Queensland · Australia
The best of Cairns (2026)
The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, with Port Douglas an hour up the coast.
Cairns is where most Great Barrier Reef trips start, with the Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda and Port Douglas within easy reach. Our Cairns picks cover the reef tours, the rainforest and where to stay.
Things to Do in Cairns
Things to Do across AustraliaThe 10 Best Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns (2026)
The best Great Barrier Reef tours in 2026 are Reef Magic and Sunlover for big pontoon days from Cairns, Quicksilver from Port Douglas to Agincourt Ree…
Read the list Cairns · Day TripsThe 8 Best Day Trips in Cairns (2026)
The best day trips from Cairns in 2026 are the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas, Kuranda by train and Skyrail, Fitzroy Island, t…
Read the list Cairns · AttractionsThe 10 Best Attractions in Cairns (2026)
The best attractions in Cairns in 2026 are a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, the Skyrail cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway to the rainforest vil…
Read the listCairns picks on our Australia-wide lists
All Australia-wide listsEvery place in Cairns that made one of our Australia-wide guides, with its position on that list.
Hotels
The 11 Best Luxury Lodges in Australia (2026)
- #6 Silky Oaks Lodge Daintree, Queensland
Things to Do
The 12 Best Places to Visit in Australia (2026)
- #2 Great Barrier Reef Cairns and Port Douglas, Queensland
- #8 Daintree Rainforest and Port Douglas Far North Queensland
The 12 Best National Parks in Australia (2026)
- #3 Daintree National Park Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation, Queensland
Spending time in Cairns?
Every guide we publish, filterable by city and category.
Browse every guide