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22 Day Trips from Cairns

ByLanie van der Horst Updated on

There are so many options for unique day trips from Cairns, located in Far North Queensland.

Many people use Cairns as a place to stay while they take day trips to the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding beaches and rainforests.

While you can of course head to any of these areas on your own, this list includes day tours that you can join in on or use to inspire your own trip to the area near Cairns.

Though we visited Cairns for a short time, we managed to go on multiple day trips (and overnight trips), including to the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, and Daintree.

Keep reading to find the best day trips from Cairns.

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Great Barrier Reef Tours from Cairns

snorkeling with kids at the great barrier reef
A turtle swimming at the Great Barrier Reef, seen from a semi-submarine ride from a pontoon boat.

Luxury Great Barrier Reef Tour

The Luxury Great Barrier Reef Tour leaves you with plenty of time to be in the water and snorkel or scuba dive at 2 different locations.

For those who want to dive but aren’t certified, introductory dives are available.

Morning and afternoon tea are included, as is a picnic lunch.

Great Barrier Reef Cruise with Water Activities

Sail to the Great Barrier Reef on a Catamaran from Cairns.

The smooth ride will get you to the reef faster, allowing you more time for activities. Opt to snorkel, scuba dive, or go on a glass-bottom boat.

Don’t want to get your hair wet? Try a helmet dive!

Those who don’t mind wet hair can join a marine biologist on a guided snorkeling or diving tour.

Morning and afternoon tea are provided, as is a buffet lunch.

Find the best Great Barrier Reef Tours from Cairns!

Outer Great Barrier Reef Pontoon

Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef
Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef

Snorkel, ride in a glass-bottom boat, or explore the reef from a semi-submarine on the Outer Great Barrier Reef Pontoon day tour. Lunch is included, as is tea and coffee while docked.

Another option for a day trip to the Outer Great Barrier Reef is this full-day tour that stops at 2 snorkeling spots and includes a BBQ lunch with wine.

Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Sailing Tour

green island with kids
The beach at Green Island

For those who want to explore the Great Barrier Reef from land and water, the Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Tour is a great option.

Participants can snorkel from Green Island and from a pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef, with the option to scuba dive at the reef.

There are plenty of included and add-on adventures available, such as a glass-bottom boat ride and a semi-submarine ride.

Morning and afternoon tea are included, as is lunch and a glass of wine.

This Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Tour is very small, with a maximum of 25 passengers on the sailboat.

Read about our day tour to Green Island and The Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Helicopter Ride

Snorkeling or diving at the Great Barrier Reef is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so why not add a helicopter ride over the reef?

This tour includes 2 snorkeling spots, a BBQ lunch, wine and snacks, and a 10-minute helicopter ride from the reef’s helipad.

Looking for a longer helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef?  Check out this 40 minute scenic helicopter fligt from Cairns where every passenger has a window seat.

Going on a hot-air balloon ride is also an option in Cairns.  Soar over the Atherton Tablelands at dawn and see a wide variety of wildlife down below.

Island Tours from Cairns

green island with kids
Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef

Green Island

green island with kids
Snorkeling is a popular activity at Green Island

Take a boat to Green Island, and explore the rainforest, beach, and coral undersea. This tour can be taken as a half-day or full-day tour. There are even options to stay overnight on Green Island.

Green Island has plenty of optional activities on land, at sea, and in the air.

Fitzroy Island

Enjoy 7 hours of beach time on Fitzroy Island.

There are hiking trails, a glass-bottom boat ride, and options to snorkel on an island just 45 minutes from Cairns.

Kuranda Day Trip from Cairns

view from a gondola in Kuranda by Cairns
The gondola between Cairns and Kuranda

The most fun thing about Kuranda might be getting there.

Two unique options will take you from Cairns to Kuranda. Most people choose one to take there and the other to return to Cairns.

Whether you take the train or the gondola to or from Kuranda, it is a beautiful ride with plenty to do on the other end.

Of course, you can get to the station on your own, but if you would like hotel pick up and drop off, there is a self-guided Kuranda Tour option.

The amount of time you want to spend in Kuranda can vary greatly depending on what you wish to do there. Options include:

butterfly on a leaf
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda

There is a visitor center in Kuranda with a small playground outside of it. Stop in for ideas and discounts on admission to various locations in Kuranda.

Join the Rainforestation Nature Park Guided Tour for entry to the koala and wildlife park, to learn how to throw a boomerang, a 6 wheel adventure ride through the rainforest, and a tour of a tropcial fruit forest.

Daintree and Cape Tribulation Day Trips from Cairns

Traditional Aboriginal Fishing Tour

Daintree Rainforest
Daintree Rainforest

Do you want to learn about the history of the land while exploring the beautiful coast and rainforest? The Traditional Aboriginal Fishing Tour combines culture, history, and nature, and even includes lunch at Mossman Gorge.

This tour is for anyone 5+ who can walk. The trails are not wheelchair friendly.

Daintree, Mossman Gorge, and Cape Tribulation Tour and Cruise

Swim, hike, and cruise on this all-day tour of Daintree, Mossman Gorge, and Cape Tribulation. Kids of all ages are welcome to join.

This tour combines culture, nature, and adventure. Lunch is included.

cape tribulation featured image
Cape Tribulation views
Read about The Best Things to do in Daintree and Cape Tribulation.

Mossman Gorge Day Trips from Cairns

Aboriginal Art and Culture Tour

Explore Mossman Gorge with a guided walk, participate in an art class at Janbal Gallery, and learn about Aboriginal culture on the Aboriginal Art and Culture Tour.

This tour includes pick-up and drop-off, lunch, and everything above. The Aboriginal Art and Culture tour is kid-friendly for kids 5+.

Rather go on your own? Mossman Gorge is accessible by bus only. Park at the visitor center to get your tickets for the bus to Mossman Gorge.

Swimming at Mossman Gorge
Swimming at Mossman Gorge

Atherton Tablelands Day Trips from Cairns

Atherton Tablelands Rainforest and Waterfalls Tour

Waterfall lovers will love the landscape on the Atherton Tableland Rainforest and Waterfalls Tour. Besides the gorgeous views, guests can swim by the waterfalls, see a 500-year-old fig tree, and explore the beautiful Far North Queensland.

Lunch is included.

Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour

curtain fig tree
A large fig tree near Cairns

What could be better than beautiful views, amazing food, and delicious wine? Leave from Cairns on a full-day tour that includes eating and drinking tropical fruits, chocolates, cheese, and coffee. All food and drink tastings, including lunch, are included on the Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour.

This tour is suitable for adults only.

Paronella Park and Millaa Millaa Falls

millaa millaa falls
Millaa Millaa Falls near Cairns

Nature lovers will love the Paronella Park and Millaa Millaa Falls Day Tour from Cairns. Explore the Atherton Tablelands, see the gorgeous Millaa Milla Falls and the beautiful fig-trees, and also have the chance to tour Paronella Park.

With morning tea at Lake Barrine and lunch at the Falls Teahouse, this tour has all of the makings for a perfect day trip from Cairns.

More Day Trips from Cairns

Barron Gorge Whitewater Rafting

No experience is needed for this 2-hour whitewater rafting trip on the grade 3 rapids in the Barron River.

Kids over 12 can participate in this half-day white water rafting day trip from Cairns.

Tully River Whitewater Rafting

Kids over 13 can participate in the Tully River Whitewater Rafting Trip from Cairns, which includes 5 hours of rafting through up to grade 4 rapids.

There is also an opportunity to jump from the rocks into the water, and lunch is included.

Rainforest River Tubing

Tube down small rapids and through the rainforest on a Rainforest River Tubing trip down the Mulgrave River. This tubing trip is great for families with kids 5+ and does not require any experience tubing.

Cairns to Cooktown 4WD Tour

We saved the best for last with this incredible Cairns to Cooktown 4WD day trip from Cairns. With an early morning start from Cairns or Port Douglas, and different routes to and from Cooktown, the Cairns to Cooktown 4WD Tour allows guests to see the best of Far North Queensland in a short period of time and without needing their own 4WD. The roads to Cooktown are not drivable without a 4WD.

Everything is included from lunch to snacks to museum admission on this all-day tour through the bush, rainforest, and Outback Queensland.

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Lanie is the owner and author of Make More Adventures, a family travel blog that helps families make the most of their holidays. Lanie is an American living in Australia with her husband and 2 kids who love to travel almost as much as she does. When she is not traveling, working on her blog, or planning her next vacation, Lanie is watching Bravo, reading, or working with kids.

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