Each year more than one million people travel from overseas and interstate to experience Cairns in tropical north Queensland where the World Heritage Areas of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest meet.

Cairns and the surrounding areas have so much to offer for all ages, tastes and budgets. The combination of scenery and an array of activities is one reason why Cairns has gained a reputation as a first class destination for adventure holidays and extreme sports. Whether you fancy jumping out of a plane, whitewater rafting, bungy jumping, scuba diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, mountain biking, hot air ballooning, marlin fishing, 4WD exploring, you will never run out of things to do in Cairns.

The first thing many visitors notice when flying in to Cairns is that the rainforest is much closer than they expected and that the reefs and coral cays present a magnificent mosaic. All agree that the scuba diving is amongst the best in the world. Dive and snorkel enthusiasts will tell you nothing beats swimming with our marine wonders.

We recommend that you take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to the quaint village of Kuranda. Your gondola will traverse the canopy of the lush rainforest. You could return on the Kuranda Scenic Train with spectacular scenery all the way down the mountain to Cairns.

Another excursion will take you north along the spectacular coastline to Port Douglas, 45 minutes from here. From there, venture on another ten minutes to Mossman Gorge and take a refreshing dip. Daintree and Cape Tribulation are not much further and are well worth a visit.

Travelling inland to the south of Kuranda, you can visit the Atherton Tableland and the cool lush beauty of lakes, volcanic craters, dairy country and a touch of the Australian Outback. Once a month the beautiful township of Yungabarra holds an art, craft and food market where all the locals go. It’s a great treat.

Cairns city has an abundance of activities, from alfresco dining along the esplanade and the waterfront where all the tour boats depart daily, nightclubs, casino, dancing at the salsa bar, night markets, mud markets, and exciting shopping seven days a week.

There are so many wonderful activities in and around Cairns that you will never get bored and will wish you could stay longer.