What Is Cairns Best Known For?
Cairns is best known for being the "Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef", as well as being surrounded by Heritage-listed rainforests. As the main travel hub in Tropical North Queensland, Cairns puts travellers in the perfect position to explore the reef and the rainforest. Whether you want adventure, relaxation, or any combination of the two, Cairns is an incredible holiday destination in Australia!
What Is Cairns Best Known For?
Though Cairns is best known for the Great Barrier Reef, the nearby rainforests are rising in popularity as well. Cairns is amazing because you can snorkel or scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef one day and then swim in lush waterfalls and hike through ancient rainforests the next. There is an abundance of wildlife, history, cuisine, and culture to check out as well. Here are some tips for making the most of your Cairns trip!
Visit the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns
The Great Barrier Reef is the most famous attraction near Cairns. People come from far and wide to visit the world's largest coral reef system, and Cairns is a hotspot for Great Barrier Reef boat tours, Cairns island day trips, overnight liveaboards, dive courses, and Great Barrier Reef scenic flights.
Great Barrier Reef day tours are the most popular way to visit the reef from Cairns. Sailing tours, pontoon tours, and day trips to islands on the reef such as Green Island and Fitzroy Island are top choices for exploring the natural beauty of the reef. You can also find incredible packages that combine boat tours and flights so you can see the Great Barrier Reef from multiple perspectives!
See the best of the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns!
What is the best way to see the Great Barrier Reef?
There are so many ways to see the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, and the best way depends on your travel style and preferences. Are you a very passionate snorkeller or scuba diver? Try a liveaboard! You can spend multiple days on the reef, visit lots of cool underwater locations, and have plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and diving on the Great Barrier Reef.
Or if you only have time or energy for one day on the reef, a day trip is a better option. If you want to combine snorkelling with some tropical island time, a day trip to Green Island or Fitzroy Island is a great option. There are also reef tours for non-swimmers, reef tours with glass bottom boats, and dive courses for beginners or advanced divers. There is no shortage of ways to see the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns!
Check out our article that compares Great Barrier Reef day tours, or our guide to choosing the best reef tour if you can't decide!
Visit the rainforest from Cairns
Aside from the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is also known for its abundance of tropical rainforests that lie right outside the city. As part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Cairns is surrounded by lush forests, tumbling waterfalls, rugged gorges, towering mountains, epic hikes, stunning lakes, and charming jungle towns.
Head into the Atherton Tablelands to tour cultural sites in the village of Kuranda or drive along the incredible waterfall circuit. Here you can go for amazing hikes and admire volcanic crater lakes.
Or you can head north to the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth! Look for cassowaries in the dense jungle, ride horses on the beach at Cape Tribulation, taste tropical fruit ice cream, or look for crocodiles on the Daintree River. Nature lovers will be in awe of the glorious rainforests around Cairns!
What's so special about Cairns?
Cairns is so special because it has the Great Barrier Reef and Heritage-listed rainforests nearby, but the city itself is also a vibrant and welcoming place full of attractions. With gorgeous beaches, diverse markets, fun local events, cool museums and gardens, and plenty of attractions for travellers of all ages, Cairns seamlessly combines natural beauty with culture and entertainment.
Whether your priorities are visiting the Great Barrier Reef or the rainforest, Cairns itself is sure to blow you away during your downtime. Stroll down the Esplanade, road trip up to one of the nearby beaches, or indulge in the local cuisine and nightlife. From the natural wonders to the bustling energy in the city itself, Cairns is truly a special place for travellers in Australia.
