How to Plan a Perfect 4-Day Itinerary in Cairns – From Reefs to Rainforests

Popular for its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a great spot for a vacation. However, there's a lot more to do there than just exploring the reef. Cairns is also home to an ancient rainforest, which is, in fact, the oldest one currently in existence on the planet! Read on to find out all the activities you can fit into a fun-filled 4-day itinerary when you visit this Queensland city.

rheins, Daintree Rainforest - 2013.04 - panoramio, CC BY 3.0

Discover the Wonders of the Reef

Without a doubt, you can't spend four days in Cairns without exploring the Great Barrier Reef. So be prepared to set aside a full day for this activity. You can book a tour on a boat and head out to the reef. Once there, you can head into the water for some snorkelling or if you're PADI certified, you can even go scuba diving. Normally, the boat tours that take people to see the reef depart early in the morning and bring you back to land in the evenings. However, if you want to properly explore the reef and the world it hosts down under, consider setting aside a couple of days for a scuba diving expedition. If you don't already know how to scuba dive, this could also be a great time to get some lessons. There are scuba schools in the area that can introduce you to the basics. If you decide to extend your stay further, you could also consider getting PADI certified while you're there, and then head out to the reefs for a true underwater adventure.

Explore the Night Market

If you're staying at hotel accommodation in Cairns such as the Oaks Cairns Hotel, the Cairns Night Market is a mere 3-minute walk away. Spend an evening or two here, unwinding after a day out on the beach or out in the sea. Usually, the market opens around 4:30 in the evening and closes its door around 10:30 at night. After a day spent out in the sun, you might be relieved to know that the night market is fully air-conditioned, offering some respite from the heat. What can you find there? Various arts and crafts, jewellery, stalls that offer professional massages and haircuts, a food court, and a range of knickknacks that would make for good souvenirs to take back home for friends and family.

Spend a Day Deep in the Forest

Did you know that Australia is home to the planet's oldest existing rainforest? And you're in luck because it just so happens to be located a short drive away from Cairns, Queensland. The Daintree Rainforest offers a range of walking tours and other activities that you can sign up for in order to experience all the natural wonders that the rainforest has to offer. Some of the forest tours also include cruises along the mangroves. Many of the tours can take several hours; one that combines both a walking tour and mangrove cruise, for example, could take around five hours. So, be sure to dedicate at least one full day of your four-day holiday in Cairns to this if you want to properly explore the rainforest. An excursion such as this will cost you approximately AUD 150, with the price for kids being a little less than that. Those who love the feeling of adrenaline pulsating through their veins would be excited to know that the forest also offers more thrilling activities , such as bungee jumping, that are sure to get your blood pumping.