Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the laid-back city of Cairns Australia offers much to do in and around town. Here, you will find bustling markets, upscale cafes and plenty of beaches nearby.
The Cairns Esplanade offers accommodation, various dining options, and weekend markets. The Cairns Lagoon, on the other hand, is perhaps Cairn’s most sought-after attraction. As a saltwater swimming pool, it allows for safe, year-round swimming. You can take your car rental from Cairns Airport to a multitude of possible destinations and road trip options.
A great destination to place on your itinerary would be the town of Yungaburra. Take your car rental from Cairns airport and drive southwest to a town within reach of several tourists’ destinations. For example, Crater Lakes National Park is great for activities such as swimming or picnicking. Other attractions include the Giant Curtain Fig Tree, and a war memorial known as Avenue of Honour.
Another destination from Cairns you can visit easily would be Mission Beach. Cocoa is grown here and processed into chocolate by Charley’s Chocolate Factory. From there, you can take your car rental in Cairns Australia to Babinda Creek, where a swimming hole is present. Another option to unwind would be the rainforest walk at Josephine Falls.
Take the Bruce highway from Cairns to the Mamu skywalk. A short drive from Cairns, it is an excellent opportunity to take in the scenic landscapes of the forest. On the road, you will find a place known as Henrietta Creek Campground. The track will take you to Nandroya Falls where it stops at one of the swimming holes along the way. Take time and have a dip in one of them to cool off. You may wish to consider driving on Canecutter Way to the Queenslander inspired Mena Creek Hotel for dining options.
A possible road trip itinerary you may wish to attempt would be the Cairns Waterfall Circuit. Take your car rental in Cairns Australia from the south to Innisfail, before heading inland up the Palmerston Highway. The Highway is home to three waterfalls situated one after the other, named Tchupala, Wallicher, and Nandroya respectively. On the drive would be the Atherton Tablelands, home of the picturesque Millaa Millaa Falls. The journey would take you through the stunning Atherton Crystal Caves before returning to the city of Cairns.
Finally, no trip to Cairns would be complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef. The reef hosts activities with something for everyone. Cruise the Michaelmas Cay and the various reefs before diving or snorkelling to get up close and personal with the multiple areas of the reef. Alternatively, you can choose to take a seaplane over Heart Reef. Take time to spot for animals on different islands like koalas on Magnetic Island, or even watch turtle hatching on Heron Island. There is much more in Cairns to see beyond the Reef, so take your car rental in advance with pickup from Cairns Airport and plan your road trip today.
Cairns, Australia, is nestled in the heart of tropical Far North Queensland. Considered as the gateway to Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef, gorgeous beaches line the city. Cairns is also full of good food and entertainment, perfect for a road trip around the city and its outskirts in a rental car.
The main attraction of the city is the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. Famed as the largest living thing on Earth, the 2300km long ecosystem is teeming with underwater life. Hundreds of thousands of reefs and corals form the skeleton of the Great Barrier Reef, home to countless species of fish, sharks, mollusks and starfish. A UNESCO world heritage site, this destination is a must visit for most tourists who vacation in Australia. Tourists can choose to visit the Great Barrier Reef in style via the Ocean Spirit, a 32-meter high performance catamaran. Cruise from Cairns to Michaelmas Cay. Guests can even enjoy a glass-bottomed boat tour from which they can admire the colourful fish and sea creatures swimming by at arms length. Tourists can also choose to lie on deck and enjoy the warm Australian sun with a hint of salty ocean breeze. Michaelmas Cay is known to be a roost for more than 20 types of seabirds, and is one of the most significant bird sanctuaries of the Great Barrier Reef. region
Another option for guests visiting the Great Barrier Reef is to take a seaplane over Heart Reef. Perfect for a romantic surprise or simply to admire the wonders of nature, this aptly named heart shaped reef is delicately crafted by nature, and can be viewed perfectly from this scenic flight. Whitehaven Beach is also a stopover point where guests can enjoy the pristine silica beaches the island has to offer.
Guests can also visit the Agincourt Reef, a renowned jewel-like sliver of underwater paradise off the Great Barrier Reef. Guests will be able to dive, snorkel, and even walk in this amazing kaleidoscope of a seascape. Prepare to be amazed by the sea life you will brush past as you explore the shallow warm waters of the reef. Definitely suitable for guests of all ages, there will be no regrets after going on this snorkeling expedition.
Haggerstone Island is also very popular among those who desire to take on a Robinson Crusoe style retreat. Located on the Great Barrier Reef, this island about 60 km away from Cairns, Australia, is an exclusive place that allows guests to experience their own slice of paradise. It is a private island that caters to a small umber of guests willing to explore and experience the wilderness. The remoteness of Haggerstone and the simplicity of island life meld together to create a seriously unforgettable Great Barrier Reef experience.
Cairns, Australia is the perfect city to take a rental car and go on a road trip to explore the city and journey to the Great Barrier Reef where a multitude of adventures await.