[A Complete Guide❗️] Cairns Travel Itinerary: Detailed Map and Attractions Explained

Cairns, an important gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, was developed early and has well-established commercial facilities.

◾ Airport Transportation

Cairns Airport (CNS) is about a 10-minute drive (about 7 kilometers) from the city center.
‣ Uber costs 15-20 AUD, follow the RIDE-BOOKING signs; taxi costs 25-30 AUD

◾ City Transportation

‣ The city is small, and most areas can be reached on foot; for slightly farther distances, Uber is generally under 10 AUD
‣ Public transportation in Cairns is limited to buses, with a fare of 2.4 AUD within the city

◾ 4-Day Itinerary Recommendation for Cairns

To have a more enjoyable experience, at least 3-4 nights are recommended. Here’s a suggested itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrive in the morning or at noon, spend the afternoon in the city (aquarium / lagoon swimming pool) or visit Palm Cove (beach and palm trees for photos), and explore the night market in the evening
Day 2 – A full-day trip to the Great Barrier Reef (join a one-day tour, popular boats include Sunlover, Reef Magic, and Quicksilver)
Day 3 – A full-day trip to Kuranda Rainforest (join a one-day tour or take the cable car & train round trip)
Day 4 – Skydiving or hot air ballooning in the morning, and rafting in the afternoon

Optional: Daintree Rainforest (join a one-day tour) or Paronella Park (join a one-day tour)
If you plan to scuba dive, wait 24 hours before participating in high-altitude activities (helicopter / skydiving), or schedule the high-altitude activities before the scuba diving

◾ Main Attractions and Activities in Cairns

💙 1. Great Barrier Reef
Options include boat tours or small aircraft tours:
A. Outer Reef Boat Tour – the choice of many, popular boats include Sunlover, Reef Magic, Quicksilver, and Evolution
B. Outer Reef by Small Aircraft – stunning aerial views, also very popular
C. Inner Reef (Green Island & Fitzroy Island) by Boat
💙 2.

Tropical Rainforest
The famous tropical rainforest in Cairns is the Kuranda Rainforest,
Other options: Daintree Rainforest, “Castle in the Sky” Paronella Park
💙 3. Outdoor Activities: Rafting / Skydiving / Hot Air Ballooning

◾ Attractions in Cairns City

💙 1. Lagoon Swimming Pool – a free public pool, visit for 30 minutes to 1 hour
💙 2. Cairns Night Market – food stalls and a large marketplace for clothing and handicrafts, spend 1-2 hours eating and shopping
💙 3. Esplanade Boardwalk – a seaside walk, visit for 30 minutes to 1 hour
💙 4. Cairns Aquarium – features Australia’s only 10-meter deep coral reef tank, visit for 1-2 hours, starting from 58 AUD

For hotel recommendations and detailed information on attractions, see [Australia New Zealand Pass], also available on mobile📱