Top Cairns & the Tropical North activities
Top Cairns & the Tropical North landmarks
Beyond Cairns & the Tropical North
Cairns & the Tropical North trip ideas

Top things to do in Cairns & the Tropical North in Summer (Updated July 2026)

Cairns & the Tropical North, Australia
Cairns Hot Air Balloon Flight + Bad Fishy Jet Boating Cairns

Capture incredible bird’s eye view photos and revel in the sun's first light as you float above the beautiful rainforest covered hills in the peace...

4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (6)
from
$400.20

Cairns Classic Hot Air Balloon ride

Don't miss the chance to go for a hot-air balloon flight over Far North Queensland's Atherton Tablelands. It's one of the "must do" activities when...

4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.8 (568)
from
$358.02

Hot Air Ballooning Tour from Northern Beaches near Cairns

Don't miss the chance to go for a hot-air balloon ride over Far North Queensland's Atherton Tablelands - it's one of the top "must do"...

4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.8 (17)
from
$359.48

Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour

Fly high over the Barron Gorge and stunning rainforest canopies before heading over magnificent sights such as the Great Barrier Reef, it's spectacular islands and...

45 minutesFree Cancellation
45 minutesFree Cancellation
45 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.9 (57)
from
$488.46

Fly in and Fly out Great Barrier Reef Cairns Day Tour
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

A truly VIP experience, discover one of the great natural wonders of the world with a roundtrip helicopter scenic flight and a day at the...

5 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
5 hours 30 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
5 hours 30 minutes • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (1)
from
$1,205.21

Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch

For a once in a lifetime experience, combine your scenic flight with an exclusive getaway to your own piece of paradise. Feel the thrill of...

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
3 hours 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.6 (20)
from
$863.59

Cairns Classic Hot Air Balloon Ochre

Pre-dawn our professional tour guide team will collect you from your accommodation and deliver you to the launch site for you to witness the impressive...

4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (2)
from
$400.20

Full Day Great Barrier Reef Tour and 10 Minute Scenic Flight

Experience the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef with Great Adventures. From our spacious Outer Reef platform, discover vibrant coral and marine life. Swimmers and non-swimmers alike...

7 hoursFree Cancellation
7 hoursFree Cancellation
7 hours • Free Cancellation
4.3 (6)
from
$372.78

Cairns Classic Hot Air Balloon + Lemoncello

Capture incredible bird’s eye view photos and revel in the sun's first light as you float above the beautiful rainforest covered hills in the peace...

4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
4 to 6 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (3)
from
$400.20

Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran

Dive, snorkel and sail the Great Barrier Reef with an award-winning company with 30 years’ experience operating personalized day tours to the Great Barrier Reef....

9 hoursFree Cancellation
9 hoursFree Cancellation
9 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (2,524)
from
$201.65

Cairns Super Saver: Reef Cruise, Daintree & Kuranda Rail/Skyrail
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Save up to 10% when you purchase this Super Saver Package. Combining the most popular attractions in Cairns, this three-day super saver is perfect for...

3 daysHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
3 daysHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
3 days • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.5 (148)
from
$424.81

Snorkel & Dive the Reef: Sustainable, Scientific & Cultural Tour

On this 8-hour tour from Cairns, cruise out to an activity platform on the outer Great Barrier Reef for a day of exploring this natural...

8 hoursFree Cancellation
8 hoursFree Cancellation
8 hours • Free Cancellation
4.8 (784)
from
$238.50

Great Barrier Reef 40 Minute Scenic Flight from Cairns - Reef Hopper
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

See the best of the Great Barrier Reef on this 40-minute scenic flight in our high wing aircraft. You'll see Cairns, Green Island, Arlington Reef,...

40 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
40 minutesHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
40 minutes • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.9 (215)
from
$214.04

All Inclusive Day Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef

Frankland Islands Reef Cruises are the only commercial operator allowed to land on stunning Normanby Island, offering ample space and time for relaxation and exploration....

8 hoursFree Cancellation
8 hoursFree Cancellation
8 hours • Free Cancellation
4.8 (409)
from
$190.30

40 minute Reef Scenic Flight
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

This 40-minute reef scenic helicopter flight is incredible. By extending the flight by another 10 minutes, we take in all the highlights of the 30-minute...

40 minutesFree Cancellation
40 minutesFree Cancellation
40 minutes • Free Cancellation
5.0 (82)
from
$422.31

30 minute Reef Scenic Flight
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

This 30-minute scenic helicopter tour departs Cairns airport and tracks out from the mainland with views of the city of Cairns and Trinity inlet, passing...

30 minutesFree Cancellation
30 minutesFree Cancellation
30 minutes • Free Cancellation
5.0 (64)
from
$337.59

Green Island Reef Cruise - Half-Day Trip from Cairns

Explore the tropical paradise of Green Island on a half day trip from Cairns. Enjoy around two hours exploring the Great Barrier Reef island with...

4 hoursFree Cancellation
4 hoursFree Cancellation
4 hours • Free Cancellation
4.2 (217)
from
$82.66

Green Island Full Day Trip from Cairns with City Transfers

Cruise to Green Island from Cairns and find a tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. You'll spend either four or five hours at Green...

8 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
8 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
8 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.7 (18)
from
$117.88

45 Minute Reef and Rainforest Flight
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

This tour combines the best elements of the reef and rainforest. Starting with the reef we fly to Green Island and then explore the local...

1 hour 10 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 10 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 10 minutes • Free Cancellation
5.0 (12)
from
$475.26

60 minute Reef and Rainforest Scenic Flight
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

This 60-minute reef scenic helicopter flight is also known as the "pilots favourite". It takes in all the sights from every single one of our...

1 hourFree Cancellation
1 hourFree Cancellation
1 hour • Free Cancellation
5.0 (8)
from
$627.99

Cairns & the Tropical North Tours
Attractions
Guides
Calendar
Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Choose an option

Activity name

or

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.