Guidebook for Cairns
Sightseeing
Fabulous place to swim, cool off, view Ulyssees butterfly, pristine rainforest or just chill.
229 locals recommend
Mossman Gorge
Fabulous place to swim, cool off, view Ulyssees butterfly, pristine rainforest or just chill.
Amazing natural wonder - can see tree kangaroos, cassowaries and platypus in the area too if you are alert. For the more athletic, the falls on the lower track afford refreshing dip.
The Crater Rd
Amazing natural wonder - can see tree kangaroos, cassowaries and platypus in the area too if you are alert. For the more athletic, the falls on the lower track afford refreshing dip.
My favourite swimming spot ever! Lush rainforest with rock slide for the adventurous. Watch for ulyssees butterfly, scrub turkeys and more.
43 locals recommend
Josephine Falls
LOT 1 Josephine Falls WalkMy favourite swimming spot ever! Lush rainforest with rock slide for the adventurous. Watch for ulyssees butterfly, scrub turkeys and more.
My favourite of the tableland crater lakes. Great swimming. Do the circuit walk (watch for tree kangaroos) and check out the angler fish and rear-end breathing turtles around the jetties.
100 locals recommend
Lake Eacham
My favourite of the tableland crater lakes. Great swimming. Do the circuit walk (watch for tree kangaroos) and check out the angler fish and rear-end breathing turtles around the jetties.
Hide is on the edge of town - as you approach from the west. If you are lucky enough, and patient enough, watch for platypus surfacing.
26 locals recommend
Yungaburra
Hide is on the edge of town - as you approach from the west. If you are lucky enough, and patient enough, watch for platypus surfacing.
Spectacular mature strangler fig in the the shape of a giant curtain. Wonder at the power of nature and great photo ops.
25 locals recommend
Curtain Fig Tree
Spectacular mature strangler fig in the the shape of a giant curtain. Wonder at the power of nature and great photo ops.
Short drive from Cairns. Wonderful coffee and views. Narrow road. Fireflies come out at dusk. Great views over Cairns on return journey. Drive with care. Gates close around dusk.
6 locals recommend
Lake Morris
Short drive from Cairns. Wonderful coffee and views. Narrow road. Fireflies come out at dusk. Great views over Cairns on return journey. Drive with care. Gates close around dusk.
Great views and exercise. Look for migratory birds, walking mud-skipper fish, have fish 'n chips at Muddies children's water playground or the skatepark and watch the passing ships and planes.
8 locals recommend
Esplanade
EsplanadeGreat views and exercise. Look for migratory birds, walking mud-skipper fish, have fish 'n chips at Muddies children's water playground or the skatepark and watch the passing ships and planes.
Daytrip from Cairns via Ravenshoe, Millstream Falls, Innot Hot Springs. Take morning half day lava tubes tour and end up with sunset view from rim of Kalkani Crater. Well worth the trip!
Undara Volcanic National Park
Yaramulla RoadDaytrip from Cairns via Ravenshoe, Millstream Falls, Innot Hot Springs. Take morning half day lava tubes tour and end up with sunset view from rim of Kalkani Crater. Well worth the trip!
Amazing natural hot springs - in the creek bed just north of the road bridge. Be careful where you walk.
Innot Hot Springs
Amazing natural hot springs - in the creek bed just north of the road bridge. Be careful where you walk.
One of the earliest wind farms in Qld. Wonderful, silent, powerful machines set in a picturesque often mist-shrouded landscape.
Windy Hill Wind Farm Viewing Area
One of the earliest wind farms in Qld. Wonderful, silent, powerful machines set in a picturesque often mist-shrouded landscape.
Powerful falls in wet season. Great elevated rainforest walkway with spectacular forest and falls experiences and views and wildlife encounters.
31 locals recommend
Barron Falls
Coondoo StreetPowerful falls in wet season. Great elevated rainforest walkway with spectacular forest and falls experiences and views and wildlife encounters.
Well worth the entrance fee. Get up close and personal with spectacular ulyssees butterfly and others, learn about habitat, feeding and breeding. Great experience.
53 locals recommend
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
8 Rob Veivers DrWell worth the entrance fee. Get up close and personal with spectacular ulyssees butterfly and others, learn about habitat, feeding and breeding. Great experience.
Just walk the Meena Creek Falls suspension bridge or enter the Park - check entertainment and/or dining specials.
115 locals recommend
Paronella Park
1671 Innisfail Japoon RdJust walk the Meena Creek Falls suspension bridge or enter the Park - check entertainment and/or dining specials.
Unique reef and WWII themed modern stained glass windows. A short stroll from the unit.
St Monica's Cathedral
181 Abbott StUnique reef and WWII themed modern stained glass windows. A short stroll from the unit.
Check out the spectacular colours of the lipstick palms that ring the hotel's perimeter. Great photo op.
Greyhound Australia - Backpacker Specialists, Cairns
Check out the spectacular colours of the lipstick palms that ring the hotel's perimeter. Great photo op.
Amazing array of tropical fruits and plants and local produce Thursday to Sunday.
225 locals recommend
Rusty's Market
89 Grafton StAmazing array of tropical fruits and plants and local produce Thursday to Sunday.
Wonderful array of tropical plants - orchids, bromileads, bamboos and more. Also features a nice cafe and nearby rainforest boardwalk.
235 locals recommend
Cairns Botanic Gardens
78-96 Collins AveWonderful array of tropical plants - orchids, bromileads, bamboos and more. Also features a nice cafe and nearby rainforest boardwalk.
Seastar cruises visits this seabird sanctuary along with Hastings Reef - my pick of the reef day cruises available. Book at the Esplanade entrance to Royal Harbour and mention that you are my guest.
Michaelmas Cay
Seastar cruises visits this seabird sanctuary along with Hastings Reef - my pick of the reef day cruises available. Book at the Esplanade entrance to Royal Harbour and mention that you are my guest.
Visit on Sunday for the fabulous weekly markets and make it a day with a visit to Breakfast with the Birds, Mossman Gorge and Belcher's Daintree River crocodile spotting cruise.
239 locals recommend
Port Douglas
Visit on Sunday for the fabulous weekly markets and make it a day with a visit to Breakfast with the Birds, Mossman Gorge and Belcher's Daintree River crocodile spotting cruise.
Great place to experience cassowaries in the wild. Ask at the store for the best time and place to discover this elusive and spectacular bird.
Etty Bay Caravan Park
Great place to experience cassowaries in the wild. Ask at the store for the best time and place to discover this elusive and spectacular bird.
Stop by the side of the road and view local tea plantation at close range. Plantation door sales also available.
Nucifora Holdings
Stop by the side of the road and view local tea plantation at close range. Plantation door sales also available.
Perfect place for a picnic or swim. Sit quietly and watch for electric blue Ulyssees butterfly to flit through forest or walk to the gorge and other tracks - watch for cassowaries.
22 locals recommend
The Boulders Road
The Boulders RoadPerfect place for a picnic or swim. Sit quietly and watch for electric blue Ulyssees butterfly to flit through forest or walk to the gorge and other tracks - watch for cassowaries.
Easily accessed. Widest falls in Australia. Good side-trip on way to Undarra Lava Tubes
Millstream Falls National Park
Easily accessed. Widest falls in Australia. Good side-trip on way to Undarra Lava Tubes
Mungalli Falls
280 Junction RdInteresting rock formations, falls and escarpment views with cafe.
Picture postcard beach and coconut views. Netted swimming enclosure and weekend music and good food/coffee at the local watering hole.
29 locals recommend
Ellis Beach
Captain Cook HwyPicture postcard beach and coconut views. Netted swimming enclosure and weekend music and good food/coffee at the local watering hole.
Perfect place to view the World Heritage section of the Captain Cook Highway - and watch the hang-gliders weave their magic in the sky or the boats out on the reef.
14 locals recommend
Rex Lookout
Captain Cook HighwayPerfect place to view the World Heritage section of the Captain Cook Highway - and watch the hang-gliders weave their magic in the sky or the boats out on the reef.
Gourmet breakfast or lunch with free-flying tropical birds in amazing enclosure, then wander through the attached zoo featuring crocodiles, cassowary, tree kangaroos, koalas and more.
68 locals recommend
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
Port Douglas RoadGourmet breakfast or lunch with free-flying tropical birds in amazing enclosure, then wander through the attached zoo featuring crocodiles, cassowary, tree kangaroos, koalas and more.
Cute postcard-perfect tropical chapel with a view to die for! Visit nearby wharf and gallery or wander the local market on sunday and take in the view from the point at the end of Anzac Park.
39 locals recommend
St Mary's by the Sea
8 Dixie StCute postcard-perfect tropical chapel with a view to die for! Visit nearby wharf and gallery or wander the local market on sunday and take in the view from the point at the end of Anzac Park.
Great panorama - or just watch the fish, waves and watercraft. Visit during sunday markets and enjoy a glass of fresh local sugar cane, lime and ginger or pineapple juice.
37 locals recommend
Anzac Park
Great panorama - or just watch the fish, waves and watercraft. Visit during sunday markets and enjoy a glass of fresh local sugar cane, lime and ginger or pineapple juice.
Drive to the end of Island Point Road to a panoramic lookout over the famous Four Mile Beach.
12 locals recommend
Island Point Road
Island Point RoadDrive to the end of Island Point Road to a panoramic lookout over the famous Four Mile Beach.
Best value and experienced crocodile and wildlife spotting cruise on the Daintree River. Nice gift shop and free coffee/tea and bikkie while you wait.
9 locals recommend
Bruce Belcher’s Daintree River Cruises
2856 Mossman Daintree RdBest value and experienced crocodile and wildlife spotting cruise on the Daintree River. Nice gift shop and free coffee/tea and bikkie while you wait.
North of Mossman ON THE LEFT (not the right as the map indicates) near the Newell Beach turnoff and the Mossman Golf Club. Try "ice cream bean", sour sop or maongosteen or other in-season exotics.
6 locals recommend
Mossman Golf Club
Newell RoadNorth of Mossman ON THE LEFT (not the right as the map indicates) near the Newell Beach turnoff and the Mossman Golf Club. Try "ice cream bean", sour sop or maongosteen or other in-season exotics.
Food Scene
Wonderful cheeses, chocolate and coffee with the opportunity to view cheese making and dairying.
71 locals recommend
Gallo Dairyland
9 E Barron RdWonderful cheeses, chocolate and coffee with the opportunity to view cheese making and dairying.
My favourite place to see and taste local grown coffee. Also ultralight joyflights over the plantation. A pleasant family owned local experience.
13 locals recommend
Jaques Coffee Plantation
137 Leotta RdMy favourite place to see and taste local grown coffee. Also ultralight joyflights over the plantation. A pleasant family owned local experience.
Perfect place to have fish 'n chips and watch the passing water, air and pedestrian traffic or just wonder at the changing weather or bayscape.
96 locals recommend
Muddy's Cafe
174 EsplanadePerfect place to have fish 'n chips and watch the passing water, air and pedestrian traffic or just wonder at the changing weather or bayscape.
Fabulous biodynamic dairy products and cafe. Available at Rusty's Markets in Cairns. Check out the wild guavas on the lanes around the dairy.
63 locals recommend
Mungalli Creek Dairy
254 Brooks RdFabulous biodynamic dairy products and cafe. Available at Rusty's Markets in Cairns. Check out the wild guavas on the lanes around the dairy.
May-December: tropical fruit tours and tasting. Check out opening times before setting out.
High Falls Restaurant
152 Old Forestry RdMay-December: tropical fruit tours and tasting. Check out opening times before setting out.