When people think of Cairns, they probably think of a small town without a whole lot to do. Sure Cairns isn’t the largest city in Australia, really by any stretch, but what it has to offer almost change your life. There are so many experiences in Cairns that it’s hard to narrow the list down to only five, but if you’re visiting this part of Australia they’re absolute musts. These four experiences in Cairns will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.
See The Great Barrier Reef
You can’t mention experiences in Cairns without first mentioning one of the most spectacular natural wonders in Australia. The coral and marine life in the Great Barrier Reef are unrivaled by anywhere else in the world and is something you absolutely must experience. The bright colors, the exotic fish and the idea that there’s practically a whole universe below the water that you don’t think about is enough to blow your mind.
Don’t worry if you can’t scuba dive, you can snorkel and still get the full experience. There’s truly nothing like seeing it in person.
Visit a Coffee Plantation
Cairns is known for producing some pretty excellent coffee. If you’ve never visited a coffee plantation than this experience in Cairns is a must. Even if you have, it’s still great fun and you’ll come away with tons of delicious coffee to last you for months.
Coffee plantations are little ways outside of the city but are completely worth the trip. Some do official tours so do your research beforehand and see if there are ones that appeal to you more than the others.
Go Trekking in the Rainforest
Cairns is home to the tropical rainforest, Daintree, and is a beautiful and wonderful experience. Full of lush vegetation and amazing wildlife you’ll feel transported to another world. This is one of the few places where you’ll still find the wild cassowary, which is now an endangered species. It’s easy to do Daintree as a day trip from Cairns but you could easily spend more than a week there exploring. If you’re an outdoorsy person than this Cairns experience should be the top of your list.
Island Hop
You may think there aren’t that many islands that are completely unspoiled without much habitation, but you’d be wrong. In fact, near Cairns you’ll find Fitzroy Island, a beautiful unspoiled utopia in the ocean that’s also home to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. If you love animals and want to learn more about the conservation efforts, than this experience in Cairns is perfect for you.
Cairns may not be as lively a city as Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, but it’s still got some incredible things to offer. Don’t pass it up because you might just learn some amazing things and have some pretty incredible experiences.
