Cairns: Snorkel the Reef, Hug a Koala, and Meet Indigenous Australia

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in Cairns, Australia! Explore the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef, where a vibrant world of colorful marine life awaits just beneath the surface. Wander through lush rainforests filled with unique plants and animals, and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature all around you.  Dive into the rich Aboriginal culture and learn about the importance of iconic symbols like the boomerang and didgeridoo. Plus, don’t miss your chance to cuddle a koala and capture the perfect photo that you’ll cherish forever! Cairns truly offers experiences like no other.

Cairns Australia

We were blown away by the charming city of Cairns in northern Australia.  This is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the world famous Great Barrier Reeg as well as the rainforest and first nation culture. We ended up loving this area so much more than we realized we would. We stayed on the boardwalk making it easy for morning strolls on the boardwalk watching the sunrise, grabbing ‘brekky’  (breakfast), seeing the low tide in the evening as we strolled through the vast number or delicious restaurant options, and of course using it as a jumping point for various amazing excurions and activities! I would happily come back here to vacation again and again!

Make sure to see the rest of our 10-day Australia Trip. Plus find out how to plan a family cruise and plan a disney vacation too!

How Long to Stay in Cairns

I think I could easily spend a whole week in Cairns on a true relaxing vacation with a couple activities sprinkled in. There are so many delicious places to eat for all price ranges and styles of food. The evening stroll to get Gelato, which rivals what I’ve had in Italy, and strolling along the boardwalk alone makes it a great vacation place! It’s no wonder so many local Aussies come here for vacation.

👉 Since I took a 15 hour flight to see Australia, and I have lots of things I want to see,  I think 2-3 days is adequate to see what you need to, have fun and enjoy the city, but move on before you spend your entire vacation in just one part of Australia.

Cairns Weather

Cairns, Australia offers a tropical climate, making it a fantastic destination year round. With warm temperatures and abundant sunshine, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities any time of the year.

• During summer, from December to February, you can expect high humidity and temperatures that typically range from the mid-70s to low 90s Fahrenheit. This season is great for diving in the Great Barrier Reef and exploring lush rainforests.
• Autumn, from March to May, brings slightly cooler temperatures, making it a comfortable time to visit. You can still enjoy plenty of sunshine with average highs in the upper 70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit.
• Winter, from June to August, is the dry season, featuring pleasant weather with comfortable temperatures around the mid-60s to low 80s Fahrenheit. It’s ideal for outdoor adventures, including beach days and hiking.
• Spring, from September to November, sees a gradual warming trend. The temperatures rise, making it another great time to explore all that Cairns and its surrounding areas have to offer, with highs ranging from the mid-70s to low 90s Fahrenheit as summer approaches.

No matter when you visit Cairns, you’ll find beautiful weather, stunning landscapes, and endless opportunities for adventure. It’s the perfect getaway any time of the year!

Cairns Hotel

As I mentioned before, I highly suggest staying right off the boardwalk which makes it quick and easy to get to your excursions and stroll along the boardwalk.  We stayed at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns which was a lovely hotel, near all the ammenitiies we wanted. We did not get breakfat, but opted to walk to Muddy’s Cafe for a friendly place to grab coffee, pastries, or an Australia brekky right on the boardwalk with view of the ocean. The prices seemed fair and they had a huge menu with delicious smoothies, coffee options, huge muffins and almond pastries, plus hot options too.

This hotel is a quick 20 minutes taxi ride from the airport and a 10 minute walk to the pier.  Plus, when you check in they will have their iconic warm cookie for each of you to munch. The pool is cool, but felt right on the street so we didn’t make use of it. There is a pretty garden with foundtain in the center and ping pong table to entertain the family. But again, our favorite was how easy it was to walk to shopping, restaurants, the boardwalk, and activity meeting spots.

Activities in cairns

First, let me tell you what we did. I feel these are the biggest highlights of the area and not to be missed if you are spending your vacation seeing Australia.

Great Barrier Reef

There are lots of options for this activity! So certainly shop around for the type of activity that suits your unique tastes. You can go snorkling, helicopter ride, hole day on boat  platformed in the reef, day at an island exploring the reef, and so many more.

We opted for this Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns tour.  Woudl I book it again? In a heartbeat! The crew was so friendly and helpful. You enjoy a lovely ride to the island. While on board they have tea, coffee, and even ginger tablets in case the motion bothers you. They will come around and offer to upsell you on helicopter rides, scuba diving, parasailing, etc. So the options are there, but they aren’t hard selling anything.  I suggest you choose the Glass Bottom Boat as they will take you farther out into the reef and you will see more. In addition the boat captain will give you facinating information about the reef. This was one of my favorite things! Before and after your scheduled tour you will get to explore the island or sit on the beach. Chair and umbrellas are extra, but we just found a quite spot on the beach and enjoyed a lovely day. The food is a big premium, so I’d bring your own picnic lunch and drinks with you. We found 6 hours was the perfect amount of time for us. We saw lots of sea turtles, fish, crabs, and a plethora of beautiful reef.

Rainforest & Aboriginal Culture

We very much enjoyed the Kuranda Highlights including Rainforestation Aboriginal Culture and Wildlife activity we booked. They picked us up and took us on a short ride up to one place to explore it all. The tour looks like it will make several stops, but you go to one main location. From there you will be given times to do each of the included ativities:

• See native animals at the small exhibit – lots of unique animals, but it is very small
• Army Duck tour of rainforest – this was simple enough but gave us a great chance to learn about the unique plants in the Australian rainforest which are so different from ours in North America
• Digeridoo music demonstration
• Spear throwing demonstration
• Learn how to throw a boomerang and get a chance to try
• Traditional dancing
• Optional: Take a picture holding a Koala. DO THIS! This is the only territory left in Australia that lets you hold Koalas. It is quick, but such a special moment.  Your picture will be ready as soon as you are done and you get a digital and printed copy. You can take pictures individually, as a couple, or as a family. You will need to book this through the gift shop as soon as you arrive to secure one of the limited spots.

It feels a little touristy, but is a wonderful opportunity to experience so many things at one stop. Don’t waste time with the meal at the main stop. They will put i you buses when you leave and take you to a touristy town and leave you for a couple hours. Thiw was unnecesary in my mind. You will get a chance to browse very touristy markets that are over priced. It is a SMALL town. We opted to eat a delicious Latin lunch, grab some chocolate, and hang our in the park until it was time for our return. I leanred later you can book a scenic train return if you prefer to skip the small town stop, but it is at an additional cost.

activities cairns

If you decided to spend more time in Cairns, here are some other activities that may interest your group:

• Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Half-Day Tour from Cairns – Discover the breathtaking landscapes of North Queensland, where you can find the world’s largest and most formidable reptile—the saltwater crocodile. If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of these incredible creatures in their natural habitat, consider joining a reputable crocodile tour.
• Cairns Rainforest River Tubing –
• Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns – The views along the way are absolutely breathtaking! As the train makes its way up the stunning Barron Gorge, you’ll be treated to magnificent waterfalls that will leave you in awe.
• Afternoon Fitzroy Island Escape – This stunning tropical paradise has everything you could wish for in a Queensland island while being the most accessible option for a day trip from Cairns. Get ready to enjoy breathtaking white sandy beaches, spectacular snorkeling and diving opportunities, and even a turtle rehabilitation center.
• Great Barrier Reef Full Day Tour – our trip included 3 young children, but if you are all adults consider spending more time in the reef to get more up close and personal on a longer, more immersive tour.

When we were there the Rainforest Skyrail was being repared, but that would be a fun activity it it has reopened during your trip.

cairns attractions

Experience the adventure of a lifetime in Cairns, Australia, where you can explore the Great Barrier Reef, wander through lush rainforests, dive into Aboriginal culture, and cuddle a koala for unforgettable memories!