How to Make the Most of Your Trip Without Regrets!

Cairns is one of the most hassle-free cities to explore in Australia! I joined day tours for everything — hotel pickups included, no need to overthink 😆. My main goal was diving, so I booked a liveaboard trip. Though my stay was short, I found Cairns to be compact — 3 days are more than enough! 📅 Itinerary Overview: Day 1: Arrive in Cairns Day 2-3: 2D1N Liveaboard Diving Trip 🤿 Day 4: Kuranda Rainforest Day Tour Day 5: Paronella Park “Sky Castle” Day Tour Day 6: Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight (45 mins) 🛩️ → Departure 〰️ Day 1: Arrival in Cairns Cairns is small with limited dining options. If you arrive at night, check out the Night Market — lots of tasty snacks! 🍜 〰️ Day 2-3: Liveaboard Diving This trip required an AOW diving certification 🤿. You can choose a dive company that suits you and book online in advance. The crew briefs you on safety and dive sites — 3-4 dives per day (including night diving!). Night diving with nurse sharks was incredible! 🦈 ⚠️ But: The food on board was too “Aussie-white” — bring Snickers or snacks if you get hungry easily! Still, seeing the Great Barrier Reef up close was worth it! 〰️ Day 4: Kuranda Rainforest Transport choice: Historic scenic railway 🚂 OR Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (aerial views of the canopy!) 🌳 Must-do activities: 1️⃣ Cuddle a koala 🐨 (I skipped it since I’d done it in Brisbane, but highly recommend!) 2️⃣ Aboriginal Cultural Park Try boomerang throwing — so fun! Watch traditional dances and learn spear throwing (I was terrible 😂). 3️⃣ Army Duck Tour Ride an amphibious vehicle through the rainforest — part land raid, part river adventure! Guides explain the ecosystem — great for nature lovers. 🏰 Paronella Park A rainforest castle built by Spanish immigrant José Paronella in the 1930s. The ruins are covered in vines, with waterfalls cascading down steps — like a Studio Ghibli scene! Mystical and historic, it’s a must-see! 🌿💧 ✈️ Scenic Flight Over the Reef A 45-minute flight lets you see the Heart Reef ❤️ and the colorful coral carpets from above! The pilot circled so everyone could enjoy the view. Afternoon — time to head home! #TravelAustralia #IslandGetaway #SeeTheWorld #TravelTheGlobe #Cairns #GreatBarrierReef #DivingAdventure 🇦🇺🤿✨