A Self-Guided Weekend in Cairns, Australia: Travel Guide
When to Go
As you'll be doing a lot of snorkeling and diving in the open oceans of the Great Barrier Reef, the best weather conditions are low tides, low wind speeds, and clear weather.
- Low tides: improves water clarity.
- Low wind speeds: enables you to safely go snorkeling or diving
- Clear weather: allows you to see all the colors of the reef.
With this in mind, please call the tour companies when you arrive in Cairns to ask what day has the best conditions to see the Reef. Do not pre-book tours before you arrive!
Day 0: Arrival
You can arrive at Cairns Airport (CNS) at any time on this day, but this itinerary assumes that you do so in the evening (around 6-9pm). Immediately upon arrival, rent a car and head straight for Port Douglas, 1 hour's drive north of the airport.
Why Skip Cairns?
In my opinion, Cairns is one of my least favorite cities. The night market is full of touristy souvenirs, foot massages, and overpriced food. The city itself is full of bars, expensive hotels, and poor beaches. You're likely here for nature, beaches, and calm -- Cairns is not the place for it. Instead, Port Douglas has cheaper accommodation and better beaches, and it's the premier departure point for the Great Barrier Reef tour that I'll get into later.
If you have time and daylight, feel free to stop at any or all of these viewpoints on the way to Port Douglas:
Arrive in Port Douglas, check into your hotel, and get groceries or eat dinner.
Where I stayed in Port Douglas
This place featured a one-bedroom apartment with two beds for AUD $110 per night! I wanted to make sure that my room had a kitchen to cook my own meals, as eating out was expensive. Best of all, cooking myself saved me time in the morning, so I didn't have to get up as early.
If the pricing doesn't work out for your stay, there are many other options in Port Douglas!
Day 1: Great Barrier Reef Tour
You'll want to book with this company:
Why Choose Wavelength? (Not sponsored.)
- They are extremely efficient with their schedule! You'll learn about the reef during the 90 minute ride out, followed by 3 cycles of snorkeling and food.
- After each snorkeling session, they give drinks, snacks, and lunch, so you'll never go hungry.
- Snorkeling only, which means that no licence is needed
- Safety record is stellar, and they choose the best spots given the weather conditions. They will also not hesitate to reschedule if the weather conditions turn bad, unlike my first (disasterous) trip when I booked with a different company and we went out in a storm.
- They take all photos of you and the reef, even underwater, so you don't have to worry about getting camera equipment.
Ultimately, they're definitely worth the $220 AUD I paid for it.
By the end of your tour, enjoy a nice evening at the beach.
Day 2: Daintree Rainforest
Again, you'll have more time to spend here because you're starting at Port Douglas, which is halfway to the rainforest compared to Cairns. Starting earlier is better; however, I recommend starting *no later than 10am* so that you can go on an 11am cruise with Crocodile Express (see below) and visit all the stops without rushing. Note that the 11am cruise will likely have a lot of people from the organised tours, so again, starting out from Port Douglas earlier is better.
Regardless, I recommend leaving the furthest spot on this trip, Emmagen Creek, and heading home *no later than 45 minutes before sunset* so that you have enough daylight to drive the most windy stretch of road, which is immediately north of the ferry.
To do this tour, head north from Port Douglas towards the first stop, which is a crocodile cruise on the Daintree River. I enjoyed doing this tour myself, which allowed me to avoid the crowds, go at my own pace, and save some money. Notably, I recommend you skip Mossman Gorge, and here's why.
Why Skip Mossman Gorge?
Simple -- it costs to visit, and there are equally stunning places without the cost.
After the cruise, you'll cross the Daintree River on a ferry that costs $49 AUD round trip. The ferry is every 5-10 minutes, and the last one is around midnight, so you have plenty of time. After crossing the river, continue on the road to these next stops.
At this point, you've made it to Cape Tribulation! This is a small within the Daintree Rainforest where you can get snacks and use a proper washroom. However, keep in mind that a lot of facilities close in the afternoon, which also works in your favour because there won't be many people on the walks and beaches.
At this point, you can go to Emmagen Creek, which is on unpaved (gravel) roads. If you don't feel comfortable with that, you can turn around and head back towards Port Douglas. Remember to leave 45 minutes before sunset so that you have enough daylight for the drive back!
At this point, turn around, head home, and spend a relaxing evening in a hotel pool!
Day 3: Departure
If you have to catch a morning flight, you can skip this day and return home. However, I highly suggest an evening flight, which will allow you to visit a wildlife park and some local spots for last-minute views.
If you have to head to the airport at this point, feel free to stop at any of the photo spots mentioned on Day 0 instead. If you have a little bit of time, I'd prioritise Crystal Cascades over Barron Gorge (see below).
Why Skip Kuranda Rainforest?
It's quite touristy, and the cost to access Kuranda is astronomically high (I think around $90 AUD). Because we have a rental car, there are better free spots.
After this, catch your flight home after such a fast-paced weekend! And again, please consider tipping or subscribing if you found this helpful.
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