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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.
Put your face in the water at the right outer reef site on a clear Cairns morning, and the first thing that hits you is the scale of it. The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,600 species of fish, 600 types of coral, six of the world’s […]
Most people spend weeks or months looking forward to their reef day. Then the morning arrives, and somewhere between packing the bag and finding the dock, the questions start. How long is the boat ride? What do they actually do when they get there? Is lunch included? What if the […]
Most people spend months looking forward to their reef day – and then spend the actual morning in a mild panic, wondering whether they’ve forgotten something important. The good news is that reef tours from Cairns are genuinely well-run, the crew are experienced, and the Great Barrier Reef is far […]
There’s a moment – usually about thirty seconds after you put your face in the water – when it hits you. The coral is right there. Not in a documentary, not behind glass. Just there, in every colour, with fish weaving through it like they have no idea you’re watching. […]
You’re on the boat, the water is that ridiculous shade of blue you only see in photos, and someone hands you a mask. Now comes the question most first-timers wrestle with – do you float along the surface and snorkel, or strap on a tank and drop below? It’s one […]
Packing for a Great Barrier Reef tour is one of those things that takes ten minutes to get right and costs you a whole day if you don’t. There’s a particular kind of regret that hits when you’re an hour offshore and realise you’ve left the reef-safe sunscreen at the […]
Great Barrier Reef tour prices from Cairns can range from a relatively modest island day trip to a premium outer reef experience with diving and a scenic helicopter flight. That’s a wide range, and working out where your trip sits – and whether it’s worth spending more – is exactly […]
The Great Barrier Reef is one of those destinations that looks spectacular in photos taken in every month of the year – and the reality lives up to it. But the experience you’ll have in July is genuinely different to the one you’d have in January, and understanding those differences […]
There is a nineteenth-century convent building on the corner of Helen and Furneaux Streets in Cooktown that stops most visitors in their tracks. Wide verandahs, aged brick, shaded gardens running down toward the Endeavour River. It does not announce itself the way a big-city museum might. It just sits there, […]
One of the most common questions when planning a Cooktown trip is whether a one day or three day tour is the right call. It is a fair question – the town is far enough from Cairns that the trip demands real commitment either way, and you want to get […]
Most of the landscape between Cairns and Cooktown is green – dense rainforest on the coastal route, open savannah on the inland highway. So when Black Mountain appears on the horizon, rising starkly from the surrounding scrub, it stops you cold. There is nothing gradual about it. One moment you […]
There is a moment at the top of Grassy Hill when everything clicks into place. You are standing 170 metres above sea level, the Endeavour River is laid out below you curling toward the Coral Sea, the ranges rise to the west, and the coastline stretches away in both directions […]
Explore Cairns & surrounds with our curated tours.
Adult $107|Child $53.50
Family 2A+2C $267.50
Daily from Cairns & Palm Cove
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 | 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
Departs Cairns Daily 2.00pm -5.30pm
$184 per person 12yrs + with hotel transfers
$165.00 per person -Self drive to Lake Placid
Above prices include $35 River Levy
Just a short drive north of Cairns, the Barron River offers the perfect introduction to white water rafting. This action-packed afternoon adventure includes up to 2 hours on the water, navigating through spectacular rainforest scenery, rugged granite boulders, and exhilarating rapids.
It’s fun, exciting, and ideal for first-timers or families with children aged 12 and over. No prior experience needed — just bring your sense of adventure!
Includes $35 River Levy $184.00 per person 12yrs + with hotel transfers | Includes $35 River Levy $165.00 per person -Self drive to Lake Placid
Adult $455| Child 4-16 yrs $310|
Family 2A+2C 4-16yrs $1380
Excellent Value SAVE $59 adult $33.00 child & $130.00 Family
Departs daily
Experience the very best value Cairns Reef and Daintree Rainforest Tours. The 2 day reef and rainforest package offers great value to visit our two amazing World Heritage National Parks during your stay in Cairns, making it one of the best Cairns tour packages available
Adult $455.00 | Child 4-16 yrs $310.00 | Family 2A+2C 4-16yrs $1380.00
Adult $122 |Child 4-14yrs $61
Family 2A+2C $305
Full Day 9.00am – 5.00pm
Snorkel and swim in the clear, cool island waters straight from the white sandy beach. Encounter a wide variety of colourful fish, turtles and other marine creatures whilst exploring the beautiful coral reef gardens surrounding Green Island. Semi Submersible and guided snorkel tour options available.
Adult $122.00 | Child 4-14yrs $61.00 | Family 2A+2C $305.00
Adult $440|Child $345 4-16 years includes Fuel levy
Great Value !! Save $75
Departs daily 8.00am – 4.30pm
Experience the ultimate adventure value package on the Great Barrier Reef with views from above and below the Reef. Includes an awesome 10-minute scenic Helicopter flight to see the Great Barrier Reef from the air! Full day with two locations on the Outer Barrier Reef including snorkelling, lunch and more
Adult $440.00 | Child $345.00 4-16 years
Due to Skyrail upgrade project in 2026 this tour is bookable to 19th July and from 26th October 2026 onwards
Skyrail modified operations Wednesdays to Sundays: Skyrail will operate a Kuranda ⇄ Barron Falls 1 hour Loop Experience 19th August – 25th October 2026 inclusive
This Kuranda Day Tour includes the Kuranda Scenic Train and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. The award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park. Ride an amphibious WWII Army Duck through the rainforest, meet Aussie wildlife at the Koala and Wildlife Park, the Pamagirri Aboriginal experience and Aussie BBQ lunch plus hotel transfers.
Adult $306.00 | Child 4-14yrs $162.00 | Family 2A+2C $814.50 | $67.00 Gold Class per person
Departs Cairns 8.00am – 4.30pm
Kids 50% off – valid to 30th September 2026
Adult $10 Child $5 Fuel Levy
Experience the ultimate Great Barrier Reef adventure combining 2.5 hours at Moore Reef Pontoon + 2.5 hours Fitzroy Island stop over in a day! Moore Reef Pontoon includes coral viewing with semi-submersible, glass bottom boat, underwater observatory, snorkelling & kids waterslide. Then a leisurely time at Fitzroy Island to relax & unwind including lunch.
Adult $337.00 | Child ( 4 - 16yrs ) $169.00 | Kids 50% OFF $92.50 valid to 30 Sept 26 | Family 2A+2C $859.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child Fuel Levy
Here’s why thousands of customers loveCairns Discovery Tours.
🗓️ Flexible Cancellations
Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Discovery Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. We make exploring Cairns stress-free, so you can book with confidence.
💳 Book Now, Pay Later
Secure your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option. Lock in your adventure today and pay in easy installments — perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.
🌴 Local Since 1995
For over 28 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Cairns with thousands of travellers, offering authentic, community-connected tour experiences.
👩🏫 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.
