Tours and Trips in Cairns & the Tropical North

Experience the beautiful Kuranda rainforest on this train and ATV adventure. After a convenient hotel pickup, climb aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway and marvel at picturesque views of waterfalls, ravines, and the spectacular Barron Gorge. Then, travel with a guide on a heart-thumping journey through the rainforest. Get outfitted with safety and rain gear, take a quick training session, and enjoy afternoon tea - all included in the tour price.

This tour is ideal for cruise ship passengers as well as other travelers staying in or around Cairns. Be escorted by your guide on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which will take you into the Kuranda Ranges. Enjoy a short walk, views, souvenir shopping, a delicious lunch, and Queensland's largest oceanarium. This handy day trip includes many of Cairns' top sites, which would be difficult to fit into one day if traveling independently.

Embark upon an adventure that goes beyond the usual city tours on this Cairns ATV and Skyrail tour. Journey over and through World Heritage-listed rainforest, gliding just above the canopy, in the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway's gondola before embarking on a ranger-guided walk. Next, aboard your quad bike for an adrenalin-pumping adventure through the rainforest on dirt tracks and over creek crossings.

Set out on a sunset cycle around Cairns and see the city at its most atmospheric. Follow your guide on a scenic 3-hour tour, stopping to take in the views from Cairns Wharf, admire St Monica's Cathedral and take a peek at the Pioneer Graveyard. Soak up the scenery as you glide along the Cairns Esplanade, pedal around the botanical gardens and wind along the waterfront trails of the Centenary Lakes. Finally, hop off to watch the sunset over Marlin Marina and cool off with a complimentary gelato.

Take part in two popular activities in one day on this ATV adventure paired with a Great Barrier Reef excursion. Get picked up from your hotel and taken to your ATV, and then venture into the rainforest for about an hour and a half.  Afterward, head to Green Island - a Marine National Park - for a few hours of snorkeling or cruising on a glass-bottomed boat. All the equipment you need is provided.

Get a deeper understanding of Cairns and cover more ground than possible on foot on this guided small-group bicycle tour. At a relaxed pace, pedal through the streets - along a network of bicycle paths through lesser-known parts of Cairns - as your guide shares insights into the wildlife, culture, and history of the city. Disembark for a few side excursions on foot, including an Aboriginal bush tucker walk and a visit a local cathedral which boasts the largest themed stained glass windows in the world.

See the best of Cairns on a full-day combo tour that includes a morning visit to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and an afternoon sightseeing tour by coach. Learn about the living history of the Tjapukai people, the Australian indigenous people from Queensland's far north as you hear Dreamtime stories and watch a corroboree performance, then learn about the boomerang, didgeridoo and fire making. Your city sightseeing tour takes in top attractions such as St Monica's Cathedral, the Flecker Botanic Gardens, several scenic lookouts, Barron Gorge National Park and Palm Cove.

Escape the tourist trail for an off-road adventure in Australia's tropical north on this full-day tour from Cairns. Hop aboard a 4WD for a thrilling tour of the Barron Gorge National Park and Kuranda National Park, exploring hidden trails not normally accessible to the public and admiring natural wonders like Surprise Falls and Lake Morris. After free time to enjoy lunch (own expense) and browse the markets in Kuranda Village, enjoy aerial views over the Kuranda rainforest with a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or Scenic Railway.

Venture off-the-beaten-track and explore the UNESCO-listed wilderness of Australia's tropical north on this full-day tour from Cairns. Journey along the Captain Cook Highway; take a guided hike through the Mossman Gorge and cool off with a dip in the Mossman River. After lunch (included), look out for crocodiles on a scenic cruise down the Daintree River, then continue to Cape Tribulation to trek through the Daintree Rainforest and enjoy magnificent views over the Great Barrier Reef. This small-group tour is limited to 14 people for a personalized experience.

Marvel over two UNESCO-listed natural wonders with this great-value combo deal from Cairns. On the first day, set sail for a thrilling cruise around the Great Barrier Reef, spot exotic fish on a glass-bottomed boat tour and marvel at the colorful corals on an introductory scuba dive. On the second day, venture inland to explore the ancient Daintree rainforest, hike through the Mossman Gorge and admire views over the reef from Cape Tribulation. Best of all: the small-group tours both include lunch, hotel pick-up and all activities.

Explore Cairns at your own pace and make your own schedule on this self-guided audio tour. Download the entertainingly narrated tour and begin whenever you like. Wander along the Esplanade Lagoon while listening to stories about the impact of war and the Gold Rush on the region. Admire indigenous artwork at the Jungara Gallery while listening to background information about the Aboriginal peoples and even visit a rooftop wildlife center.

Escape the tropical heat for a day of splashing, sliding and swimming through the Behana Gorge waterfalls on this eco tour from Cairns. Get set for an adventure as you rappel down the gorge, leap over rocks and walk along rain forest trails, then cool off with a swim beneath the falls. After working up an appetite, soak up the scenery as you tuck into lunch by the waterfront. Best of all: with full instruction and safety harnesses provided, anyone can give it a go.

Cover much more ground than you could in a traditional tour with this helicopter tour of Cairns and the surrounds. With an expert pilot/guide, fly over Mt. Bellenden Ker and Mt. Bartle Frere on the way to Undara Volcanic National Park for a tour and lunch. Take off for Wallaman Falls and Blencoe Falls, where you can get epic photos from your aerial vantage point. Last is a buzz up the coast, including views of the Great Barrier Reef.

Experience the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kuranda Rainforest on a full-day tour from Cairns. Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway to Kuranda where you first visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, the largest flight aviary in Australia. Tour the Rainforestation Nature Park in an amphibious Army Duck vehicle, then see koalas, dingoes and more at the Koala and Wildlife Park. Take a dreamtime walk with a Pamagirri guide for the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, then feast on an Australian barbecue buffet lunch. Finally, return to Cairns on the scenic Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

Escape to the jungle on this action-packed full-day adventure from Cairns or Port Douglas. Spot exotic birds, flying foxes and crocodiles as you cruise along the Daintree River, then look out over the UNESCO-listed landscapes of the Daintree rainforest from the Alexander Range Lookout. After a delicious Aussie-style lunch, journey to remote Cape Tribulation, where you can hike through the ancient rainforest, stroll along the beach and enjoy spectacular views of the Great Barrier Reef.

Immerse yourself in the natural wonders and Aboriginal heritage of Australia's tropical north on this full-day tour from Cairns. First, head to the Mossman Gorge to take part in a traditional smoke ceremony with the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people. Then, enjoy a close encounter with native wildlife on the Marrdja Botanical Boardwalk and visit Cape Tribulation, the meeting point of the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree rainforest. After lunch at Cape Trib Beach House, embark on a scenic cruise along the Daintree River (optional).

Make the most of your time in port and enjoy magnificent aerial views of Queensland's star attraction. Set out from Cairns for a thrilling helicopter ride and glide over the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef, looking down over the vast coral reefs and spotting whales, dolphins and schools of tropical fish. Choose from a 30-minute flight to Green Island; a 40-minute deluxe flight over the outer reef; or a 60-minute Reef and Rainforest tour. Best of all: this tour is covered byworry-free policy, guaranteeing on-time return to your ship.

Get an up-close look at the rainforest from the middle of Cairns at Carins ZOOM and Wildlife Dome. This family-friendly attraction is home to Australian animals like wallabies, koalas, tropical birds and a saltwater crocodile. You can simply explore the park at your leisure, or choose some of the many activities like a ropes course, zipline, dome climb and more. You also have the option to upgrade your admission to the 4 Park Pass if you want to visit other Cairns-area attractions like the Butterfly Sanctuary and Rainforestation.

Explore Cairns on an all-day ATV and white-water rafting adventure. After a convenient hotel pickup, travel into a spectacular rainforest, receive a safety briefing, and get outfitted in necessary equipment. Then, race along trails, over jumps, and through creek crossings on a thrilling off-road ride. Enjoy morning tea and head to Barron Gorge National Park to spend the afternoon paddling rapids in a white-water raft - all on one combo tour.

Tackle the grade II and III rapids of the Barron River on this adrenaline-pumping half-day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Prepare to get wet and wild as you hurtle over the rapids, then float downstream past the jagged cliffs, plunging ravines and lush rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park. Best of all: with gentle rapids and full instruction provided, this tour is suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.