18 days in Brisbane & Cairns Itinerary

Queensland’s biggest town and state capital, Brisbane has an attractive, manicured image based around its riverside aesthetic as well as the contrast between its high-rise center and extensive urban greenery.

Get out of town with these interesting Brisbane side-trips: Surfers Paradise (SkyPoint Observation Deck, Touch Therapy Gold Coast, &more), Oxenford (Warner Bros. Movie World & Damian Leeding Memorial Park) and Caloundra (SunJet Simulations & Bulcock Beach). There's much more to do: stroll around South Bank Parklands, admire the masterpieces at Queensland Art Gallery, explore the activities along The Brisbane River, and admire the natural beauty at Roma Street Parkland.

To find reviews, photos, maps, and more tourist information, read Brisbane day trip planner.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from your home destination to Brisbane. In December in Brisbane, expect temperatures between 32°C during the day and 23°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Cairns.

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Cairns: Port Douglas (Flagstaff Hill Lookout, Opal Reef, &more), Wangetti (Hartley's Crocodile Adventures & Rex Lookout) and Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery (in Mossman). Spend the 25th (Fri) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 29th (Tue) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. The adventure continues: trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, let the kids burn off some steam at Muddy's Playground, take in nature's colorful creations at Botanical Gardens, and indulge in some personalized pampering at some of the best spas.

To see more things to do, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Cairns tour planning website.

Getting from Brisbane to Cairns by flight takes about 4.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. When traveling from Brisbane in December, plan for somewhat warmer days and about the same nights in Cairns: temperatures range from 36°C by day to 26°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Thu) to allow time to travel back home.