First Time Visitor

First Time Visitor to Cairns: What You Need to Know

🌴 Feel the Tropics from the Moment You Arrive

The first thing you’ll notice when you step off the plane in Cairns is the warm tropical air. It wraps around you like a welcome hug, carrying with it the scent of rainforest, ocean, and sun-kissed adventure. You’re not just visiting a destination — you’re arriving in one of the most magical corners of the world. Discover Cairns as a first time visitor.

🐠 Visit the Great Barrier Reef

Timing is everything. If there’s one thing you absolutely must do, it’s to get the weather right and go to the Outer Reef. Choose a small, eco-friendly operator who truly cares about your experience. The reef will leave you speechless: vibrant coral in every colour imaginable, marine life everywhere you look, and stories of species still being discovered.

Did you know that less than 3% of the world’s oceans are protected? When you visit the Great Barrier Reef, you’re exploring a marine park with some areas under protection for decades. On the way out, join a reef talk if you can — it makes the experience even more meaningful.

🌿 Explore the Daintree Rainforest as a first time visitor

Take a deep breath and let it all in — you’re standing in the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth. Hug a tree (really!), spot a cassowary, or let the quiet stillness of the Daintree soak into your soul. It’s humbling, beautiful, and completely unforgettable.

🏞 Discover the Atherton Tablelands

This lush highland region is what farming should look like: green pastures, misty hills, waterfalls, crater lakes, and locally grown produce everywhere you turn. Swim in Lake Eacham, stand under Millaa Millaa Falls, visit a coffee or tea plantation, and see the Curtain Fig Tree. Keep your eyes peeled in Yungaburra — it’s one of the best spots to see a wild platypus.

🌴 Take a Day Trip to Port Douglas or Palm Cove

Both are stunning. Port Douglas is relaxed and welcoming, with fabulous restaurants and access to both the reef and rainforest. Palm Cove is known for its gorgeous beach, spa retreats, and palm-lined esplanade. Add a long lunch, a market stroll, and you’ve got the recipe for tropical bliss.

🌏 Where Two World Heritage Sites Meet

Cairns is the only place on Earth where two World Heritage sites sit side by side: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. It’s our home — and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Welcome to Cairns. Your adventure starts here. 🌞