Australia · CAIRNS TOURS

Cairns Tours & Reef Trips: 15 Compared on Price and Time Out

151 tours  ·  from $11

Nobody comes to Cairns for Cairns. The 15 below sort the reef boats, the Daintree runs and the Kuranda rail-and-cable day by what they cost, how far out they go and how early the coach collects you.

From Cairns: Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail - Morning pickup and the ride to Freshwater Station
Cable Car & Rail Trips in Cairns, Cable Cars & Scenic Railways, Cairns Tours, Queensland Tours, Self-Guided Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences

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

1.Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail

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

Travel from central Cairns to Kuranda by historic railway, enjoy free time for markets, cafés, walks, and wildlife parks, then return over the rainforest canopy on the 7.5-kilometre Skyrail. English-speaking drivers such as Victor and Dean add useful local context. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for most central Cairns hotels.

“Very well communicated picked up from port on time well organised and easy to follow printed instructions”

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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Full-Day Trip with Optional Extras - Getting to know a 339-hectare National Park island
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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Full-Day Trip with Optional Extras

2.Fitzroy Island Full-Day Trip with Optional Extras

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

Take a 45-minute fast catamaran from Cairns to Fitzroy Island, then set your own pace for up to seven hours. Walk five National Park trails, swim, snorkel near White Rock, or add snorkel gear, a glass-bottom boat ride, or lunch. Guided snorkeling with marine biologists may also be available as an optional activity.

“Perfect :) Beautiful day and good snokelling We saw turtles !!”

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Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas - Foaming Fury and the Grade II and III rapids
Cairns Tours, Queensland Tours, Tour Reviews, White Water Rafting

Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas

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

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

Spend about two hours rafting the Barron River through rainforest and rocky gorge scenery. Foaming Fury supplies safety gear, instruction, and coach transport from Cairns or Port Douglas. Guides such as Lily, Jess, Felix, and Dorothy lead small rafts through Grade II and III rapids, making this a lively first rafting trip for ages 12 and up.

“Great adventure for River Rafting beginners. The support crew is good and helpful. Overall highly recommended”

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From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise - Leaving Cairns from Marlin Wharf
Boat Tours in Cairns, Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Queensland Tours, Tour Reviews

From Cairns: Full-Day Green Island Cruise

4.Full-Day Green Island Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,584 reviews · 8 hours · from $77

Take a modern catamaran from Cairns to Green Island National Park for a full day of beaches, reef snorkeling, and coral viewing. You can add a buffet lunch, semi-submarine ride, glass-bottom boat, or guided snorkel session. Crew members such as Zack, Kate, and Andrea have been praised for warm, helpful service.

“Was good, but while booking the included activities were not clear and we had some misunderstandings. As it states snorkeling and glass bottom boat cruise is included, however upon arrival it was a separate activity and should be paid for separately. Other than that, Green Island is worth seeing.”

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Cairns: Outer and Coral Cay Snorkel and Dive Cruise - Wonder Wall gives you the first look at the reef
Boat Tours in Cairns, Cairns Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Queensland Tours, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Snorkeling Trips in Cairns, Tour Reviews

Cairns: Outer and Coral Cay Snorkel and Dive Cruise

5.Outer and Coral Cay Snorkel and Dive Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,467 reviews · 9 hours - 1 day · from $183

Join Ocean Free and Ocean Freedom from Cairns for a full reef day aboard a fast 20-metre catamaran. You’ll visit Wonder Wall and Upolu Coral Cay, snorkel with marine guides, ride a glass-bottom boat, and choose optional certified or introductory scuba. Crew members such as Ollie, Paul, Tori, and Blair are praised for calm, careful instruction.

“I had a great diving time with ocean freedom. Ollie is a very nice diving instructor. He’s patient and attentive to detail. I felt safe and well taken care of throughout the dives. The staff were also great! They made the whole experience so enjoyable.”

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Cairns: Green Island Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat - Choosing between snorkelling and the glass bottom boat
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Cairns: Green Island Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat

6.Green Island Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,284 reviews · 5 - 9 hours · from $73

Take a 45-minute catamaran from Cairns to Green Island, a 6,000-year-old coral cay with rainforest, white beaches, and reef life close to shore. Choose snorkelling gear or a glass bottom boat tour, then add a pool visit, crocodile habitat, or other activities. The day is self-guided, with clear boat times and friendly crew support.

“We liked the island . Glass bottom boat was very good , saw lots of fishes and varieties of corals . Did sea walking”

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Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns - Hotel pickup and the shape of the day
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Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

7.Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,075 reviews · from $150

Travel from Cairns into the rainforest by historic railway and Skyrail cableway, with time in Kuranda for markets, food, and optional wildlife stops. Choose extras such as Rainforestation, Birdworld, the Butterfly Sanctuary, or Koala Gardens. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but this is mainly a transport-and-admission package, not a guided walking tour.

“Lovely experience visiting Kuranda. The touring service provided prompt service with the pick up and drop off from the designated stop. It smoothened the process to book the Skyrail and Scenic Railway. Everything was managed within a single booking.”

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Cairns: Skyrail, Kuranda, and Rail Tour with Hotel Transfers - Skyrail from the coast to Kuranda
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Cairns: Skyrail, Kuranda, and Rail Tour with Hotel Transfers

8.Skyrail, Kuranda, and Rail Tour with Hotel Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,038 reviews · 510 minutes - 1 day · from $147

Travel from Cairns to Kuranda by Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, stopping at rainforest lookouts and Barron Falls before free time in the village. Return by Kuranda Scenic Railway through tunnels, across bridges, and beside gorges. Hotel transfers, tickets, and an English-speaking host are included, with lunch and optional Kuranda attractions paid separately.

“it was a great experience of going by skyway rail n coming back by kuranda rail. one can do the opposite aswell. but one must try both sky rail n historic rail tour”

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Green Island Day Trip from Cairns - Snorkeling from the beach
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Green Island Day Trip from Cairns

9.Green Island Day Trip from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 941 reviews · from $92

Travel by air-conditioned catamaran from Cairns to Green Island, then choose your pace: snorkel from the beach, walk the rainforest trail, ride a glass-bottom boat or semi-submarine, or book scuba and Seawalker activities locally. The 8-hour trip includes reef tax and selected equipment, with lunch and departure time available as booking options.

“Amazing experience.... Gorgeous beaches, good staff, amazing views, delicious creamy pasta and good trip”

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Cairns: Waterfall Tour with Lunch - Beneath the Cathedral Fig Tree
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Cairns: Waterfall Tour with Lunch

10.Waterfall Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 927 reviews · 10 hours · from $101

Spend 10 hours exploring the Atherton Tablelands with an English-speaking guide such as Sampo, John, Clint, or Cheryl. Swim at Josephine Falls, Lake Eacham, and Babinda Boulders, see Millaa Millaa Falls and the Cathedral Fig Tree, and enjoy lunch, morning tea, afternoon tea, entry fees, and Cairns hotel pickup.

“Michael was caring, kind, inclusive. He created a wonderful experience! I especially loved the 500 years old ficus tree and the aboriginal culture session. Good and good venue location can be improved to proudly show the local delicious options. Thank you!”

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Fun, Falls and Forests Day Trip from Cairns - Babinda Boulders begins the water adventure
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Fun, Falls and Forests Day Trip from Cairns

11.Fun, Falls and Forests Day Trip from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 906 reviews · from $121

Spend 12 lively hours from Cairns visiting Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls, Milla Milla Falls, and Lake Eacham. You’ll walk through rainforest, swim in mountain water, enjoy morning tea and a hot two-course lunch, and may spot a platypus. Guides such as Conrad, Sam, Troy, and Courtney keep the day moving with stories, music, and games.

“Sam aka Will Ferrell was an extraordinary guide while ascending through the mountains the bus popped and lost its turbo. Sam managed to limp the bus to the next stop and then worked feverishly to acquire a new bus to finish our trip. Read more”

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Barefoot Atherton Tablelands Adventure by Cairns Waterfalls - Josephine Falls brings the natural slide
Cairns Tours, Queensland Tours, Tour Reviews, Waterfall Tours

Barefoot Atherton Tablelands Adventure by Cairns Waterfalls

12.Barefoot Atherton Tablelands Adventure by Cairns Waterfalls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 892 reviews · from $121

Spend about 10 hours exploring rainforest, volcanic lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife sites with Barefoot Tours. You can swim at Lake Eacham and Millaa Millaa Falls, slide over smooth rock at Josephine Falls, see the Cathedral Fig Tree, and search for platypuses near Yungaburra. Guides such as Anton, Paige, Patty, and Wolf add local knowledge and good humor.

“While our experience with the booking office left a lot to be desired, our tour guide Anton more than saved the day. Originally, we booked the full-day Atherton Tablelands Waterfall Adventure, but after two cancellations by the office, we were left with no choice but to join the half-day Explorer Tour—with no mention of compensation for the difference. That said, we’re incredibly thankful we got to spend the day with Anton. He was everything you could want in a guide—genuinely knowledgeable about the region, full of hilarious jokes, and armed with a playlist full of absolute bangers. His energy, storytelling, and passion for the area transformed what could’ve been a…”

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Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural Tour - Snorkeling in the sheltered coral lagoon
Cairns Tours, Historical Tours, Queensland Tours, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Snorkeling Trips in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Tours

Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural Tour

13.Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 841 reviews · from $232

Travel by fast catamaran from Cairns to Reef Magic’s Marine World platform, where you can snorkel in a sheltered coral lagoon, join marine biologist talks, and use the glass-bottom boat, semi-submersible, and underwater observatory. Optional scuba sessions, helmet walks, and helicopter flights cost extra. Guides including Ella, Ethan, Kaitlin, and Takuya have earned praise for patient help in the water.

“It was a good experience They took participant safety very seriously Well organized - friendly and helpful They went out of the way to make sure everyone got something out of the trip. The views from the chopper were amazing Highly recommend the team”

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All Inclusive Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns - Babinda Boulders and the day’s cultural beginning
Cairns Tours, Queensland Tours, Rainforest Tours, Rainforest Tours in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Tours, Waterfall Tours

All Inclusive Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns

14.All Inclusive Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 741 reviews · from $128

Spend about 11 hours exploring North Queensland’s waterfalls and rainforest by air-conditioned bus. Swim at Josephine Falls and Lake Eacham, see Millaa Millaa Falls and the Cathedral Fig Tree, hear Aboriginal stories at Babinda Boulders, and enjoy lunch, morning tea, and afternoon refreshments. Guides such as Clint, Dan, John, and Chandan lead different departures.

“Stunning areas visited with great scenery along the way. Ben was a great guide. A definite must do if you are visiting the area.”

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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry w/ Snorkel, Lunch, Tour Options - Getting from Cairns Marina to the island
Cairns Tours, Island Ferry Tickets, Lunch Experiences, Queensland Tours, Snorkeling, Snorkeling Trips in Cairns, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry w/ Snorkel, Lunch, Tour Options

15.Fitzroy Island Ferry w/ Snorkel, Lunch, Tour Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 715 reviews · from $69

Take Sunlover Reef Cruises from Cairns to Fitzroy Island for beaches, rainforest walks and 4.5 hours of free time. Add snorkel gear, a picnic lunch or a glass-bottom boat ride. Guides including Andrea, Victor, Georgina and Carmen have helped make the reef activities clear, friendly and easy to follow.

“Fantastic!!! The crossing is quite fast and we find ourselves in a beautiful and totally exotic place. The free time left on the island allows both a small hike in the forest (very well marked) and snorkling in different places. An unforgettable day with landscapes worthy of the most beautiful paradisiacal islands.”

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New in Cairns Tours

★ 5.0Paronella Park and Millaa Millaa Falls Full-day Tour from CairnsFrom $15747 reviews
★ 5.0Full-day Tour at the Atherton Tablelands with Food TastingFrom $20430 reviews
★ 4.0Full Day Tour to Sunlover Cruises Moore Reef and Fitzroy IslandFrom $21131 reviews
★ 5.0Cairns City Sights and Surrounds TourFrom $82227 reviews
★ 4.5Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner CruiseFrom $18532 reviews
★ 4.5Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Day Trip from Port DouglasFrom $19127 reviews
★ 4.5Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Day Trip from CairnsFrom $150228 reviews
★ 4.5Tandem Skydive Experience over Reef & RainforestFrom $25052 reviews
★ 5.0Blue Dive Private Guided Scuba Dive CairnsFrom $60634 reviews
★ 4.5Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic LunchFrom $83322 reviews
★ 5.0Afternoon & Evening Tour of Paronella ParkFrom $17882 reviews
★ 5.0Cairns Pub & Club TourFrom $3537 reviews
★ 5.0Cairns Small-Group Kuranda Tour: Skyrail & Scenic RailwayFrom $186112 reviews
★ 4.5Kuranda Rainforestation & Kuranda Scenic Rail (R1BT)From $13522 reviews
★ 5.0Kuranda Riverboat Sightseeing CruiseFrom $21325 reviews

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