The 10 Best Day Trips from in Cairns, Queensland

See crocodiles up close at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures. Take a boat cruise on Hartley’s Lagoon and witness crocodiles being fed by experience Park staff. You can also get up close to kangaroos, wallabies, snakes, cassowaries, crocodiles, quolls and other iconic Australian wildlife. Spend a day at Hartley's and enjoy entertaining and educational wildlife presentations throughout the day.

Inclusions: Hotel/port pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Explore the highlights of Cairns by combining an afternoon city tour with an evening dinner cruise on the Spirit of Cairns. Your knowledgeable, local guide will help you discover this tropical city with a visit to the Cairns Museum, St Monica's Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed stained-glass windows, guided tour of the Flecker Botanic Gardens (afternoon tea included). Lower Barron Gorge, Surprise Creek Falls and beautiful Palm Cove Beach, Return to Cairns to set sail aboard a newly refurbished, 26-metre catamaran as you cruise the calm waters of Trinity Inlet while enjoying live entertainment and a panoramic sunset. 3 course dinner (set menu included)

Inclusions: Local guide, Hotel pickup, Air-conditioned vehicle, 3 course dinner menu, Complimentary glass of sparkling wine, beer or soft drink on arrival

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Gratuities, Hotel drop-off

This small-group tour includes transfers from your port or hotel to the amazing Skyrail Rainforest Cableway where you will glide over the rainforest canopy as you make your way to Red Peak Station. From there explore the World Heritage listed rainforest before re-boarding to the Barron Falls. View the magnificent Barron Gorge, falls & visit the Rainforest Interpretive Centre before re-boarding the cableway and making your way to Kuranda. You will be met there and transferred to Kuranda, the village in the rainforest (if you prefer, take a five-minute walk). There you will have two hours to eat, shop and explore. Later, make your way to the nearby Kuranda Railway Station to board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a journey through the rainforest over 37 bridges & through 15 tunnels. From Freshwater Station you will be transferred back to your hotel or port. Alternatively, you may choose to travel onwards to Cairns Station and walk to your city accommodation.

Inclusions: Pick-up from and drop-off to your port by air-conditioned bus., Kuranda map and visitors guide., One way journey on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda., Two hours free time to explore Kuranda village & famous Heritage Markets., One-way journey on the Kuranda Scenic Rail departing Kuranda at 2pm.

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Birdworld (approx. AU$19/adult, AU$9.50/child), Butterfly Sanctuary (approx. AU$20/adult, AU$10/child), Kuranda Koala Gardens (approx. AU$19/adult and AU$9.50/child)

This boutique food and wine experience from Cairns will be tasting some of the best food and wine that the Atherton Tablelands has to offer. First stop is a Private Property for a 3 course breakfast at a Davidson Plum and finger lime farm with stunning views, then to Nerada Tea Plantation for unique tea and local cheeses and Tree Kangaroo spotting. Lunch at the Platypus Park to watch them play and try Kangaroo, Crocodile and other delicacies Visit a working dairy farm and sample their chocolates, stop in for seasonal fruit tasting and Macadamia nuts. Then a tipple or 2 at Mt Uncle distillery, and last stop of the day at either Jaques Coffee or Skybury Coffee Plantations for coffee and tea with some delicious scones jam and cream. You will be taken through a variety of contrasting landscapes, relax as we taste our way around the regions 'Food Bowl.' 8 Unique gourmet Stops!The maximum participants for this tour is 12.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Buffet lunch, Food tasting, Wine tasting, Driver/guide, Live commentary on board, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified

Extremely low passenger number Great Barrier Reef & Green Island tour (max 25 guests). In fact the only small sail, reef and tropical island experience in Cairns. Swim, snorkel or dive straight off the boat onto an exclusive magnificent GBR site - no crowds .The boat is moored just 1Km off Green Island - a highly protected Marine Park zone . From Cairns, sail to this reef site and Green Island in style on a two-mast schooner and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch on board. After snorkelling off the boat take a tender transfer to explore the beauty of Green Island, see the rainforest or laze on the white sandy beaches .

Inclusions: Sailing cruise to Green Island & the Great Barrier Reef, Environment Management Charge and port fees, Coffee and/or Tea, Large smorgasbord lunch with seafood, Morning and Afternoon tea, Complimentary glass of wine on the return sail to Cairns, Snorkeling tuition, tours and in-water crew assistance if required, Snorkeling equipment (snorkel, marks, flippers, buoyancy vests), Transfers to/from the schooner to Green Island, Reef talk by a marine interpreter, Fish Feed

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Pre-book only if have no past or present medical issues nor taking any medication. Enquire if unsure, Optional diving - x 1-2 Certified / x 1-2 Intro dives possible on day .10-12m depth .

At Cairns To Cooktown 4WD Tours, we offer fun, interesting and informative day tours in our purpose built air conditioned 4WD coach. Having crossed the mighty Daintree River on a vehicle ferry, we head North through the lush, ancient Daintree Rainforest where we enjoy a stroll on secluded Thornton Beach. We now tackle the iconic 4WD Bloomfield Track taking in the wonderful sights along the way, before we arrive at the histiric 1875 Lions Den Hotel for a well earned "coldy". Shortly after we arrive in the charming settlement of Cooktown and take in the amazing Endeavour River, Grassy Hill Lookout & of course Capatain James Cook's monument. We'll buy you a tasty pub lunch at the 1874 Cooktown Hotel, better known these days at The Top Pub, before we head to the best regional museum in Australia, The James Cook Museum, where we'll take care of your admission. Heading home via the inland, outback route we stop at the mysterious Black Mountains and the remote Palmer River Goldfields.

Inclusions: You'll enjoy a tasty old fashion pub lunch with a beer or glass of wine at the historic Cooktown Hotel, better known these days as The Top Pub., Your admission to Cooktown's James Cook Museum. , We'll provide you with iced coffee, cold bottled water & snack bars throughout your day

Exclusions:

See Australia's unique animals and birds in their natural environment on a rainforest wildlife-spotting tour in the Atherton Tablelands. Led by an expert nature guide, your small-group nocturnal tour visits a number of locations including lush tropical rainforest and a volcanic crater lake. See tree kangaroos, lizards and musky rat kangaroo by day, and search for platypus at dusk. Enjoy afternoon tea at Lake Barrine and dinner at a country restaurant, then go spotlighting for possum, bandicoots, owls, bats and tree kangaroos by starlight on this fascinating nocturnal wildlife tour.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Local guide, Afternoon tea, Dinner, National Park fee, All equipment (binoculars, spotlighting gear, rain ponchos, reference materials), Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Drinks, unless specified

Take a full, 11-hour day tour, and explore the very best of North Queensland. From lush tropical rain-forests and cascading waterfalls, to natural rock-slides and hidden waterfall caves. Filled with fun, full of laughter and music with just the right amount of interesting local commentary. Your guide is the most knowledgeable and passionate in the region. We'll provide you with tea & coffee in the morning and afternoon, and lunch is included along with loads of games and puzzles to keep you entertained on the bus. This is a group tour with a maximum of 27 people per bus.

Inclusions: Lunch, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, All Fees and Taxes, Tea and coffee

Exclusions: Drinks

Enjoy the most customer-oriented Great Barrier Reef tour aboard a fast travelling sleek, luxury catamaran from Cairns! Snorkel and dive 2 very different and unique Great Barrier Reef Sites . "Wonder Wall" on the outer edge Upolu Reef and Upolu Cay reef area - an aquarium style coral garden with the most beautiful clear blue azure waters . Spend six hours (more than any other reef tour) to snorkel or scuba dive (see options below) these Marine Park protected areas . Absolutely no rush in the day .Enjoy complimentary Glass- Bottom Boat tour and Adventure Drift Snorkel tours with your onboard marine naturalist, . This cruise is limited to 75 guests, ensuring quality customer service and passenger comfort.

Inclusions: Luxury catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, Six full hours on the Great Barrier Reef with stops at two reef locations, Environment Management Charge (EMC) and port fees, Tea and coffee throughout the day, Buffet lunch with seafood, Platters of tropical fruit, cheese and crackers, Snorkeling instruction and in-water crew assistance if required, Snorkeling equipment (snorkel, marks, flippers, and buoyancy vests), Wetsuits or lycra suits (depending on season), Snorkeling tour with a marine naturalist, Freshwater showers, Informative Glass Bottom Boat Tour , Guided interpretative Adventure Drift Snorkel Tour

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Please note: All divers will be required to complete a medical questionnaire on board prior to diving. Please only book the diving options if you have no medical conditions or taking medication as some conditions/medication preclude you from diving, OPTIONAL Diving : x1 or x2 cert dives / x1 or x2 Intro dives

This is the Original Daintree Rainforest Tour, locally owned and operated for over 36 years! Embark on a packed full-day adventure to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef. Spot crocodiles on a Daintree River cruise, learn about flora, fauna and the history of the Daintree on a guided boardwalk tour, take a 4WD ride through a World Heritage-listed rainforest on the rugged Bloomfield Track. One of the only tour operators who can travel on the Bloomfield Track due to the custom-made 4WD vehicles! You'll have free time at famous Cape Tribulation to take a guided walk and enjoy lunch. Group size is limited for a more personalized experience, and the tour includes round-trip transport from Cairns or Port Douglas hotels.

Inclusions: Professional driver guide with live commentary, 1 Hour Daintree River Cruise with morning tea, Lunch, Hotel pickup and drop-off, National Park fees, Guided walk through the Daintree Rainforest and learn about Indigenous culture, flora & fauna, Swim in the rainforest at pristine Emmagen Creek, Spend time at the famous Cape Tribulation Beach - where the rainforest meets the reef, Cable Ferry crossing across the mighty Daintree River, Stop for an ice-cream on the way home (own expense)

Exclusions: Gratuities, Ice-cream on the way home