Experience the passion, energy, and excitement of Queensland with this 6-day, 5-night Cairns itinerary featuring Great Barrier Reef diving, rainforest adventures, and hot air ballooning.
📅 Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival + Cairns city center tour
Cairns city center is super convenient, not big but there is a super selection of restaurants, you can choose from food from all over the world, you can't stop eating! You can walk slowly along the road to the pier, looking at the seaside and watching the sunset is super romantic🌅~
Don’t miss Cairns Esplanade Lagoon (52-54 The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia), this free seawater pool is super chill and cool.
At night, you must visit Cairns Night Market (Address: 71-75 The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia, opening hours: daily 16:30-23:00).
Day 2: Great Barrier Reef Diving
When you come to Cairns, you must do the Great Barrier Reef diving😍, and if you have a diving license, you should plan a day to dive into the sea. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park belongs to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, which is rich in marine life. You can see sea turtles🐢, coral fish and other super Q wild animals at any time. It's not difficult to take beautiful photos.
Day 3: Daintree Rainforest + Port Douglas
Daintree Rainforest (World Natural Heritage and Australia’s largest tropical rainforest, Cape Tribulation Rd, Daintree QLD 4873, Australia) is worth your half-day trip and remember to take a boat trip to see rare flora and fauna and even crocodiles. Then go to the trail for a walk, get close to nature super healing!
Return check-in Port Douglas (Address: Port Douglas QLD 4877, Australia), popular market can buy souvenirs / stylish local souvenirs, plus sea view restaurant, beach check-in beautiful to shock.
Day 4: Hot air balloon experience + Kuranda Skyrail & Scenic Train
Bucket list must-do! Hot air balloon experience (common meeting point: Atherton Tablelands, Mareeba QLD 4880, Australia), watching the hot air balloons slowly inflate and rise into the sky in the morning, the whole city of Cairns is overwhelmed!
Then board Kuranda (Kuranda Skyrail Station: 6 Skyrail Dr, Smithfield QLD 4878, Australia), first take the Skyrail aerial cable car soaring between the tropical rainforest and the city, get off and walk around Kuranda Village (Address: Coondoo St, Kuranda QLD 4881, Australia). On the way back, take the Scenic Train down the mountain (Kuranda Scenic Railway Station: Kuranda Station, Coondoo St, Kuranda QLD 4881, Australia).
Day 5: Danbulla National Park and State Forest
The most relaxing road trip is Danbulla National Park (Address: Danbulla Rd, Atherton Tablelands QLD 4872, Australia). The countryside is quiet, it's great to breathe fresh air.
Day 6: Skydiving or Bungee Jump
Want to challenge yourself? Cairns is an Australian thrill sports paradise! Whether skydiving or bungee jump is available for those who love excitement ~ (Cairns Skydiving Popular Location: 39/29-41 Wharf St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia)
🏨 Accommodation recommendations
Cairns backpacker hostel has a wide range of options and affordable prices, with private and multi-room beds available. Fully equipped with easy access to laundry and cooking, and free parking. Perfect for a group of friends or free travel🤩.
🍴Food recommendations
In addition to the fresh seafood, there is also a lot of food! Found authentic Japanese restaurants, Italian pizza in the city center, taste sooo good! Try all kinds of roadside snacks inside Cairns Night Market
📌 Practical Tips
- Cairns has many water activities, but remember not to fly/go to heights (including Kuranda, hot air balloon, skydiving) 🛫 within 24-48 hours after diving, and do not schedule diving on the last day.
- Some remote attractions network will be weaker, downloading offline maps early is the safest!
- Itinerary planning to reserve flexibility, not afraid of missing beautiful scenery or food ~
Quickly mark down this 6 days 5 nights itinerary, Cairns really can not finish playing, beautiful scenery and good people, taking pictures and checking in IGable and exciting enough! 🌟