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Best Things to Do
Top 13 Best Things to Do in Cairns [2025]
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Great Barrier Reef
4.6
/5
871 reviews
7.6
From £45.31
Based on 173 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +61-7-40570700
Address: Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
Featured in 2025 Global 50 – Water Fun Attractions
Highlights:
Helicopter view of Heart Reef
Native-led local cultural experiences
Saved by 348 users294 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
At the front desk of the hotel, I consulted which cruise ship is good on the Great Barrier Reef and recommended REF MAGIC. So I reported a day trip to Trip.com , and the price and on-site ticket purchase are basically not bad. I boarded the boat early in the morning and went to sea. The weather was sunny and the wind and waves were not big. There was no sign of seasickness on the Raiders, but I still listened to the suggestion of a little girl from Beijing and took two free seasickness pills at the front desk. (ps, there are also paid, 3 knives a grain). After nearly two hours of voyage, we arrived at REEF MAGIC pontoon (sea platform) at Moore Reef. On the platform, you can dive deep, snorkel, semi-submarine and glass bottom boat to see marine life, the most worthwhile is to take a helicopter to watch the Great Barrier Reef, it is really beautiful, difficult to describe in words, and it is a unique scenery here, difficult to see elsewhere. Snorkeling here is still a bit challenging for me, a man who is basically a dry duck. Snorkeling here is completely different from snorkeling on Saipan. The seaside water in Saipan is only one meter deep, and there is basically no bottom here. Although wearing a life jacket, it still gives people the feeling of not falling and dare not swim far. ps, reported helicopter tour, must register as soon as possible, so that can arrange a more advanced time, easy to arrange other activities on the platform. We went to register at 8:30, arranged the plane at 12:20, and the meal time conflicted, and the schedule of other activities overlapped, the time was very tight, and it didn't feel very good.
This is worth a visit. The weather was very good on the day of the sea, it was a sunny day and breeze, so there was almost no bumps along the way. I also saw whales on the way back! There is plenty of time to play on the Great Barrier Reef. Buffet lunch is average.
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Sunlover Reef Cruises
4.5
/5
94 reviews
7.1
From £120.84
Based on 1,038 reviews
Cairns City | 1 km from downtown
Phone +61 7 4050 1333
Address: Reef Fleet Terminal (Bottom floor, 1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 6-8 hours
Highlights:
Explore marine life up close
Snorkel to see corals & fish
79% positive reviewsRecently viewed by 1,000+ people
Verified User Reviews
We took the Sunlover to Moore Reef. The voyage lasted 1.5 hours. The wind and waves were not strong, so most people would not get seasick. We experienced snorkeling and glass-bottomed boats. The corals were beautiful, and snorkeling over the corals was really a pleasure.
When you arrive in Cairns, you must take the Sunlover to Moore's Outer Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is worth a visit, it is very impressive and well preserved. The Sunlover cruise ship service is very good, the lunch is also good (if you are not too picky), snorkeling and other equipment are free, and there is Chinese service on the boat, which is really good.
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Reef Magic
4.6
/5
35 reviews
6.7
From £131.49
Based on 3,070 reviews
Cairns City | 1 km from downtown
Phone +61-7-4222 7479
Address: Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Great Barrier Reef's diverse activities
5-hour Great Barrier Reef cruise
89% positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
It takes 1.5 hours by boat from the pier to reach the offshore floating platform. Many recreational activities are carried out on the floating platform, and a buffet lunch is provided. There is no time limit for snorkeling, and you can fully and freely enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery.
Watching the Great Barrier Reef from a helicopter is indeed very beautiful, it is difficult to describe in words, and it is a unique view here, which is hard to see in other places.
If you sign up for a helicopter tour, you must register as early as possible so that you can arrange a relatively early time to facilitate the arrangement of other activities on the platform. We went to register at 8:30 and arranged a flight at 12:20, which conflicted with the meal time and overlapped with the schedule of other activities. The time was very tight and it didn't feel very good.
No.
4
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Cairns Aquarium
4.5
/5
183 reviews
6.4
From £24.99
Based on 2,230 reviews
Cairns City | 381m from downtown
Phone +61-7-40447300
Address: 5 Florence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
10m coral reef tank & 66ft tunnel
Shark & ray feeding show
Saved by 126 users154 positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
Cairns is a good place for leisure travel. The environment is comfortable and you can relax and feel the splendor of tropical rainforests and marine life. The interior space planning and design are quite interesting. Comfortable seats are set up everywhere for tourists to sit down and rest at any time. It is suitable for all ages. The biggest feeling is that it makes people feel very comfortable. The restaurant in the aquarium is also worth a try, there will be a little surprise.
My dears! Can you enjoy the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns without diving? This is a pure white minimalist building on Florence Street in the center of Cairns. If you encounter a bad day, you can come here to enjoy the air conditioning and see a different underwater world!
🌟【Must-visit area】🌟
▫️Deep-sea tunnel: 20-meter-long acrylic tunnel is directly enshrined! Sharks pass by the tip of the nose, and manta rays spread their 2-meter-wide wings and fly over the head. It is recommended to wear solid-color clothes to take "undersea suspension" blockbusters. Posting to Moments will be asked directly!
▫️Mangrove touch pool: timid people are ecstatic! Starfish and sea cucumbers can be touched at will, and the guide will hold the baby crocodile to interact. I touched the tip of the crocodile's tail, and it felt like sandpaper!
🍽️【Foodie benefits】🍽️
Dundee’s restaurant on the first floor of the aquarium is highly recommended! Sit in front of the floor-standing aquarium, watch the manta rays swimming around you, order a mango lobster salad (lobster is the Australian lobster tail!), the sweet and sour mango sauce with the chewy shrimp meat is so fresh that your eyebrows will fall off~ Or there are many restaurants and markets nearby with many choices
📸【Photography Tips】📸
1️⃣ Go to the deep sea tunnel at 3 pm, take a backlit photo of the sharks, it feels like a movie
2️⃣ Touch the blue light wall next to the pool, use the flash to take pictures of the cold white skin
⏰【Practical Tips】⏰
▫️Buy tickets online in advance and it’s much cheaper! Adults $42, children $28, including Chinese guide
▫️There is a shark feeding show at 11am/15pm every day, remember to take the front row in advance, there is also another turtle hospital🏥,🉑choose on demand
▫️After the tour, walk 10 minutes to the Esplanade, and watch the sunset in the evening, which is super healing
▫️It is recommended to visit the surrounding Cairns Art Gallery and Lagoon Pool together, which are all free treasure attractions
💡【Hidden gameplay】💡
Want to be the "underwater night watchman" of the aquarium overnight? $199 can sleep next to the shark tunnel! Lying in a sleeping bag and watching the fish swim at night, there is also an exclusive breakfast in the morning, which is definitely the coolest experience in the circle of friends!
Summary: Although the aquarium is not big and cannot be compared with some large aquariums in China, each exhibition area is super exquisite, and you can see the essence of the Great Barrier Reef in 2 hours! It is especially suitable for families with children, people who are afraid of sun exposure and diving novices. The key point is that the air conditioning is super sufficient and it will not be overcrowded.
No.
5
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Moore Reef
4.3
/5
102 reviews
5.5
From £121.08
47.5 km from downtown
Address: Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Helicopter ride & stunning ocean views
Tropical fish at 65 feet
41% positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
The Great Barrier Reef is divided into the Inner Barrier Reef and the Outer Barrier Reef. The difference is that the Inner Barrier Reef is closer to Cairns and more people go there. However, the coral and sea scenery is far inferior to the Outer Barrier Reef. The Outer Barrier Reef is farther away from Cairns. The Moore Reef is the Outer Barrier Reef closest to Cairns. The sea water is very crystal clear, blue and clear with high visibility. The colorful coral reefs are located on the fine white sand bed on the seabed. Whether you are sitting in a helicopter overlooking the entire Great Barrier Reef or diving into the seabed to watch various tropical fish shuttle between the corals, it is a great wonder and beautiful.
It is also a very natural island, located near the Great Barrier Reef. You can take a speedboat to come here. You can book a one-day tour on Ctrip for about $100. It is all pristine scenery, without artificial buildings and businesses. Bring all the necessities. The nature of the adventure is very strong.
[Scenery] Very good
No.
6
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Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises
4.7
/5
8 reviews
5.5
From £48.96
Based on 1,173 reviews
Cairns City | 1.1 km from downtown
Phone +61 7 4051 0444
Address: Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Snorkel & dive the Great Barrier Reef
45-minute trip to Green Island
Verified User Reviews
The Big Cat Green Island Great Barrier Reef Tour is a very worthwhile way to visit the Great Barrier Reef. You will take a glass-bottomed cruise ship to various islands of the Great Barrier Reef. You can go diving and watch the beautiful coral world under the Great Barrier Reef through the glass-bottomed boat. It is very relaxing and enjoyable and worth experiencing.
Good experience, better than expected, mainly because the price is not expensive
No.
7
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Great Adventures
4.5
/5
16 reviews
4.9
From £115.09
Based on 862 reviews
Cairns City | 1 km from downtown
Phone +61 7 4044 9944
Address: 1 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day
Highlights:
360° view & Great Barrier Reef
Explore Great Barrier Reef's corals
Verified User Reviews
This is the big boat from Cairns to Green Island. Before the boat departs, you can go to the service counter to get small cookies, coffee and tea. There are also seasickness medicine. The ordinary ginger slices are free. The good ones cost 3.5 Australian dollars. The tea and snacks are no longer distributed after the boat departs. There is air conditioning in the inner cabin. The view from the outer cabin is better. There are three floors in total. The wind is too strong on the top. It is impossible to stand. The boat is still a bit bumpy. After the boat departs, there will be waiters standing to watch and carry cleaning bags with them. I feel that the management work is still in place. It is best to add a windproof rope to the mobile phone for taking pictures. The hat must be fastened tightly.
We took the Great Adventure cruise ship to leave the Green Island Great Barrier Reef and head to the Norman Outer Barrier Reef. It was the beginning of a more arduous journey. The wind and waves were stronger and the cruise ship was more bumpy. In the Pacific Ocean, this cruise ship that can accommodate only about 300 people is so small. Fortunately, there are still scattered ships in the distance and helicopters flying to the Outer Barrier Reef in the air to accompany us.
No.
8
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Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
4.5
/5
52 reviews
4.7
Based on 3,735 reviews
Cairns City | 786m from downtown
Phone +61 1300 692 247
Address: 52/54 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Beside the Esplanade in Cairns
4-acre city oasis overlooking beach
45% positive reviews
Verified User Reviews
It’s a really lovely walk along the esplanade & the promenade - lots of beautiful views and wildlife.
I like it very much. The bathroom, changing room, nursing room and other supporting facilities are complete. Children can choose the water play area according to their height. The children like it very much. Cairns should stay for a few more days.
No.
9
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Skydive Cairns
4.8
/5
11 reviews
4.5
From £167.17
Based on 1 reviews
Cairns City | 984m from downtown
Phone +61 1300 663 634
Address: 11 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Rainforest & Great Barrier Reef
65-second freefall from 15000 ft
Verified User Reviews
Cairns Skydiving Company is a must-try activity when traveling to the Great Barrier Reef. While experiencing the thrill of skydiving, you can also overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire Great Barrier Reef and the Cairns coast from high altitude, which is really a feast for the eyes.
Cairns Skydiving is a chain of skydiving clubs throughout Australia. You can experience skydiving for about 300 Australian dollars. Each tourist will have an instructor and a cameraman to help you record the whole skydiving process. It is really exciting and thrilling, and each photo is a beautiful memory.
No.
10
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Barron River Rafting
4.5
/5
6 reviews
4.5
From £51.56
Cairns City | 706m from downtown
Address: 59-63 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Famous for its Class II-III rapids
Rare birds & ancient trees
Verified User Reviews
The most fun rafting, no doubt about it. The journey lasted more than four hours, and it was exciting and combined with team spirit. Although it was tiring and sunny, the experience was absolutely invincible and it is a must-do rafting in life.
This time I booked the Barun River rafting on Ctrip, which was very fun. There is a pick-up from the city hotel, so it is very convenient. Coincidentally, the driver who came to pick me up was Japanese. My friend and I can speak Japanese, and the rafting coach is also Japanese, so there is no problem with communication. The Japanese coach was very responsible. He checked my life jacket and helmet to see if they were on. After confirming that there was no problem, he explained and taught us. There were 8 people on a boat, and all of them were Japanese tourists except me. It was like being in Japan, but there were also local coaches, and the coach on the other boat spoke English. I had the experience of rafting in Bali before, so I didn't feel scared. There was a little excitement, but I was still very happy. The Japanese coach's service was really good and responsible. It is worth going.
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