Cairns

Cairns, gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Cairns, up near the north end of Queensland's eastern coast (and pronounced "cans"), is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, nearly 239,000 square miles in area (the only living thing on Earth visible from the moon) and teeming with thousands of species of sea life.

The prime business for local tour operators in Cairns is offering to trips to the reef, but on the mainland side of Cairns, don't miss the Kuranda scenic railway and Skyrail (www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au) over a dense rainforest, or the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park (www.tjapukai.com.au) just outside town, possibly the best place in Australia to get a quick (albeit theme-park-ified) overview of Aboriginal culture—and it is majority owned-and-operated by the local indigenous people.

Cairns tours

• Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise from Cairns

• Great Barrier Reef Scenic Helicopter Tour and Cruise from Cairns

• Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

• Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail, Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Tour and Cruise

• Aboriginal Cultural Tjapukai by Night Tour including Buffet Dinner

• Green Island Day Trip from Cairns

• Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary Day Tour

• 2-Day Reef and Rainforest Package Combo: Green Island Cruise and Kuranda Day Trip

• Outer Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Cruise from Cairns