Best Day Trips from Cairns

Located just south of Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands is a lush, fertile region of rainforest, wetland, and savannah. Here, you can explore a wide variety of landscapes and attractions, including waterfalls, organic farms, limestone caves, and coffee plantations. Most people visiting the Atherton Tablelands on a day trip from Cairns will venture to the iconic Waterfall Circuit. Approximately a two-hour drive from Cairns, this circuit will take you to three of the most photographed waterfalls in Australia – Millaa Millaa Falls, Ellinjaa Falls, and Zillie Falls. Ellinjaa Falls is picturesque, with water rushing over lava columns as you enjoy a picnic lunch. Turtles and platypus play, and don’t forget to pack your swimsuit to bask in the water.

Immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of Atherton Tablelands‘ mix of rainforest, swimming holes, wetlands, and savanna landscapes.

Drive just one hour north of Cairns via the incredibly scenic Great Barrier Reef Drive to reach the laidback coastal town of Port Douglas. Here, you’ll discover the famous Four Mile Beach, where golden sands stretch as far as the eye can see. Aim for Flagstaff Hill Lighthouse for the best views of the beach. When you’re feeling peckish, stroll down Macrossan Street to dine at one of 60 restaurants and cafes. The Port Douglas region is also rich in Indigenous Australian heritage, which is exciting to learn more about on a guided day tour from Cairns.

Travel just one hour north of Cairns via the incredibly scenic Great Barrier Reef Drive to arrive at the laidback coastal town of Port Douglas.

Mission Beach is another popular day trip from Cairns, located two hours south along the Cassowary Coast. This relaxed coastal strip is made up of four beachside villages – Bingil Bay, North Mission, Wongaling Beach and South Mission – spread along a seemingly infinite palm-lined beach. Spend your stay lounging on one of these beaches or take a quick water taxi to nearby Dunk Island to enjoy activities like swimming, snorkelling, fishing, and bushwalking. Plus, the area surrounding Mission Beach is home to one of the highest concentrations of cassowaries in Australia, often spotted walking through fields and swimming across rivers.

Spend your stay lounging on Mission Beach or enjoy activities like swimming, snorkelling, fishing, and bushwalking.

No holiday to Cairns is complete without taking a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. One of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2,300 kilometres along the coast of Queensland. Cairns is by far the most popular base from which to explore this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, with countless tours to both the Outer Great Barrier Reef and the Inner Fringing Reefs. Whichever section of the reef you choose to explore, expect to spend your day trip swimming, snorkelling, or diving among the 400 types of coral and 1,500 species of fish that call the Great Barrier Reef home.

No matter which part of the reef you decide to visit, you’ll love swimming, snorkelling, or diving among 400 types of coral and 1,500 fish species that call the Great Barrier Reef their home.

Add a little luxury to your Cairns holiday by driving 30 minutes north to Palm Cove. This is Tropical North Queensland’s most glamorous village, where luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants line a beautiful stretch of palm-fringed beach. Palm Cove is the kind of place where time slows down, so spend your day riding bikes along the esplanade, kayaking in the calm ocean waters or fishing off the jetty. For those seeking even more indulgence, why not treat yourself to a massage or facial? Palm Cove has been dubbed the spa capital of Australia and is dotted with several day spas, many of which offer a specialised treatment menu.

In Palm Cove, time slows down, allowing for bike rides along the esplanade, kayaking in calm waters, and fishing off the jetty.