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Imagine waking up on the Great Barrier Reef. Spending your day exploring coral gardens, swimming with the fish and coming up to relax on the sundeck, with all your meals taken care of. Sunset at sea, a thousand golden hues. Experience all this on a liveaboard reef trip.
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Reef Adventures Mission Beach runs small number, half day snorkel tours to Beaver Reef. The crew are all about ensuring your time on the reef is the best it can be. We saw colourful corals with literally hundreds of fish darting around us, it was like being in an aquarium.
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Let’s go chasing waterfalls! Here are our top tips for a full day Cairns waterfall circuit self-drive itinerary, taking in the southern Tablelands and National Parks. It covers 290km and includes 8 stops and destinations. The focus is on natural beauty, local producers and tempting treats.
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Don't let seasickness wreck your Great Barrier Reef experience! There's lots of options and considerations to ensure you can still have the best time. We know, because we get seasick. This is our top tips, including medication and choosing the ‘right boat’ and ‘best reef tour’ for you.
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Pizza lovers, get ready! Cairns and the Tropical North Queensland region are bursting with incredible pizzerias, all competing for the crown of the best pizza. We've taken on the tough task of sampling them all, so head over to our blog on Cairns' Best Pizzas for a slice of the action.
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If you can’t decide between a Cairns reef or island day tour – no problem – do them both in one action packed day with Great Adventures. This full day itinerary includes 2 hours at Green Island and 3 hours at the Outer Great Barrier Reef, with buffet lunch and semi-submersible tours. It ticks all the boxes. Cruise. Snorkel. Dive. Explore.
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Karumba. A small town in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and a 748km drive from Cairns. Most people go there for one reason – fishing! All the bucket list species are here, barra, salmon, mackerel and more. We landed a few, so without further ado, let’s hook into our fishing charter review.
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Elim Beach and the Coloured Sands blew our minds, with its beauty and serenity. This tropical paradise is an adventure destination and one of the best places to get off grid and into nature. We’re talking remote beaches, towering cliffs of coloured sand and 4WD action, with a side serve of inland roads and cliff climbing.
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Cobbold Gorge. Cobbold Village. Jewels in the Gulf Savannah crown. A place to enjoy big blue sky days, million star nights and adventures in the outback. We love it here, from the guided tours to the free activities, pool bar, people and more. There’s so many things to do at Cobbold Gorge - let's launch into the list.
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The warm thermal waters of Innot Hot Springs on the Atherton Tablelands have been attracting visitors for over 100 years. People come to soak in the mineral rich waters and enjoy the bushland surrounds. Camping at Innot Hot Springs is popular with locals and it’s just over a 2 hour drive from Cairns.
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It’s raining, should I still go to the reef? Yes! – It was pouring rain when we boarded Silversonic at Port Douglas, but this swift, smooth catamaran transported us away from the storm, out to a beautiful, sunny day of diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Fast boat. 3 guided dives at 3 different locations. 1 amazing day.
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When it’s a glass out kind of day, it’s always going to be dive time for us! Our Cairns dive trip on AquaQuest ticked a lot of boxes. Time with a turtle, tick, clownfish, reef sharks and maori wrasse – tick, tick, tick - big blue sky above and clear blue water below. 5 hours at the reef. 3 dives. So good! It's dive time on the Great Barrier Reef.
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Camping at Undara gives you a real taste of the outback. Set in the heart of the savannah grasslands, this is a place where you can camp under gum trees, wake up with kookaburras, explore ancient lava tubes, wander around craters, splash in the pool, and toast marshmallows at night. All this and only 3.5 hours drive from Cairns.
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Being greeted with a glass of champagne is always a great way to start any evening, and so it was with the Spirit of Cairns dinner cruise. This is absolute waterside dining and calm water cruising in one great package, where you can wine and dine while you watch the sun go down and the sparkling city lights come to life.
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Cassowaries are an iconic resident of the Rainforests that surround Cairns. These majestic birds are easy to identify, standing between 1.5-2m tall with long legs, a large body covered in black plumage, a long blue neck, red wattles at the front and a casque on top of its head.
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Burger enthusiasts rejoice as Cairns and the Tropical North Queensland region are brimming with top-notch burger joints, competing for the best burger crown. We've done the hard work and taste testing for you, now check out our blog on Cairns' Best Burgers for all the juicy, tasty details, with a side of sauce and solid advice.
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Cairns is popular amongst drone enthusiasts and photographers for its range of flying locations, which includes the Great Barrier Reef, Rainforest, Beaches and Outback. As you will see on this site, we love our drone and here's some top tips on our fav places.
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Fast boat, smooth ride and guided dives on some stunning Cairns’ Great Barrier Reef sites, that’s what Silverswift is all about. They visit 3 reef sites each day, with plenty of time for diving and snorkelling. Meals, snacks and equipment are all included, so without further ado, let’s dive into our review.
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When your crew is a combination of scuba divers and snorkelers, and you want the best Great Barrier Reef experience possible, an outer reef pontoon is the answer for you. Sunlover’s Moore Reef tour packs a good value punch, with diving, snorkeling, sliding and so much more. Great reef location. Lots of inclusions. Lets go!
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Peering over the edge of the boat, we see glimpses of the coral gardens below. Excitement builds. Weight belts on. BCDs on. Buddy checks complete. We stride in and begin our scuba diving discovery of the Great Barrier Reef with Calypso Reef Cruises, from Port Douglas. This was a great day, exploring amazing reef sites.
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Imagine floating above the rainforest. Gazing down into its green heart, a sea of rustling leaves and climbing palms. A place where cassowaries roam and ancient trees reach for the sky. Well stop dreaming and start doing, because you can make that happen on Cairns’ Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. So easy. So beautiful. So worth it.
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Hundreds of thousands of years ago, fountains of red-hot volcanic rock burst from the earth, landing in layers to create a cone crater. Today this is a place of grasslands and serenity, home to brilliant jewel bugs and whiptail wallabies. There’s walks, wildlife and wilderness waiting for you at Kalkani Crater.
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From the coastal city of Cairns, the Dinosaur Trail takes you northwest into Outback Queensland. It takes you to a place that was once an inland sea, bordered by tropical vegetation; a place not unlike Cairns, a place where dinosaurs used to roam. Let’s follow their footsteps.
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Once upon a time Australia had a massive inland sea. Cruising its waters was a truly astonishing number of marine dinosaurs, including a beast like no other - the Kronosaurus - which lends its name to the Kronosaurus Korner Museum, at Richmond. Visit. See. Dig For Fossils.
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Waiting for you way out west at Winton, is a Jurassic experience like no other. The world’s only known dinosaur stampede, the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils and a dramatic and beautiful landscape of rich red soil, spinifex grass and Jump Ups. Drive. See. Explore.
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Porcupine Gorge, everyone loves it! An ancient landscape. A gorge carved deep into the country, its coloured walls revealing over 200 million years of geological history and at its heart, a pyramid. Where is it and is it worth going? It’s in outback Queensland and yes, it’s worth going.
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The Chillagoe Caves offer a unique experience in North Queensland. The chance to go exploring beneath the ground, on guided tours through a limestone landscape of stalactites, stalagmites, cave corals and so much more. We’ve done the tours, so come with us and let’s explore.
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Unguided diving in Cairns is possible, but you must book the ‘right’ boat to do it, as most reef operators insist on guided dives. We’ve found the tour for you, so step right up and stride right in, it's dive time on the Great Barrier Reef.
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This thriving, living landscape is a must see in Cairns. Explore its shady pathways with little streams, and open grassy areas with towering trees, not forgetting the conservatory with ancient ferns and delicate orchids. There’s something for everyone and entry is free.
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An ecosystem shaped by tides, its trees an evolutionary tale of survival, slender trunks dapple the light and amongst a tangle of roots, thousands of busy little crabs go about their day. It's free to see, so check it out.
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O’Briens Creek Campground is located on the banks of Elizabeth Creek. It’s the closest place you can stay to the O’Briens Creek fossicking area and with its waterfront positioning and shady trees, it’s a great little bush camp.
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Copperfield Gorge may not be as well as known as Cobbold Gorge, but it’s well worth a visit when you’re in the area. A 2-hour drive from Cobbold Village, Copperfield Gorge is people and puppy friendly, scenic and a great place for a swim.
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This is the best place to try stand up paddle boarding for the first time, and for experienced paddle boarders, it’s a simply amazing way to explore Cobbold Gorge. Must be booked on a 1-hour guided tour.
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A great day at the reef! Ticked off all of our favourite underwater things – turtles, clownfish, maori wrasse and reef sharks – and that was all on the first stop of the day. Down Under Cruise & Dive delivered the goods.
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Passions of Paradise visit some amazing Cairns Great Barrier Reef sites, perfect for divers of all experience levels and snorkelers. The crew are great. The boat is comfortable and the vibe is high. Let's dive right in.
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Do you want to find Nemo? We’ll give you our top tip - we went to Upolu Reef and Upolu Cay with Ocean Freedom on the weekend and saw at least six different anemone, each home to a healthy population of resident clownfish.
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Stop the bubble! Much excitement as our 10-year-old learned to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, becoming a certified PADI Junior Open Water Diver. Want to learn how and where we did it and what's involved, read on.
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Camping at Lake Tinaroo allows you to have maximum lake time, as well as enjoy the early morning and late afternoon stillness, with a campfire and marshmallows to boot. There are a few camp sites, this time we chose Downfall Creek.
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Ever wanted to snorkel with a turtle? We did that and discovered so much more when we went snorkelling on Green Island. Highlights included colourful clams, parrotfish, rabbitfish, fringing reef, a Moorish Idol, Eagle Ray, sunset fish feeding and sunrise jetty jumping.
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Opal Reef is amazing! Vibrant coral gardens with impressive beds of branching and plate corals, giant boulder corals, soft corals, bommies, feather stars and more. Not to mention Nemo, turtles, giant clams and a lot of fish. Welcome to the Great Barrier Reef.
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Talaroo Hot Springs, you’ve heard its name and might have seen some photos, but what is it, where is it and is it worth going? It’s a unique destination combining geological wonders and an outback landscape, presented by the Ewamian people and yes, it’s worth going.
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Agate fossicking at the Agate Creek Gemfields was so much easier – and more fun – than we thought. If your kids (or yourselves) are into pretty rocks, then plot your way to this place. Agates are easily found, plus getting there is an adventure.
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Camping at Cobbold Gorge. We give it 5 stars. Explore this ancient landscape up high by heli, down low by boat, clamber up quartz blows, explore escarpments, fossick for precious stones, cocktails in the pool and campfires at night.
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Magic Mission Beach. Best known for its golden beaches, rich rainforest, resident Cassowaries and offshore islands. But beyond the coast, the underwater gardens of the Great Barrier Reef are calling your name - go make some memories.
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Things To Do In Chillagoe. Cavernous limestone caves, giant balancing rocks, ancient escarpments, Aboriginal rock art, historic smelters and a night-time sky which sparkles with a million stars - you can do all this and more, on a visit to Chillagoe.
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The Daintree Rainforest. You know the name, but do you know its history, its secrets and its most beautiful places? Active Tropics Explorer do - and they’ll show and share it with you, on their Cairns Daintree tour.
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We thought we knew all the waterfalls up here - we were wrong. Cassowary Falls in the Daintree Rainforest is a single drop waterfall that cascades down into a cool, pool of freshwater. Bring your towels, there’s no crocs, so you can dive right in.
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Mighty rainforest mountains, deep ravines, rare plants and animals, and a lookout which leaves you feeling humbled by nature - that’s what awaits you at Tully Gorge National Park. It’s a long drive but a short walk. The scenery will stay with you forever.
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Halls Falls is one of those locals’ secret spots. A series of cascading waterfalls tumbling down a remote mountainside in the Herberton Range National Park. If you want to run away and find somewhere off the beaten track, this is definitely the place.
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Big word. Hard to pronounce. Home to the humble beginnings of the Barron River, rare and ancient rainforest and many wild and wonderful creatures, including a forest dragon. All free and waiting for you. So get in the car and drive.
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Bloomfield Escape. Reef & Island Trips. Go from the everyday, into the wild, untamed and beautiful coastal country of Bloomfield. Maximum 8 Guests. Beauty will blow your mind!
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Want to get close to a Southern Cassowary? Guaranteed to happen at Birdworld Kuranda. This iconic rainforest resident, and Australia’s largest flightless bird, is always here, providing a rare opportunity to admire their beauty.
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The Great Barrier Reef. This Port Douglas reef trip stands out for all the right reasons! Small numbers - max 12 guests. Awesome boat. Great crew. Fantastic snorkelling. 100% the best bit is having your own in-water guide. Bucket List.
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Cape Tribulation. Where the Reef meets the Rainforest. Bring it all together on one amazing half-day tour with Ocean Safari. Two Hours Snorkelling. Great crew and destinations. An awesome reef adventure!
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