First time in Cairns? Discover the gateway to Queensland’s tropical north on this 5.5-hour sightseeing tour. Visit city attractions like the Flecker Botanical Gardens and St Monica's Cathedral, and stroll along the scenic Cairns waterfront. Indulge in a delicious Devonshire afternoon tea (included) taking in the stunning views from the jetty at Palm Cove before taking a short walk through the Lower Barron Gorge National Park. For the full experience, upgrade to include a 2-hour morning cruise to Green Island in the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef marine park. This small-group tour is limited to 20 people.

5.5-hour Cairns sightseeing tour
Visit top Cairns-area attractions, including the waterfront, Flecker Botanical Gardens and St Monica's Cathedral, home to the world's largest peace-themed stained-glass window
Indulge in a Devonshire tea, coffee or hot chocolate and scones
Walk the lower section of Barron Gorge National Park and admire the views of the rugged mountains, ravines and tumbling waterfalls
Small-group tour limited to 20 people ensures a personalized experience with your guide

What's Included

Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Local guide
Afternoon tea
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Gratuities
Food and drinks, unless specified
Additional $15 per adult & $10 per child for Palm Cove & Northern Beaches hotel pick ups

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.

Meeting points

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Pickup points

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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Return transfers from all Cairns CBD hotels commence from 12.30pm - 1.00pm Tour returns 6.00pm approx Palm Cove and Northern Beaches commence at 12 noon return 5.30pm - additional costs of $15.00 per adult and $10.00 per child payable direct

What To Expect

Cairns Region

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Cairns Museum

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

NOA Eat Drink Share

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Cairns Botanical Gardens

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Lake Morris Road

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Barron Gorge National Park

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Palm Cove Beach

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Motor scooters not permitted

No Wheelie Walkers permitted
Most travellers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

Operated by Cairns Discovery Tours

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Traveller Tips

This is a great tour for visitors with limited time.

This tour is an excellent way to see a bit of the reef and the city, including the beautiful Palm Cove.

This tour was well worth the money, and I recommend it.

Reviews

5.0

121 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 121 reviews

Brilliant

Rohan_D, May 2023

History of Cairns and different sights Chris was fantastic as a guide he was friendly but had a lot of knowledge . Scones and tea were a great idea during the trip

Awesome

Janelle_r, Apr 2023

The tour was awesome.The cathedral was my favourite part.Chris the driver was fantastic. Recommend the tour fantastic.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thank you Janelle for the 5* - so pleased you enjoyed your tour with us and guide Chris

Get Tour

Irene_E, Apr 2023

Chris is a great guide & driver. The tour was excellent to learn about the city of Cairns. If you are short on time, this is perfect!

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you, Irene, for your review. Pleased you enjoyed learning about our City of Cairns with your guide Chris. He is a new team member and I agree with you he is a great guide. Regards Maryanne

Cairns in five hours!

Jane_S, Apr 2023

Good overview of Cairns if you haven’t been before. Chris certainly knew his stuff and managed to keep talking throughout the tour. He was very knowledgeable, particularly in the botanical gardens. The cream tea was excellent and the views and scenery at Barron’s gorge and the lookout were terrific. Our group was very small, only six of us, and it was a nice way to spend 5 hours. Minibus was kept nice and cold and water and sweets were offered - a nice touch.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thank you for reviewing your afternoon Cairns City sights tour with Cairns Discovery Tours and your guide Chris. We love showing our city to our guests and appreciate you taking the time to let us know that you enjoyed your experience.

Great time

Alan_F, Mar 2023

Great afternoon, Chris was informative and a friendly guide, seen a lot of Cairns, great afternoon tea, water supplied, thank goodness as quite humid, botanical gardens were beautiful and lush. Lookout over Cairns was beautiful, all that and more!

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you for joining us and reviewing the Cairns City sights & surrounds tour with your guide, Chris. We love our city and sharing it with our visitors.

Great tour of Cairns and the surrounding area. Highly recommend!

AnnaGangai_L, Mar 2023

This was a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it. They picked us up on time at our hotel. Michelle was an outstanding tour guide. She has a smile, an upbeat comment, and unabashed love for the town and activities. We even got to see Barron Gorge in a torrential downpour as a rushing, turbulent river. Surprise Waterfall was certainly a surprising sight!!! St. Monica's Cathedral with its magnificent windows, Cairns Museum, and the Botanical Gardens also highlighted this tour. 4 adults ages ranged from 60-80.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you for taking the time to review your experience with Cairns Discovery Tours and guide Michelle. There is much to see and Cairns in the wet season can be quite spectacular as you experienced at the Barron Gorge.

Great half day tour of Caines

Helen_A, Feb 2023

Great half day tour to get acclimated to Cairns with Michelle. Started at the Cathedral to see the strained glass and then a stop at the Museum. Lovely stop for tea and scones and then stops to see the views and the beach. Great to be picked up and dropped off at our hotel. Thanks Michelle!

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thank you for your review. I will let Michelle know how much you enjoyed your day. Regards Maryanne

Amazing experience

LeniFay_C, Dec 2022

Our tour guide was great, very knowledgeable. We loved the places we visited especially the botanics garden and palm cove beach. I recommend this tour.

Excellent well worth it

Peter_K, Nov 2022

Great experience informative and great guide. Knowledgeable and friendly. Worth the money and effort

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate it being a small hands-on company.

You MUST do this tour!

lynn_s, Nov 2022

Had a fabulous day touring Cairns city and surrounds , Eric was a great guide funny and informative. Loved all the commentary, we saw places we would normally have walked right past!

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you Lynn. We believe it is a MUST-do tour also, glad you agree. There is so much to see and learn about our city on our tour. Thank you for joining us

Great value

WJ_H, Oct 2022

Eric was great guide and driver! Thoroughly recommend tour. Don’t tell me what to do!! Cfghjlkhgdxtegj,b,g,bb cd smf hv <. Be

Excellent way to spend an afternoon

Marie_M, Sept 2022

Cairns Museum was a revelation. Driver’s narration excellent. Scones for afternoon tea were great. Highly recommend this excursion.

Response from Host, Sept 2022

Thank you for the 5 stars. So pleased you enjoyed our Cairns Museum. We enjoy sharing our city with our visitors Regards Maryanne

Great overview of Cairns

Gen_O, Aug 2022

Eric was great with good knowledge of area. Was more expansive than we thought so very pleased with this extra. Highly recommended

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you for taking the time to review your tour with Eric and Cairns Discovery Tours. We pride ourselves showcasing our beautiful city and region and the level of knowledge and professionalism of our experienced guides. Regards Maryanne

Great afternoon

Paul_P, July 2022

Very knowledgeable shows you around Cairns and beyond. Well worth seeing would go again. A full on encounter with afternoon scones and tea provided.

Response from Host, July 2022

Thank you for your kind review

Value for money

Deborah_R, June 2022

A Value for money tour Eric the driver was very interesting & knowledgeable loved the Botanical Gardens. Afternoon Tea was lovely with homemade scones jam & cream cafe was very nice. Museum Tour interesting & had our own tour guide to talk us through the history of Cairns. We were offered a bottle of water & at the end on the drive back Eric shared sweets around. Great Tour

Tour was excellent...

Heino_P, May 2022

Tour was excellent despite having to miss the Falls due to road closure. Our guide Eric was very Informative and helpful.

Response from Host, May 2022

Thank you for taking the time to review our city sights tour. Unfortunately with the recent rain we can experience land slides and road closures in the Tropics. Pleased to report that the falls are now open as the area has been cleared as of 26th May 2022

Great Tour

Sue_d, Apr 2022

The tour was informative, Eric was friendly and made everyone feel at ease. Loved the afternoon tea of scones and tea. Palm Cove Beach was a definite highlight.

One of the Most remarkable tours we had with Cairns a discovery Tours. Highly recommending!

MARIA_B, Mar 2022

From beginning to end, it was an unforgettable tour, nothing negative to report. Our guide ringer Eric is a top bloke, he is friendly, knowledgeable, passionate with unrelenting enthusiasm. The places we visited were stunning to sit back and just enjoy the spectacular views, wonderful storytelling that adds to the journey & experience and architecture of Cairns. It’s good value for money! Will definitely recommend to friends!

Great day with Eric our...

Kaylene_P, Oct 2021

Great day with Eric our driver & guide! Relaxing. Tour provides some insight into some of the history in and around Cairns, as well as ideas of what you can do around Cairns. Thanks Eric!👍

Response from Host, Oct 2021

Thank you for your review, pleased you enjoyed your afternoon tour with Eric

Great way to see interesting aspects of Cairns

Kevin_P, Sept 2021

The stained glass windows in the Catholic cathedral were fantastic. Also the botanic gardens were a delight and the tour guide was really knowledgeable about the trees

Response from Host, Oct 2021

So pleased you enjoyed the tour, I was at the cathedral the other day and the stained glass windows never fails to impress me. Thank you for taking the time to review our afternoon Cairns City sights tour