Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Cairns is at the far north of Queensland, on the Coral Sea coast, and is the main gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system, inscribed by UNESCO as a natural World Heritage Site. From the city pier boats depart daily for coral islands and outer reefs, offering snorkeling, scuba diving and glass-bottom-boat trips.

Behind the city the mountains rise into the Wet Tropics of Queensland, another UNESCO site and one of the oldest rainforests on the planet. The village of Kuranda, high in the ranges, is reached by a historic railway opened in 1891 and by a scenic cableway that crosses the treetops and the Barron River falls.

To the north, the coastal road reaches Port Douglas, a beach town with boat departures to the reefs and the Low Isles, and the Mossman Gorge, in the land of the eastern Kuku Yalanji. After the Daintree River ferry, the rainforest descends to the sea at Cape Tribulation, with elevated walkways and long beaches.

The climate is tropical: the dry season, from May to October, usually brings clearer skies and clearer water, and the wet season runs from November to April. In the hot season, boat trips and lifeguarded beaches provide lycra suits and enclosed swimming areas.

This destination brings together 4 cities: Cairns, Port Douglas, Kuranda, Cape Tribulation.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef is

Boundaries: Australian Bureau of Statistics / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

✈ Aeroporto de Cairns (CNS), in Cairns · 7 km to Cairns

Cairns Airport (CNS), about 7 km from downtown, receives flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other capitals as well as some international flights from Asia and the Pacific. There is also a long-distance train from Brisbane to Cairns station. Port Douglas, Kuranda and Cape Tribulation are reached by road from Cairns.

Suggested arrival point: Cairns

Queensland · Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef Suggested arrival point

Cairns

Tropical city in northern Queensland, Cairns is the most commonly used departure point for the reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. The Esplanade waterfront has a saltwater lagoon for swimming and a promenade of about 3 km; boats depart from the pier for Green Island and the outer reefs. In the Edge Hill neighborhood are the Botanic Gardens, at the foot of Whitfield Range forest. The city station is the start of the train to Kuranda.

Queensland · Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Port Douglas

Beach village about 67 km north of Cairns, Port Douglas sits on a peninsula between Four Mile Beach and the harbour. Boats leave the marina for the outer reefs of the Great Barrier Reef and for the Low Isles, two small coral islets with a lighthouse. Macrossan Street concentrates shops and restaurants, and the village is the closest base to the Mossman Gorge and the Daintree rainforest.

Queensland · Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Kuranda

Village in the mountains about 25 km from Cairns, surrounded by the Wet Tropics rainforest. You can reach it by the historic 1891 train, which climbs the slope through tunnels and bridges, or by the Skyrail cableway, which passes over the treetops. Near the village are the Barron River falls, with a lookout over the gorge. In the village center there are craft markets, cafés and butterfly and bird sanctuaries.

Queensland · Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Cape Tribulation

Locality in the Cape Tribulation section of Daintree National Park, about 140 km north of Cairns, after the Daintree River ferry. The rainforest descends to long beaches, like the headland’s own beach and Myall Beach. Elevated boardwalks cross the forest and mangroves, and boat tours on the Daintree River depart to see crocodiles and birds.

The local experience

Things to do in Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Port Douglas · Queensland · Beach

Four Mile Beach

Long beach of light sand that runs from the tip of Port Douglas southward, with coconut palms, a lifeguarded swimming area and the Flagstaff Hill lookout at the northern tip.

Kuranda · Queensland · Stroll

Kuranda Scenic Railway

Historic train that climbs from Cairns to Kuranda in about 2 hours, over 37 km of track opened in 1891, with 15 hand-cut tunnels, 37 bridges and a stop at the Barron Falls lookout.

Cairns · Queensland · Park

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

A 4,800 m² saltwater lagoon on Cairns’ downtown foreshore, lifeguarded, with sandy edges, sculptures and a roughly 3 km seaside promenade.

Cape Tribulation · Queensland · Viewpoint

Kulki Lookout

Short boardwalk to a lookout over Cape Tribulation Beach, where the rainforest meets the sea, with walking access to Myall Beach.

See 8 more places in Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Cairns · Queensland · Island

Green Island

A coral island of about 12 hectares, 27 km from Cairns, a national park and marine park, with beach, forest and reef for snorkeling from the sand, on the Great Barrier Reef.

Port Douglas · Queensland · Island

Low Isles

Two small coral islets about 15 km from Port Douglas, with a shallow reef for snorkelling, seabirds and a lighthouse active since 1878, inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Cape Tribulation · Queensland · Trail

Dubuji Boardwalk

Circular boardwalk of about 1.2 km through Cape Tribulation’s lowland forest, among fan palms, swamps and mangroves, with information signs about the plants and animals.

Kuranda · Queensland · Stroll

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

7.5 km cableway opened in 1995 between Smithfield, near Cairns, and Kuranda, over the Wet Tropics rainforest, with stops at Red Peak and the Barron Falls lookout.

Kuranda · Queensland · Waterfall

Barron Falls

Tiered waterfall in the Barron River gorge, near Kuranda, viewed from a suspended rainforest boardwalk; after heavy rains the water usually cascades forcefully down the slope.

Port Douglas · Queensland · National park

Mossman Gorge

Mossman River valley within Daintree National Park, on the land of the eastern Kuku Yalanji, with a circular rainforest trail and guided walks led by Aboriginal guides.

Cairns · Queensland · Garden

Cairns Botanic Gardens

Tropical botanic gardens created in 1886 in Edge Hill, about 4 km from downtown, with collections of regional plants, lakes and trails that climb Whitfield Range.

Cape Tribulation · Queensland · Stroll

Daintree River

Mangrove-lined river at the edge of the Daintree forest, crossed by a cable ferry, with about one-hour boat tours to observe saltwater crocodiles and birds.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to October, the dry season, days are usually hot and less humid, and the sea tends to be clearer for diving. From November to April there is more rain, with high heat and the possibility of cyclones; this is the season for tropical jellyfish, when people swim in enclosed areas and wear lycra suits.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Five days allow for one full day at the reefs, one day in Kuranda, one day in Port Douglas and Mossman Gorge, and one day in Cape Tribulation. With seven days there is time for a second boat trip or to stay overnight in the Daintree rainforest.

Which city to stay in

In Cairns the city centre and the Esplanade waterfront concentrate accommodation of various types within walking distance of the boat piers; the beach suburbs to the north, such as Palm Cove and Trinity Beach, are quieter. Port Douglas, with lodging around Macrossan Street and Four Mile Beach, is closer to the Daintree. In Cape Tribulation there are simple lodgings and rainforest guesthouses with few options; book in advance.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

How many days to stay in Cairns?

At least four or five: one day for the Great Barrier Reef, one for Kuranda, one for Port Douglas and Mossman, and one for the Daintree rainforest and Cape Tribulation.

Do you need a car to explore the Cairns region?

Not for Cairns city, the reef boats or Kuranda, which have organized tours and transport. A car is helpful for Port Douglas, Mossman and Cape Tribulation to travel at your own pace. In Australia you drive on the left.

What is the best time to dive the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns?

From May to October the weather is usually drier and the sea clearer. Boats run year-round; from November to May, the tropical jellyfish season, tours provide lycra suits.

Can you go from Cairns to Cape Tribulation in one day?

Yes, with an early start: it’s about 140 km, including the Daintree River ferry crossing. Many organized tours do the route in a day, with stops at Mossman Gorge and along the river.

What time zone is Cairns in?

Cairns follows Queensland time, UTC+10, with no daylight saving: the clock does not change during the year.

Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip