• Lower Barron Gorge River National Park - Spectacular river and rainforest scenery. See Surprise Creek Falls.
• Flecker Botanical Gardens - Reknown as one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia.  
• St Monica's Cathedral - See the largest themed stained-glass windows in the world.  
• Cairns Museum - Discover the real Cairns of old and our culture.
• Palm Cove Northern Beaches - Take  a stroll along the Palm Cove jetty to admire the stunning views of the Great Barrier Reef and her coastline.

Half day discover Cairns tour. Come and join us on Cairns most enjoyable half day tour – small journey through paradise. Jump on board and experience the vibrancy and spectacular beauty that is Cairns and the northern beaches of Cairns.

What to Expect

Explore the best of Cairns on this 5.5-hour guided afternoon tour. Journey through the city’s historic sites, vibrant gardens, and scenic coastal spots, all while accompanied by an experienced local tour guide. Highlights include a visit to the magnificent St. Monica’s Cathedral, exclusive access to the Cairns Museum, and a relaxing stop for Devonshire tea. Conclude the day with scenic views at Barron Gorge and a stroll along the beach in the picturesque Palm Cove.

Discover Cairns Tours presents the ultimate “City Sights & Highlights” tour of Cairns and its spectacular tropical environs. A really fun and enjoyable afternoon Half Day tour (afternoon) that will surpass your highest expectations guaranteed!

Features & Highlights

Cruise Ship Tours of Cairns 

• Perfect discover Cairns city sights tour for cruise ship passengers berthing in Cairns. The qualified local tour guides are passionate, experienced, and so so entertaining.
• Our afternoon half day tour of Cairns will amaze you at the diversity of interests covered, and the professional, entertaining way the guide shares everything of interest, with a real Aussie sense of humour!
• Not only will you explore Cairns City and hear about its history, visit the bustling shipping wharves of Trinity Inlet and its industrial areas, but also spot wildlife including many tropical and migratory bird species that call the river home.

Discover Cairns Half Day Tour - St Monica's Cathedral

Travel in air-conditioned comfort

with your local guide; step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed

stained-glass windows. Explore Cairns and delve into the city’s history. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural

heritage that is the Far North.

• Step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed stained-glass windows. While unassuming from the outside, its elegant interior, rich with history, will no doubt impress you. Among its other showcases of beautiful craftsmanship throughout the cathedral, the star of the show is the world’s largest themed stained glass windows.
• The series of 24 windows, known as the ‘Creation Windows’, depict the creation story by the Book of Genesis, with a local Australian slant. You certainly don’t need a religious affiliation to appreciate this artwork. Additionally, the stained glass windows on the Abbott Street end of the church surrounding the main entrance commemorate 50 years of peace in the Pacific and are known as the ‘Peace Windows’. 

Discover Cairns Half Day Tour - Cairns Museum

• Explore the history of Cairns and the Far North Queensland region through a series of permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Cairns Museum, from it's origins as an Indigenous landscape through to it's modern self as a tourist gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest. 
• Learn the story of Cairns through photographs, illustrations and memoirs of past residents. Discover how a small port town grew into one of Australia's premier destinations for Australians and Foreigners alike, and the industries and people who made it prosper. 
• When you have looked through the exhibitions on the History of Cairns, take a rest on a genuine tropical verandah, enjoy the cool breeze and watch the world go by over a game of chess. 
• Situated within the old School of Arts building in the heart of Cairns, the extensive archive and photographic collections are sure to capture your imagination and leave you with a renewed sense of history of this special tropical town.in air-co

Discover Cairns Half Day Tour - Afternoon Tea

• Take a short break to indulge in a first class Devonshire tea/coffee in the fashionable Edge Hill Village. This is a chance to sit back relax and take a rest room break and talk about the things you have just seen.nditioned comfort

with your local guide; step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed

stained-glass windows. Explore Cairns and delve into the city’s history. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural

heritage that is the Far North.

Travel in air-conditioned comfort

with your local guide; step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed

stained-glass windows. Explore Cairns and delve into the city’s history. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural

heritage that is the Far North.

Travel in air-conditioned comfort

with your local guide; step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed

stained-glass windows. Explore Cairns and delve into the city’s history. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural

heritage that is the Far North.

Travel in air-conditioned comfort

with your local guide; step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed

stained-glass windows. Explore Cairns and delve into the city’s history. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural

heritage that is the Far North.

Travel in air-conditioned comfort

with your local guide; step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed

stained-glass windows. Explore Cairns and delve into the city’s history. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural

heritage that is the Far North.

Travel in air-conditioned comfort

with your local guide; step inside St. Monica’s Cathedral where you will marvel at the world’s largest themed

stained-glass windows. Explore Cairns and delve into the city’s history. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural

heritage that is the Far North.

Discover Cairns Half Day Tour - Cairns Parks and Gardens

• Enjoy a 30 minute guided walk through the beautiful Flecker Botanic Gardens. The Flecker Botanic Gardens consists of 38 hectares and boasts an amazing collection of tropical plants including like the rare orchids, exotic tropical fruits, bromeliads and giant bamboo (you can nearly see them growing!) and many other spectacular flowering plants like the Red Torch Ginger.
• These gardens were created in 1886 and are home to some of the oldest and rarest plants in the world. It is the only wet tropics Botanic Gardens in Australia. The collections reflect Far North Queensland’s tropical diversity, with plants from the steamy jungles of South East Asia, South America and Africa.
• Once inside the garden, you will feel as if you have been transported to the Daintree Rainforest with the gardens signature trees casting a lush canopy guarding the plant collection that is interspersed with flowing paths and waterways winding their way through the leafy undergrowth.

Cairns Lookout, Barron Gorge National Park and Palm Cove

• Your tour guide will then take you to one of Cairns’ top lookouts, the Copperlode Dam Lookout, where you’ll enjoy uninterrupted scenic views. From there you’ll be taken to the lower section of the Barron Gorge National Park to take in the spectacle of Surprise Creek Falls. Then it’s on to the final spot for the afternoon... Palm Cove.
• Named after the palm trees that line the beach, Palm Cove has mix of sophisticated restaurants, casual cafes, bars, boutiques, and resorts. Take in the sunset with the sand between your toes, or stroll down the jetty before your return transfer to your accommodation.

Sample Itinerary

• 1:00 p.m.: Pickup from Cairns accommodation
• 1:30 p.m.: Visit St. Monica’s Cathedral
• 2:00 p.m.: Cairns Museum tour
• 2:45 p.m.: Devonshire tea break at Edge Hill Village
• 3:30 p.m.: Guided walk at Flecker Botanic Gardens
• 4:15 p.m.: Scenic stops at Barron Gorge and Surprise Creek Falls
• 5:00 p.m.: Enjoy a beach stroll and free time at Palm Cove
• 5:30 p.m.: Return transfer to Cairns accommodation

This itinerary focuses solely on Cairns’ cultural and natural landmarks, with plenty of time to take in the region’s highlights in a relaxed half-day tour.

See more shore tours for cruise ship passengers in Cairns and Port Douglas. 

Ask about private charter tours for your group.

Read The Tour Specialists Blog for all the things you need to know before you go.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• Palm Cove & Trinity Beach pick-up at 12.00pm - Returns 5.30pm approx
• Cairns pick-up at 12.30pm - Returns 6.00pm approx

Pickup Locations

• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Palm Cove
• Trinity Beach

Destinations

• Palm Cove
• Cairns City & Surrounds Sights
• St. Monica's Cathedral
• Cairns Museum
• Cairns Botanic Gardens
• Scenic Lookout and Lower Barron Gorge National Park
• Palm Cove

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Monday - Saturday

2025/2026 - Operates Monday to Saturday except 18 - 21 April , 25 April, 5 May, 18 July, 6 Oct, 25 Dec -27 December 2025 1 January 26

Duration

5.5 hours (approx) Afternoon Tours

Available for Purchase / Hire

Lunch is NOT included in this tour

Fitness Level Required

Low

Restrictions

Mobility Scooters and Wheelie Walkers cannot be catered for due to our limited vehicles capabilities

Additional Information

• This tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to run on the day.
• Maximum number of passengers 20
• The operator cannot guarantee pick up or drop off times and are not liable for passenger failure to connect with other services
• Whilst we make every effort to safeguard our clients and their belongings we cannot be held responsible for personal injury or loss due to events which are beyond our control
• Travel insurance is not included
• Fuel charges and taxes included (GST included)
• Tours operate with a driver-guide. Foreign Speaking guides on request

Hat, sunscreen, camera & bottle of water

Child rate applies to children aged 4-14. No Infants (children aged 0-3)