Tours & popular activities

Swim and play at Palm Cove beach. Photo: Tourism & Events QLD

There's plenty to do, see and explore in Cairns and the tropical north. Book a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef where you can dive, swim and snorkel with the stunning marine life. Get to know the local indigenous culture, do a crocodile tour, hang out on the beaches, or go fishing. If you're after an adrenaline hit, book a white water rafting or bunny jumping tour.
 

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National parks & gardens

Go kayaking. Photo: Tourism Australia

Cairns and the tropical north is heaven for outdoor adventurers. A must-visit is the Daintree Rainforest (which is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth). Adventure seekers have plenty of other national parks and gardens to hike including the Mossman Gorge, Cassowary Coast, Barron Gorge, Lake Tinaroo Dam, and Walsh’s Pyramid (a 12km granite core.) You can also explore the rainforests from a canoe or kayak.

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Food & drink

Why not settle in for some fish & chips by the esplanade

• Book dinner at the World’s Worst Restaurant for a hillarious night of dinner and entertainment. Join Mr. Collingsworth who is your restaurant host, and his ex-wife who is also a food critic, for the grand opening of Tumeur De L’âne. Just when you think everything is going great...it all starts to crumble. So strap yourself in for a night of interactive comedy, and possibly your most memorable and disastrous night out ever!

• Some of Cairns top restaurants include Vitalia Italian, Tamarind, C’est Bon, Ochre and the Salt House.  

• Vegetarian options include Lillipad, Snoogies cafes, or Osmosis Café Kitchen which is just a short walk up the road from the Botanical Gardens. 

• If you're chasing your daily caffeine fix, try Cruze on Grafton Street and also in Cairns Central. 

• If you fancy a cold beer, try Hemingway Brewery (on Wharf Street), or drive north to Smithfield where you can sip on a tasty ale while overlooking the cane fields at Macalister Brewery.  

• A little hidden gem on the northern beaches is the beach shack bar at Kawarra Beach Resort and Spa. Enjoy sunset views of the ocean as you listen to live music and sip cocktails. Woodfire pizzas and tapas are generally the food of choice.

• Head to Palm Cove for some top-nosh choices overlooking the ocean along Williams Esplanade. Vivo serves up great cocktails and tasty food. 

• If you're in Port Douglas, dine at the Court House, Yacht Club, Hemingway Brewery, and the Beach Shake.

Markets

Visit the Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets. Photo: Tourism & Events QLD

• Rusty Markets is a bustling hive of activity every Friday to Sunday. This is the perfect place to get your fix of fresh and exotic produce, flaky pastries, delicious street food, and your daily caffeine fix. 

• Cairns Night Markets are located opposite Cairns Lagoon. The market includes a food court, souvenirs, and an entire aisle of vendors offering cheap massages to soothe those aches and pains. 

• Tanks Market day is on the last Sunday of each month in the Botanical Gardens. You'll find a selection of funky arts and clothing, health remedies, food and produce. You can also take a short walk up Collins Avenue where you'll find a few relaxed sit-down café options.

• Tour the Atherton Tablelands (which is an hour outside of Cairns). This is where you'll find homegrown fair. Check out the farms growing tea, coffee, mangos, bananas, vegetables and flowers. Heads up: Coffee Works at Mareeba and Gallo Dairyland (East Barron) are just a couple of foody places to visit while you're doing the scenic tableland loop in the car.
   

Grab a treat at Rusty Markets in Cairns. Photo: Tourism & Events QLD