Your fit travel guide to Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Swap the confines of the gym for a destination that positively charges ions. Up here, the oxygen is brought to you by Australia’s largest rainforest, The Wet Tropics, which promises a destination not just full of clean eating but breathing too.

Hike up a mountain
If you’re up for a challenge, take a real-life step class and tackle Queensland’s tallest peak, Mt. Bartle Frere. The 15km trail climbs all 1611m of this monster mountain. You can technically complete it in a day, but you’d have to power through, and a place like this deserves to be appreciated at a slower pace.

The trail can be accessed from Josephine Falls, which incidentally is one of the prettiest waterfalls on this list. Time your hike for a clear day and enjoy views all the way out to the coast and across the Atherton Tablelands.

If you’re up for conquering the mountain from base to peak, but prefer to take two days to hike it, pack your tent for an overnight stay at one of four bush-campsites on the trail.

Check out this guide for more mountains you can climb near Cairns.

Climb a pyramid
For something slightly less intense, set your sights on the tallest natural pyramid in the world, Walsh’s Pyramid. This steep three-hour return walk, that climbs 922m, rewards you with 360-degree views from the summit.

If you’re still up for more fresh air and exercise following your pyramid hike, a quick car ride will have you at the Behana Gorge parking lot. From there, walk along the paved mountain trail for 45 minutes until you come to a local favourite swimming hole: Behana Gorge. The white water rapids, waterfalls and calm freshwater swimming hole are perfect for cooling off.

Want to see more waterfalls while you’re in town? Chase these waterfalls near Cairns, or go swimming in these waterholes.

Mountain bikers should check out these top trails in and around Cairns.

Check out the inner-city rainforest walk
If you don’t have time for a mountain climb, hit the Red Arrow, the shortest circuit behind Flecker Botanic Gardens in Cairns. It takes less than an hour to complete. The track takes you up the Mt. Whitfield Conservation Park, where you’ll find spectacular views of Trinity Inlet, the Coral Sea and Cairns city. Along the way, look out for scrub turkeys and agile wallabies hiding amongst the diverse scenery of rainforest, eucalyptus, grasslands and tall bamboo.

While you’re in Cairns, make sure you explore all five precincts of The Wet Tropics.

Got more time? Travel from Cairns to Mission Beach with this four-day nature itinerary.

Where to find healthy food in Cairns

Just as you’re guaranteed heat and humidity in Tropical North Queensland, you’ll find healthy food, too.

For breakfast worthy of a place on this best breakfast list, check out Caffiend in Grafton Street, Cairns. It’s the place to be if you like a protein hit rather than a carb-fest for your day-starter. Order the miso infused free-range scrambled eggs, which comes decorated with bonito and shichimi Japanese pepper.

Just nearby, get a taste for the local fresh produce at Rusty’s Markets. Open every Friday to Sunday, you’ll find over 180 stalls stocked with the kind of snacks that make eating healthy pure joy. Pick up a cold fresh coconut to drink once you’ve finished fossicking through the market treasures or duck into Lafew Cafe & Kombucha Bar next door for their hand-brewed kombucha on tap.

What if we told you that you could find a degustation that was healthy? Well… as long as you don’t order the matching wines. Set your sights on Nu Nu in Palm Cove for modern Thai served with the best beachfront view in Palm Cove. On the menu, you’ll find the likes of Melaleuca smoked reef fish, peanut and papaya relish, wild pepper leaf and salmon pearls, so you can eat like a king or queen without dropping the diet ball.

For more exceptional fresh seafood around Cairns, check these restaurants out.

For takeaway snacks in Cairns that will keep you fuelled on-the-go, visit Snoogies Health Bar in the Main Street Arcade. It can be hard to find, but fitness gurus like to keep it that way, at least so they can keep the vegan nachos to themselves. Grab one of their organic coffees for the road, or opt for one of their vibrant fresh juices made with the freshest local ingredients.

If you’re searching for a sweet hit, don’t rule out ice-creameries. Further north, Daintree Ice Cream serves up frosty treats, packed with fruit grown onsite.

Can’t start your day without a good cup of coffee? Here’s where to find the best coffee in Cairns.

Where to practice self-care

Changing gears from ‘go’ to ‘slow’ is a breeze in Tropical North Queensland. You’ll find spas and salons with reef and rainforest views, depending on how you like your rest and relaxation served.

For a massage with a dose of mineral ions, book yourself in for a pamper session in the Daintree Rainforest at Silky Oaks Lodge‘s Healing Waters Spa. The stories of the traditional owners of the land – and their belief the Mossman River has a life-giving force – inspires the treatment menu. All products used are chemical free and use natural elements from the land, earth and sea.

Indulge in a healing and awakening experience at the eco-friendly Daintree Wellness Spa at Daintree Ecolodge. Each treatment harnesses the pure waters from the pristine on-site waterfall that Kuku Yalanji women have been visiting for thousands of years for its healing and spiritual benefits. Or, reconnect with your inner Zen with the help of the spa’s network of local practitioners. You can choose from every treatment imaginable, from meditation and yoga to crystal healings, art or colour therapy and traditional Hawaiian lomi lomi massage.

Inside the cocoon of Shantara Port Douglas’ adults-only resort, you’ll find the Shantara Day Spa shaking up the three R’s to Rest, Revive and Renew. The day spa provides everything from grooming essentials to life’s luxuries with relaxing, hot stone and remedial massages.

Looking for more indulgent spa experiences? Try these Indigenous-inspired health and wellness experiences or book yourself into these best spas in Queensland. 

Time your trip to compete in these endurance events

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has many distinct seasons. There’s a waterfall season, mango season, and most importantly for you, a fit traveller event season.

Test your fitness with one of these Tropical North Queensland world-class events:

Cairns Airport Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship
Find out why they call the Cairns Airport Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship the ‘Race in Paradise’ as you swim, cycle and run from reef to World Heritage-listed rainforest, and along the stunning Cairns boardwalk into the heart of the city.

Reef to Reef Mountain Bike Stage Race
The four-day Reef to Reef Mountain Bike Stage Race starts on the reef-fringed Coral Sea coast then quickly heads inland across a network of trails through tablelands, hinterland, farm lands, MTB parks, and tropical rainforest before finishing 190kms later back at the coast.

Great Adventures Green Island Ocean Swim
Swap lane ropes for the big blue sea with Great Adventures Green Island Ocean Swim. Choose between the 1.5km and 3km swims, or shorter 500m distance swim, for your ocean swimming adventure off this picture-perfect Great Barrier Reef island. 

The fit travel guide to Cairns and beyond:

• Done these events? Why not try to tick off all of these Queensland triathlons and marathons.
• Check out our fit travel guides to the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.
• Channel your inner yogi at these Queensland yoga retreats.
• Explore more of Cairns with this travel guide.