{"id":514,"date":"2015-09-27T01:14:20","date_gmt":"2015-09-27T01:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/the-ultimate-guide-to-cairns\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:21:01","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:21:01","slug":"cairns-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cairns is a travel triple threat. Where else can you find reef, rainforest and rich culture all within striking distance? With the Kuranda State Forest and Barron Gorge National Park to the west, the Great Barrier Reef to the east, and wildlife and Indigenous culture in between, you won\u2019t be bored on your Tropical North Queensland getaway.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking for nonstop adventure or tropical rejuvenation, the area\u2019s diverse landscape has it covered. From riding a train through the rainforest to flying in a helicopter over coral reefs and sand cays, a trip to Cairns is nothing if not colourful. We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip.\u00a0Expedia’s Aussie travellers usually spend 2-3 days in Cairns so you’ll be busy but use this guide, and you’ll have seen and done the best of everything!<\/p>\n

Get in the water<\/h2>\n

Green Island is the perfect place to cover all your aquatic bases. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef, this 6,000-year-old cay is home to the reef\u2019s only rainforest. Less than an hour\u2019s sail from Cairns, Green Island is well-maintained, easily accessible and ideal for families and those looking for an introduction to snorkelling. A Green Island Reef Cruise<\/a> takes you to an exclusive mooring on a glass-bottom catamaran, where you can snorkel and swim to your heart\u2019s content.<\/p>\n

See a rainforest<\/h2>\n

Kuranda is known as the Village in the Rainforest. It lives up to its name, tucked high into the trees 25km north of Cairns, but a trip to Kuranda is not so much about the destination as it is the journey. First, take the Kuranda Scenic Railway<\/a>. This early 20th-century train has been renovated as needed, but it retains an old-time charm impossible to duplicate. It chugs through the Kuranda National Park, passing waterfalls and immeasurable greenery, all the way to the foothills of town. Spend some time exploring the famous markets (don\u2019t go past the fudge!) before heading back down to Cairns via an entirely different perspective. The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes you high above and through the lush canopy.<\/p>\n

Listen and learn<\/h2>\n

Taking some time to soak in Cairns\u2019 historical and cultural past only enriches the rest of your experience. Make time for a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park<\/a>\u00a0where you can learn about the customs and heritage of the nomadic Tjapukai people \u2013 and gain insight into 40,000 years of Indigenous history. You’ll also get the chance to play a didgeridoo, throw a spear, and participate in a corroboree full of song and dance.
\n<\/p>\n

Go on an adventure<\/h2>\n

Cairns is particularly inviting to adrenaline-seekers. You can jump out of a plane, dive into the ocean\u2019s depths, even zipline through a rainforest canopy. Our vote goes to\u00a0whitewater rafting on the Tully River<\/a>. With an expert guide and your fellow rafters, hurtle down the renowned river\u2019s Grade 3 and 4 rapids. If that\u2019s not enough of a rush, jump off a cliff on your lunch break.<\/p>\n

See the wildlife<\/h2>\n

Cairns is one easy spot to get up close with some of Australia\u2019s most iconic animals \u2013 cuddle a koala, ogle at a crocodile, or feed a kangaroo. A favourite with families (but delightful for all ages) is a\u00a0combo pass<\/a>\u00a0to the Cairns Tropical Zoo and Hartley\u2019s Crocodile Farm. Hear cassowaries call, see boas constrict, and witness all sorts of squawks, chomps and slithers in these beautiful sanctuaries for the area\u2019s most venerable creatures.<\/p>\n

Treat yourself<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re heading to Cairns to see the reef, splurge on a\u00a0reef cruise and helicopter flight<\/a>. First, sail to the outer reef for a snorkel and then board a helicopter for an unforgettable return flight to Cairns. It\u2019s this quick transition from up close and personal to high above and panoramic that sets the excursion apart.<\/p>\n

That’s not enough? Find more Cairns activities\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip. Use this guide and you’ll have seen the best of everything!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,6,2,3,14,7],"tags":[8,157,160,58],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-destination","category-experiences","category-explore","category-interests","category-oceania","tag-australia","tag-cairns","tag-qld","tag-tips","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Ultimate Guide to Cairns - Expedia AU Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip. Use this guide and you'll have seen the best of everything!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns - Expedia AU Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip. Use this guide and you'll have seen the best of everything!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Expedia AU Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-09-27T01:14:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-08-08T23:21:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/blog-img\/9_2015\/10437_31_HT\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jamie McNeely\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jamie McNeely\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/\",\"name\":\"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns - Expedia AU Stories\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2015-09-27T01:14:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-08T23:21:01+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce\"},\"description\":\"We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip. Use this guide and you'll have seen the best of everything!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Explore\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Interests\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/interests\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Adventure\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/interests\/adventure\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/\",\"name\":\"Expedia AU Stories\",\"description\":\"Just another WordPress site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce\",\"name\":\"Jamie McNeely\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jamie McNeely\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.waveinteractive.com\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/author\/jamie-mcneely\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns - Expedia AU Stories","description":"We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip. Use this guide and you'll have seen the best of everything!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns - Expedia AU Stories","og_description":"We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip. Use this guide and you'll have seen the best of everything!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/","og_site_name":"Expedia AU Stories","article_published_time":"2015-09-27T01:14:20+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-08-08T23:21:01+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/blog-img\/9_2015\/10437_31_HT"}],"author":"Jamie McNeely","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jamie McNeely","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/","url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/","name":"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns - Expedia AU Stories","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website"},"datePublished":"2015-09-27T01:14:20+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-08T23:21:01+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce"},"description":"We\u2019ve put together our ideal week in Cairns as a jumping-off point to inspire your next trip. Use this guide and you'll have seen the best of everything!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/cairns-guide\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Explore","item":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Interests","item":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/interests\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Adventure","item":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/interests\/adventure\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"The Ultimate Guide to Cairns"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/","name":"Expedia AU Stories","description":"Just another WordPress site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/7c3ff1d241163ecf78de48671f1787ce","name":"Jamie McNeely","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6c5fcb9612549bc286e9121c24dc652?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Jamie McNeely"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.waveinteractive.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/author\/jamie-mcneely\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/514"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=514"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1621,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/514\/revisions\/1621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=514"},{"taxonomy":"authors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/authors?post=514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}