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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.
Picture this: water so clear you can see the bottom metres below, rainforest pressing in on every side, and not a single wave on the surface. That’s Lake Eacham – a volcanic crater lake on the Atherton Tablelands that’s been filling with nothing but rainwater for the past 12,000 years. […]
The Atherton Tablelands are famous for their waterfalls – but the food and drink scene up on the plateau might just steal the show. Picture tasting handcrafted gin on a banana plantation, sampling Swiss-style chocolates at a working dairy farm, or sipping strawberry wine while kangaroos graze in the paddock […]
The Atherton Tablelands sit between 600 and 1,100 metres above sea level, which means the sticky coastal humidity that Cairns is known for doesn’t really reach up here. Locals call the Tablelands “nature’s air conditioning”, and once you step out of the car on the plateau, you’ll understand why. The […]
There’s a moment just after you walk down from the car park when the canopy opens up, and there it is – a perfect 18-metre curtain of water pouring into a wide, still pool ringed by rainforest. No wonder Millaa Millaa Falls has been called the most photographed waterfall in […]
You hear the water before you see it. One moment you’re driving through green dairy country with mist sitting low across the hills, and the next you’re standing at the edge of a pool watching 18 metres of water thunder into the rainforest below. That first glimpse of Millaa Millaa […]
It’s a question that comes up with almost every Daintree trip: should you rent a car and explore on your own, or let a guided tour handle the day? Both are perfectly good options, it comes down to what kind of experience you’re after, how much time you have, and […]
It’s one of the first things people ask when they start planning a Daintree trip – how far is it, how long will it take, and is the drive actually worth doing? The short answer: the Daintree Rainforest is about 2 to 2.5 hours north of Cairns by car, depending […]
If the Daintree Rainforest had a front door, Mossman Gorge would be it. This is the southern gateway to the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforest on Earth, and it delivers everything you’d want from a first encounter – cool mountain water rushing over ancient granite boulders, towering canopy overhead, and […]
There’s something about seeing a wild crocodile that no zoo visit can replicate. One minute you’re watching mangroves drift past, the next your guide is pointing silently toward the bank – and there it is. A three-metre estuarine crocodile basking on the mud, perfectly still, watching everything. That’s the draw […]
You hear the phrase “where the rainforest meets the reef” a lot in Tropical North Queensland, but Cape Tribulation is the one place it’s not just a marketing line. Stand on the beach here, and the Daintree Rainforest runs right down to the sand on one side, while the fringing […]
There are plenty of ways to experience the Daintree Rainforest – river cruises, guided walks, scenic lookouts – but few places actually let you climb right into the canopy and see the forest from the inside out. That’s what makes the Daintree Discovery Centre stand apart from most Daintree stops. […]
Most people planning a reef day trip from Cairns have heard of Green Island and Fitzroy Island. Fewer have heard of the Frankland Islands – and that is exactly what makes them special. No resort, no shops, no crowds. Just five uninhabited islands sit inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine […]
Explore Cairns & surrounds with our curated tours.
$265 Adults – Children under 15 not catered for on this tour.
Departs Wed, Thu, Fri, & Sat
Cairns 8.00am & Palm Cove 7.30am
Food and wine tasting adventure showcasing the spectacular Atherton Tablelands – also known as the Cairns Food Bowl – Includes tastings of liqueurs, wine, beer, spirits, cheeses, coffee, chocolate, tropical fruits, nuts, Crocodile, Kangaroo, Red Claw Yabby. Includes full breakfast, morning tea, gourmet lunch, afternoon tea and all tastings.
Adult $265.00 Children under 15 not catered for on this tour.
Adult $109| Child $63 (4-15yrs)| Family 2A+2C $289
+ Fuel Levy Adult $4.00 Child $2.00 Family $8.00
Departs daily 10.15am – 4.30pm
Fitzroy Island’s full-day experience includes 55 minutes ferry transfer each way. Choose from the many optional activities available. You can hire snorkel equipment, do a guided Snorkel Tour, Glass Bottom Boat coral viewing tour and visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. You can snorkel straight off the beach and discover amazing marine life and sea turtles. Sit back and soak up the serenity on the shores of the famous Nudey Beach (by name only) – once voted the best beach in Australia.
Adult $109.00 | Child $63.00 (4-15yrs) | Family 2A+2C $289.00
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
Adult from $255| Child $160 4-14yrs Family 2A+2C $670
Seasonal dates and prices apply
Departs daily 9.00am – 5.00pm
Step back into the Great Barrier Reef’s Dreamtime with Indigenous Sea Rangers as they recount the Dreamtime stories of the local people and help you gain a deeper cultural understanding of the diverse ecosystems that make up the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy up to 5 hours of fun with unlimited snorkelling with 2 Reef locations in air-conditioned lounges and a licensed bar.
Adult from $255.00 | Child $160.00 4-14yrs | Family 2A+2C $670.00 2A+2C
Discover Cooktown on this exclusive one day tour for a 4WD adventure taking in some of Australia’s most amazing scenery and natural beauty. This is Cooktown’s only one-day tour option and sells out quickly, book early to secure your spot
On your Cooktown Day Tour, you will travel in a purpose-built 4WD, air-conditioned coach, catering specifically to small groups of 16 passengers. Cross the Daintree River, traverse the 4wd Bloomfield Track and return along the Mulligan Highway, the Outback of Far North Queensland
$399 per person -May – October 2026
Depart Cairns Mon, Wed & Friday – 6.30am
Palm Cove – Cnr Viviers Rd & Captain Cook Highway at 7.00am
Port Douglas IGA Bus Stop Captain Cook Highway at 7.45am
$399.00 From Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas
Adult $455| Child 4-16 yrs $310|
Family 2A+2C 4-16yrs $1380
Excellent Value SAVE $59 adult $33.00 child & $130.00 Family
This 2 day Reef and Rainforest package pairs a full day on the reef with a full day exploring the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, giving you maximum experience for your money. It’s one of the best-value Cairns tour packages available
Adult $455.00 | Child 4-16 yrs $310.00 | Family 2A+2C 4-16yrs $1380.00
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
Departs daily 7am – 5pm
Enjoy an all-inclusive River, Reef, and Island Cruise with the sole commercial operator permitted on the pristine uninhabited Frankland Islands. Snorkel off the Island’s National Park white sand beach, swim with sea turtles, and have a quick and convenient journey with the shortest open water crossing.
Adult $260.00 | Child $160.00 4-16yrs | Family 2A+2C $680.00
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.
