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk — Immerse yourself in the Indigenous side of the Daintree Rainforest on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Perfect for: Learning from the Traditional Owners

Discover the Indigenous side of the Daintree Rainforest and make your way to Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre to join a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk . ‘Ngadiku’ means ‘stories and legends from a long time ago’ in the local Kuku Yalanji language, and the Dreamtime Walk provides a compelling narrative about the rainforest, including a demonstration on how to use traditional medicinal plants as well as how to identify native food. Traditional tea and damper follow.

Afterwards, wander the national park at your own pace, navigating the different walking tracks and trails, including the popular Gorge Circuit.

Price: $100 (adults), $50 (children), or $250 (family)
Location: Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, 212r Mossman Gorge Road, Mossman Gorge
Tour duration: Approximately 1.5 hours

Pacific Watersports: Kayak Turtle Tour

a sea turtle swimming underwater — Spot hawksbill turtles while exploring. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Perfect for: Marine life enthusiasts

On a Kayak Turtle Tour , embark on a steady 30-minute paddle from Palm Cove Beach across a glimmering stretch of the sea all the way to the reefs that fringe Double Island.

This is where the real exploration begins. Regular marine sightings include green sea turtles, eagle rays, shovel-nose sharks, blue-spotted lagoon rays, colourful fish and white belly sea eagles. Once you’re back on land, enjoy lunch at one of Palm Cove’s tasty restaurants.

Price: $119 (adults), $95 (children), or from $360 (family)
Location: 73a Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove
Tour duration: 3.5-4 hours

White Water Rafting Cairns: Tully River Rafting

White Water Rafting in Tully River, Cairns tours — Conquer the Tully River rapids with Raging Thunder Adventures. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Perfect for: Thrill-seekers

One of the more creative ways to see some of Tropical North Queensland’s most stunning landscapes is on the world-renowned Tully River, conquering awesome grade 3 and 4 rapids.

Not only is a Tully River Rafting Tour guaranteed to thrill, but this full-day outing cascades at high speed through one of the most pristine pockets of rainforest on the planet. The day tour includes a hearty pub dinner at a traditional Queensland country pub. Short on time? There’s also a half-day rafting tour available on the Barron River.

Price: $265pp
Location: Transfer pick-up from Cairns or Mission Beach, or self-drive to Tully
Tour duration: From 10am – 10pm if departing from Cairns

Hot Air Balloon Cairns: Classic Hot Air Balloon Ride

a hot-air balloon ride over Cairns — Marvel at 360-degree views of Cairns on a Classic Hot Air Balloon Ride. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for: Couple romance

Only taking half a day, a Classic Cairns Hot Air Balloon Ride with Return Transfers lets you experience something phenomenal, yet you’ve got the rest of the afternoon to enjoy at leisure.

Offering 360-degree views of what looks like a little miniature world, a hot-air balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands will change your perspective on the highland plateau. See ancient crater lakes that appear like murky potholes, tiny broccoli trees and fertile farmland that looks like a rumpled fleece blanket balled up with little lint sheep. Receive a commemorative certificate and a glass of bubbles or juice with a breakfast snack on landing.

Price: $495pp
Location: A transfer coach will pick up guests from any Cairns accommodation
Tour duration: Including transfer time, the day runs from around 5.30am – 11 am

Cairns Aquarium tours

a couple looking at an aquarium with fish and corals at Cairns Aquarium — See vibrant marine life up close at Cairns Aquarium. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for: Family fun

Short on time but want to see the incredible marine life of Tropical North Queensland? Head to Cairns Aquarium and view it up close without getting wet.

Choose between the Turtle Hospital Tour (meet rescued turtles and learn all about the threats they face), the Aquariam by Twilight Tour (see the marine life as day slips into sunset) or Night at the Aquarium (a glimpse into nocturnal behaviour). They’re a great way to learn more without going too far.

Price: From $78 per adult and $47 per child
Location: 5 Florence St, Cairns City
Tour duration: From 30 minutes

Back Country Bliss: River Drift Experience

a group of people in river sleds in Mossman Gorge rainforest on the River Drift Experience tour, Back Country Bliss — Float through Mossman Gorge rainforest on a river sled. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for: A rainforest adventure

Just 20 minutes north of Port Douglas, escape into the Mossman Gorge rainforest on the River Drift Experience tour. Starting with a river walk, you’ll then be provided with a river sled so you can float and experience the varied pace of the river’s flow. From calm sections under green canopy to navigating faster currents, it feels exhilarating being this connected to the great outdoors.

Price: $145 (adults), $110 (children) and $465 (family)
Location: Departs twice a day from Port Douglas
Tour duration: 2 hours

Food tours from Cairns

Taste your way around the fresh produce and flavours of Cairns’ local food scene on these delectable food tours.

Cairns Brewery Tours: Cairns Walking Brewery Tour

beers at Hemingway's Brewery, Cairns tours — Hemingway’s Brewery pours first-class brews. (Image: Krista Eppelstun)

Perfect for: Beer lovers

If you want to stretch your legs and sip on award-winning craft beers and spirits along the way, join a guided Cairns Walking Brewery Tour to discover two unique microbreweries and a local gin distillery. Located in the heart of the city, all businesses are independently owned and locally operated, with each venue offering its own amazing flavours and personal stories.

Price: $115pp
Location: Starts from Hemingway’s Brewery, Wharf St, Cairns City
Tour duration: Available by request, Wednesday to Sunday, and takes approximately 3.5 hours

No Limit Adventures: Cairns Tablelands Tasting Tour

a group exploring the Atherton Tablelands with No Limit Adventures, Cairns tours — Tour the Atherton Tablelands with No Limit Adventures. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for: A day of indulgence

Take your tastebuds on a tour of the Atherton Tablelands with No Limit Adventures to sample everything from native tropical fruits to organic tea and small-batch spirits produced in the vibrant, highland plateau.

Start the day at Crater Mountain Coffee (the highest-altitude coffee plantation in Australia), followed by lunch at a dairy farm and drinks at a brewery. Tours run on request, on a private basis only.

Price: From $260pp
Location: Transfer pick up from your Cairns accommodation
Tour duration: Departs Cairns at 8am and returns at 5pm

Daintree Food Trail

scooping chocolate ice cream, Daintree Ice Cream Company — Discover Daintree’s most beloved ice cream haunts. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for: Independent wanderers

Got a few days up your sleeve for a self-guided tour? Embark on a delicious journey from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation, following winding roads through farmlands and small communities to taste the best of the Daintree.

From gelato and chocolate to barramundi and chorizo, the Daintree is home to an eclectic range of small farms, orchards, and growers often hidden from view. Celebrate fresh flavours and meet producers telling their stories.

Price: Purchase food items at your own cost
Location: Map starts in Port Douglas
Tour duration: A few hours, days, or weeks — it’s up to you! 

Jet ski tours near Cairns

Add a splash of excitement to your sightseeing of Cairns on a heart-racing jet ski tour.

NQ Water Sports: Guided Cairns Jet Ski Tour

boats cruising the Trinity Inlet, Cairns tours — Travel through Trinity Inlet on a guided jet ski tour of Cairns. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Perfect for: A different view of Cairns

Suitable for every age, have the ride of your life while enjoying unique views of the Cairns Lagoon on a guided jet ski tour of Cairns . Travel through Trinity Inlet and see an original Sydney Harbour ferry, and pass multi-million dollar boats as you cruise up and around Admiralty Island. There’s also the opportunity to pick up speed and see what these machines can really do.

NQ Water Sports operates its guided Cairns jet ski tours daily at: 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, and no experience is necessary.

Price: $100 for a solo tour or $160 for a tandem tour
Location: B Finger Marlin Marina, Cairns
Tour duration: 30 minutes

NQ Water Sports: Croc Spotting Jet Ski Tour

an aerial view of boats on Trinity Inlet, Cairns tours — Observe crocs on the mud flats of Trinity Inlet. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Perfect for: Adrenaline junkies

How fast can a crocodile swim? Not as fast as a jet ski, says NQ Water Sports owner Steve Singleton. After a safety briefing, participants on the Croc Spotting Tour hit the throttle of their jet ski and follow Steve’s lead toward Admiralty Island in Trinity Inlet, where, after hopping a few waves, they kill the engine and observe giant crocodiles sunbaking on the mud flats.

Price: $190 for a solo tour or $260 for a tandem tour
Location: B Finger Marlin Marina, Cairns
Tour duration: 1 hour

NQ Water Sports: Jet Ski Reef Snorkelling Tour

diving the Milln Reef, Cairns tours — Milln Reef is a popular dive and snorkel site on the Great Barrier Reef. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Nigel Marsh)

Perfect for: Anyone short on time

Combine the fun and adventure of a guided jet ski tour with exploring the Great Barrier Reef. After departing Cairns Marina, bypass the crowds and head straight to the Reef for a morning of discovery .

On arrival, open your glove box for a quick breakfast snack while bobbing on your jet ski right above the reef itself. Don your snorkel gear and dive right in to take in the colourful sights.

Price: $250 for a solo tour or $320 for a tandem tour
Location: B Finger Marlin Marina, Cairns
Tour duration: 2 hours

Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef tours

If you’d rather tour the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef on a boat than on a jet ski, there are plenty of tours to choose from. Here are a couple of our favourites that let you thoroughly sit back and enjoy.

Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel: Dreamtime Cruise

snorkelling at Flynn Reef with Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, Cairns tours — Explore stunning dive sites off the coast of Cairns. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for: Exploring the Reef through an Indigenous lens

Join local Indigenous sea rangers on a Dreamtime Cruise day tour that cruises through the blindingly blue tropical waters to two reef sites off the coast of Cairns.

In addition to a guided diving and snorkelling tour, this experience is all about cultural immersion as the Gunggandji First Nations’ people share Great Barrier Reef creation stories, song and dance about their connection to country. The tour focuses on how traditional owners lived off the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. A buffet lunch is included.

Price: $225 (adults), $145 (children), or $595 (family)
Location: Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns City
Tour duration: From 8.15am – 5pm

Passions of Paradise: Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Tour

a Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Tour with Passions of Paradise — Embark on a dreamy Great Barrier Reef tour with Passions of Paradise. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for: Learning more about the Reef

Walk down to Marlin Marina to meet the friendly crew onboard Passions of Paradise ready to whisk you away on an award-winning full-day Great Barrier Reef Tour .

The 25-metre catamaran sails daily from Cairns to two unique reef locations where passengers can try diving for the first time, enjoy a fully guided snorkel tour to see turtles, colourful fish and coral, and listen to a presentation from their eco-accredited marine naturalist about the Reef. A chef-prepared tropical buffet lunch is included.

Price: $269 (adults) or $169 (children)
Location: Marlin Marina, 1 Spence Street, Cairns City
Tour duration: From 8am – 5pm.

For great accommodation ideas, check out our Cairns accommodation guide

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.