Australia · CAIRNS TOURS

The 15 Best Cairns Tours & Reef Trips

83 tours  ·  from $25 a head

Cairns exists to get you onto the reef and into the rainforest, usually on alternate days. The 15 below compare the reef boats, the Daintree runs and the Kuranda railway on price, departure time and how much of it is spent travelling.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns - First Reef Session: Saxon or Norman Reef
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Snorkeling & Diving Trips, Snorkeling & Diving Trips in Cairns, Tour Reviews

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran - What the first reef stop is really like
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Sailing, Tour Reviews

From Cairns: Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran

2.Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Premium Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,567 reviews · 9 hours · from $190

Review of Cairns’ 9-hour Great Barrier Reef catamaran cruise, with two outer reef stops, snorkeling, lunch, guides, and practical tips.

“Incredible and an amazing experience with Passions of Paradise. If you ever have to do Scuba or Snorkelling, highly recommend Passions of Paradise. Everything starting from crew, to instructors, to diving sites, to food, to snacks, to washrooms, to space and to top it all - the fabulous big catamaran, you will be in good and safe hands with them. Top notch quality team and they will ensure that you will the best time of your time at Great Barrier Reef. Much Thank You to Simon (legend-1) and Roberto (legend-2) who were my guides and instructors and their communication was always a huge help while diving. Always kept the customers…”

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From Cairns: Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail - A smooth morning pickup from central Cairns
Cairns Tours, Guided, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

From Cairns: Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail

3.Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,392 reviews · 7 hours · from $127

Ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, explore rainforest markets, and return above Barron Gorge on the 7.5-kilometre Skyrail.

“We had a great day out. The pick up, tour explanation and collection at the end of the day were all very efficient and timely. The Kuranda train was amazing and the Sky-rail with stops was brilliant. We highly recommend this to any visitors to Cairns.”

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Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran - Two reef stops chosen for the day
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Sailing, Tour Reviews

Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran

Cairns: Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge Tour - The scenic road from Cairns to Port Douglas
Cairns Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cairns: Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge Tour

Cairns: Outer Edges of The Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight - From Cairns to Green Island in about 10 minutes
Cairns Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Cairns, Tour Reviews

Cairns: Outer Edges of The Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight

6.Outer Edges of The Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,376 reviews · from $151

See the Great Barrier Reef from above on a 40-minute Cairns flight, with window seats, pilot commentary, reef views, and possible whale sightings.

“Great experience. Unforgettable view from the plane. Special thanks to Daniel our pilot and Luke our guide, very friendly service from both of them. All in all absolutely recommendable.”

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Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge Small-Group from Port Douglas - Mossman Gorge sets the tone
Cairns Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews

Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge Small-Group from Port Douglas

7.Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge Small-Group from Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,326 reviews · from $190

Review of Tony’s Tropical Tours’ Daintree day trip from Port Douglas, with Mossman Gorge, crocodile cruise, Cape Tribulation, lunch, and rainforest walks.

“Ash is an amazing guide! He shared his deep knowledge of Daintree Rainforest, and its many flora and fauna. We saw a Cassowary, Boyd’s dragon, Crocodile, and red crabs.”

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Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, and Daintree Rainforest Day Trip - The Daintree River cruise searches for crocodiles
1-Day Tours, Cairns Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews

Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, and Daintree Rainforest Day Trip

9.Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, and Daintree Rainforest Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,961 reviews · from $164

Review of a full-day Daintree tour from Cairns with Mossman Gorge, Aboriginal culture, crocodile cruise, rainforest walks, lunch, and Cape Tribulation.

“We had a great time in this tour. Patrick was very knowledgeable about the area and a little rain did not deter him at all and I’m glad he convinced us to go out in the rain. I would definitely recommend this trip.”

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Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise - Moving to the Wonder Wall
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours, Great Barrier Reef Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, VIP

Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

10.Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,895 reviews · from $181

Explore two protected Great Barrier Reef sites from Cairns with guided snorkeling, optional scuba, a glass-bottom tour, and lunch.

“The fabulous crew hosted a fun outing, ensuring we saw sea life (turtles, clown fish, giant clams, and even a sting ray) and were kept safe the entire day. From kids to adults and first time snorklers to experienced divers - everyone enjoyed themselves onboard the Ocean Freedom!”

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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Full-Day Trip with Optional Extras - A national park covered in rainforest
1-Day Tours, Cairns Tours, Full-Day, Tour Reviews

Cairns: Fitzroy Island Full-Day Trip with Optional Extras

11.Fitzroy Island Full-Day Trip with Optional Extras

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,668 reviews · 8 hours · from $67

Spend a full day on Fitzroy Island from Cairns with rainforest walks, reef snorkeling, ferry transfers, and optional lunch or glass-bottom boat trips.

“Fitzroy island is a must visit. I had a better visibility of coral reef here. It was absolutely serene and beautiful. Would love to come back to the island.”

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Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise - One hour on the Daintree River
Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Wildlife, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences, Wildlife & Zoo Experiences in Cairns

Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

12.Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,663 reviews · from $25Best value

Glide quietly along the Daintree River to spot crocodiles, birds, frogs, and snakes on a one-hour solar-powered wildlife cruise.

“Made a last minute booking for family to spend an afternoon in Port Douglas. The trip was just as described, perfect relaxing ride around the Daintree River. Even though it was in warm November and we were warned that the crocs may bRead more”

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Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas - Foaming Fury and the safety briefing
Cairns Tours, Tour Reviews

Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas

13.Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,596 reviews · from $91

Raft Grade II and III rapids through Barron Gorge near Cairns, with expert instruction, rainforest views, hotel pickup, and about two hours on the river.

“I booked the tickets through Viator and the pick up spot was not listed anywhere. I had to reach out to the company to find out exactly where I was going to get picked up. The staff were very friendly and showed up early to the hotel next door (crystalbrook) to get us. Our van broke down on the way to the river. We had to wait for another bus to get us. We forgot to bring water and there was nothing to drink on the bus or at the river entrance. Make sure you bring water with you. Our guide Jana was great. She put us all at ease…”

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From Cairns: Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation 4WD Tour - The long drive along the Captain Cook Highway
Cairns Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours, Daintree Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Cairns: Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation 4WD Tour

14.Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation 4WD Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,521 reviews · 8 hours · from $162

Explore Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation by 4WD, with crocodile cruise, rainforest swim, lunch, beach views, and tropical ice cream.

“Fantastic trip. Our guide, Kel, was knowledgeable, friendly and fun. Each aspect of the trip was really interesting and enjoyable. Highly recommended”

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