Cairns is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, but there’s so much more to do here in the far north Queensland than visit the reef and islands. For most of the tourists, however, once they’ve picked up their car rental in Cairns, it’s not long before they jump on charter boats and head off to the islands, diving, snorkelling and generally having a fabulous time on the reef.
When they are back on dry land they tend to use their luxury car hire to go on road trips and explore the Daintree rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Kuranda and Atherton Tablelands, as well as many other awesome destinations. These are all wonderful places to explore, but don’t forget about Cairns!
It’s fair to say that when you’re in far north Queensland it’s easy to become side-tracked by the reef and before you know it – your holiday is over! So if you want to make the best of your holiday and are ready to hop in your car rental and explore what Cairns has to offer (apart from the reef and rainforests), here’s seven great activities to experience before you head off home.
Located at the end of McGregor Rd in Smithfield, you’ll find Skypark Cairns, just a short 20 minute drive from the CBD. Heralded as a rainforest world of adventure, Skypark is the place to go if you want heart-thumping excitement. It offers Australia’s only Bungy Jump and teeters 50 metres above a deep natural lagoon, then there’s the Giant Swing and Walk the Plank - so there’s an epic experience for everyone!
If you want to leave your luxury car hire at your hotel, why not walk to the Reef Hotel Casino on Wharf Street and head up to the Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome on the roof! This is the world’s first challenge ropes course in a wildlife park, but not on the ground – on the roof of the casino!
Experience fun and excitement on their three zip lines and hurtle over a 4-metre crocodile snoozing in his pool. You can also take the Power Jump (jumping off a 13m tower attached by a rope) or the Dome Climb where you walk around the outside of the Dome on a 60cm wide platform to check out the views over Cairns.
White Water Rafting Cairns offers a full day adventure on the Tully River or a half day experience on the Barron River. They also offer white water rafting from Port Douglas on the Russel River, river drift snorkelling from Port Douglas and Palm Cove, as well as visits to waterfalls and river tubing activities. You can’t come to Cairns without experiencing the adrenalin pumping action of white water rafting! So park your car rental and check out white water rafting in Cairns before you go home.
If you’re looking for adventure and excitement, then you must explore Cairns Canyoning (their office is on Grafton Street or book online). They offer a number of different adventures that include a mix of abseiling, cliff jumping, sliding, swimming and rafting down canyons, ziplining, river boarding and much more. Suitable from beginners to advanced, this is an activity that just keeps on giving!
Located at the Marlin Marina in Cairns with plenty of parking for your luxury car hire, you’ll find Bad Fishy Jet Boarding. If you want 35 minutes of sheer fun and exhilaration, then this is the activity for you! Your ride takes you through the Trinity Inlet where your captain shares lots of interesting information about the local waterways, flora and fauna. Wear sunscreen, bring a towel and be prepared to get wet!
If you want to explore our stunning World Heritage Listed rainforests in style, then check out the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Located on Skyrail Drive in Smithfield, it’s just a short 17 minute drive from Cairns CBD in your car rental. The Skyrail lets you enjoy a unique perspective of the rainforest as you glide in the air for 7.5km from Smithfield to Kuranda.
Once at Kuranda, you can explore the rainforest boardwalks at Red Peak with a guided tour and experience the fabulous Gorge and waterfall views at Barron Falls. You can also include a one-way Kuranda Scenic Railway experience to top off your day!
If you love messing about on the water then you’ll love Pacific Water Sports. They offer a range of awesome activities including Kayak Turtle Tours, Kayak Reef Tours, Rainforest Paddleboarding and Kitesurfing. The Kayak Tours head off from Palm Cove (30 minutes north of Cairns in your luxury car hire) and head to Double Island, whilst the kitesurfing is at Yorkeys Knob (20 minutes north of Cairns CBD) and the paddleboarding is at Kuranda in the Atherton Tablelands (36 minutes from Cairns). There’s no better way to end your holiday in far north Queensland than kayaking, paddleboarding or kitesurfing!
To find out more about car rentals in Cairns, contact us today on 0447 809 899.