{"id":1989,"date":"2021-09-20T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T09:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=1989"},"modified":"2023-11-28T20:40:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T20:40:54","slug":"5-awesome-day-trips-around-cairns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/road-trips\/5-awesome-day-trips-around-cairns\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Awesome Day Trips Around Cairns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Cairns<\/figure>\n\n\n

Cairns: the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. But what about when you want to experience something a little different? Venture into the great unknown? Something off the beaten track perhaps?<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got you. These five awesome Cairns day trips will lead you to experience North Queensland\u2019s slightly more obscure and offbeat vibes.<\/p>\n

But they should be done right. With a killer playlist, a taste for adventure and a zippy roadster (with air-con of course \u2013 this is North Queensland). So pick up your car hire at Cairns airport<\/a> and hit the road.<\/p>\n

Mareeba<\/h2>\n

Driving time from Cairns: 56 minutes<\/p>\n

About an hour out of Cairns, clear blue skies welcome you to Mareeba. A multi-cultural town rich in wildlife, art, coffee and wine. Not necessarily in that order. The locals love a good Cab Sav and a well-aged cheddar.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s the plan: Pick up your adventure mobile from Cairns car rental, get your caffeine hit early from Coffee Works, which houses an extraordinary array of the good stuff. Next, enjoy the wildlife at Granite Gorge Nature Park, then head to the Mareeba Heritage Museum before finishing off your day trip with an indulgent paddock-to-plate platter at the Gateway Hotel. Sorted.<\/p>\n

Kuranda<\/h2>\n

Driving time from Cairns: 31 minutes<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of Kuranda. But if you haven\u2019t, how\u2019s this for an introduction: The village in the rainforest boasts a Butterfly Sanctuary, a Rainforestation nature park, a tonne of heritage markets, and a scenic railway carved out by early settlers. Not bad for a town perched up at 330m altitude! If you\u2019re not one for heights, steer clear of the Skyrail Cableway!<\/p>\n

Paronella Park<\/h2>\n

Driving time from Cairns: 1 hour 27 minutes<\/p>\n

Who said the outback can\u2019t be romantic?! Paronella Park is North Queensland\u2019s answer to Paris.<\/p>\n

This eco-certified, award-winning national trust property tells the story of a man with a dream. Jos\u00e9 Paronella founded the park over 90 years ago, and its history lives on through a beautifully maintained castle surrounded by 5 hectares of gorgeous flora, a waterfall picnic area, and a fully restored hydro-electric generator.<\/p>\n

If you feel a little restless from the 120km drive, the boutique caravan and picturesque camping grounds might sway you to turn the day trip into an overnight one.<\/p>\n

Crystal Cascades<\/h2>\n

Driving time from Cairns: 25 minutes<\/p>\n

Looking to escape the tropical North Queensland heat? Look no further than Crystal Cascades.<\/p>\n

Located just a 20-minute drive from Cairns city centre, this secluded waterhole is the perfect place to relax and cool off in the many different plunge pools and rapids.<\/p>\n

Crystal Cascades is not a big tourist spot, and you usually only hear about it from speaking to locals who know the area.<\/p>\n

None of the major tour operators go there, so the only way to get there is by car, which you can easily hire in Cairns city or from the airport. This makes for a more secluded and chilled-out experience, away from the tourist traps.<\/p>\n

Mossman Gorge<\/h2>\n

Driving time from Cairns: 1 hour and 12 minutes<\/p>\n

Forming part of the epic Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge is like Fern Gully meets Avatar. Lush layers of tropical greens greet you at every turn, and some of the rarest species of wildlife inhabit the 135-million-year-old forest.<\/p>\n

Fact: The Daintree is actually the oldest surviving rainforest in the world, which is why it\u2019s a World Heritage Listed Rainforest.<\/p>\n

At 77km north of Cairns, the drive to Mossman Gorge is an experience in itself. It\u2019s part of the \u201cGreat Tropical Drive\u201d, renowned for its breathtaking scenery of tropical coastal views along the windy roads of the Captain Cook Highway. You’ll pass through Port Douglas<\/a> on the way and can be a great stop off point as well.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s considered one of the most famous drives in the Southern Hemisphere, and a favourite amongst Cairns car hire<\/a> customers.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cairns: the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. But what about when you want to experience something a little different? Venture into the great unknown? Something off the beaten track perhaps? We\u2019ve got you. These five awesome Cairns day trips will lead you to experience North Queensland\u2019s slightly more obscure and offbeat vibes. But they…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":4358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58,9],"tags":[94,81,110,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-1989","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-road-trips","8":"category-travel","9":"tag-cairns","10":"tag-far-north-queensland","11":"tag-port-douglas","12":"tag-queensland","13":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nTop 5 Cairns day trips | SIXT car hire Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"These Cairns day trips will show you North Queensland\u2019s more obscure and offbeat vibes. 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