2 days in Cairns

Day by day

1. Day 1: Outer Great Barrier Reef day trip and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk

   Outer Great Barrier Reef day trip, Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway, then Cairns Night Markets in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Outer Great Barrier Reef day trip

      Trips include snorkelling gear and often introductory dives, glass-bottom boats or semi-submersibles, and some moor at permanent pontoons with underwater observatories for non-swimmers.

   2. Late morning

      Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk

      The Esplanade boardwalk runs beside it along the mudflats, where pelicans, herons and migratory shorebirds feed at low tide, with free barbecues, playgrounds and fitness classes along the way.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Barramundi

      Seafood restaurants along the Esplanade and around Marlin Marina near the Reef Fleet Terminal.

   4. Afternoon

      Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

      A 7.5-km gondola glides just above the rainforest canopy of Barron Gorge National Park from Smithfield to Kuranda, with stops at Red Peak for a boardwalk among giant kauri pines and at Barron Falls for lookouts over the gorge.

   5. Late afternoon

      Kuranda Scenic Railway

      Heritage carriages make the 2-hour journey.

   6. Evening

      Cairns Night Markets

      Eat at the food court, then walk the lit-up Esplanade boardwalk afterwards.

2. Day 2: Green Island and Fitzroy Island

   Green Island, Fitzroy Island, Kuranda village and markets and Cairns Botanic Gardens, then Shields Street and the Esplanade in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Green Island

      A boardwalk crosses the island, and you can snorkel from the beach over seagrass and coral, where green turtles are often seen, or take a glass-bottom boat.

   2. Late morning

      Fitzroy Island

      A mountainous continental island about 45 minutes by ferry from Cairns, with rainforest walks to a summit and lighthouse lookout, fringing coral off Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach, and a turtle rehabilitation centre that runs tours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mud crab

      Seafood restaurants and Asian restaurants in the city centre.

   4. Afternoon

      Kuranda village and markets

      The Jumrum Creek and river walks are a short stroll from the shops.

   5. Late afternoon

      Cairns Botanic Gardens

      The visitor centre is clad in mirrored glass that reflects the forest.

   6. Evening

      Shields Street and the Esplanade

      Backpacker bars and pubs with drink specials, live music and late nights.

Before you go

• Outer Great Barrier Reef day trip: Book a day or two ahead, and keep a spare day in case trips are cancelled for wind or weather.
• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway: Combined Skyrail and railway packages are worth booking ahead in the dry season.

If it rains

• Swap in Cairns Aquarium (Cairns City): Visit before your reef trip; it helps children and first-time snorkellers recognise what they will see underwater.
• Swap in Tanks Arts Centre (Edge Hill): Check the programme for evening concerts or the monthly markets in the dry season.
• Swap in Cairns Art Gallery (Cairns City): A good one-hour stop in the heat of the afternoon between the lagoon and dinner.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–33 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.1 hours in June to 13.1 hours in December.

Getting between stops: Walking. The Esplanade, lagoon, Reef Fleet Terminal, night markets and most restaurants are within a 15-minute walk.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cairns
• 3 days in Cairns
• 5 days in Cairns

Questions travellers ask