Things to do in Cairns

To chat face-to-face to a local about all the best things to see and do in Cairns, step into a Visitor Information Centre. 

Whether it’s snorkelling through coral gardens, flying over the infinite blues or sailing to tropical islands, there’s an adventure reserved for you on the world’s largest living organism (that you can see from space), the Great Barrier Reef. Breathe in the salt air and explore via boat, snorkel, kayak, helicopter or learn to dive on this world-famous natural wonder. For a longer (and exclusive) experience, spend a night on a moored pontoon and sleep under the stars on the Outer Reef. 

Ever explored a 100 million-year-old rainforest? Escape the city and explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics. A place so big in size it makes up 0.12% of Australia, it's both accessible and diverse, from the easy walk to the famous Curtain Tree Fig to the longer hike to cool off in Nandroya Falls.

Choose to cruise above the rainforest canopy on Skyrail, meet unique wildlife at Rainforestation, Kuranda Koala Gardens, or Cairns Aquarium, or visit the new Munro Martin Park and Cairns Performing Arts Precinct in the CBD.

Connect with culture through the local Indigenous people who have lived on the land for over 40,000 years. Take a guided tour, watch a traditional performance and explore new artworks at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.