Plan Your Trip
Adrenaline adventures in TNQ
Distance
372km
How
Car or Camper
Where
Cairns
Date
Year Round
Buckle up and get ready to be the main character of your own adventure movie with adrenaline pumping fun in Tropical North Queensland.
Whether you’re a born thrill seeker or looking to try something new, our reputation as Australia’s adventure capital knows no bounds.
Action awaits in our rainforests, reefs and skies with everything from swimming (safely) with salties, freefalling over open water or bungy jumping into a lagoon.
We’ve rounded up our top picks for a five-day action-packed itinerary with everything from hair-raising fun to downright scary. Do you dare?
Day 1 | Cairns
Arriving in Cairns
Plan to arrive a day ahead of your itinerary, as you’ll need a good night’s rest for all the adventure on the horizon.
After flying into Cairns Airport, the best way to zip about is with wheels. Book a Britz campervan or rental car from Avis for your Cairns road trip, or for quick trips around Cairns CBD a beam scooter will get you from A(drenalin) to B(ed).
In Cairns, there’s endless accommodation options to choose from. Mingle with backpackers at Gilligan’s hostel with shared rooms. For family-friendly accommodation the Coconut Holiday Park is a kids’ paradise with campsites, cabins and villas. Or for ultimate comfort, DoubleTree by Hilton is a chic oceanfront stay with hotel bar and stylish interiors.
Wherever you choose to rest your head, you’ll need it before the adventure starts.
Morning
Bucket list in hand, your ultimate adventure holiday starts now!
Up and at ‘em early at 6.30am for Cairns Canyoning half day tour to Crystal Cascades where you will plunge feet first into the fresh waters of this secluded swimming hole surrounded by dense tropical rainforest.
Abseil down and through waterfalls (canyoning), riverboard over rapids and traverse the granite boulders dotted in the swimming holes.
Afternoon
You’ll have worked up an appetite by this point, so head straight to The Chambers once back in downtown Cairns.
Located inside a 1920’s historical bank, this trendy spot pushes the food boundaries between classic and innovative (just like the renovated building).
You’ll sample the very best produce the region has to offer as the chef’s focus on plating up local ingredients.
Evening
As the sun sets on your watersports filled first day, it’s time to mingle with the locals with a wander through the buzzing Cairns Night Markets.
There’s over 70 stores here stocking handmade goods, fashion and homewares to ready-to-eat international cuisines.
Nearby is Hemingway’s Brewery where you can sample an array of local brews on tap, order a beer paddle and fill up with some fresh seafood, burgers or pizza.
Day 2 | Cairns
Morning
Did you know there’s more than one way to dive the Great Barrier Reef?
With Cairns Skydivers you can claim an unmatched view of world’s largest coral reef system – that is, if you can keep your eyes open long enough!
Hurling yourself from a light plane and free falling from 15,000ft with your tandem jump instructor strapped to your back, you’ll gather speeds of up to 220km/hr before pulling the chute and floating your way back to the drop zone. Your view? Only the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics rainforest and Great Barrier Reef, served at super speed.
Windswept and white knuckled, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear when you finally touch down on solid earth again… ready to go again. Book a 5.30am sunrise skydive or 8.45am session to have the whole day ahead of you.
We recommend having breakfast after you jump, for obvious reasons, so wander over to Wharf One Café on the inlet to enjoy a classic avo on toast or ‘The One’ – a potato rosti with Tassie salmon, avocado, Mungalli quark and a poached egg. Delish!
Afternoon
If the morning’s activities have left you wanting more, you need to visit Skypark by AJ Hackett.
Take from their famous ‘Jump Menu’ and pick your poison: 16 different styles of bungy jump, a giant swing or ‘Walk The Plank’.
Skypark by AJ Hacket is an all-weather site, so rain or shine you’re guaranteed a great day.
To celebrate the days adventures, head five minutes down the road to McAlister’s Brewing Company, a family-owned brewery perfecting lagers from tropical to amber ales, and with a rotation of epic food trucks on offer.
Evening
Fuel up after a massive day with authentic tacos, share plates and margaritas at modern Mexican hotspot – Guerrilla in Edge Hill (about a five minute drive from Cairns CBD). Hot tip: Order the Paloma or Salty Bush margarita to spice up your life!
Closer to town, Little Sister is the haunt for good times and good food. Inspired by vibrant flavours of Asian street food this is the place to gather with friends for some share-style dining.
Day 3 | Port Douglas
Morning
Jump in your hot rod rental and take a short 35-minute drive up to the palm tree lined Ellis Beach and take a dip in the Pacific Ocean.
Remember to swim within the patrolled areas and stay within the stinger nets – you’ll want to save the hair-raising animal encounters for later on!
Ellis Beach Bar & Grill is a must-do oceanside café, and you can’t look past their buttermilk pancakes or Mexican breakfast tacos to fill your rumbling stomach.
Continue north another 30 minutes until you arrive at Wildlife Habitat and your once-in-a-lifetime chance to get within centimetres of a ferocious salt water crocodile (side note: there’s a protective see-through cage separating you from the apex predators).
Marvel at the sheer size of Big Al and Ton, these monsters span 4.5 meters and weigh in at around 350-400kg and given the opportunity, could crush you in an instant. Not for the faint hearted!
Afternoon
You will want to rest and recoup after your close encounter, so indulge yourself at Barbados, a barefoot luxury beach club serving up cocktails, good food and water views.
Recline in your daybed and taste the salmon sashimi, pork katsu sando or fromage platters plus exotic cocktails made to order. Who said an adventure holiday couldn’t include an adventure for your tastebuds?
Evening
You can get some quality shuteye at either Peppers Beach Club, offering upscale accommodation amidst lush surroundings, or Mantra Heritage Port Douglas with 2 saltwater lagoon pools and lush tropical gardens.
Day 4 | Port Douglas - Cairns
Morning
This morning we’re embarking on a nature-filled adventure through the lush rainforest, but not before getting some much needed fuel. So jump in the car and head on down to Nectar in Port Douglas to grab one of their irresistibly refreshing açai bowls.
Resist the temptation to eat it straight away and walk 7 minutes to the Four Mile Beach where you can savour every bite as you take in the breathtaking coastline views.
Then, meet the Back Country Bliss team at 9:00 am for a River Drift Experience. Board your river sled and allow yourself to be carried away by a gentle current down the Mossman River.
Lunch
Lunch can be found on the drive back to Cairns, stopping at Ospreys at Thala Beach Lodge. Enjoy locally sourced ingredients with panoramic views.
Afternoon
After lunch, it’s time to join the crew at Bad Fishy for a jet boating spin at incredible speed through the Cairns waterfront.
With a name like Bad Fishy, you know these guys won’t go easy, so maybe hold yourself back on sipping too many brewski’s at lunch!
Dinner
Just a few short strides will bring you to your dinner at Prawn Star. Nestled in one of Cairns’ most unique dining locations—a fishing trawler—you can indulge in the freshest prawns and seafood delights.
Day 5 | Tully Gorge
Morning
Get set for the final leg of your adrenaline adventure, where we’ve saved the best for last! Jump in the car and enjoy the scenic drive down to the Tully Gorge before bracing yourself for a pulse-pounding whitewater rafting expedition with Raging Thunder Adventures.
Take in the stunning scenery surrounding the Tully River as you meander through roaring rapids.
Dinner
Now that you’ve quenched your thirst for adventure, indulge in a hearty meal.
Raging Thunder Adventures, operating from May to September and December to January, offer an enticing pub dinner as part of the experience. For those planning a visit outside of these months, fear not! You’ll still indulge in delectable seafood delicacies, sourced fresh from Innisfail Seafood. If you’re in need of a little pick-me-up, indulge in their renowned coffee blend that not only satisfies your taste buds but also boost your energy.
Evening
As the day comes to an end, take your time on the journey back to Cairns Airport. Then it’s time to drop off your car hire and experience the final adventure of this holiday: your flight home.
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