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Cairns Tours FAQ

Booking & Payments

We accept major credit cards and secure online payment. Full payment details are available on our payments page.

We recommend booking at least a few days ahead, especially during peak season (June to October), as popular reef, island and rainforest tours can sell out. Last-minute bookings are sometimes available, so it’s worth checking availability even if your trip is close.

Yes, changes can usually be made depending on availability and how close it is to your tour date. Contact us as early as possible so we can help find the best option.

Yes, gift vouchers are available for Cairns tours and can be a great option for birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. Get in touch with our team for current voucher options.

 
 
 

Cancellations & Weather

Cancellation terms vary depending on the tour and how far in advance you cancel. Full details are outlined in our terms and conditions.

Yes, most tours operate year-round, including during the wet season (roughly November to April). Some experiences may be adjusted for conditions, so check the specific tour page for seasonal notes.

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

Far North Queensland weather can occasionally affect reef, island and rainforest tours. If an operator cancels a tour for safety reasons, we’ll work with you on rescheduling or other available options according to that tour’s terms.

Group, Family & Accessibility

Yes, many of our tours can be arranged for groups, families or private charters. Visit our private tours page or contact us with your group size and preferred experience and we’ll help put together the right option.

Many of our tours are family-friendly, though suitability can vary by activity and age. See our family tours for options suited to younger travellers, or contact us if you’re unsure what will work best for your family.

Accessibility varies by tour and operator. Contact us before booking and we can help identify the most suitable options based on your needs.

Practical & Trip Prep 

We recommend travellers hold appropriate travel insurance, particularly for activities like reef tours, diving and helicopter flights. Check that your policy covers the specific activities you’re booking.

Yes. See our shore excursions for cruise passengers page for tours and transfer options timed around ship arrivals and departures.

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Most day tours call for swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a light layer. Packing needs vary by tour type — check the individual tour page for specific guidance.

Getting Help

You can reach our team through our contact page. We’re happy to help you choose the right tour or answer any questions before you book.

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Explore Cairns & surrounds

We live here, work here, and know these tours firsthand.

4.9 stars, 372 reviews
Google Reviews
7 Nov 2026, Sat
Cairns Port
9:00 AM
7:00 PM
Costa Serena
8 Nov 2026, Sun
Cairns Port
7:00 AM
7:00 PM
Riviera
14 Nov 2026, Sat
Yorkeys Knob Port
9:30 AM
8:00 PM
Celebrity Edge
15 Nov 2026, Sun
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
6:00 PM
Viking Venus
20 Nov 2026, Fri
Yorkeys Knob Port
7:00 AM
6:00 PM
Royal Princess
Noordam
23 Nov → 24 Nov
Cairns Port
Mon, 9:00 AM
Tue, 7:00 PM
Noordam
24 Nov 2026, Tue
Yorkeys Knob Port
7:30 AM
5:30 PM
Quantum of the Seas
26 Nov 2026, Thu
Cairns Port
7:00 AM
7:00 PM
Riviera
26 Nov 2026, Thu
Yorkeys Knob Port
9:00 AM
9:00 PM
Celebrity Solstice
27 Nov → 28 Nov
Cairns Port
Fri, 8:00 AM
Sat, 6:00 PM
Azamara Pursuit
28 Nov 2026, Sat
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
11:00 PM
Silver Moon
29 Nov 2026, Sun
Yorkeys Knob Port
9:00 AM
7:00 PM
Royal Princess
Viking Orion
2 Dec → 3 Dec
Cairns Port
Wed, 12:00 PM
Thu, 6:00 PM
Viking Orion
5 Dec 2026, Sat
Cairns Port
9:00 AM
7:00 PM
Grand Princess
6 Dec → 7 Dec
Yorkeys Knob Port
Sun, 9:00 AM
Mon, 6:00 PM
Celebrity Edge
9 Dec → 10 Dec
Cairns Port
Wed, 7:00 AM
Thu, 3:00 PM
Riviera
Carnival Luminosa
10 Dec 2026, Thu
Cairns Port
9:30 AM
6:30 PM
Carnival Luminosa
Seven Seas Navigator
12 Dec 2026, Sat
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
7:00 PM
Seven Seas Navigator
Carnival Encounter
16 Dec 2026, Wed
Cairns Port
7:00 AM
4:00 PM
Carnival Encounter
Viking Orion
17 Dec 2026, Thu
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
6:00 PM
Viking Orion
20 Dec 2026, Sun
Cairns Port
9:30 AM
9:30 PM
Riviera
Carnival Luminosa
1 Jan 2027, Fri
Cairns Port
9:30 AM
6:30 PM
Carnival Luminosa
12 Jan 2027, Tue
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
10:00 PM
Silver Moon
17 Jan → 18 Jan
Cairns Port
Sun, 8:00 AM
Mon, 6:00 PM
Westerdam
Carnival Luminosa
18 Jan 2027, Mon
Cairns Port
9:30 AM
6:00 PM
Carnival Luminosa
19 Jan 2027, Tue
Yorkeys Knob Port
9:00 AM
6:00 PM
Quantum of the Seas
Anthem of the Seas
28 Jan 2027, Thu
Yorkeys Knob Port
7:00 AM
6:00 PM
Anthem of the Seas
Carnival Encounter
3 Feb 2027, Wed
Cairns Port
7:00 AM
4:00 PM
Carnival Encounter
4 Feb 2027, Thu
Cairns Port
7:00 AM
6:00 PM
Costa Deliziosa
12 Feb → 13 Feb
Yorkeys Knob Port
Fri, 8:00 AM
Sat, 5:00 PM
Celebrity Edge
21 Feb → 22 Feb
Cairns Port
Sun, 8:00 AM
Mon, 9:00 PM
Crown Princess
23 Feb → 24 Feb
Cairns Port
Tue, 8:00 AM
Wed, 6:00 PM
Artania
2 Mar 2027, Tue
Cairns Port
9:00 AM
6:00 PM
Queen Victoria
3 Mar → 4 Mar
Cairns Port
Wed, 11:30 AM
Thu, 6:00 PM
Oceana Vista
4 Mar 2027, Thu
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
6:00 PM
Grand Princess
Carnival Splendor
5 Mar 2027, Fri
Cairns Port
9:30 AM
6:00 PM
Carnival Splendor
6 Mar → 7 Mar
Yorkeys Knob Port
Sat, 9:00 AM
Sun, 5:00 PM
Celebrity Edge
9 Mar 2027, Tue
Yorkeys Knob Port
8:00 AM
6:00 PM
Quantum of the Seas
12 Mar 2027, Fri
Cairns Port
9:30 AM
9:30 PM
Riviera
13 Mar 2027, Sat
Cairns Port
7:00 AM
7:00 PM
Grand Princess
Viking Orion
15 Mar → 20 Mar
Cairns Port
Mon, 8:00 AM
Sat, 6:00 PM
Viking Orion
Carnival Luminosa
17 Mar 2027, Wed
Cairns Port
9:30 AM
6:30 PM
Carnival Luminosa
21 Mar 2027, Sun
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
6:00 PM
Viking Venus
21 Mar → 22 Mar
Cairns Port
Sun, 10:00 AM
Mon, 6:00 PM
Crystal Serenity
5 Apr 2027, Mon
Yorkeys Knob Port
7:00 AM
5:00 PM
Celebrity Solstice
Carnival Encounter
9 Apr 2027, Fri
Cairns Port
7:00 AM
4:00 PM
Carnival Encounter
11 Apr 2027, Sun
Cairns Port
8:00 AM
6:00 PM
Seabourn Quest
22 Apr 2027, Thu
Cairns Port
9:00 AM
5:00 PM
Carnival Adventure
Small Group Touring

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.

More Info

Adult $269.00 | Aust Pensioner $259.00 | Child $209.00 (4-14yrs only)

7:00 am
6:00 pm
More Info
Special Deal
Combo PackageSave $64

Two separate day tours from Cairns, booked together: one day in the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, and one day on the Atherton Tablelands waterfalls circuit. You return to your Cairns accommodation each evening, and the tours can run on consecutive days or with a break in between – just let us know.

More Info
Best Seller

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 the 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.

More Info

Adult $209.00 | Child 6-14yrs $159.00 | Family 2A+2C $670.00

12:00 pm
5:00 pm
More Info
Rainforestation Army Duck rainforest tour experience Kuranda

The Kuranda Army Duck Tour with Train and Skyrail.   You will journey through and above Far North Queensland’s World Heritage-listed wet tropics rainforest on the new upgraded Skyrail Gondolas. Experience an amphibious WWII Army Duck Rainforest Tour at Rainforestation Nature Park. Free time in Kuranda before finishing your day with Kuranda Scenic Railway. Hotel transfers included.

 

More Info

Adult $240.00 | Child $128.00 4-14 yrs | Family 2A+2C $640.00

8:00 am
5:30 pm
More Info

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.

More Info

Adult $189.00 | Child 2-11yrs $149.00 | Family 2A+2C $527.00

7:30 am
5:30 pm
More Info
Big Cat Green Island reef cruise catamaran

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.

More Info

Adult $122.00 | Child 4-14yrs $61.00 | Family 2A+2C $305.00

9:00 am
5:00 pm
More Info
Special Deal
2 Departures Daily 8.45am or 10.10am
Fitzroy Island beach and resort boat arrival
Normally $185.00Save $36

Best of Fitzroy Island Day Tour – Save $36
Adult $166 | Child $110  (4-15yrs)
Family 2A+2C $442 
Includes
Return ferry, snorkel equipment, glass bottom boat tour  and picnic lunch
Departs Cairns  8.45am or 10.10am daily
Return Cairns
4.30pm
Discover the tropical beauty of Fitzroy Island, just 55 minutes by ferry from Cairns, on this fantastic value Great Barrier Reef island day tour.

More Info

Adult $166.00 | Child $110.00 (4-15yrs) | Family 2A+2C $442.00 | $0.00

10:10 am
4:30 pm
More Info
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures river cruise boat with crocodile

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

View all popular tours

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

We book you with trusted local operators whose guides are storytellers, historians and nature enthusiasts. They bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, so you get an unforgettable and educational experience.

Stephen Dennis
Stephen Dennis
22 days ago
Maryanne from Cairns Discovery Tours has a wealth of local knowledge and gave accurate advice on all experiences offered. We found her to be exceptionally professional and of high integrity in all aspects. Our Cairns to Cooktown AWD tour incorporating the full Bloomfield track was amazing. Thanks again for organising a great day.
Joanne Winter
Joanne Winter
1 month ago
Maryanne was so fabulous. Directed us to all the best suited tours for our family answered all my crazy questions with attention and enthusiasm. Highly recommend her.
Monica Wang
Monica Wang
1 month ago
Thank you Maryanne for helping me to plan the trip what I called the 'must see trip before someone dies trip'. My family and I really enjoyed the trip, especially when it comes to picking which activity is suitable for elders , which reef/island is the must see, and also since this is an Australian Owned Business, it made me feel like my money also goes to supporting the locals instead of sending it overseas. I highly recommend anyone that wants to save time and keen to book an unforgettable trip from a knowledgeable Cairns local
Rena Keeney
Rena Keeney
2 months ago
We had such a fun time on a half day tour of Fitzroy island with Cairns Discovery Tours! We managed to do an everything we wanted (Nudey beach, long snorkel and lunch) within the time period we had and we even got to swim with turtles 🐢 an unforgettable experience! This would not have been possible without the fantastic help of Maryanne who booked us in for the tour. She went above and beyond to help us find somewhere to leave our bags during our tour and we wouldn’t have been able to go without her help. We enjoyed the experience so much and we are very grateful to Maryanne for her help and her exceptional customer service! I would definitely recommend booking local for these kind of experiences because that kind of customer care just doesn’t come when you book through third party sites. 10/10 experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seka Mrkonja
Seka Mrkonja
3 months ago
Highly recommended!
karen McArthur
karen McArthur
2 months ago
We went on a tour with Discovery Tours today, doing the Mossman Gorge, Daintree / Daintree River Cruise, finishing of visiting Cape Tribulation… Our driver was James, who was exceptional. Giving running commentary along the trip. Guiding his group of people through all the different areas. Thanks James, top job.
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