Top Queensland Day Trips

If you want to enjoy a tropical island beach paradise from Cairns but don’t have a lot of time, this half or full-day trip to Green Island is ideal. Be transported by fast catamaran from Cairns to save time. Choose between a glass-bottomed boat tour or the use of snorkeling equipment. Get access to the island’s pool or take a self-guided walk of the island if you want to be more active.

Explore the Great Barrier Reef and a lush island rain forest on this catamaran tour to Green Island from Cairns. Create your own perfect day on this protected coral cay with a variety of activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, Seawalking, nature walks, and tours on a glass-bottom boat. Upgrade to include a delicious buffet lunch on board the catamaran and/or a ride in a semi-submarine. It’s a fantastic way to discover the underwater wonders of the world’s most famous reef.

Exploring K’gari’s vast landscapes in a single day can be challenging without the right transport and local knowledge, but this full-day guided tour makes it easy to see the island’s highlights. Depart early in a custom 4WD and spend the day visiting key sites such as Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, Central Station, Wanggoolba Creek, Seventy-Five Mile Beach, and the Maheno shipwreck. With a local leading the way, learn about the island’s unique plant and animal life while enjoying time at its freshwater lakes, rainforest, and coastline.

Enjoy a full-day tour of the stunning Whitsunday Islands, traveling on a sturdy motorized raft to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Beach. Choose from two tours that offer either more snorkeling or more beach time. Gain exclusive access to secluded spots where you can snorkel around pristine coral reefs, and take a walk with your guide in the national park to a lookout point with spectacular views.

Explore the lush beauty, amazing wildlife, and rich heritage of Tropical North Queensland on this customizable full-day trip to Kuranda from Cairns. Travel to this enchanting rainforest village aboard the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, and choose from a variety of activities including visits to Birdworld and Rainforestation Nature Park. Hang out with koalas and exotic birds, browse local markets, and more. At the end of the day, glide through the treetops back to Cairns on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

Journey into the hinterlands on this 5-hour morning tour of the Springbrook National Park from the Gold Coast. Explore the UNESCO-listed Goondawanna rainforests by mini-van, stopping to walk through the jungle, peek into ancient caves and enjoy views of Mount Warning from the Best of All Lookout.  Visit natural wonders like Purling Brook Falls, Numinbah valley and Rainbow Falls. This small-group tour is limited to 16 people for a personalised experience, and includes light refreshments and hotel pick-up from selected locations.

Admire the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Daintree Rainforest while someone else takes care of logistics on this full-day, small-group tour. Get picked up from Port Douglas, spot crocodiles on a river cruise, learn about local flora and fauna at Marrdja Botanical Walk, explore Mossman Gorge, and soak up the scenery at Mt. Alexandra Lookout. Plus, take a beach walk to the spot where the rainforest and Great Barrier Reef meet.

Explore some of the most incredible natural landscapes of far northern Queensland the easy way on this full-day group tour. Avoid the hassle of self-driving and just sit back and enjoy the views. Take a walk in Mossman Gorge, cruise in the Daintree Rainforest, check out Cape Tribulation Beach, and much more. This tour includes hotel pickup for added convenience and is a must for nature lovers.

Enjoy an unforgettable animal encounter with a visit to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures from Cairns. Brave a face-to-face meeting with menacing crocodiles or hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies with guidance and supervision from the friendly staff, then get up-close to other Aussie creatures like Koala's, cassowaries, quolls and snakes. Best of all, your self-guided tour includes entrance tickets, hotel pick-up and round-trip transport from Cairns.

They say the rainforest meets the reef at Cape Tribulation, and you’ll see why on this day tour from Cairns. Hop on board the Daintree River ferry to get to the Cape. Tour the rainforests and beaches safely with a guide, looking out for saltwater crocs, cassowaries, and other tropical wildlife. Cool off with a swim in a freshwater creek and relax on pristine beaches. This is a fun-filled day and an easy way to visit this wild area.

Get an overview of the Atherton Tablelands region on a comprehensive day tour from Cairns. With a guide to show you the best spots, such as crater lakes, rain forest hikes, and waterfall swims, learn about the ecology and geology of the region. Highlights include Lake Eacham, Milla Milla Falls, Josephine Falls, and Babinda Boulders. A 2-course lunch, national park fees, and round-trip transportation from central Cairns accommodations included.

Head out on a rainforest adventure on the original Daintree Rainforest Tour. Take a guided walk through the ancient Daintree Rainforest and along the flawless white beaches of Cape Tribulation with your guide. Then, hop aboard a river cruise and listen to commentary about the local wildlife as you try to spot crocodiles. Then, take a freshwater swim in the heart of the rainforest and enjoy a homegrown tropical fruit ice cream.

Begin your visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures with breakfast in the company of a koala and its keeper. After morning hotel pickup in Cairns or Palm Cove, transfer to Hartley's in time for your hot Aussie breakfast and conversation with the keeper about the koalas. Then you can explore at your leisure: take a boat cruise on Hartley’s Lagoon to watch crocodiles feeding. Enjoy informative and entertaining wildlife presentations throughout the day, and see Australian wildlife up close, including kangaroos, wallabies, snakes, cassowaries, quolls and more.

Venture into the rainforest of the Atherton Tablelands with an expert guide to observe Australian native animals in the wild. From Cairns, travel into the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland to observe kangaroos, lizards, and possums by daylight, then continue after sundown to look for nocturnal critters like the elusive platypus and Lumholtz tree kangaroo. Enjoy afternoon tea at Lake Barrine and dinner at a country restaurant. This small-group tour is limited to 11 people, which ensures a more personalized experience with your guide.

Discover the Kuranda Rainforest from a unique perspective on a Skyrail and train tour that saves you the hassle of booking separate activities. Marvel at panoramic views of the rainforest, and let expert guides introduce you to the culture of Kuranda village. Plus, you can tailor your tour according to your interests, and add on activities such as horseback riding and ATV experiences.

Combine a reef and rainforest experience on this day trip to Green Island. Located just 45 minutes from Cairns via catamaran, this island is home to over 120 plant species and colorful birds. While there, take a self-guided walk to discover some of the island's flora. Day visitor facilities include a pool bar, restaurant, and shops. Food is also available for purchase.

Animal lovers—this one’s for you. Enjoy a hassle-free day out to Australia Zoo with round-trip transfers from select Brisbane hotels. Ride comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle, then get into the zoo quickly as admission is included. Once inside, benefit from at least six hours to explore, catch live shows, and spot a variety of creatures, including tigers, giraffes, crocodiles, kangaroos, and more.

Discover the natural wonders of Tropical North Queensland on a full-day tour to Chillagoe Caves and Granite Gorge. Travel from Cairns by rugged 4WD vehicle with a naturalist guide, passing over the McAllister Ranges and the Great Dividing Range as you explore the Australian Outback. Visit Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, drive near the wetlands to spot Australian native wildlife, and stop by historic mining towns. This small-group tour also included morning tea and a pub lunch.

Discover the underwater beauty of the Great Barrier Reef on a full-day tour from Cairns. Glide across the Coral Sea on a catamaran ride to a premium outer reef location with diverse marine life. Spend hours at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef with exclusive access to an activity platform staffed by marine biologist guides. Snorkel, scuba dive, or opt to take a glass-bottom boat tour.

Experience the thrill of an up-close encounter with migrating whales on this half-day cruise from Brisbane, available only between June and November. Set sail around Moreton Bay on a luxurious high-speed catamaran and tuck into a delicious buffet lunch on-board as you soak up the scenery. Finally, keep your camera to hand as you spot humpback whales swimming and breaching beside the ship – a rare opportunity to spot the gentle giants in their natural environment.

The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest continual living Rainforest in the world, and this is your opportunity to truly discover this World Heritage Listed area in a small group and with your personal tour guide.

Experience Australia’s natural beauty up close on a thrilling half-day 4WD adventure from Cairns. Venture to Barron Gorge and Kuranda National Parks, and witness the startling contrasts of tropical rainforest, savannah, and rugged mountains, without worrying about navigating off-road paths. Stop along the way to snap photos of the mighty Barron Falls and swim in the clear waters of Davies Creek.

Discover the vibrant underwater world of the outer Great Barrier Reef with a Quicksilver snorkeling cruise from Port Douglas. Board a luxurious catamaran to Agincourt Reef, where you can tailor your day with activities like snorkeling, fish feeding, semi-submersible tours, or the unique Ocean Walker helmet dive. Complete the adventure with a tasty buffet lunch and options to take your exploration deeper with scuba dives for beginners or certified divers alike.