One day 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

      Choose a smaller boat visiting two or three outer-reef sites for better coral and fewer people, and wear a stinger suit — usually provided — in any season. Allow Full day.

   2. Late morning

      Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk

      Bring binoculars at low tide; the Esplanade is one of Australia's well-known shorebird-watching spots. Allow 2 hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Barramundi

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

   4. Afternoon

      Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

      Go up by Skyrail and return on the Kuranda Scenic Railway (or vice versa) on a combined ticket. Allow 1.5 hours one way.

   5. Late afternoon

      Kuranda Scenic Railway

      The train pauses at the Barron Falls station for the lookout platform; be ready to step off quickly, as the stop is short. Allow About 2 hours one way.

   6. Evening

      Cairns Night Markets

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

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 13–15 hours of visiting over one day, 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

• 2 days in Cairns
• 3 days in Cairns
• 5 days in Cairns

Questions travellers ask