11 days in Kuranda & Cairns Itinerary

Kuranda is a town and locality on the Atherton Tableland in the Shire of Mareeba, Far North Queensland, Australia. Kick off your visit on the 1st (Fri): explore the striking landscape of Barron Gorge National Park.

For maps, photos, and other tourist information, use the Kuranda attractions website.

The Route module shows you all the different ways you can get to Kuranda. In January, plan for daily highs up to 37°C, and evening lows to 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Fri) early enough to drive to Cairns.

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.

Your day by day itinerary now includes Historic Village Herberton. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum and Spy & Camera Museum. Take a break from the city and head to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures and Safaris. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Cairns: Port Douglas (St Mary’s by The Sea chapel, Horseback Riding Tours, &more), Lake Eacham Crater Lakes National Park (in Lake Eacham) and Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery (in Mossman). There's still lots to do: take in the dramatic scenery at Behana Gorge Waterfall, have unforgettable encounters with a shark diving experience, identify plant and animal life at Michaelmas Cay, and take the plunge with a skydiving experience.

To find ratings, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, go to the Cairns trip itinerary planner.

Getting from Kuranda to Cairns by car takes about an hour. Other options: take a shuttle; or take a bus. In January in Cairns, expect temperatures between 37°C during the day and 28°C at night.