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CNS-10 | Kuranda Rail and Skyrail | 8.00 hrs
Be amazed as you journey over and through World Heritage protected Rainforest. Visit the fascinating Kuranda village and then relax aboard the Kuranda Scenic Rail.
CNS-11 | Hartleys Crocodile Adventures | 6.50 hrs
This half day tour includes transfers to and from Hartleys Crocodile Adventure Park; the best place to see crocodiles and wildlife in North Queensland.
CNS-12 | Kuranda Rail and Skyrail and Hartleys Crocodile Adventures | 11.00 hrs
An historical rail journey, breathtaking scenery and a crocodile attack show are just some of the unique and truly Australian experiences on this fun filled day out
CNS-2 | Green Island Half Day Cruise | 4.00 hrs
Green Island, the perfect place to discover a fascinating underwater world all year around. Colourful fish, coral reefs, turtles, sponges, starfish and shells. You will be truly transported to a unique and very beautiful part of the Great Barrier Reef.
CNS-7 | Green Island Eco Adventure | 5.00 hrs
This mid day Green Island cruise is perfect for visitors with limited time offering a half day experience, allowing you time to see this stunning tropical island paradise! Plenty of exciting optional activities, you can even design your day at your own pace.
CNS-1 | Green Island Full Day Cruise including Lunch | 6.00 hrs
Green Island, the perfect place to discover a fascinating underwater world all year around. Colourful fish, coral reefs, turtles, sponges, starfish and shells. You will be truly transported to a unique and very beautiful part of the Great Barrier Reef.
CNS-3 | Green Island Full Day including Lunch & Semi - Submarine | 6.00 hrs
Green Island, the perfect place to discover a fascinating underwater world all year around. Colourful fish, coral reefs, turtles, sponges, starfish and shells. You will be truly transported to a unique and very beautiful part of the Great Barrier Reef.
CNS-S6 | Mercedes Benz Valente | from 4.00 hrs - 7 persons
Travel in style and comfort in this Mercedes Benz Valente suitable for up to 7 persons driven by our experienced guides. They will discuss the options with you on the day and make sure you see and do what you want, getting you back to the ship in good time. We can pre-book your activities as well.
CNS-S7 | Mercedes Benz Sprinter | from 4.00 hrs - 11 persons
Travel in style and comfort in this Mercedes Benz Sprinter suitable for up to 11 persons driven by our experienced guides. They will discuss the options with you on the day and make sure you see and do what you want, getting you back to the ship in good time. We can pre-book your activities as well.
CNS-S8 | Holden Caprice | from 4.00 hrs - 3 persons
Luxurious 4 door sedan with leather interior which will seat 3 passengers plus your driver/guide comfortably. They will discuss the options with you on the day and make sure you see and do what you want, getting you back to the ship in good time. We can pre-book your activities as well.
CNS-R1 | Economy Rental Car
Our economy rental cars are fine for 4 or 5 adults. All have automatic transmission, air-conditioning and are late model cars. We can also provide GPS [$10 charge applies] for peace of mind. Ask us about pre-booking your activities and itinerary.
CNS-R2 | Medium Rental Car
Our Medium Size rental cars are fine for 4 or 5 adults. All have automatic transmission, air-conditioning and are late model cars. We can also provide GPS [$10 charge applies] for peace of mind. Ask us about pre-booking your activities and itinerary.
CNS-R3 | Large Rental Car
Our Large Sized rental cars are great for 4 or 5 adults. All have automatic transmission, air-conditioning and are late model cars. We can also provide GPS [$10 charge applies] for peace of mind. Ask us about pre-booking your activities and itinerary.
CNS-R4 | 8 seat Minibus
Our 8 seat rental vehicles are great for larger groups. All have automatic transmission, air-conditioning and are late model vehicles. We can also provide GPS [$10 charge applies] for peace of mind. Ask us about pre-booking your activities and itinerary.
CNS-R5 | Convertible Rental Car
Our convertibles are great fun, just drop the roof and enjoy the un-interrupted views on your road trip around Cairns. All have automatic transmission, air-conditioning and are late model vehicles. We can also provide GPS [$10 extra] for peace of mind.
CNS-R6 | Four Wheel Drive Rental
Our 7 seater 4x4 vehicles give you the security to explore off the beaten track. All have automatic transmission, air-conditioning and are late model cars. We can also provide GPS [$10 charge applies] for peace of mind. Ask us about pre-booking your activities.
From this stylish international city, the islands, rainforest and reef of tropical North Queensland are on your doorstep. Snorkel, dive or take a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef - a World Heritage-listed site, for spectacular coral islands and marine life.
Enjoy the Cairns Esplanade and trawl the restaurants, shops and bars. Go white water rafting in the nearby rivers or take the scenic railway to the tranquil, butterfly-fringed village of Kuranda and the Rainforest Skyrail. Try a day trip to the magical Daintree Rainforest, thought to be the planet's oldest surviving tropical rainforest.
Note that some tours are only suitable for pre or post cruise visits to Cairns.
Cairns, is a regional city in the far north of Queensland, Australia, founded in 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was discovered from Port Douglas. It later developed into a railhead and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold and other metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas and the Atherton Tableland region.
With a population of approximately 154,000 Cairns is located about 1,700 km (1,056 miles) from Brisbane, and about 2,700 km (1,678 miles) from Sydney by road. It is a popular travel destination for foreign tourists because of its tropical climate. It serves as a starting point for people wanting to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Far North Queensland.
Cairns is located on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula on a coastal strip between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range. The northern part of the city is located on Trinity Bay and the city centre is located on Trinity Inlet. The Mulgrave River and Barron River flow within the greater Cairns area but not through the CBD.
Prior to British settlement, the Cairns area was inhabited by the Walubarra Yidinji aboriginal people, who still recognise their indigenous property rights. The area is known in the local Yidiny language as Gimuy.
In 1770, James Cook first mapped the future site of Cairns, naming it Trinity Bay. Closer investigation by several official expeditions 100 years later established its potential for development into a port. Cairns was founded in 1876, hastened by the need to export gold discovered on the tablelands to the west of the inlet. The site was predominantly mangrove swamps and sand ridges. The swamps were gradually cleared by labourers, and the sand ridges were filled in with dried mud, sawdust from local sawmills, and ballast from a quarry at Edge Hill.
Debris collected from the construction of a railway to Herberton on the Atherton Tableland, a project which started in 1886, was also used. The railway opened up land that was later used for agriculture on the lowlands (sugar cane, corn, rice, bananas, pineapples), and for fruit and dairy production on the Tableland. The success of local agriculture helped Cairns to establish itself as a port, and the creation of a harbour board in 1906 helped to support its economic future.
During World War II, Cairns was used by the Allied Forces as a staging base for operations in the Pacific, with US Army Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force operational bases (now the airport), as well as a major military seaplane base in Trinity Inlet, and US Navy and Royal Australian Navy bases near the current wharf. Combat missions were flown out of Cairns in support of the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942.
After World War II, Cairns gradually developed into a centre for tourism. The opening of the Cairns International Airport in 1984 helped establish the city as a desirable destination for international tourism.
Cairns experiences a tropical climate, specifically a Tropical monsoon climate with a wet season with tropical monsoons which runs from November to May, with a relatively dry season from June to October, though showers are frequent for most of this period. Cairns' mean annual rainfall is 2,000 millimetres (80 inches). The township of Babinda south of the city is one of Australia's wettest towns, recording an annual rainfall of over 4,200 millimetres. It has hot, humid summers and milder temperatures in winter. Mean maximum temperatures vary from 25.7c (78.3f) in July to 31.4c (88.5f) in January. Monsoonal activity during the wet season occasionally causes major flooding of the Barron and Mulgrave Rivers, cutting off road and rail access to the city.
Do the cruise ships stop at the port of Cairns?
There are a number of places where ships stop near Cairns, some anchor off shore and passengers are then tendered ashore, while others tie up at the wharf. Best to check this with your cruise line.
Where do the ships berth in Cairns?
The Port provides capacity for up to two cruise vessels located along Wharves 1-5 with a dedicated cruise terminal on Wharf 2/3. The terminal, located in the heart of the City, is an easy walk to downtown shopping.
How far is the airport from the cruise terminal?
Cairns International Airport is located just 8 kilometres from the City and shuttle buses operate from the city.
