Five days: Cairns, Kuranda, the Tablelands, Port Douglas and the outer reef

1. Cairns Botanic Gardens~1 h 30 min at the stop

The tropical botanic garden in Edge Hill, free entry: palms, orchids and plants used by Aboriginal people.

Tip: Come in the morning; by midday the garden is steamy.

↓ drive · 10 min · 4 km

2. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon~2 h at the stop

Spend the afternoon at the free Esplanade lagoon: sandy edges, shade and calm water. Locals swim here rather than in the sea, which has mud, crocodiles and jellyfish.

Tip: Dinner at the Night Markets is two minutes' walk away.

3. Kuranda Scenic Railway~30 min at the stop

The Kuranda Scenic Railway leaves Cairns station at 8:45am or 9:30am and climbs 327 metres over 37 km up the range. Heritage class is A$58 one way.

Worth knowing: Nearly 1,500 workers built the line from 1886, mostly by hand; the first passenger train ran on 25 June 1891, so 2026 is its 135th year.

Tip: Book ahead: the morning trains sell out in school holidays.

↓ train · 1 h 55 min · 37 km

4. Kuranda village~2 h 30 min at the stop

A rainforest village at the top of the range: markets under the canopy, cafés and Kuranda Koala Gardens with koalas and kangaroos.

Tip: Koala Gardens: adult A$24, child A$12, family A$60, open 9:30am–4pm. Koala photos cost extra.

↓ tram · 1 h · 9 km

5. Skyrail Smithfield Terminal~15 min at the stop

Down by cableway over the forest with a stop at Barron Falls, A$74 one way.

Worth knowing: At 7.5 km over Barron Gorge National Park, it was the world's longest gondola cableway when it opened in 1995.

Tip: Until 1 November 2026 Skyrail only runs down to Barron Falls and back to Kuranda, Wednesday to Sunday. During that period take the train down, and check skyrail.com.au before booking.

6. Lake Eacham~1 h 15 min at the stop

A crater lake in Crater Lakes National Park: a 3 km circuit track takes about an hour, and you can swim in clear fresh water from the steps by the picnic area.

Worth knowing: The lake formed more than 9,000 years ago in volcanic steam explosions. No stream flows in or out, so the level can shift by up to 4 m between seasons.

Tip: Pick up the hire car this morning; you need it for the rest of the trip.

↓ drive · 10 min · 7 km

7. Curtain Fig Tree~20 min at the stop

A strangler fig near Yungaburra whose aerial roots hang to the ground like a curtain. A boardwalk circles the tree, which is more than 500 years old.

Worth knowing: Over 500 years old, about 50 m tall, 39 m around the trunk.

Tip: Lunch nearby in Yungaburra or at Gallo's farm.

↓ drive · 35 min · 30 km

8. Millaa Millaa Falls~40 min at the stop

The tablelands' most photogenic waterfall: an even 18 m curtain of water drops into a swimming hole. It's the start of the Millaa Millaa waterfall circuit.

Worth knowing: The falls are 18.3 m high. The name comes from the Mamu word 'malay malay', a rainforest vine whose fruit was a seasonal food.

Tip: Sleep in Cairns and drive north up the coast in the morning.

9. Hartley's Crocodile Adventures~2 h 30 min at the stop

A crocodile park 40 minutes from Cairns: feeding shows and a boat cruise on the lagoon. A$50 adult, A$25 child.

Tip: Open daily 8:30am–5pm except Christmas Day and Cairns Ironman day, when the highway is closed. Family A$125. Check show and lagoon cruise times online and time your arrival to them.

↓ drive · 3 min · 2 km

10. Rex Lookout~15 min at the stop

A lookout over the Coral Sea on the Captain Cook Highway, a launch point for hang-gliders.

Tip: The car park is on the right heading north, so turn in carefully.

↓ drive · 25 min · 26 km

11. Four Mile Beach~2 h at the stop

Port Douglas' long beach, with a stinger net and lifeguards at the north end by Macrossan Street.

Tip: Swim only inside the net while lifeguards are on, and from November to May in a Lycra suit.

12. Port Douglas Marina~20 min at the stop

The Quicksilver boat leaves for the outer reef at 10am, boarding 15 minutes earlier. Tickets are A$338 adult and A$179 child, plus a A$10/A$5 fuel surcharge.

Tip: Keep breakfast light; the crossing takes about an hour and a half.

↓ ferry · 1 h 30 min · 65 km

13. Agincourt Reef~3 h 30 min at the stop

The outer-reef pontoon: snorkelling, the observatory and the semi-submersible. Back at the marina by 4:30pm.

Tip: Do not fly the day after a scuba dive; you need a gap, ask the instructor.