Locals Agree These are the Best Day Trips from Cairns

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Australia holds a strong, almost mystical pull for me, in the way that I wish to return again and again. To me, it is the combination of adventure, fascinating nature, and certain down-to-earthness that compels me. Of course, many people enjoy Australia because of the amazing beaches and surfing, while others visit culturally interesting, vibrant cities such as Melbourne and Perth.

All in all, Australia in my opinion is any adventurer’s dream destination. And Cairns, in the north-eastern part of Australia’s Queensland, is no exception.

Cairns city itself is wonderful. It really does have a rather laid-back air to me, despite being a fairly big city. You’ll certainly have an experience of visiting a tropical paradise when in Cairns – and yet, you can also enjoy all the comforts of the modern city, from fancy resorts to lovely restaurants and markets. To me, what’s actually best about Cairns, are the stunning, tropical regions surrounding it.

There are a number of fabulous day trips from Cairns that I myself greatly enjoy and that are a great way to get acquainted with the regions surrounding Cairns. They include exploring pristine beaches and deep jungles, or visiting enchanting nearby towns, for example. And of course, Cairns is located right next to the largest structure on Earth consisting of living organisms, the Great Barrier Reef.

Whether you’d like to explore nature or do some cultural trips, Cairns and its surrounds offer wonderful opportunities for holiday and adventure. With its rich biodiversity as well as modern creature comforts, the wider Cairns region really is a unique corner of the world. In this article you can learn more about day trips from Cairns that are definitely worth doing.

Round trip to the quaint village of Kuranda

There’s a lovely, charismatic village called Kuranda less than 30 km from Cairns. This place is magical; it is a small community nestled on the hills within a tropical rainforest. In some ways Kuranda reminds me of, for example, Hogsback in South Africa, what with it similarly being a small mountain community far from other things, with its unique culture and nature.

Kuranda has a number of attractions that make it especially interesting for travelers. The village itself contains beautiful churches, shops, and galleries. You can view wildlife here, and Kuranda is also surrounded by the tropical rainforests that have been growing here for millions of years. The first people in this place were the Djabugay people, who’ve inhabited the land for at least 10,000 years.

Train to Kuranda and visiting the village

Although you could drive to Kuranda, one of the best day trips from Cairns is when you use the local combination of train and cable car to get to Kuranda. Kuranda Scenic Railway offers a historic train ride, 37 km through the jungle. I’d recommend starting your day with this beautiful ride from Cairns; you can admire the jungle, and the route also includes some exciting tunnels and bridges. I love the “old-time” atmosphere of getting to places by a scenic train.

While in Kuranda, I can highly recommend visiting the stunning Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Or, to view iconic Australian animals such as koalas and kangaroos, I recommend visiting Rainforestation Nature Park. They also offer a wonderful Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience; it’s a great, interactive way to learn a little bit about the traditions and customs of Kuranda’s original inhabitants. The atmospheric Petit Café would be my recommendation for lunch.

Return to Cairns by Skyrail cable car over the jungle

I then recommend returning to Cairns by Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. You can buy combination tickets that include both the railway and the cableway. Skyrail adventure travels 7.5 km down from Kuranda station towards Cairns, over the canopies of Barron Gorge National Park.

There are two stops along the way, where you’ll find interactive displays about the local environment. One of the stops allows you to enjoy a tremendous view of the magnificent Barron Falls. I also love how you can take in the views of both the forest and the Coral Sea, while descending.

Great Barrier Reef

While visiting Cairns, I’d highly recommend exploring this world-famous, unique natural landmark in some manner. Great Barrier Reef is one of the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the vicinity of Cairns. It is home to the most amazing array of colorful, beautiful creatures you can imagine. The reef’s inhabitants include countless species of fish, and among them, of course, several species of sharks and rays, including the manta ray.

Here you can also find six of the world’s seven sea turtles, as well as whales, giant clams, starfish, and sea slugs. And of course, the numerous species of coral that contribute to this immense marine diversity.

Indeed, one of the best day trips from Cairns that you can do is to go snorkeling or diving at the Great Barrier Reef. For me, diving at the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best things in life I could do; to be in the water, surrounded by an array of creatures that you know belong here more deeply than we ever could, is awe-inspiring. It is an honor to visit the reef, and an absolute joy as well.

Join an eco-certified tour operator

The only thing I’d strongly iterate is that, if you weren’t aware of it already, the Great Barrier Reef is struggling. The reasons for this are climate change, warming oceans, and overall, intense human activity.

That being the case, I’d truly advise you to search a tour operator that adheres to the best ecologically friendly principles. Of course, we leave a footprint just by visiting Cairns area; but we can minimize our impact by attempting to respect the local environment.

Most tour operators these days are required to follow certain protocols, but it’s still good to be on the lookout for companies that are eco-certified or that otherwise show commitment to conservation. Passions of Paradise tours, for example, allow you to experience “being a researcher” for the day, while still admiring the reef’s astonishing beauty.

Explore the beaches north of Cairns

Some of the best beaches of the Cairns region are found just north of the city. Best way to explore them is by renting a car and driving north from Cairns along the Captain Cook Highway, and visiting the beaches found off this highway. You’ll find both highly pristine, empty beaches, as well as more visited beaches with restaurants and other amenities.

Do note, however, that there are some nature’s dangers to be aware of. Stinging creatures are active especially in the summer months, rip currents are a thing to watch for, and although rare, encounters with crocodiles or sharks do also happen in these regions. If you wish to swim or surf, it’s best to do so at beaches where life guards or stinger nets are present.

Trinity Beach and Palm Cove

Trinity Beach is half an hour north of Cairns, next to Palm Cove resort town. It is perfect for walking along the stunning beach, but also for hiking in the forest nearby. You can also enjoy great seafood at one of the restaurants of Palm Cove. My favorites include the homely Palm Cove Tavern, where you can enjoy Aussie classics along with great beer, at affordable prices.

Or, for a quality fine dining experience, under the stars and with candlelight, I’d recommend The Reef House. It’s a treat to yourself, and they serve the best seafood in the region.

North towards Daintree

A bit north from Palm Cove, closer to Port Douglas which is a town near Daintree Rainforest, are many more picturesque beaches. Some of the loveliest ones include Ellis Beach, Clifton Beach, and Four Mile Beach just south of Port Douglas. Clifton Beach for example is more remote, and you may well spot some local birds and other animals.

Meanwhile, Four Mile Beach offers not only golden sands and stunning views, but also lifeguards throughout the year, and stinger nets during the summer months.

Daintree National Park

This is the other UNESCO World Heritage Site close to Cairns. The reason for listing is that the Daintree National Park area is one of the oldest rainforests of the world – over 100 million years old. I find all the tropical forests of Australia are magnificent, but Daintree is one of the most special ones. There, you really feel like you’re in a rich, ancient ecosystem.

Of course, the rainforest does come with its small hazards; there are leeches around, and you’ll need to be aware of rain, venomous snakes, and dehydration due to heat. However, just have your wits about you, and you can enjoy one of the most beautiful places on the planet. You might even spot animals such as the endangered cassowary, kangaroos, crocodiles, or frogs.

You can get to Daintree, about 100 km north of Cairns, by driving yourself, but there are also some lovely tour operators that you can take a trip with. Good choices are Walkabout Adventures, with their indigenous, knowledgeable guides, and Daintree Discovery Tours. The park has two parts, Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation. Visiting the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre is great for learning about the local cultures, traditions, and nature.

However, if you can only visit one part of the park, I’d recommend Cape Tribulation (you’ll use the Daintree River Ferry to get here). There are lovely boardwalks there that run through the indigenous forest and mangrove systems. The beaches are truly pristine – when I visit this special place I can imagine being the only person here, just appreciating the wild nature around me.

Yungaburra

This is a bit smaller place, but it makes for a wonderful day trip from Cairns. Yungaburra is a small, artistic, nature-bound village about two hours from Cairns. It is best to rent a car for the day to get here. At Yungaburra, you can really feel immersed in the traditional landscape of the Atherton Tablelands region of Queensland.

In the village itself, there are some amazing heritage buildings, for example the police buildings, post office, and the community centre. I really enjoy just strolling around the picturesque village. If you come on the 4th Saturday of the month, you’ll catch the colorful Yungaburra Market in action, with hundreds of stalls offering local produce and crafts.

Nature-wise, it’s worth visiting a famous big tree, called the “Curtain Fig Tree”, nearby – it is quite a sight to see. The most popular thing to do at Yungaburra is, however, visiting the platypuses. I can definitely recommend this; it isn’t so often you get to view these mind-boggling, shy creatures in their natural environment.

The best way to view the animals is by visiting Peterson Creek Wildlife and Botanical trail, and the best times to see platypuses are around dawn and dusk. There are also other animals you might spot there, such as possums, turtles, and even tree kangaroos.

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