things to do

Friends walking along the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk beside the lagoon, with the city skyline in the background.

Cairns Lagoon guide

The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is a 4,800-square-metre free saltwater swimming pool open daily from 6 am to 9 pm year-round. Located on the Esplanade between…
Outdoor restaurant seating area at night with red cushioned stools on grass, lit by string lights and colorful accent lighting.

Best Cairns restaurants

Cairns dining draws heavily on three things: the Great Barrier Reef, tropical agriculture, and strong Asian-Pacific culinary connections that shape Far North Queensland food culture.…
Close-up of hand-painted Aboriginal-style didgeridoos with intricate patterns, displayed at a market stall.

Cairns Night Markets guide

Every evening in Cairns, when the tropical heat starts to ease and the sky turns those particular shades of orange and purple over Trinity Inlet,…
Family walking on the sandy Cairns Esplanade with fish sculptures and the lagoon in the background.

Cairns Esplanade Guide

If you’re spending any time in Cairns, you’ll end up on the Esplanade. It’s that kind of place – somewhere you walk through once and…
`Rainforestation Nature Park Army Duck tour through dense tropical rainforest Kuranda Queensland`

Kuranda Rainforestation vs Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Two of Kuranda’s best-known attractions, two very different experiences – and if your village time is limited, you might be weighing up which one to…
`Couple browsing Kuranda Original Markets stalls with handmade crafts and souvenirs Queensland Australia`

Kuranda markets guide

There’s something about shopping under a rainforest canopy that makes the whole experience feel different. No fluorescent lighting, no chain stores – just local makers,…
`Tourists browsing colorful shops and markets in Kuranda Village Queensland Australia`

Best Kuranda Village attractions

Most people arrive in Kuranda expecting a quick stop between the Scenic Railway and the Skyrail – maybe a wander through the markets and a…
A white lighthouse with a red dome stands on a grassy hill overlooking the ocean, with a coastal road and low vegetation nearby under a clear sky.

Things to do in Cooktown – a guide to the top attractions

Cooktown sits at the end of the road in more ways than one. It is the last sizeable town before the Cape York Peninsula stretches…

Things To Do In Cairns For Cruise Ship Visitors

Are you docking in Cairns and wondering how to make the most of your time? Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the…
A Cairns Botanic Gardens

Things to do on a trip to Cairns

Cairns, a tropical paradise nestled on the north-eastern coast of Australia, offers a captivating blend of stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. From vibrant…