For many, Cairns is a bucket list location. It offers a lot for both international and domestic tourists and caters to all from luxury travel to backpackers. Regardless of your budget, there is plenty of things to do in Cairns.

Below I’ve highlighted my favourite things to do in Cairns which have been tried and tested over multiple trips. Allow at least a week to work your way through these Cairns hot spots.

Diving the Great Barrier Reef

At the top of the list, and rightly so is the Great Barrier Reef. A trip to Cairns would not be complete without a visit to the reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and is made up of 900 islands over 2,300 kilometres.

Boats leave for the outer reef every day. It’s worth getting on a boat to see the diversity of over 400 types of coral and over 1,500 fish species for yourself.

As an experienced diver I would highly recommend a visit to the reef. While sadly the reef is under threat to coral bleaching and predators like the crown of thorns starfish, it has some of the most extensive coral formations I’ve ever seen in reefs across the world.

As described by Sir David Attenborough, the Daintree Rainforest is “the most extraordinary place on earth”. The world-heritage listed site contains ancient plants and has animals that can be found nowhere else on earth. Take in the jungle, zipline along the rainforest canopy and take a cruise along the Daintree River to spot crocodiles.

Mossman is about 80km north of Cairns and should be the first stop on your Daintree journey. The Mossman Gorge Centre provides a good intro to the area along with Aboriginal history. Take the time to take some of the guided bushwalks by local guides, swim in the rock pools and take in the scenery.

Nu Nu restaurant at Palm Cove

For those looking to indulge in some luxuries while in Cairns, Palm Cove is your place! Luxury hotels, spa treatments, shopping and award winning restaurants offer plenty of things to do for those looking to experience the finer things in Cairns. For a small palm lined beach village, Palm Cove turns on dreamy sunsets too.

My favourite places to eat in Palm Cove include 27 degrees for the best acai bowls and Nu Nu for award winning food in a relaxed and beach front location.

Relaxing at Palm Cove

About an hour north of Cairns is Port Douglas. Port Douglas is a tropical seaside village which makes a great base to access the reef or the Daintree Rainforest. The town itself offers a lot of great food, restaurants and shopping. Four Mile Beach is high on the Port Douglas itinerary. This iconic beach is one of the best panoramic beach views in Queensland.

Cairns Lagoon

The Cairns Foreshore Promenade includes a boardwalk along the Cairns waterfront, restaurants, the marina and an iconic swimming lagoon.

The Cairns Lagoon is very popular with locals and tourists alike. The lagoon is monitored by lifeguards and can swim up to 1,000 people.

Scenic Railway to Kuranda

Visit the historic village of Kuranda. Here you’ll find two outdoor markets including the Kuranda Original Rainforest Market and the Heritage Market. Take your time to explore the locally made goods as well as local produce like food, coffee, chocolate and international cuisine.

Best to take the Kuranda Scenic Railway in the morning. You’ll pass through Cairns cane fields before climbing the mountains through the rainforest, slowly down to admire the Barron Falls. In the afternoon take the Rainforest Sky Rail back to Cairns, scaling over the rainforest canopy and catches glimpses of the ocean as you approach Cairns.

North Queensland’s lush hinterland plateau of the Atherton Tablelands provides a variety of attractions. From waterfalls, inland lakes, fabulous roadside produce to purchase, bush walking and hiking. But most surprisingly the Atherton Tablelands is home to one of two of Australia’s major coffee regions.

Nudey Beach, Fitzroy Island

Just a 45 minute ferry ride from the Cairns marina and you can find yourself on one of the 900 islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Fitzroy Island offers plenty of things to do while in Cairns. Spend your time at one of the coral lined beaches , snorkelling the fringe reef or explore the island via one of the three walking tracks. These tracks taking you to the lighthouse, the peak of the island or Nudey Beach.

Josephine Falls

Cairns’ mountain range contributes to the significant number of waterfalls that exist in Tropical North Queensland. There are over 20 waterfalls that can be visited within an hour from Cairns. Some of my personal favourites and those you must visit include the list below.

• Josephine Falls
• Crystal Cascades
• Barron Falls
• Stoney Creek Falls
• Millaa Millaa Waterfall

Rusty’s market is iconic to Cairns and has been in operation for over 30 years. It provides locals and tourists with access to over 180 market stalls from fruit, vegetable, bakery, seafood and dairy to name a few. Located in the heart of Cairns, Rusty’s is open from 5am to 6pm Friday and Saturday. And open from 5am to 3pm on Sundays.

Butterfly garden at Cairns Botanic Gardens

The Cairns Botanic Gardens are one of Australia’s best tropical garden displays. Set on over 38 hectares the gardens contain extensive Australian native plants species. Some particular points of interest include:

• Aboriginal plant use garden – a short walk showcasing the local plants traditionally used by Aboriginal groups from the region
• Gondwanan Heritage Garden – another educational experience showing the evolution of bacteria to modern day flowering plants.
• Rainforest Boardwalk – this garden is particularly special as the rainforest contains endangered plant species which can be viewed from the boardwalk.
• Butterfly garden – what I remember as the butterfly garden is actually named to Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory. This garden was built to contain valuable, fragile plants and a collection of butterflies.
• Fitzalan Gardens – three separate gardens connected by footbridges and paths lead through rainforest and ponds. The design has carefully considered private spaces to enjoy this tranquil setting.

The Cairns Night Market is inspired by night markets in Hawaii and South East Asia. Since 1991 these markets have grown from about 30 stalls to what is now over 130 stalls. Operating every night from 4.30pm until late, the markets offer a range of street food, locally produced goods, Australian souvenirs as well as an array of trinkets.

Find more of my resources and posts on things to do in Australia here.

Views from Fitzroy Island

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

followthesunseeker.com

The post 12 Things To Do In Cairns – Australia appeared first on Follow The Sun Seeker.

This blog post has been written after years of Byron day trips, weekend trips to see friends and events to celebrate significant milestones. All of the best things to do in Byron Bay are highlighted with special help from some of my well-visited Byron friends.

There are a bunch of things to do within the town centre of Byron Bay. This section of the blog post covers all the things to do in Byron Bay’s town centre or within walking distance from town.

Of all the things to do in Byron Bay – the Cape Byron lighthouse walk is a clear favourite. Allow two hours to complete the Cape Byron lighthouse walk. It’s a 3.7km loop track that starts close to town beginning through the rainforest with bangalow palms and native Australian plants. The next stage of the trail follows the coastline along the clifftops providing stunning views over the ocean, Byron Hinterland and onto Mount Warning.

Best to avoid during the heat of the day and take water, good shoes and sunscreen. Parking can be difficult to find during peak times of the day. If you’re lucky you might see dolphins from any of the vantage points or whales during the migration period (July and September)

As the most easterly point of Australia, Cape Byron Lighthouse is a special place to see the first light of the day. Combine with the Byron Lighthouse walk afterwards.

Marr-kett

Byron is known for great shopping and is home to many great designers and entrepreneurs. You’ll thoroughly enjoy the variety of high end clothing, home wares, furniture and gifts. Start in the Byron town centre but the Byron Arts and Industrial Estate is also worth checking out.

Barrio – Spanish tapas

The Byron food scene is fast becoming known as Australia’s food capital. There are endless cafes and restaurants, many of them vegan or ethically focused. You’ll need at least a week or two to truly explore the ins and outs of this foodie town.

For all you need to know about Byron’s food scene read my blog post on Byron’s best cafes and restaurants. (COMING SOON)

Join the locals on Thursday mornings between 7-11am on Ewingsdale Road for your fresh, local and sustainable produce. The Byron Farmers Market draws in quite the crowd. Stalls include a range of locally grown fruit and vegetables, farm fresh eggs,  honey, seafood and other meat. It’s also a great way to support local farmers and businesses.

Known for its beaches and surfing, Byron has over 30km of coastline and pristine beaches. There’s nearly a beach for every purpose. If the crowds bother you try for Lennox Head and Ballina. If it’s surfing try The Pass, Belongil Beach, The Wreck or Wategos. If it’s convenience though, Main Beach is located at the end of Byron’s main street and is patrolled by life guards.

Wategoes is Byron’s most easterly beach is also one of the most beautiful. Spending time at the beach is a must in your list of things to do in Byron Bay.

VisitNSW – Byron Bay Beaches

Byron has some great waves for beginners. For those looking to surf while in town try The Pass, The Wreck, Belongil Beach or Wategos. There’s also a number of breaks outside of town worth checking out too.

It’s not hard to find the surf-schools in town if you are hoping to learn to surf.

Humpback whales migrate north and then south in July and September. Watch for them from the lighthouse or jump on one of the local charters for a whale watching tour.

Sea kayaking by Viator.com

Byron sells the sea kayaking experience with a 90% chance of seeing dolphins. Enjoy a morning or afternoon paddle depending on the weather admiring Byron’s stunning coastline from the water.

Diving or snorkelling off Byron is also worth checking out. The Julian Rocks Marine Reserve is home to diverse marine life due to the warm and cold-water currents that meet here. Julian Rocks was rated by Australian Geographic as one of the top ten snorkelling spots in the country. Divers are likely to see manta rays, turtles and a bunch of micros like nudibranchs. There’s a high likelihood of seeing sharks too.

Personally, I recall about ten grey nurse sharks the day I went diving off Julian Rocks. They are very docile and herbivores, spending most of their time laying on the ocean floor.

Just outside of town, there are a number of things to do in Byron Bay which require a short drive. They are all high on the Byron visitor’s to-do list!

A popular place to sky dive with coastline and hinterland views as you free fall at over 200 kilometres per hour.

By Byron Bay Ballooning

The Byron Hinterland is a very special sight to be seen from the air. The Byron Bay hot air ballooning experience is best known for it’s breathtaking views of lush green hinterland and farms which meet the sparking Pacific Ocean.

As the highest peak in the area, Mount Warning makes for a popular place to catch sunrise. You will need to get up to catch the first light. Allow 1.5 hours to reach the trip, be sure to take good walking sure and know that the last stretch involves pulling yourself up by a chain.

Minyon Falls – Byron Bay adventure tours

There’s a few waterfalls in the area that are worth checking out. Minyon Falls and Killen Falls are just a short drive from town, making you feel like you are deep in nature.

Explore the heritage town of Bangalow for boutique shopping, homewares, high quality food and great coffee. The Bangalow markets are also very popular. They are the 4th Sunday or every month.

Harvest in Newrybar Village

For a quaint and tiny village, Newrybar has quite a bit to offer.  Home to Harvest, famous for its restaurant, bakery and deli. The village also features homewares and clothing stores worth checking out.

The Crystal Castle makes for an enjoyable day out.  Take one of the property’s walks including the extensive 5 hectares of the Shambhala Gardens, admire some of the world’s largest crystals, have fun at the Lotus Cafe or have a psychic reading or aura photo taken.

In the quiet corner of the Byron Industrial Estate, find a tranquil moment of stillness at Comma. For a special pamper experience Comma offers massages, facials and aromatherapy.

For a private infrared sauna experience, Nimbus & Co has a number

Some of the best in the biz – Edwards & Co have salons across Australia. Best known for their colour technique and producing those natural beach blondes.  

Plan your Australia trip with my other resources.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

followthesunseeker.com

The post Things To Do In Byron Bay | Australia appeared first on Follow The Sun Seeker.

The day you arrive will likely leave you with about a half day. In Uluru terms you’ve missed your window for walks for the day. It is advised that you avoid walking in temperatures over 36 degrees, tracks will close at that point. Use your first day to get your lay-of-the-land. Make your way to IGA in the town centre for snacks and any other supplies you need for your stay.

Take a look on the Ayers Rock Resort website. They highlight the current experiences on offer and a range of things to do in Uluru, some include:

• Relax by the Sails Resort pool
• Check out the camels at the local camel farm
• Bush food tasting experience
• Guided garden walks
• Dot painting workshop 
• Didgeridoo workshop

In 2016 international artist Bruce Munro installed the Field of Lights installation. It was only expected to be a two year exhibition, but following incredible success, the Field of Lights experience has been extended to 2027.

To make your first night one to remember, buy a ticket to see the Field of Lights. It has become a much loved experience considering all activities and things to do in Uluru. The Field of Lights is an installation made of of over 50,000 glass spheres. Changing colour in the evening sky there are a range of experiences you can take. These start from the basic walk through the installation at sunset to other packages including champagne and canapés or a three course bush tucker inspired menu. Best to book in advance and plan accordingly as the number and types of packages vary depending on the time of year.

For your first full day take the time to understand Anangu culture and natural beauty of Uluru.

Wake early for sunrise, allowing about 20 minutes to drive to the Talinguru Nyakunytjaki sunrise viewing platform. From here you’ll have the opportunity to view both Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Allow about an hour before sunrise to drive and settle in so you can the magic of sunrise as the first light hits and watch the colours of the rock continue to change.

After sunrise and a light snack in the car, make your way to the Mala car park for the Guided Ranger walk at 8am (October to April and 10am May to September). The Mala walk (Mala after the local wallaby), is about two kilometres and takes about 1.5 hours. This walk comes highly recommended, as you will see Anangu rock art, caves where the local Anangu people lived and ask questions to the local guide. Our guide explained to us that the National Park employs a number of local Anangu people however at the time of my visit the local men were away for sacred mens activities. 

Another easy walk is the Kuniya walk to Mutitjulu waterhole. Just a kilometre return walk and 30-45 minute walk will take you to the Mutitjulu waterhole or oasis in the desert as we called it. Here you’ll see the remains of what would be a stunning waterfall after rainfall. 

The local Cultural Centre should be on your to-do list. It’s an opportunity to learn a lot more about the Anangu culture, histories and way of life. It’s also a great place to view authentic Aboriginal artwork from local Anangu and obtain the story behind their paintings. 

At the time of writing (COVID), the Cultural Centre has paused its daily 10am presentation and opportunity to see some of the Anangu Elders painting in the gallery. It’s still highly recommended that you visit and see the Cultural Centre to get a better appreciation for the culture here.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

followthesunseeker.com

The post Things To Do In Uluru appeared first on Follow The Sun Seeker.