Route by ExportMyMap
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef: 3-Day Itinerary
12 places
Start on Cairns’ waterfront, spend a day in Kuranda, then choose a separately booked island trip. Green Island is the starting option; Fitzroy Island, Michaelmas Cay and reef excursions are alternatives.
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Showing 7 of 7
Day 1: Cairns Aquarium
2 stops- 1
Cairns Aquarium
Aquarium
Australia
The aquarium introduces aquatic life from tropical North Queensland, connecting freshwater habitats, rainforest waterways and the Great Barrier Reef.
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Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Lagoon
Australia
A constructed swimming lagoon sits beside the Cairns waterfront, surrounded by lawns and public spaces along the Esplanade.
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Day 2: Kuranda Scenic Railway
4 stops- 1
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Scenic route
Australia
The heritage railway climbs from Cairns toward Kuranda through forest and Barron Gorge. Check departure stations when arranging the journey.
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Kuranda Village
Town
Australia
This rainforest town in the hills above Cairns brings shops, markets and visitor attractions together around a compact village centre.
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Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
Wildlife
Australia
A planted aviary in Kuranda houses free-flying butterflies, with interpretation that follows their development from caterpillar to adult.
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Barron Falls
Waterfall
Australia
The Barron River drops through a steep gorge near Kuranda. Water volume changes markedly with rainfall and season.
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Day 3: Green Island
1 stopArrange the boat trip separately. Actual stops depend on the operator, weather and sea conditions.
- 1
Green Island
Island
Australia
A small coral cay offshore from Cairns combines rainforest and sandy shores. Visits require a separately arranged boat transfer.
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Photo credits & sources
Independent place information and licensed photographs. Opening Google Maps is optional. Content checked: 2026-10-09.
Great Barrier Reef
Aerial View of Great Barrier Reef (Ank Kumar) 05.jpg — Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Green Island
Green Island, Cairns.jpg — User: (WT-shared) 耕太郎 at wts wikivoyage · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Fitzroy Island
Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island.jpg — Sarah Zacharia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Michaelmas Cay
Michaelmas Cay beach.JPG — Jake Healy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Esplanade Lagoon, Cairns, 2025, 12.jpg — Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Cairns Aquarium
Inside Cairns Aquarium, 2018 01.jpg — Kerry Raymond · CC BY 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Kuranda Scenic Railway
Kuranda Scenic Railway, 2022.jpg — JustARandomEditor123 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway-3-Cairns, Queensland, Australia-20050131.jpg — Amayagan ( talk ) · CC0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Barron Falls
Barron Falls (Din Din), Barron Gorge National Park, Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia.jpg — SimoneV87 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Unmodified original.
Kuranda Village
KurandaTownCentre.jpg — Torbenbrinker · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.jpg — Qualiesin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Unmodified original.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary: place identity and background
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
Leistenkrokodil HartleysCreekCrocodileFarm.JPG — MeisterHaag · Public domain · Resized by Wikimedia Commons; no other edits.
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures: place identity and background