Things to do in Cairns
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Ochre Restaurant
Red Ochre’s certainly creative with its dishes: expect goodies such as emu and vermicelli spring rolls, Australian antipasto, crocodile wanton and salt-and-native-pepper crocodile and prawns. It sounds good and it is good. The Australian game platter is $48 per person, while a slice of amazing wattleseed pavlova or quandong pie with macadamia crumble costs $14. Not sure if it’s Australian, but chocolate slut is also on the menu.
reviewed
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Cairns Foreshore Promenade
The undisputed highlight of the Cairns Foreshore Promenade is the 4800-sq-m saltwater swimming lagoon, a feat in landscape architecture bringing the beach-cum-swimming experience to the heart of the city. Fitness enthusiasts blade, cycle or just walk the 3km Esplanade Walking Trail, and travellers meander lazily up and down the Esplanade, popping into restaurants and shops until the wee hours.
reviewed
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Pier
The Pier’s fires burn brightly on the wooden deck that surrounds this waterfront bar-restaurant. The ice machine mesmerises as it moves ice along a perspex pipe above the bar, but if you can focus your eyes on the menu you’ll find a smattering of snacks, finger foods, pizza and fish. There’s a band every Sunday night from 8pm.
reviewed
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Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise from Cairns
by Viator
Enjoy five hours of snorkeling or diving at two outer Great Barrier Reef locations on a premium cruise from Cairns. You'll be served a typically Aussie barbecue…
Not LP reviewed
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Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
Varies (Departs Cairns, Australia)
by Viator
Cruise to Green Island from Cairns and find a tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. You'll spend either four or five hours at Green Island, with plenty o…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$77.09 -
Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns
by Viator
Experience the rainforest beauty of Far North Queensland on a scenic day trip from Cairns. Ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and choose from a variety of…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$143.44 -
Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary Day Tour
10 - 11 hours (Departs Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas, Australia)
by Viator
Take a day trip from Cairns along one of Australia's most scenic coastal roads to Daintree National Park. Along the way you'll visit the Rainforest Habitat Wild…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$155.15 -
Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail, Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Tour and Cruise
9 - 10 hours (Departs Cairns, Palm Cove and Northern Beaches, Australia)
by Viator
Hit the rails, the rainforest, the sky and the reef in an action-packed day trip from Cairns! You'll take the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns, go shopping in…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$389.34 -
Great Barrier Reef Scenic Helicopter Tour and Cruise from Cairns
Varies (Departs Cairns, Northern Beaches and Palm Cove, Australia)
by Viator
Fly and cruise the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the world. You'll take a scenic helicopter tour from Cairns over the stunning Great Barrier R…
Not LP reviewed
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Tjapukai Cultural Park
Allow at least three hours at this Indigenous-owned cultural extravaganza, incorporating the Creation Theatre, which tells the story of creation using giant holograms and actors, a dance theatre and a gallery, as well as boomerang- and spear-throwing demonstrations and turtle-spotting during a canoe ride on the lake. A fireside corroboree is the centrepiece of the Tjapukai by Night dinner-and-show deal.
The park is about 15km north of the city centre, just off the Captain Cook Hwy near the Skyrail terminal; transfers are available for an extra charge.
reviewed
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2-Day Reef and Rainforest Package Combo: Green Island Cruise and Kuranda Day Trip
2 days (Departs Cairns and Northern Beaches, Australia)
by Viator
Your 2-Day Reef and Rainforest Package Combo will take you to the two extremes of Tropical North Queensland during your stay in Cairns. Spend a day discovering …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$318.11 -
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Flecker Botanic Gardens
These beautiful tropical gardens are an explosion of greenery and rainforest plants. Sections include an area for bush-tucker plants and the Gondwanan Evolutionary Trail, which traces the 415-million-year heritage of tropical plants. Free guided walks depart Tuesday and Thursday at 10am and 1pm from the information centre. There's an excellent cafe here.
Opposite the gardens the Rainforest Boardwalk leads to Saltwater Creek and Centenary Lakes. Uphill from the gardens, Mt Whitfield Conservation Park has two walking tracks through rainforest, climbing to viewpoints over the city; follow the Red Arrow circuit (1.3km, one hour) or the more demanding Blue Arrow circuit (5.4km…
reviewed
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Outer Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise from Cairns
10 - 11 hours (Departs Cairns, Australia)
by Viator
This Outer Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise is great for beginners, non-swimmers and first-time visitors to Tropical North Queensland. You can watch fish feedi…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$234.19 -
Hot Air Ballooning Tour from Cairns
4 hours (Departs Cairns, Northern Beaches or Palm Cove, Queensland)
by Viator
Don't miss the chance to go for a hot-air balloon ride over Far North Queensland's Atherton Tablelands - it's one of the top "must do" activities when visiting …
Not LP reviewed
from USD$229.31 -
Cairns Night Zoo Safari and Barbecue Dinner
3 hours (Departs Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas, Australia)
by Viator
It's all happening at Cairns Night Zoo when the sun goes down! You'll feast on a typical Australian barbecue, spot wildlife by torchlight, do some stargazing un…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$96.60 -
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Day Trip from Cairns
by Viator
Enjoy the tranquility of the rainforest as you soar above the canopy aboard the Skyrail on a day trip to Kuranda from Cairns. Choose from a variety of options i…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$143.44 -
2-Day Best of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
Valid for 2 days over a 7 day period (Departs Cairns, Palm Cove and Northern Beaches, Australia)
by Viator
Spend two days exploring the very best of Cairns. Enjoy a full day in tropical Kuranda and on your second day discover why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the …Not LP reviewed
from USD$389.34 -
Daintree, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge 4WD Tour from Cairns
by Viator
Explore the Daintree National Park, one of the world's oldest rainforests, the tour includes a guided board walk through dense rainforest, a trip up the Rainfor…Not LP reviewed
from USD$176.62 -
Tully River Full-Day White Water Rafting from Cairns including BBQ Lunch
12 hours (Departs Cairns, Northern Beaches or Palm Cove area)
by Viator
Want to go white water rafting on your vacation to Tropical North Queensland? Go rafting on the the Tully River on this action packed full-day white water rafti…Not LP reviewed
from USD$151.25 -
Green Island Half Day Trip from Cairns
by Viator
Explore the tropical paradise of Green Island on a half day trip from Cairns. Enjoy around two hours exploring the Great Barrier Reef island with time to snorke…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$77.09 Advertisement
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Outer Great Barrier Reef Dive and Snorkel Cruise from Cairns
9 - 10 hours (Departs Cairns, Australia)
by Viator
View the colorful underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef on this full-day trip from Cairns. Whether you are a snorkeler or a scuba diver, experienced or a n…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$181.50 -
Cairns Flames of the Forest Dining Experience
5 hours (Departs Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas, Australia)
by Viator
Feel your senses ignite when you take a walk through the world's oldest rainforest to wine, dine and be entertained by candlelight in the Flames of the Forest n…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$162.96 -
Crystal Cascades
About 20km from Cairns, the Crystal Cascades are a series of beautiful waterfalls and pools. You will need a friendly local or a cab to get you there but it is worth the effort. The area is accessed by a 1.2km pathway (suitable for wheelchairs) and is a great spot for a dip, particularly in the summer months when the stingers make the beaches unsafe.
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Barron River Half-Day White Water Rafting from Cairns
3 hours 30 minutes (Departs Cairns, Northern Beaches, Australia)
by Viator
Seeking a white water rafting adventure? The Barron River, 20-minutes north of Cairns, offers spectacular scenery including the Barron Falls on this two-hour wh…Not LP reviewed
from USD$102.46 -
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Blue Sky Brewery
Here’s a sparkling new drinking hall and brewery that caters for foodies and beer-lovers. A ‘snow rail’ keeps the average barflys’ beer cool, and you can try all seven premises-made brews on a taster-tray for $16. Foodwise, the malt from the brewery goes to the tablelands cattle, which end up in the kitchen. True-blue beery beef.
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