2-Day Cairns Escape: Reef to Rainforest

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by Emma

May 7, 2024 · 1 min read

Cairns 2 Days Itinerary

Embark on a 2-day journey to Cairns, where the natural world awaits to amaze you. Your adventure begins with an entire day at the iconic Great Barrier Reef, a majestic underwater realm that's not just an aquarium but a living mosaic of marine biodiversity. Dive or snorkel to witness the vibrant coral gardens and the plethora of sea life that calls this World Heritage site home. After a day at sea, refresh and relax at the Cairns Aquarium, where you'll spend a couple of hours the next morning getting up close with marine species in a state-of-the-art facility. Your itinerary culminates with a full day at the Rainforestation Nature Park, a sanctuary where you can immerse yourself in the lush tropics of Kuranda, encountering native wildlife and learning about indigenous culture. This 2-day Cairns itinerary promises a perfect blend of underwater exploration and rainforest adventure.

Top 6 Hotels in Cairns
TOP 1
Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
hotelStar
5/5
124 reviews
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TOP 2
Pacific Hotel Cairns
Pacific Hotel Cairns
hotelStar
4/5
40 reviews
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TOP 3
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
hotelStar
5/5
119 reviews
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Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns, an EVT hotel
Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns, an EVT hotel
hotelStar
4/5
104 reviews
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Hilton Cairns
Hilton Cairns
hotelStar
5/5
171 reviews
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Crystalbrook Riley
Crystalbrook Riley
hotelStar
5/5
52 reviews
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2 Days in Cairns Itinerary: Day 1

1

Great Barrier Reef

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Kicking off our Cairns adventure, we immerse ourselves in the aquatic marvel that is the Great Barrier Reef. Renowned as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, this living masterpiece is a kaleidoscope of marine life and coral gardens. Spend your day snorkeling or diving amongst vivid coral formations, encountering a diverse array of sea creatures from tiny, colorful fish to majestic sea turtles. The Great Barrier Reef is not just an attraction; it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that captivates with its underwater beauty and ecological significance. Located in the heart of Queensland, this natural aquarium promises a full day of exploration and awe, making it the perfect start to our Cairns itinerary.

Attraction Info

  • Great Barrier Reef Queensland
  • Suggested tour duration: 0.5-1 day
  • Open 24 hours
3.2/56 Reviews
3.2/56 Reviews
Bramston Beach
|15.76km from Great Barrier Reef

2 Days in Cairns Itinerary: Day 2

1

Cairns Aquarium

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Kickstart your second day in Cairns with an underwater journey at the Cairns Aquarium. Located at 5 Florence St, this state-of-the-art facility is your gateway to the incredible marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and beyond. Spend around two hours marveling at the vibrant coral displays, getting up close with reef sharks, and learning about the delicate ecosystems that thrive beneath the waves. The aquarium offers a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of the aquatic world without getting your feet wet.

Attraction Info

  • 5 Florence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
  • Suggested tour duration: 2-3 hour
  • Open from 9:30am-3:30pm

Recommended Nearby Restaurants

Tha Fish
Tha Fish
4.9/5 · 10 reviews
0.7 km from attraction
Prawn Star Cairns
Prawn Star Cairns
4.7/5 · 24 reviews
0.8 km from attraction
C'est Bon French Restaurant Cairns
C'est Bon French Restaurant Cairns
5/5 · 4 reviews
0.8 km from attraction
Fratelli’s Café, Bar & Restaurant
Fratelli’s Café, Bar & Restaurant
/5 · 0 reviews
2.9 km from attraction
CC's Bar & Grill by Crystalbrook
CC's Bar & Grill by Crystalbrook
4.2/5 · 18 reviews
0.2 km from attraction
Splash Seafood Restaurant
Splash Seafood Restaurant
4.3/5 · 6 reviews
0.2 km from attraction
29 min,23.68 km
2

Rainforestation Nature Park

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After immersing yourself in the marine magic, it's time to embrace the lush tropics at Rainforestation Nature Park. Just a scenic drive away at 1030 Kennedy Hwy, Kuranda, this park is an all-day affair that promises an authentic Australian rainforest experience. Traverse the forest floor on an Army Duck tour, witness the Pamagirri Aboriginal dancers, and encounter native wildlife in their natural habitat. The park's dedication to conservation and education makes it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and families alike, ensuring a day filled with discovery and adventure.

Attraction Info

  • 1030 Kennedy Hwy, Kuranda QLD 4881, Australia
  • Suggested tour duration: 0.5-1 day
  • Open from 9:00am-3:30pm

Recommended Nearby Restaurants

Kuranda Trading Post
Kuranda Trading Post
/5 · 0 reviews
1.8 km from attraction
Cafe Mandala
Cafe Mandala
/5 · 0 reviews
1.8 km from attraction
Fruibies
Fruibies
5/5 · 1 review
1.9 km from attraction
Sprout Juice and Coffee Bar
Sprout Juice and Coffee Bar
/5 · 0 reviews
1.8 km from attraction
Cafe Kuranda
Cafe Kuranda
/5 · 0 reviews
2.0 km from attraction
Frogs Kuranda
Frogs Kuranda
/5 · 0 reviews
2.1 km from attraction
5/54 Reviews
5/5Perfect4 Reviews
Cairns
|3.33km from Rainforestation Nature Park
0/50 Reviews
Cairns
|5.12km from Rainforestation Nature Park

Top Things to Do in Cairns-2024

TOP 1
Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
4.7/5 · 730 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 169 review
Highlights:
The Great Barrier Reef runs through the northeastern coast of Australia and stretches for more than 2,000 kilometers. It is the largest and longest coral group in the world. The Great Barrier Reef consists of more than 600 large and small coral reef islands, which are colorful and beautiful. The central coral reef island has become the iconic attraction of the Great Barrier Reef. 1. Attraction overview The Great Barrier Reef is home to a huge coral kingdom and thousands of marine life, as well as deep undersea cliffs, undersea tunnels and caves. Whether you are taking a helicopter to get a bird's-eye view of the corals or diving deep into the sea, you can truly appreciate it. Feel the magic of nature. When you come to the Great Barrier Reef, you can sign up for diving or semi-submersible ships to explore the underwater world. Of course, if you want to experience sailing out to sea, you can rent a variety of boats (from high-speed speedboats to catamarans) to ride the wind and waves and sail out to sea. You can also go on a cruise, depending on your time and preferences. If you want a more free sea experience, you can take a speedboat. In addition, overlooking the Great Barrier Reef by helicopter is also one of the projects not to be missed here, overlooking the world-famous Heart Reef from the air; riding a hot air balloon over the Atherton Tableland, the experience of going into the sea is not enough! 2. National Park There are many national parks near the Great Barrier Reef. In addition to the Daintree Rainforest (Daintree Rainforest), which is also a world natural heritage, there are many unmissable secret gardens waiting for you to slowly discover. Explore wildlife at Cape Tribulation and Nara Inlet on Hook Island, where rock art from the Ngaro people remains. Tourists can hire a professional guide to take you to the tropical rainforest, experience swimming, barbecue and other items in the national park. 3. Traveling methods To visit the Great Barrier Reef, you need to go to sea. Generally, you choose to start from Cairns or the Whitsundays. The Great Barrier Reef is mainly divided into the inner barrier reef and the outer barrier reef. The inner barrier reef is close to the city, and the outer barrier reef is far away from the city and has less pollution. Therefore, you must carefully choose the area you want to go according to your personal needs. 4. Daydream Island The main feature of Daydream Island is the various water sports and SPA on the island, bathed in the fragrance of nature, daydreaming here is better than sleeping.
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TOP 2
Sunlover Reef Cruises
Sunlover Reef Cruises
4.6/5 · 68 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 995 review
Highlights:
Everything you can experience at Moore Reef is beyond your imagination. The Sunlover Great Barrier Reef Cruise departs daily from Cairns Ferry Terminal to the new Moore Reef Offshore Platform, where you can discover and explore the unparalleled wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. On this offshore platform, you can spend a day participating in various interesting activities, as well as admiring the beautiful Great Barrier Reef from all angles. On this luxury offshore platform 40 kilometers from Cairns, you can explore the mysterious underwater world up close. Moore's Reef Platform is the world's premier marine experience platform, designed to accommodate visitors of all ages and abilities, allowing everyone to experience the magnificent Great Barrier Reef in comfort. 
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TOP 4
Cairns Aquarium
Cairns Aquarium
4.5/5 · 143 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 2,082 review
Highlights:
Cairns Aquarium is a very new and regional aquarium in Australia. It has won two awards in the tourism industry. This is an ecological exhibition hall in the world that brings together the essence of the world's two natural heritages - the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rain forest. The whole museum is divided into 10 North Queensland ecosystems and 71 habitats. You can enjoy more than 15,000 North Queensland characteristic creatures in the fully air-conditioned museum, many of which are rare and protected species. The aquarium is located in the heart of Cairns, adjacent to major hotels in the city, with convenient transportation.
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TOP 5
Heart Reef
Heart Reef
4.7/5 · 72 review
taCommentInfo-imageBased on 412 review
Highlights:
Couples in honey transportation are always eager to let each other feel their strong love at all times, and hope to express their love in a special way to leave a deep imprint on the memory of their lovers, so when you go to the Great Barrier Reef, you must not miss it. The "heart of the ocean" of Di Reef - Heart Reef, this heart-shaped coral reef is formed by the inadvertent work of countless coral polyps with a diameter of only a few millimeters. If it is said that this is the work of God, then it seems to be said that God is also willing to take this place as the habitation of the soul.
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* All user reviews in this article have been translated by machine.

* The information above is subject to change at any time. For the latest information, please check the websites of hotels and attractions.

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Cairns 2 Days Itinerary