3 Day Cairns Itinerary: Exploring Tropical North Queensland

Visiting Cairns on an epic Aussie road trip? This three day Cairns itinerary highlights the very best of Tropical North Queensland!

After four weeks and nearly 3000km of road, our trusty Toyota Hiace rolled her way into the final city on our first big Australian road trip.

Cairns is a backpacker favourite for good reason, as this laid-back Australian city serves as a gateway for exploring Tropical North Queensland. But it’s not just a place of pilgrimage for young backpackers and beach bums – there’s plenty to do for all ages, from young families to experienced travellers.

In this three day Cairns itinerary, I’ve highlighted some of the best experiences I had while visiting Cairns. As with any itinerary I write, it’s yours to customise – which is why I’ve included some additional/alternative days out in case you want to switch something out. And at the end, you can find my recommendations for places to eat in Cairns, and accommodation to suit all budgets.

Ready to dive in? Let’s go…

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Day 1: Great Barrier Reef Boat Trip

On our first day in Cairns, we headed out onto the water to tick off a bucket list activity of mine: visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Having qualified for my PADI Open Water post-pandemic, I was keen not just to snorkel, but to do some scuba diving on the reef. And I was over the moon at seeing a white tip reef shark up close!

Most tours offer both snorkelling and scuba diving. If you’re not qualified, you can still get a great view of the reef while snorkelling, or consider taking an introductory scuba dive. Either way, you’ll get to witness the world’s largest coral reef, spanning over 2,300 kilometres of Australia’s coastline.

When planning our trip, we were especially alert to finding a tour operator with a strong sustainable focus and a small group setting. Unfortunately, I can’t honestly recommend the company we used, despite the tour fitting the brief. The scuba diving on the tour we took wasn’t the best organised, and we only had around 20 minutes of actual dive time.

The small boat also caused a fair few in the group (myself included) to get hit by seasickness on the choppy waters. Not the tour company’s fault, but next time I’d be better prepared and maybe consider a larger boat (and actually taking some seasickness tablets…)

Regardless of the above, I still had an absolute once in a lifetime experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Here are some top-rated tours I’d recommend considering:

• If you’re prone to seasickness, I’d recommend considering a tour on a larger boat, like this Outer Great Barrier Reef Full Day Tour.
• You could also take a tour to a reef with a short journey, such as this Franklin Islands day tour, which has the shortest open water crossing of all GBR tours.
• For qualified scuba divers, I’d recommend booking with a diving specialist like Divers Den.
• If you don’t mind a smaller boat, Pure Snorkelling Adventures are the best rated provider on GetYourGuide. Maybe take some Dramamine though, just in case…

Day 2: Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation

The Daintree rainforest is one of my favourite places we visited in Queensland, and I’d urge anyone spending time in Cairns to make the trip northwards to experience it for themselves!

The world’s oldest tropical rainforest is estimated to be around 180million years old. As part of Queensland’s Wet Tropics, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage area with an incredible range of biodiversity. Along the coast, the rainforest meets the Great Barrier reef, creating incredible beaches that feel like a tropical paradise.

You can easily join a full day Daintree tour from Cairns, or you can self-drive to visit at your own pace. If you’re doing the latter, here’s my suggested itinerary for the day:

Morning – Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruise

Give yourself an early start, as it’s around 1hr 30mins drive to the Daintree Ferry, where you can join a Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruise at 9.30am (there’s also a 10.45am departure if you need a lie-in!). As I’ve shared in my full Solar Whisper review, it was our favourite cruise we took in the Daintree. Their zero emissions boat is whisper quiet, allowing you to get closer to wildlife, including the total of six saltwater crocodiles we saw during the hour-long trip.

Once your crocodile-watching’s complete, take the Daintree Ferry (A$51 for a return ticket) across the river, and head north towards Cape Tribulation. On your way, stop at Madja Boardwalk, a 1.2km boardwalk circuit through some of the lush rainforest surroundings.

Lunch – The Sandbar

For lunch, stop by The Sandbar at Cape Tribulation Camping to enjoy a wood-fired pizza on the beachfront (open from 12.30pm). If pizza’s not tickling your fancy, Turtle Rock Cafe serves burgers, bowls, fish and chips and more.

Afternoon – Exploring Cape Tribulation and Daintree

Once you’ve had lunch, head up towards Cape Tribulation and take a walk along the beach for desert island vibes. If you’re as lucky as we were, you’ll get to experience it with barely another person in sight.

The Daintree Discovery Centre is the perfect place to learn more about the delicate and ancient ecosystem around you. 400m of boardwalks and a 23m aerial tower take you through the rainforest canopy, and the Interpretive Centre is home to interactive displays about the flora and fauna of the rainforest.

For more ideas to fill your afternoon, check out my top things to do in Daintree and Cape Tribulation! Before you head back to Cairns, make sure you stop by the Daintree Ice Cream Factory and try some locally made exotic fruit ice cream. The passionfruit flavour was my favourite!

Day 3: Kuranda Scenic Railway & SkyRail

I LOVE a good train ride, and the Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of the most spectacular rail journeys I’ve experienced.

Morning – Kuranda Scenic Railway

The Kuranda railway line opened in 1892, to connect inland mining areas with the coast. Today, it operates as one of Cairns’ most popular tourist attractions. Along the 37km track, the train ascends from sea level to a height of 327 metres. The route makes its way cross bridges and through tunnels, past thundering waterfalls and scenic views as far as the ocean.

Head to Cairns Railway Station and jump aboard one of the train departures at 8.30am and 9.30am. I’d recommend booking in advance, as the journey is very popular during peak times (and you get to skip the ticket queue!).

Exploring Kuranda Village

The journey to Kuranda takes just under two hours, and once you’re there, you’ll have time to explore the village.

Some of the best things to do in Kuranda include:

• Walking trails in the village and in the surrounding area
• Shopping for souvenirs at the Kuranda Heritage Markets
• Take a wildlife cruise on Barron River to look for freshwater crocodiles
• See exotic winged wildlife at Birdworld Kuranda and the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

If you’re looking for a delicious lunch, we had some incredible pies at Annabel’s Takeaway Pie Shop; or enjoy the ambience at The Petit Cafe.

Afternoon: Kuranda SkyRail

The Scenic Railway return train journey departs at either 2pm or 3.30pm, but you can also take the Kuranda SkyRail back for a different perspective.

The 7.5km SkyRail cable car route allows you to soar over the wet tropics as you descend towards Cairns. Along the way, there are two stops at Red Peak and Barron Falls where you can get out and explore. The gondolas depart continuously, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

You can book a combination ticket that includes both the Scenic Railway and SkyRail. I’d recommend taking the Scenic Railway as your outbound journey, and returning via Skyrail, for the best views and overall experience.

Alternative Activities

If you’re already planning to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier reef outside of Cairns, or want to spend a couple of extra nights glamping in the Daintree Rainforest, check out some alternative activities, tours and self-drive day trips to add to your three day Cairns itinerary instead:

Atherton Tablelands & Waterfall Trail

We actually did this on our way out of Cairns, but it works as a day trip too! You can either book a tour with transportation from Cairns, or drive it yourself. If you’re self-driving, here’s how to see some of the best waterfalls in Queensland!

To get there, drop ‘Millaa Millaa waterfall’ into your satnav, and get ready for an adventurous drive along State Route 52 up a winding hill to reach the Tableland. (you can also take an alternative route along the A1 to Route 25, which is a bit less bendy!)

Millaa Millaa is the first of three waterfalls on a circular route, each with its own unique style. This one’s the easiest to access, via steps next to the car park.

Turn left back onto the road and continue round to Zillie Falls. This one was the most challenging, as there’s not a well-structured path. To get to the bottom of the falls we had to scramble down some muddy bits, but the view at the bottom is more than worth it. 

Next, take another left turn to continue the circuit with a quick drive to Ellinjaa Falls, which was my favourite! This one has steps built into the ground that lead all the way down.

Once you’ve done the waterfall trail, you can head Southeast on Route 25 to reach Mamu Tropical Skywalk, a 350m elevated boardwalk with an observation tower. Route 25 then loops back around to the A1, and it’s about 1hr 25mins drive back to Cairns.

Fitzroy Island

An alternative to the Great Barrier Reef day tours, take a high-speed ferry to Fitzroy Island, where you’re free to explore the walking trails and snorkelling opportunities at your own pace.

Visit the North Queensland Outback

For a more unusual day trip from Cairns, join a day tour to the North Queensland Outback. Travelling through historic towns through the McAllister Ranges, you’ll experience a taste of the outback before exploring limestone caves and the wildlife of Granite Gorge Nature Park.

Where to stay in Cairns

Campervan/Camping: As we were travelling in our campervan, we booked four nights on an ensuite site at Cairns Coconut Resort. It was by far the site with the best facilities on our entire Sydney to Cairns road trip, including a central swimming pool with a beautiful mountain backdrop.

Hostels: As a backpacker hotspot, Cairns has a buzzing hostel scene. Of course, there’s the infamous Gilligans if you’re looking to party, but there are plenty of hostel options in Cairns for all types of travellers. Travellers Oasis is great for a more laid-back vibe; and Little Drifter combines boutique decor with a relaxed yet sociable atmosphere.

Mid-Range Hotels: Cairns Queenslander Hotel & Apartments ($$$) is a 20minute walk along the Esplanade to the centre of Cairns. The Abbott Hotel ($$$$) offers simple, chic decor close to the harbour.

Luxury Hotels: The 5* Crystalbrook Riley ($$$$$) offers contemporary rooms and suites with balconies, a man-made beach and poolside cabanas.

Where to eat in Cairns

The most popular restaurants in Cairns can often be full during busy times, so I’d recommend booking in advance where possible.

• Yaya’s Hellenic Kitchen and Bar: We ate here on our last night in Cairns, and enjoyed the best saginaki I’ve had outside of Greece!
• Piato: Locally sourced seafood dishes, made for sharing.
• Milky Lane: Experimental, creative (and sometimes ridiculous) burgers, loaded fries and thick shakes.
• Ollie’s Italian: Traditional Italian dishes with a waterfront view.
• Root Vegetarian: One of the few fully vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Cairns. Mostly open during the daytime only, but it’s open for dinner on Friday nights (closed Saturday and Sunday).

More North Queensland Travel:

Ready to explore more of North Queensland? Check these posts out next:

• 5 Epic Self-Drive Day Trips From Cairns
• 8 Of The Best Group Tours From Cairns
• 11 Of The Best Things To Do in Daintree & Cape Tribulation
• Glamping in the World’s Oldest Rainforest at Daintree Crocodylus
• The 5 Best Daintree River Wildlife Cruises for Crocodile Spotting
• Whitsundays Boat Tour & Snorkelling Review
• How Much Does a 1 Month East Coast Australia Road Trip Cost?