Top Cairns & the Tropical North Eco Tours

Get a rounder perspective of the Great Barrier Reef by viewing it from the air on this scenic flight from Cairns. Soaring over the UNESCO-listed reef allows you to take in its colors and appreciate its vastness. Enjoy unobstructed photo opportunities from your window seat as you take in such sights as Green Island, Upolu Cay, Vlassof Cay, and Michaelmas Reef.

If you want to enjoy a tropical island beach paradise from Cairns but don’t have a lot of time, this half or full-day trip to Green Island is ideal. Be transported by fast catamaran from Cairns to save time. Choose between a glass-bottomed boat tour or the use of snorkeling equipment. Get access to the island’s pool or take a self-guided walk of the island if you want to be more active.

Experience the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kuranda Rainforest on a full-day tour from Cairns. Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway to Kuranda where you first visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, the largest flight aviary in Australia. Tour the Rainforestation Nature Park in an amphibious Army Duck vehicle, then see koalas, dingoes and more at the Koala and Wildlife Park. Take a dreamtime walk with a Pamagirri guide for the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, then feast on an Australian barbecue buffet lunch. Finally, return to Cairns on the scenic Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

Get set for a wet and wild adventure as you hurtle down the Mulgrave River on a giant tube! Hang on tight as you navigate small rapids and then soak up the scenery as you drift through the rainforest. This fun-filled morning tour includes hotel pick-up and round-trip transport from Cairns, plus around 2 hours of tubing. Best of all: there’s no experience necessary, so everyone can give it a go!

Go snorkeling or scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef on a full-day cruise from Cairns. Relax on board your 80-foot (25-meter) luxury catamaran as your captain sails to two exclusive locations on the Great Barrier Reef. Choose to snorkel or dive, with full instruction provided by guides, and see an array of colorful fish, sea turtles, and corals. Your tour includes morning and afternoon tea, and a buffet lunch, with additional beverages available for purchase.

Immerse yourself in Northern Queensland’s waterfalls, rainforests, and other natural wonders on this full-day tour from Cairns. Admire the untouched scenery and stop to swim in the famous Millaa Millaa, and Josephine Falls. In between, visit Babinda Boulders and Mount Hypipamee, watch for wildlife such as tree-kangaroos and platypus, and admire a tropical sunset at Lake Eacham. National Park admission, lunch, refreshments, and hotel pickup and drop-off included.

Take a break from the beach and explore Queensland's lush tropical interior inland from Cairns. This small-group tour provides an intimate and personalized experience. Ride the cableway through the UNESCO-listed rainforest, check out amazing Barron Gorge and Barron Falls, explore Kuranda village, and ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway over its many bridges and through its tunnels. This is a fun tour for the whole family.

Combine a reef and rainforest experience on this day trip to Green Island. Located just 45 minutes from Cairns via catamaran, this island is home to over 120 plant species and colorful birds. While there, take a self-guided walk to discover some of the island's flora. Day visitor facilities include a pool bar, restaurant, and shops. Food is also available for purchase.

Journey to the rain forest village of Kuranda via two unique transit options on this memorable full-day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Skip the line and enjoy Gold Class service aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through lush mountain passes and waterfall gorges along the way. In the opposite direction, glide above the treetops in a gondola and soak up spectacular views of the mountains and coastline on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. In Kuranda, enjoy leisure time to explore the heritage markets, learn about aboriginal culture or interact with native wildlife.

Discover the natural wonders of Tropical North Queensland on a full-day tour to Chillagoe Caves and Granite Gorge. Travel from Cairns by rugged 4WD vehicle with a naturalist guide, passing over the McAllister Ranges and the Great Dividing Range as you explore the Australian Outback. Visit Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, drive near the wetlands to spot Australian native wildlife, and stop by historic mining towns. This small-group tour also included morning tea and a pub lunch.

Guarantee your entry to Cairns Aquarium, by booking your admission ticket in advance. Family-friendly and fun, Cairns Aquarium is home to 70 different exhibits that house over 16,000 marine and land animals life from the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland's Wet Tropics Rainforest.

**Please note: Due to Cyclone Jasper, this tour is currently offering a revised itinerary as there is currently no access to Cape Tribulation or Kuranda/Barron Falls.**   Head out on a rainforest adventure on the original Daintree Rainforest Tour. Take a guided walk along Cape Tribulation to see flawless white beaches and ride a 4 wheel drive into dense tropical rainforest on the Bloomfield Track. Cruise on the river Daintree and listen to your expert and experienced guides explain all of the local wildlife and biodiversity of the area. Explore Daintree on a boardwalk in the mid-canopy.

Take a day trip from Cairns to Kuranda on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, and return via the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Alternatively, make the 1-way journey by railway and return by skyrail. Enjoy a tranquil ride as you soar above the rainforest canopy, with views from Cairns all the way to the Great Barrier Reef, and spend free time in Kuranda Village. If you wish, upgrade your transport with admission to the Rainforestation Nature Park — the latter option with or without lunch.

See the beauty of cains on this sunset cruise of the Cairns Trinity Inlet. Check out the mountain-lined waterway at dusk and get your camera ready for some lovely shots. YOur guide will tell you stories about the history, wildlife, and culture of the city, too. Sit back and relax for about an hour and a half on the comfy boat while you take in the skyline.

Experience Australia’s natural beauty up close on a thrilling half-day 4WD adventure from Cairns. Venture off-road in the Barron Gorge National Park and Kuranda National Park, and witness the startling contrasts of tropical rainforest, savannah, and rugged mountains, as you drive along the Great Dividing Range. Stop along the way to snap photos of Surprise Falls; enjoy views of the Great Barrier Reef from Lamb Range; and stand before the mighty Barron Falls.

Voted the number 1 must-see attraction in Tropical Far North Queensland is Paronella Park. We invite you on a journey enriching your senses and opening your mind to another world and time. You will encounter the whole experience of Paronella Park, creating unforgettable memories and interactions, this tour, including dinner, begins in the afternoon and takes you into the evening. Our time offers a personalised interpretative tour departing Cairns at 10.45 am. The first destination is visiting the stunning Babinda Boulders, grabbing a bite to eat at the famous Babinda Bakery. Followed by the extraordinary opportunity to see a Cassowary face-to-face in the wild, we journey through the art deco township of Innisfail and arrive at Etty Bay. Home to the Southern Cassowary, you will likely see a Cassowary enjoying the afternoon on the beach. This is truly an experience that you will talk about for years to come.

Learn all about the aboriginal heritage of Cairns on this three hour group eco cultural tour. You’ll have a river cruise across the Trinity Inlet from the Cairns Marina, then a traditional Mandigalbay Yidinji welcome and smoking ceremony. You’ll also have a tour of the Indigenous Protected Area and a guided walk through the bush to hear about Indigenous customs and the critical connection between Aboriginal culture and Country.

Discover the wild jungle, remote beaches and unique wildlife of Australia’s tropical north on a private full-day tour. Hop off to hike in the UNESCO-listed Daintree Rainforest National Park, take a dip in the Mossman River and spot crocodiles on a Daintree River cruise. After a delicious lunch (included), enjoy another close wildlife encounter on the Marrdja Boardwalk, then admire views over the Great Barrier Reef from Cape Tribulation beach.

Explore the rainforest and waterfalls of the Tablelands regions at your own pace on this private guided tour from Cairns. Enjoy the flexibility of customizing the tour to the preferences of your party, while benefiting from insights into the diversity and history of the ancient land from your guide. See such landscapes as extinct volcanic crater lakes and valley gorges, as well as native fauna including the rare tree kangaroo, cassowary, platypus, and hundreds of species of colorful songbirds, in their native environment.

This tour allows you to combine visits to the Heberton Historic Village, Kuranda Village, and a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway in a single day trip from Cairns. Learn about the history, culture, and environment of the region through guided tours and exploring each site independently. Round-trip transportation from Cairns hotels and a light lunch are provided.

Our first tour is with the local indigenous tribe on a coastal beach walk experience, you will be introduced to the traditional fishing activity of spear throwing and handling. Practice your aim and shoot before embarking on a stroll (spear in hand) along the beach, through the mangroves and mudflats observing cultural medicine and food plants, whilst spotting the array of sea life beneath the water and hiding between the mangroves! Next is the World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge. Your visit to the Daintree Rainforest starts with a Dreamtime Walk and a traditional ‘smoking’ ceremony to cleanse and ward off bad spirits. Your guide will lead you on a meandering stroll through stunning, lush rainforest, demonstrating traditional plant uses, and identifying bush food sources. Discover traditions like making bush soaps and ochre painting. Lastly, Enjoy free time to swim in the crystal-clear waters of Mossman Gorge.

Join a fully guided, eco-certified adventure to the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. Travel to Port Douglas and wander through the recreated natural environments of Wildlife Habitat on an immersive guided tour to learn about the unique wildlife in our region. Then cross the Daintree River for lunch at Mason’s Café and enjoy a dip in the freshwater swimming hole. Explore the world’s oldest rainforest with one of our knowledgeable local guides and visit Cape Tribulation Beach. Enjoy delicious tropically flavoured ice cream at Daintree Ice Cream Company. Stop at Alexandra Lookout before boarding a Daintree River cruise to search for wildlife including Estuarine Crocodiles.