Cairns is a city in Queensland to the north-east of Australia. It is an incredibly unique destination because it is the best destination to explore two incredible ecosystems: the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. While the town itself may not be as enticing, it is its access to these different natural environments that makes it so exciting to visit over a 3 day Cairns itinerary.
The state of Queensland is known for its beautiful beaches. Its coast has some long stretches of white-sand beaches, including the Whitsundays, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast. Just off of the coastline is the densest portion of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system and home to thousands of different species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans, etc and is a colorful and rich environment to observe. Another part of Queensland is a luscious rainforest, Daintree, which is the oldest rainforest on Earth, older than the Amazon. It is part of the largest tropical rainforest of Australia and has been around for hundreds of millions of years, experiencing dinosaurs, ice ages, and the creation of human beings. And near Cairns is the only place in the world where these two environments meet.
The best way to get to Cairns is by flying. Look into various flight options for visiting Cairns.
A Sample 3 Day Cairns Itinerary
The following is intended to be a starting point for a 3 day Cairns itinerary. It allows you to see the highlights of the region through group tours to make your time in the region as easy as possible. You should tailor the itinerary to your own interests.
Day 1
Explore Cairns. Start your day by getting a smoothie from Rusty’s Market. Then, take the train or cable way to Kuranda and return in the afternoon. Finally, enjoy the sunset along the Cairns esplanade
Day 2
Take a day tour of the Great Barrier Reef
Day 3
Take a day tour of Daintree National Park
Day 1: Explore the City of Cairns
Beyond visiting Daintree National Park and the Great Barrier Reef, we recommend spending a day exploring Cairns and its nearby surroundings.
Rusty's Market
If you are looking for fresh fruit and veggies, head to Rusty’s Market, especially in the morning. Not only will you find vendors selling large quantities of produce but you can also find stalls that make incredibly fresh fruit juices and smoothies with the local produce. It’s a great way to start your day before touring around Cairns.
Kuranda - The Rainforest Skyrail
Kuranda is a small town up in the rainforest above Cairns. It is full of markets and galleries with local Aboriginal artwork and cafes. In addition, it has a unique way of getting to and from the town that allows you to immerse yourself into the rainforest. Through the Skyrail & Kuranda Scenic Railway Experiences, you can take a train up to the town and a cable car skyrail to get back to town or vice versa. You can purchase tickets for this experience on their website here.
On the train ride, you get to travel through the rainforest and stop along the way to get a panoramic view of the majestic Barron Falls. While the train ride itself is underwhelming, the view of the falls is beautiful and it is a nice way to get to the town of Kuranda. (If the train does not interest you, you can always purchase a roundtrip cableway ticket but the different vantage points could be a nice way to spend your day.)
The trip with the cableway is wonderful. You get to ride over the rainforest and it includes two stops where you can hop out of the gondola and walk through the rainforest itself. This is a great experience, especially if you do not have the opportunity to visit Daintree National Park. You also get a closer vista of the Barron Falls at one of these stops. Whether you take the skyrail to go to the town or return from it during your 3 day Cairns itinerary, there is transportation provided to and from the Cairns Railway Station, which is where the train departs and returns from, making it a complete round trip experience.
Esplanade Lagoon and Boardwalk
The downtown of Cairns is located on the water and the boardwalk is a great place to wander and enjoy the waterfront. It includes parks that have public barbecues and a public pool that can be enjoyed by kids and adults to cool down in the Cairns heat (especially since you may not be able swim in the ocean water during jellyfish stinger season). And across the street from the pool is where most of the shops and tourist agencies of Cairns are located.
Where to Stay during your 3 day cairns itinerary
Central Business District (CBD)
The Central Business District of Cairns has the majority of restaurants, bars, and hotels of Cairns. It is also walking distance to the dock for tours to the Great Barrier Reef. You may find some more character in this part of town. That being said, if you are aware of your surroundings and avoid putting yourself in vulnerable situations (walking down dark and empty streets), you will still be able to enjoy the conveniences of being in this part of town.
Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a quaint beach town just an hour north of Cairns. Many of the tours that are offered in Cairns have departure opportunities from Port Douglas, so you do not have to travel to Cairns to visit some of the iconic nature that this part of Australia has to offer. If you are looking for a relaxing and laid back place to stay, then check out Port Douglas.
Looking for where to stay for in Cairns? You can check out various hotels here.
Day 2: Visiting the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the world and is even visible from space. It is a remarkable and unique part of the ocean that can only be discovered by snorkeling and scuba diving into its ecosystem. The reef follows the coast of the state of Queensland with some parts of the reef being very close to the coast itself. Seeing the Great Barrier Reef during your 3 day Cairns itinerary is a must-do.
The Blueprint Travelers Beach Staples
Day 3: Exploring Daintree National Park
Daintree National Park is part of the rainforest within Queensland, Australia and a part of the region that you should consider including in your 3 day Cairns itinerary. It is the oldest rainforest in the world and has been around since the dinosaur era. There is evidence of the dinosaur era through the ancient plant life and ferns that are endemic to this region and the very endangered southern cassowary that inhabits this rainforest. It is thought that this bird evolved around 60 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs. And if you have the opportunity to see one (either in the wild or at a zoo), you can see the dinosaur features in its feet and head. In addition, Aboriginal people, the Kuku Yalanji people, have inhabited this area for over 50,000 years.
What makes Daintree remarkable is that its vegetation grows right to the coastline of the Great Barrier Reef. It is the only place in the world where you can visit a rainforest and a reef structure together. When visiting during your 3 day Cairns itinerary, it is a must to explore the national park.
Visiting with a Tour Group During Your 3 Day Cairns Itinerary
Daintree National Park is located about three hours from Cairns so having a tour group to this location makes the touring easier. We recommend reserving this tour with Discover Tours Australia, a tour agency that specializes in tours in the north Queensland area.
Their tour to Daintree is comprehensive in exploring the area over a full day. After getting picked up from your accommodations (either in Cairns or Port Douglas), you will start with a drive through Port Douglas where you can look at this quaint beachside town. Then, you will have a short stop for tea/coffee and local baked goods and before visiting the Mossman Gorge where you will get to take a dip in the river to refresh yourself. Throughout the walk to the Mossman River, the guide will give you information about the plants in this area. Later, you will have a stop for lunch (included in the tour), where you will get the choice to try some local Australian cuisine and a wide variety of tropical fruit that grows in the region. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to take a boat tour on the Daintree River where you have the opportunity to encounter some saltwater crocodiles. Next, you will have the opportunity to stop at the Daintree Ice-Cream Company before walking through the Daintree Rainforest while the guide will tell you more about the unique ecosystem. Finally, you will stop at Cape Tribulation and walk along the beach. This is the location where the rainforest meets the beach and the Great Barrier Reef, a unique occurrence in the world. From here, you will be making your way back to Cairns, with the opportunity to run into some cassowaries along the road.
Visiting Independently
Every activity that is described in the tour group option can be done independently if you rent a 4WD car. However, it is definitely easier to visit the area through a tour group because you do not have to manage the itinerary of the day, you get the information regarding the ecosystem that you are discovering, and you do not have to do the long drive between Cairns or Port Douglas and Daintree National Park.
