9 days in Cairns Region Itinerary

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: Palm Cove (Palm Cove Beach & Palm Cove Jetty). Spend the 4th (Wed) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 5th (Thu) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. And it doesn't end there: hike along Esplanade Boardwalk, identify plant and animal life at Billy Tea Safaris, relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, and brush up on your military savvy at The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum.

To see more things to do, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, you can read our Cairns trip builder app.

Sydney to Cairns is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Expect a bit warmer temperatures when traveling from Sydney in January; daily highs in Cairns reach 37°C and lows reach 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Wed) to allow time to fly back home.