Top Queensland Day Trips

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.

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.

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.

Jump off the ferry and immerse yourself in a special kind of island paradise with this full-day small-group tour of North Stradbroke Island from Brisbane. A great way to combine sightseeing with learning about the fascinating history and stories of the island, including its Traditional Custodians, the Quandamooka People, this full-day tour is entertaining and educational in equal parts. You’ll also have the chance to see koalas, manta rays, turtles, and dolphins in the wild.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Experience the magic of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fraser Island on this full day tour. Take in gorgeous views as you visit the pristine fresh water Lake Mckenzie, lush Central Station Rainforest, the seemingly endless 75 Mile Beach and more. With a maximum of 17 guests on this tour, you can be sure of a personalized experience.

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.

On this fun filled day tour you can take in the magnificent views aboard the Kuranda Scenic Rail, spend some free time in the mountaintop village of Kuranda, then soar above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Our coach will then transfer you to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – the best place to see crocodiles in Tropical North Queensland! At Hartley’s you’ll explore the Melaleuca Wetlands on a boat cruise, marvel at the death roll of a Saltwater Crocodile and explore the wildlife park - home to Koala’s, Wallabies and Queensland’s Southern Cassowaries.

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.

Journey to the rain forest village of Kuranda via two unique transit options on this memorable full-day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Skip the line and enjoy Gold Class service aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through lush mountain passes and waterfall gorges along the way. In the opposite direction, glide above the treetops in a gondola and soak up spectacular views of the mountains and coastline on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. In Kuranda, enjoy leisure time to explore the heritage markets, learn about aboriginal culture or interact with native wildlife.

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.

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.

Enjoy a day in nature on an intimate small-group tour of the Springbrook National Park and Mount Tamborine. Visit the Natural Bridge, manmade glowworm caves, meander on Gallery Walk, and wander the impressive Tamborine Skywalk rainforest path. Native animals may pop out their heads from time to time, and stay fueled with a light lunch at a local restaurant. A great day out for families, couples, or solo travelers alike.

Spend a day on the Great Barrier Reef at two different snorkel and dive sites on this luxury catamaran cruise from Cairns. Travel in style aboard a fast, comfortable catamaran to the outer edge of Upolu Reef, "Wonder Wall," and the Upolu Cay reef area, where you can choose to snorkel or dive (additional cost) and observe the coral that's teeming with colorful fish. Refuel with a buffet lunch on board the catamaran, ensuring there's

Explore UNESCO World Heritage–listed K’gari (Fraser Island) the adventurous way on a small-group day tour by 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Drive along the sandy beaches and enjoy the views of the largest sand island in the world. Take detours into the rainforest, admire sparkling Lake Mckenzie, and look out for a range of wildlife and birds. This tour is an easy way to experience the best of the island from Rainbow Beach.

Set sail for a day of swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing in the Whitsundays on this full-day tour. Cruise around the islands on a high-speed catamaran and discover the colorful underwater world of the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef as you stop at two snorkeling hotspots. Explore the world-famous Whitehaven Beach, admire dramatic coastal views on a hike to the Hill Inlet Lookout, then tuck into a delicious buffet lunch on-board (included).