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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.
There is a version of Green Island that most visitors never experience. After the last ferry leaves and the day trippers head back to Cairns, the island goes quiet. The beaches open up, the reef settles into its evening rhythm, and for the handful of guests staying at the resort, […]
Green Island sits 27 kilometres off Cairns and takes about 45 minutes to reach by catamaran. On paper, that sounds like a quick hop to a reef island. In practice, it delivers something that surprises most visitors – a coral cay with its own national park rainforest, fringing reef you […]
Most people book a Green Island day trip expecting a beach and some snorkelling. What catches them off guard is just how much there is to do on a 12-hectare coral cay. Between the reef, the rainforest, and a handful of genuinely unique experiences you will not find elsewhere on […]
Two islands, both within 45 minutes of Cairns, both sitting on the Great Barrier Reef, both offering snorkelling, beaches, and rainforest. On paper, Green Island and Fitzroy Island look almost interchangeable. In practice, they are very different days out – and the right one for you depends on what you […]
Green Island sits just 27 kilometres off the Cairns coastline – close enough that you can see the mainland from the beach, yet far enough out that the water shifts to that clear reef blue during the crossing. Getting there is one of the easiest parts of any Cairns holiday, […]
Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef is one thing. Dropping below the surface on scuba – leaving the world above behind and breathing through a regulator while coral formations rise around you – is something else entirely. An introductory dive, sometimes called a resort dive or discover scuba dive, lets you […]
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, a World Heritage-listed ecosystem, and one of the most closely studied marine environments on the planet. It’s also under real pressure – from warming oceans, bleaching events, and a range of threats that don’t pause between tourist seasons. Anyone […]
You’ve planned the trip, booked the tour, and found yourself floating above a coral formation with a turtle drifting past two metres below – and the photo you take looks grey, blurry, and nothing like what your eyes just saw. The Great Barrier Reef is visually extraordinary, but underwater photography […]
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. […]
Explore Cairns & surrounds with our curated tours.
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 $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 $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
$399 per person -May – October 2026
Depart Cairns Mon, Wed & Friday – 6.30am
Port Douglas IGA Bus Stop 7.45am
Please note this is the only one day Cooktown Tour and books out – Book early to avoid disappointment
Discover Cooktown on this exclusive one day tour for a 4WD adventure taking in some of Australia’s most amazing scenery and natural beauty. On your Cooktown Day Tour, you will travel in a purpose-built 4WD, air-conditioned coach, catering specifically to small groups with a limit of just 12 passengers. Cross the Daintree River, traverse the 4wd Bloomfield Track and return along the Mulligan Highway, the Outback of Far North Queensland
$399.00 From Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas
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
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
Fuel Levy of $10.00 per person payable direct
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 | $10.00 + Fuel Levy per person payable on the day of travel
Adult $166 +4 Fuel levy| Child $110 +2 Fuel Levy (4-15yrs)
Family 2A+2C $442 + $10 Fuel levy
Includes return Ferry + choice of 2 activities –
Snorkel Equipment – Glass Bottom Boat Tour – Picnic Lunch
Departs Daily 10.15am – 4.30pm
Fitzroy Island a tropical paradise and a favourite spot for locals and tourists. Lush rainforest, stunning beaches, walking trails, coral reefs. Ideal for nature lovers and adventurers alike. Take a 45-minute journey on the Fitzroy Island Sundancer to the sandy shores of the famous Nudey Beach (by name only)- voted one of the best beaches in Australia. Snorkel straight off the beach to discover amazing marine life.
Adult $166.00 | Child $110.00 (4-15yrs) | Family 2A+2C $442.00 | $4.00 Adult $2 Child Fuel Levy
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.
