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Discover insider tips, local stories, and expert travel advice on our Cairns Discovery Tours blog. From exploring the Great Barrier Reef and hidden rainforest walks to uncovering the best day trips and cultural experiences, our blogs are written to inspire your next adventure. Whether you’re planning your first visit to Cairns or returning to explore more, you’ll find helpful guides, travel ideas, and authentic local insights to make the most of your journey.
Planning a trip to the reef, the rainforest, or the islands around Cairns can mean scrolling through hundreds of near identical listings on global booking sites, star ratings, stock photos, and not much else to go on. Booking through a local platform like Cairns Discovery Tours works differently, and it’s […]
A scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef looks straightforward in photos, but plenty of practical questions come up once you’re actually booking one. How long is the flight? What do you actually see? Is it safe? What should you wear? This guide walks through exactly what happens from […]
Seeing the Great Barrier Reef from the air is one of those experiences that genuinely changes how you understand its scale. No boat trip or pontoon visit quite prepares you for the patchwork of coral, sand cays, and deep-channel blues stretching to the horizon. But once you’ve decided to go […]
Cheap and good value aren’t the same thing. A bargain tour that skips lunch, charges extra for snorkel gear, and crams you onto an overcrowded boat isn’t actually saving you money once it’s all added up – it’s just a worse day for a slightly smaller number on the page. […]
Cairns has a reputation as a destination for big-spending reef travellers, but that’s only half the story. The free swimming lagoon on the Esplanade gets just as much use from budget backpackers as it does from five-star hotel guests. Some of the most memorable things to do here – watching […]
There’s a moment that happens on almost every Great Barrier Reef snorkel tour – someone spots a flash of orange tucked into a swaying cluster of tentacles, freezes, and whispers something like “wait, is that…?” It is. That’s Nemo – the real one. When Pixar released Finding Nemo in 2003, […]
Sea turtles have been swimming the Earth’s oceans for over 100 million years. They were here before the dinosaurs disappeared, before the Great Barrier Reef formed, and long before humans existed. When you encounter one while snorkelling the outer reef, you are sharing the water with an animal whose lineage […]
If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you know the Great Barrier Reef has been through some rough patches lately. Bleaching events, falling coral cover, stress from heat waves – it’s enough to make you wonder if there’s still anything worth seeing out there. You may be asking: is […]
Most reef sites off Cairns are good. Norman Reef is the one divers and snorkellers talk about afterwards. Sitting on the outer edge of the continental shelf, roughly 70-80 kilometres northeast of Cairns, it is the most northerly reef regularly visited by day-tour operators from the city – and consistently […]
If you want to experience the Great Barrier Reef at its most pristine, Agincourt Reef is the place to go. Located on the very edge of the continental shelf off the coast of Port Douglas, this remarkable ribbon reef system is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved sections of […]
Some reef experiences require a choice – dive or snorkel, active or relaxed, beginner or experienced. Moore Reef is one of the few that genuinely works for everyone. Sitting about 40-50 kilometres off the coast of Cairns on the outer Great Barrier Reef, it is one of a handful of […]
Cairns has earned its place as Australia’s backpacker capital. Hostels line the Esplanade, tour operators compete hard for group bookings, and the working holiday visa culture means you are rarely short of company or opportunity. Most backpackers base themselves here for two to four weeks – long enough to tick […]
Explore Cairns & surrounds
We live here, work here, and know these tours firsthand.
Adult $269|Aust Pensioner $259
Child $209 (4-14yrs only)
not suitable for children under 4yrs
Departs Daily 7.00am
Discover the Daintree Rainforest in Comfort – Small Group Touring (Max 14 Guests)
Travel along the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef Drive to explore Mossman Gorge, enjoy a restaurant lunch at the Daintree Tea House, 1 hour cruise on the Daintree River and visit Cape Tribulation Beach—where the rainforest meets the sea. With scenic stops at Rex Lookout, Flagstaff Hill Port Douglas, and a sweet treat option at the Daintree Ice Cream Company, this full-day tour offers an immersive nature experience in air-conditioned comfort. A full day exploring our spectacular natural backyard.
Adult $269.00 | Aust Pensioner $259.00 | Child $209.00 (4-14yrs only)
Half Day Great Barrier Reef Tour
Adult $209 |Child 6-14yrs $159
Family 2A+2C $670
Depart Cairns Daily 12 noon – 5.00pm
Cairns newest & fastest purpose built vessel to the Outer Barrier Reef. Only 40 snorkelers per trip. Join our expert snorkel team, made up of Master Reef Guides and Marine naturalists, on a crowd-free adventure with over 2 hours of snorkelling time. Get ready to discover the Great Barrier Reef.
Adult $209.00 | Child 6-14yrs $159.00 | Family 2A+2C $670.00
Tour operates Mondays and Tuesdays each week until 24 October 2026
Includes Kuranda Scenic Train and Luxury Coach transfers
Choice 8.50am or 9.50am Scenic Train with return coach transfers at 2.45pm or 3.45pm
Plus your choice of a Koala Gardens or Birdworld Kuranda experience
Adult $160.00 | Child $89.00 4-14yrs | Family 2A+2C $448.00 2AD+2CH | Gold Class Upgrade 9.50am Train $69.00
Adult $189 | Child 2-11yrs $149
Departs daily 7.30am – 5.30pm
On the Waterfalls and Wanderer tour you will travel south as you discover nature and the beauty of north Queensland’s most iconic waterfalls. This is a MUST-SEE for anyone wanting to experience pristine rainforest, cascading waterfalls, stunning panoramas of Queensland’s highest peaks and maybe a glimpse of rare and unique native wildlife. This fun tour is ideal for the young and the young at heart, looking to see the best of the Atherton Tablelands and waterfalls.
Adult $189.00 | Child 2-11yrs $149.00 | Family 2A+2C $527.00
Departs daily 8.30am – 5.30pm
Fuel Levy $10.00 Adult $5.00 Child payable day of travel
2 iconic destinations in 1 day. Fast catamaran to Green Island for a 2-hour coral cay stopover, then out to Great Adventures’ Moore Reef platform for 3 hours on the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel gear, semi-sub, underwater observatory and buffet lunch all included.
Adult $312.00 | Child $172.00 (4-14yrs) | Family 2A+2C $805.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child. Fuel Levy payable at check-in on the day of travel.
Best of Fitzroy Island Day Tour – Save $36
Adult $166| Child $110 (4-15yrs)
Family 2A+2C $442
Includes Snorkel equipment + Glass bottom boat tour + Picnic lunch
2 Departures daily 8.45am or 10.15am – Return 4.30pm
Discover the best of Fitzroy Island’s natural beauty and vibrant marine life. Perfect for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike, this tour offers an unforgettable day on one of Cairns’ most picturesque islands.
Adult $166.00 | Child $110.00 (4-15yrs) | Family 2A+2C $442.00 | $0.00
Adult $110|Child 4-15yrs $55.00
Family 2A+2C $275.00
8.30am to 2.30pm or
12.30pm to 5.30pm
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures offers a thrilling immersion into Australia’s iconic wildlife. Spanning over 10 hectares of natural habitat, the park is renowned for its focus on conservation and education. Visitors can embark on guided tours, encountering saltwater crocodiles, cassowaries, and an array of native species in their natural habitats. The park also features interactive experiences, including crocodile feeding shows and wildlife presentation.
Adult $110.00 | Child $55.00 4-15yrs | Family 2A+2C $275.00
Adult $196 – Child $98 – Family $490
Departs Daily from Cairns 8:30am – 5:00pm
Make the most of your time in Far North Queensland with the Two Island Explorer tour, combining both Fitzroy Island and Green Island in a single unforgettable day. Departing from Cairns, this reef and island adventure lets you snorkel vibrant coral reefs, swim in crystal-clear waters, or simply relax
Adult $196.00 | Child $98.00 | Family 2A+2C $490.00
Here’s why thousands of customers trustCairns Discovery Tours.
🗓️ Flexible Cancellations
Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. (Helicopter tours are 48 hours) We make exploring Cairns stress free, so you can book with confidence.
💳 Book Now, Pay Later
Reserve your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option, or just give us a call or send us an email to secure your booking. We will be in touch to arrange payment 7 days before your departure. Perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.
🌴 Local Since 1995
For over 30 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Far North Queensland travellers from around the world. Based in Cairns, we offer authentic tour experiences backed by genuine local knowledge and long standing connections to the region.
👩🏫 Expert Local Guides
Our passionate Cairns tour guides are storytellers, historians, and nature enthusiasts. With deep local knowledge, they bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, ensuring an unforgettable and educational experience.
