Day Trips from Cairns

Cairns Australia

The tropical city of Cairns is ever-popular with travelers to Australia of all ages, and it is easy to see why. Basking in year-round hot temperatures, the city has a laid-back lifestyle, with all the amenities you could ever wish for in a holiday.

Cairns Australia is a great place to book a hotel and base yourself for a week or two, but the best attractions of the city are in its surroundings. In fact, some of your favorite days in Tropical North Queensland will be day trips from Cairns Australia, whether that be in its rainforest, out on the Great Barrier Reef or on breathtaking tropical islands.

Cairns Attractions are many. So while in Cairns Australia, be sure to rent a car or book some Cairns tours to some of these amazing day trip destinations.

Best Day Trips from Cairns Australia  

Atherton Tablelands

Spanning a vast region over the hinterland of Cairns, there’s so much to do in a day in the Atherton Tablelands. The area is mainly pastoral; and subsequently has plenty of farmer’s markets, for visitors to peruse at their own leisure. Food tours of the Atherton Tablelands are popular, where tourists can sample some of the best cheese and chocolate made in the region.

Once you’ve eaten to your heart’s content, take part in a guided or self-guided tour around the waterfalls and natural attractions of the tablelands. They include the famous Millaa Millaa waterfall – which has been featured in adverts and music videos – Josephine Falls, featuring a somewhat infamous rock slide, and Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls, which are located on the waterfall circuit.

Also in the Atherton Tablelands region is the impossibly blue Lake Eacham, which boasts a very pleasant rainforest walk around its diameter, and is a popular swimming spot. Beware though, the lake has a resident crocodile; it is a freshwater and has never attacked anyone, but this breed of croc can be aggressive if provoked.

Port Douglas

On the brink of the Daintree Rainforest is the bustling town of Port Douglas. It’s known as a somewhat luxury place to visit, but the town boasts a range of fantastic attractions making it a great day trip for a budget traveler too.

Port Douglas has a buzzing atmosphere, with a range of restaurants, bars, and cafes. In recent years there has been a boom in the amount of younger travelers to Port Douglas, meaning it today has a more hipster, alternative vibe, which makes just walking around the town and absorbing the atmosphere one of its best things to do!

Try to time your visit to a Sunday so you can browse the famous Port Douglas markets. They sell all sorts, from produce to clothing, and are set against the beautiful backdrop of the tropical blue sea. There are plenty of food stalls there for those who wish to grab some lunch and watch the scenic blue vista behind.

If you’re feeling energetic, hike up to Flagstaff Hill for an unmissable view of 4-mile beach, the rainforest backdrop of the town and the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean. If you’re not feeling up to the hike, you can drive up there too.

Daintree Rainforest

Further on from Port Douglas is the Daintree Rainforest; the oldest of its kind in the world. It is around 165 million years old, and the forest is easily accessible on a day trip from Cairns. It contains an intriguing density of flora and fauna, including the endangered Cassowary bird.

While it’s often recommended to spend 2 days or longer exploring the Daintree Rainforest National Park, it is possible to visit on a day trip from Cairns. The national park starts about an hour and a half north of Cairns, and a tarmac road spans the majority of it; it peters out and turns into gravel at the beginning of the Bloomfield Track, which leads to Cooktown.

Attractions in the main part of the park (the area with the tarmac road) include various walking trails through the rainforest, cruising on the Daintree River, lookouts over the spectacular scenery and appreciating the unique atmosphere of jungle settlements like Daintree Village and Cape Tribulation.

Mission Beach

Heading south of Cairns, Mission Beach is a spectacular part of Tropical North Queensland that many people miss. The area is a 14 kilometer stretch of coastal villages, with scenic beaches, fantastic lookouts and great dining and drinking opportunities.

The bays of Mission Beach look like they should be straight from a postcard; they boast spectacular water and white sands that you can’t fail to be gobsmacked at. Although be sure not to get in the water from October to June – that’s when the stingers are around. There are safe-for-swimming stinger nets in South Mission.

If you’re after delicious grub and great coffee, look no further than Bingil Bay Café; which is also open and serves alcohol at night. There are various walking trails around the Mission Beach area, but one that is certainly not to be missed is the summit of Bicton Hill, a challenging but oh-so-rewarding uphill hike.

You could also take a water taxi over to Dunk Island, a paradise-like setting on the edge of Mission Beach. Various hikes are accessible on Dunk Island, including Mount Kootaloo, a 5-kilometer return which traverses through fern forests and tropical shrubbery to reach the highest point of the island.

Other fantastic things to do in Mission Beach include kayak tours, visiting the reef and skydiving onto the beach – fantastic reasons to head to this little Queensland gem for a day!

The Great Barrier Reef

Of course, I couldn’t write a post about day trips from Cairns without including the Great Barrier Reef since the best place to snorkel great barrier reef is when you do a day trip from Crains. The world’s largest coral reef system and indeed, the largest living thing on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef is simply one of a kind.

Some people debate whether the Great Barrier Reef Islands is still worth diving or snorkeling; it has been declared dead due to global warming and over-tourism. However, after visiting it myself, I can confirm that it is still a breathtaking natural phenomenon and is well worth a day trip from Cairns Australia.

While the reef probably doesn’t have the most colorful coral in the world, there is still an impressive amount of underwater flora and an unbelievable array of marine wildlife. Snorkelers and divers alike can marvel at tropical fish, turtles, sea cucumbers and even reef sharks! So Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling is by far considered the best things to do in Cairns.

Doing a Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns Australia is also a great opportunity for those who are trying scuba diving for the first time, as there are many companies who will do ‘fun dives’ for uncertified divers. They will receive all the training necessary on the day and will go down linked to an instructor.

Of course, when visiting the Great Barrier Reef, it’s important to remember that human destruction is one reason why the reef is dying – so it’s vital to not touch or interfere with any coral, or distress any animals by picking them up. The Great Barrier Reef is suffering from bleaching at the moment, but the natural cycles mean that it is able to repair itself so, with human help, it could return to its former colorful glory.

Fitzroy Island

A tropical island paradise situated a 45-minute boat ride from Cairns, Fitzroy Island is a dreamy day trip destination. There are so many amazing activities to enjoy on the island, including rainforest and coastal walks, snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving and organized day tours.

One of Fitzroy’s most loved walks is its renowned lighthouse. The 3.6-kilometer walk traverses through the rainforests and spans around the island, reaching the (now inactive) lighthouse and a spectacular view. More experienced hikers can take to the Summit Track which ascends further and offers a quieter, even more, impressive vista of the island. If you prefer to keep your walks at sea level, try the moderately difficult walk to Nudey Beach; which is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

There are amazing snorkeling opportunities all over the shore, as the island is part of the Great Barrier Reef. Be sure to hire out stinger suits during October-May, grab a snorkel and see what you can find! Or if you’d like to try scuba diving on Fitzroy Island, there are plenty of opportunities.

Tours from Fitzroy Island include Glass Bottom Boat Tours, Guided Eco Walks, and Night Coral Viewing. There’s plenty to enjoy on paradise-like Fitzroy for a day or longer!