How to spend 48 hours in Cairns for the ultimate tropical weekender
Itinerary
By Danielle Reckless
You can’t say you’ve been to Australia without a trip to the crowning jewel of our tropical north: Cairns. The coastal city sits right between two World Heritage sites - the sprawling Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef - and it sets the scene for a getaway that's equal parts nature, culture and adventure.
There’s a lot of ground to cover, but with easy airport access from most major Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne and of course, Brisbane, it's easy to hit the ground running and make the most of 48 hours in Cairns.
Friday
2pm: Touch down and check in
Cairns offers accommodation for every traveller: so pick the hotel, resort or backpacker haven that best suits your style and budget. With just 48 hours in Cairns, Riley should be your first port of call. This coastal resort ups the ante for a tropical weekender with its lagoon swimming pool and beach area, beautifully appointed rooms, and a skysweeping rooftop bar and restaurant, Rocco – perfect for afternoon drinks. Plenty of reason to switch into holiday mode and soak up a few hours.
6pm: Feast on a fish trawler
North Queensland’s spectacular coast is famed for its seafood, so make your first meal a chance to devour local catch.
Moored at Marlin Marina (just a three-minute walk from the Esplanade), Prawn Star has completely cut out the middle man as a fish trawler turned casual seafood restaurant. You couldn’t get closer to the source than if you caught it yourself.
Gorge on overflowing plates of the freshest prawns, oysters, sashimi or freshly-cooked mud crab - they’ll even pour you a glass of wine or beer for just $7 a glass. Now that's a warm welcome.
Saturday
8am: All aboard for Fitzroy Island
There’s no better way to start your first full day in Cairns than by exploring the Great Barrier Reef - and the early rise is well worth it. Just fuel up first, then jump on the 45-minute ferry to Fitzroy Island.
It's not just the fringing reefs that'll leave you mesmerised. The island is mostly national parkland and covered in lush forest, while bordered by pristine beaches - it's most famous, Nudey Beach, is often voted among the best in the country.
Work up a sweat exploring the rainforest along the Summit Trail, where you’ll also find a 360-degree view of the reef. Later, cool off by snorkelling over vibrant coral gardens right off the beach or meeting the local turtles at the rehabilitation centre.
Full day excursions on Fitzroy Flyer depart Cairns at 8am and return a little after 5pm. Or, stay a little longer and get to know every inch of the island.
Alternate day trip: Frankland Islands
There's plenty of other ways to access the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Among the most special is a day trip to the little-known national park archipelago known as the Frankland Islands. Off the tourist radar but certainly loved by local marine life, this is the perfect destination to spend the day snorkelling or diving through coral gardens.
Frankland Island Reef Cruises is the only tour operator with a license to access this region. Day tours include transport from Cairns, equipment hire, a guided snorkelling tour and lunch.
6:30pm: Dine by the water
Back on dry land, the views don't stop. And neither do your options for where to dine the night away. Fusing Indigenous bush food ingredients with the bountiful produce of north Queensland, Ochre should not be missed. Order favourites like wattleseed damper, roo satay and Davidson Plum mousse, and let the cool sea breeze carry your night away.
9pm: Kick-on
Photo by @threewolvescairns
We'll let you in on a local secret: Cairns shines after dark, too. Whatever your poison, you'll find talented folks mixing, brewing and pouring to perfection.
Hidden down a red brick laneway, Three Wolves is the place to go for all things shaken and stirred. But if your tastes run more tiki, wine bar or beer hall - you'll find that nearby too.
Sunday
7am: Wake up to fresh flavours
Open from the early hours every Friday - Sunday, Rusty's Market is the place to venture to taste your way through exotic tropical fruits, produce and smallgoods. It's also a great spot for a grazing breakfast, with some 180 stalls offering coffee, Vietnamese banh mi, acai bowls and more.
9am: Step into ancient rainforest
If the deep green of World Heritage-listed rainforest is calling, make your final adventure a journey into the hills to Kuranda. Easily accessible from Cairns, this little village is best explored after soaring above the trees on the Skyrail. Touch down to explore the rainforest boardwalks, soak up views of Barron Falls, then head into the village where local flavour, craftmanship and nature experiences await.
Get a deeper appreciation for your surrounds with the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience. As ancient custodians of the rainforest, the local Indigenous people can teach you more about the rainforest than anyone else. Share in their cultural practices then take a guided Dreamtime Walk where you’ll learn even more about Indigenous Australian culture, traditions, and hunting techniques.
Of course, if you prefer to be immersed in the rainforest on an action-packed adventure, skip Kuranda in favour of whitewater rafting or abseiling, jumping and sliding into rushing waters with Cairns Canyoning.
2pm: Get a bird's eye view
Photo by @_sarahlatham
Your 48 hours in Cairns might be coming to a close, but end on a high note with a little luxury, where you'll soar some 14,000ft above the Great Barrier Reef on a scenic chopper ride with Nautilus Aviation. It's a truly special experience, and offers a view over parts of the reef you haven't yet discovered - all the more reason to return.
