11 days in Cairns & Port Douglas Itinerary

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

Get out of town with these interesting Cairns side-trips: Palm Cove (Palm Cove Beach & Spas). Spend the 5th (Tue) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 6th (Wed) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. And it doesn't end there: hike along Esplanade Boardwalk, whizz through the canopy at Skypark by AJ Hackett Cairns, take some stellar pictures from Wrights Lookout, and let little ones run wild at Muddy's Playground.

To see more things to do, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, you can read our Cairns trip builder.

Adelaide to Cairns is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), which is usually a 0.5 hour difference. Traveling from Adelaide in January, expect a bit warmer with lows of 28°C in Cairns. Cap off your sightseeing on the 9th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Port Douglas.

A holiday in Port Douglas balances an activity-filled getaway with plenty of opportunities to relax, thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and bustling beach life.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Port Douglas: Cape Tribulation (Cape Tribulation Beach & Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours) and Rex Lookout (in Wangetti). There's lots more to do: see some colorful creatures with a scuba or snorkeling tour, look for all kinds of wild species at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, trot along with a tour on horseback, and take some stellar pictures from Flagstaff Hill Lookout.

To see other places to visit, maps, more things to do, and tourist information, read Port Douglas tour itinerary site.

You can drive from Cairns to Port Douglas in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a shuttle; or take a bus. In January, daytime highs in Port Douglas are 37°C, while nighttime lows are 28°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 14th (Thu) early enough to travel back home.