A layover in Cairns is exciting, adventurous, relaxing, and delicious! Yes, delicious too! With a coastline as wide as Cairns, underwater adventures are infinite and so is the seafood bounty. With tropical rainforests spread all over, hiking never stops; and the aboriginal tribes offer the most unique flavors one can imagine. So Cairns is deservingly one of the most enjoyable experiences on this planet!

Cairns’ Adventures: The Great Barrier Reef & Rainforests

A layover in Cairns is synonymous with outdoor adventures; underwater or into the wild, options are endless. Therefore, I always beef up my adventure gear, when Cairns is on my schedule. A flashlight, binoculars, and a waterproof camera are my constant companions, everything else I rent. Cairns being one of the most exciting places I have ever visited, my recommendations are endless. Some of my favorite experiences include:

• The Great Barrier Reef Adventures

  Like Colosseum is to Rome, GBR is to Cairns – absolutely non-negotiable! The crew and I can vehemently vouch for this. Despite having explored countless adventures at the world’s largest coral reef, we still can’t have enough of it.

  Snorkeling here goes without saying, after all, there are close to 3000 reefs spread across 900 islands, each providing an exceptional and otherworldly experience. However, if I had to pick a favorite, I would always go for the Ocean Safari Tour. It includes the two most popular reef sites – Mackay and Undine Reefs. We spotted the famous sea turtles and an intricate kaleidoscope of reef vegetation there!

  However, not all reef experiences need to be underwater! It might sound counterintuitive, but it’s true! While Skydiving and helicopter tours are top terrific adventures at the reef, cruising in the signature glass-bottomed pontoon boat has absolutely no parallels!

  I still remember that experience so vividly when we beheld the mesmerizing marine life assortment while sipping wine, devouring a delicious buffet, and enjoying live music!

• Daintree & Kuranda Rainforest Explores

While underwater explores are definitely thrilling, rainforest hikes can’t be underestimated at all! And a layover in Cairns effortlessly proves this.

Being a nature enthusiast I never miss an into-the-wild opportunity, so Cairns Rainforests share the top spot with the reef from me. And luckily my crew is also very high on exploring the unexplored, so we always escape into the woods when we get an opportunity.

These forests offer a unique ecosystem for spotting indigenous wildlife, especially the massive 4-meter-long crocodiles in Daintree and the lovable Koalas in Kuranda! Also, it is a terrific opportunity to try exotic regional food and tantalizing homemade tropical fruit ice creams!

And if you want to add on some adrenaline-pumping adventure, the lush rainforest is at your service with a majestic backdrop for ziplining and bungee jumping! So whatever floats your adventure boat, the rainforest gives it waves!

Cairns’ Uniqueness: Tjapukai Culture & Kuranda Scenic Railway Tour

A layover in Cairns is a unique opportunity to admire the region’s thrilling past and unadulterated beauty. Whether it is the aboriginal people or the centuries-old scenic train, Cairns’s charms are infinite. The crew and I always love to explore something unique on our layovers and some very striking experience include:

• Getting Acquainted with the Tjapukai Aboriginal People

  I had heard a lot about the aboriginal cultures of Oceania and was thoroughly intrigued by them. Therefore, when I got to know that Cairns has been the home of the world’s oldest civilization, the Tjapukais, from more than 40000 years ago, I had to know more about them.

  Tjapukais hold a beautiful song and dance show with delicious regional food and an admirable arts display, right in the middle of the lush green Kuranda rainforest with serene mountain backdrops! So once you are done with adventurous activities, stay back for the cultural show and the night tour.

  The drumbeats really pump you up and the smoke ceremony is the show stealer. The tribe believes that it cleanses the region and protects you from evil spirits. Even if you are not much of a mythology buff, the entire show can entice you for sure and is worth your time.

• Kuranda Scenic Railway Tour

While hiking through the rainforests is truly exceptional, riding this century-old train is a whole new way to explore the tropical paradise.

It offers glorious glimpses of the rainforest and somewhat of an aerial view, which hikers can’t easily admire unless they are willing to climb the strenuous steeper hikes.

I loved looking outside the window and admiring the exotic flowering plants, happily thriving wildlife, and the majestic waterfalls cascading through the rugged mountains.

And when the train passed through those dark tunnels or turned on those curvy bridges, it gave the rollercoaster feels, leaving me awestruck by the engineering prowess human race!

Cairns’ Vibrant Nightlife: Barhopping, Casinos, Seafood!

While a layover in Cairns is primarily filled with daytime adventures, the city ensures your nightlife is just as memorable. With cocktails overflowing, seafood freshly brought from trawler to table, and a casino right in the center of it all, you won’t have a dull night in Cairns. My best nightlife recommendations include:

• Bar-Hopping Across Cairns’ Breweries

  Let’s face it, even though the ocean offers jaw-dropping sunsets and rainforests offer thrilling adventures, the tropical climate and humidity can get you thirsty. But Cairns is always braced up to quench with its umpteen bars and breweries at your disposal!

  Whether it is a speakeasy-inspired gin joint or a rooftop brewery freshly concocting tropical cocktails and frothies, Cairns has it all, making it one of the best barhopping destinations in the world!

  With an endless array of drinking holes and tiki houses, the crew and I are always spoilt for choice, but our favorite is Hemingway’s Brewery while Three Wolves is also fantastic for specialty spirits.

  So whenever we are in Cairns, we don’t mind pulling up a stool and sampling the entire cocktail list accompanied by the flavorful woodfired pizza or a share charcuterie board.

• Devouring Fresh and Heavenly Seafood

  With such proximity to the coastline, comes deliciously fresh seafood. A layover in Cairns not only keeps you quenched, but it also ensures you are satiated too!

  Awash with unimaginably fresh seafood, Cairns offers a bevy of venues to sample the flavors, but my favorite is Prawn Star. Its casual and relaxed vibes make it the top pick for a crew like ours. We prefer variety and always choose a seafood smorgasbord to an a la carte menu.

  And Prawn Star being an amalgamation of four restored fishing trawlers offer everything the sea has in its bounty, including Shellfish, Oysters, Lobsters, and even the regional favorite Mud Crab! And when you get to end your scrumptious meal with a Davidson Plum Sorbet, you know you have ascended to the food heaven of this planet!

• Gambling the Night Away at The Reef Hotel Casino

  It’s not Vegas, but it is no less than Vegas too! Even though a boutique casino, it offers a fabulous gaming range. You get the traditional games of Blackjack and Roulette along with the trendy and exciting Sic-Bo and Reef Routine.

Along with 500 gaming machines, the casino also offers a private high-stakes gaming experience, live shows, and sports betting. Therefore, it is an exciting nightlife choice for short layovers. And if we don’t want to gamble, we while away the night watching live boxing matches on huge LED screens with a cool beer and delish food!

Cairns, You Took My Breath Away!

Even with so much to explore, every layover in Cairns has to come to an end sometime, with several unexplored adventures. Soaking at the Crystal Cascades and Josephine Falls appeals to me on a tiring flight schedule. Also, I am all pumped up to explore the underground volcanic tunnels to see the lava oozing up and close. Therefore, I am pretty sure that my next Cairns visit will be yet another adventure to remember.