6 days in Cairns Region Itinerary

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

Venture out of the city with trips to Palm Cove (Palm Cove Beach & Spas). Spend the 7th (Mon) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 8th (Tue) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. There's much more to do: trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, look for all kinds of wild species at Billy Tea Safaris, see the world from above with a helicopter tour, and get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Cairns Aquarium.

To find traveler tips, photos, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Cairns sightseeing planner.

Sydney to Cairns is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Traveling from Sydney in June, things will get somewhat warmer in Cairns: highs are around 30°C and lows about 22°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 11th (Fri) early enough to catch the flight back home.