Cairns Tours

Roughly November to May. Box jellyfish and irukandji are present in coastal waters through those months, so beaches using stinger nets and suits are recommended. The islands and outer reef carry lower risk, and full stinger suits are standard on reef trips through the season.

Estuarine crocodiles live in the creeks, mangroves and river mouths around Cairns, and they are the reason you never swim in an estuary or unpatrolled waterway in far north Queensland. They are not in the Esplanade lagoon or out at the reef islands. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures ($125) is where you see them safely.

Not necessarily. Cairns city centre is easy to explore on foot, while many of the region’s main attractions can be visited on our day tours with hotel pickup. Our tours cover popular destinations including the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, the Daintree Rainforest and the Atherton Tablelands, so you can see the region without hiring a car.

May to October, the dry season: 25 to 29 degrees, low humidity, calm water and clear reef visibility. November to April is hot, humid and wet, with cheaper rates and greener rainforest. Cyclone risk sits in that window too. Tours run all year.

Green Island ($120) is a small coral cay about 45 minutes from Cairns, with reef accessible from the beach and short, easy walks around the island. Fitzroy Island ($104) is a larger continental island with rainforest walking tracks, coral-rubble beaches and more hiking options. Choose Green Island for easier snorkelling and Fitzroy Island for walking and hiking.

Cairns has the airport, the marina where most reef boats leave, more accommodation and cheaper food. Port Douglas is quieter, prettier and closer to the Daintree by about an hour. If you are doing reef and rainforest day trips, Cairns is the practical base.

The Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest are the two headline attractions near Cairns. They’re also part of the only place in the world where two natural World Heritage sites meet. Closer to Cairns, Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail is a popular scenic day trip, while the Atherton Tablelands are known for their waterfalls, swimming spots and rainforest scenery. Our day tour visits Millaa Millaa Falls, Josephine Falls and other waterfalls across the region.

About 45 minutes by catamaran from the Cairns marina. Fitzroy Island is a similar run.

Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, swimmers and a towel for island and reef trips, and a light rain jacket in the wet season. Closed shoes for the Tablelands and Kuranda. The far north sun is stronger than it feels on the boat.