{"id":30991,"date":"2024-03-28T23:27:58","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T22:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unadonnaconlavaligia.com\/?p=30991"},"modified":"2025-04-01T14:44:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T12:44:59","slug":"things-to-do-in-cairns-and-surroundings-best-tours-and-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unadonnaconlavaligia.com\/en\/destinations\/towns\/things-to-do-in-cairns-and-surroundings-best-tours-and-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to do in Cairns and surroundings, best tours and activities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Australia is your travel destination and you are going to visit northern Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef? your starting point is Cairns!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want to visit Queensland<\/strong>, but without doing a road trip<\/strong>, it is a good idea to base your holiday in Cairns<\/strong>, the capital of Northern Queensland, because in this area there are many interesting activities, tours and day-excursions that can be taken departing from town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what are the things to do and see in Cairns and the excursions to do around? we stayed in the Cairns area for 10 days, during our Queensland road trip, so let’s start with my suggestions!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"cairns<\/a>
Cairns Lagoon: the large public outdoor pool on the Esplanade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What to do and where to sleep in Cairns town <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cairns is a small tropical <\/strong>town where the most interesting things to do are situated in proximity of the east end of the nice waterfront, called the Esplanade<\/strong>. <\/em>Here you can find the <\/em>lagoon<\/strong>, the relaxing public outdoor pool with sandy beach and large green areas, the Reef Fleet Terminal,<\/strong> which is the main Cruise Terminal and the Night Markets<\/strong>. It’s the Cairns most touristic area, with a good number of hotels and restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Dove<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"cairns<\/a>
view from the terrace <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even the train station<\/strong> is just 20 minutes walk away from here, for example if you have to take the train to go to Kuranda<\/strong>, the village in the rainforest, for these reasons, staying near the lagoon is a good choice. We stayed in a 1-bedroom apartment, located within a Mantra resort<\/a>, an excellent solution for 2\/4 people, the falt had a separate bedroom with king size bed, bathroom, kitchen with sitting area and double sofa bed. The terrace has a nice view on the sea and the Esplanade<\/strong>, we enjoyed it very much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to go to the beach in Cairns? is swimming possible?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No, swimming in the sea in Cairns<\/strong> is not possible<\/strong>, for two reasons: first, the town of Cairns has no beaches itself<\/strong>, you need to move north or south out of town area to go to the beach. The second reason is that the area is dangerous due to the presence of saltwater crocodiles<\/strong>, all year-round. The closest, most beautiful bathing areas north of Cairns<\/strong> are Oak Beach<\/strong>, Palm Cove<\/strong> and Port Douglas<\/strong> which is a nice small resort town with a good beach. Going south you will find the stunning Mission Beach<\/strong> (about two hours drive) and Etty Bay<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the stinger season <\/strong>(November to May) swimming is safe where the stinger nets are situated, you can find them in Palm Cove, Port Douglas and Mission Beach<\/p>\n\n\n\n