down under tours cairns queensland

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Select Tours Available Now

Many of our normal day tours are currently not running due to partners days of operation,  however we are pleased to offer the below tours during this time so you can still experience the best of Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef Region!

Please see each product for dates and services of operation.

Travel in air-conditioned comfort in your luxury purpose-built vehicle to Cape Tribulation; through some of the oldest rainforest in the world. Visit Mossman Gorge, cruise the Daintree River and walk on famous Cape Tribulation Beach. Read More...

Cape Tribulation, Daintree & Mossman

Travel in air-conditioned comfort to Cape Tribulation; through some of the oldest rainforest in the world … Included is morning tea and a driver guided walk at Mossman Gorge, a cruise on the Daintree River, delicious tropical BBQ lunch set amongst the rainforest, walk on famous Cape Tribulation Beach, a delicious exotic fruit ice cream cup at the Daintree Ice Cream Company and a photo stop at Alexandra Lookout.

A great option for those passengers with their own car, self drive to Skyrail, Smithfield terminal and park your car. Read More...

Kuranda, Self Drive, Scenic Rail & Skyrail

A great option for those passengers with their own car, self drive to the Smithfield Skyrail terminal and park your car. Board Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for your journey to Kuranda, where you will enjoy free time. At your allocated time, board the Kuranda Scenic Rail to Freshwater Station where we will collect you for your transfer back to the Smithfield Skyrail terminal where your car is waiting.

Operates daily

Your day begins with the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail journey to Kuranda. Sit back, relax and take in the spectacular views as you wind your way up to quaint village of Kuranda. Read More...

Kuranda, Scenic Rail & Skyrail

Your day begins with the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail journey to Kuranda. Sit back, relax and take in the spectacular views as you wind your way up to quaint village of Kuranda. There is plenty of time to explore, including the Heritage Markets which operate daily. Then it’s time to board Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for your return journey, gliding silently over and through the rainforest, enjoying beautiful views along the way.

• From Cairns = operates daily

Take a half day tour to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures - the best place to see crocodiles in Tropical North Queensland! Read More...

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

Take a half day tour to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – the best place to see crocodiles in Tropical North Queensland! There is ample time to explore this wonderful park, including the Wetlands Cruise through the Melaleuca wetlands, domain of the saltwater crocodile. Take in the Crocodile Attack Show, and fascinating Snake Show.

Operating on select dates below with transfers from Cairns, Northern Beach and Port Douglas.

Cairns and Northern Beaches

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturdays

Port Douglas

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday

Travel on the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway before visiting Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Read More...

Kuranda, Scenic Rail, Skyrail & Hartley’s Crocodiles

On this fun filled day tour you can take in the magnificent views aboard the Kuranda Scenic Rail then soar above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Our coach will then transfer you to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – the best place to see crocodiles in TNQ!  At Hartley’s you’ll explore the Melaleuca Wetlands on a 25 minute boat cruise, marvel at the death roll of a Saltwater Crocodile and explore the wildlife park home to Koala’s, Wallabies and Queensland’s Southern Cassowaries.

Operating on select days outlined below

• From Cairns & Skyrail Smithfield Terminal = operates Tuesdays to Saturdays

• Cape Tribulation
• Aboriginal Tours
• Wildlife Experiences

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Down Under Tours - Day Tours

• See all photos

Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation Day Tour from Cairns

Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail including Artillery Museum

Sightseeing Kuranda Self-Driving Tour

Waterfall Wetlands and Skyrail from Cairns

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Down Under Tours - Day Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Down Under Tours - Day Tours

• See all photos

Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation Day Tour from Cairns

Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail including Artillery Museum

Sightseeing Kuranda Self-Driving Tour

Waterfall Wetlands and Skyrail from Cairns

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Down Under Tours - Day Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Excellent trip with a knowledgable guide - Down Under Tours - Day Tours

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• Cairns Region    
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• Down Under Tours - Day Tours

Excellent trip with a knowledgable guide

Thoroughly enjoyed this trip. Our guide, Greg, was really knowledgable and friendly and kept us entertained with jokes the whole day. The lunch was delicious. The cruise on the Daintree river with our guide Jack was amazing and we were lucky enough to spot both a really young and an adult male crocodile. The views were stunning and it was lovely to see such an untouched and natural environment. Couldn’t finish without mentioning the gorgeous ice cream too! Highly recommend.

Hi Jan, thanks for the lovely review! We have passed your feedback on to our driver Greg. Thank you for travelling with us.

had a great trip on the train thanx to the onboard crew & drivers for the wonderful trip up yo Kuranda onboard the 1770 locomotive that pulled our train and the onboard commentary was good and very helpful hearing about the places we passed through

Thank you for the review. happy to hear you enjoyed your Scenic Rail experience.

Gorgeous day trip with beautiful views!! Absolutely stunning! The train is lovely and you gently rock your way up the mountain stopping for sights. I took the skyrail down which also was absolutely beautiful! Highly recommend this tour!

Thank you for the review, it is a day loaded with stunning scenery.

We were a bit unsure about taking this trip but are so glad we did, an amazing, enjoyable and very informative trip. Our guide Daniel was so knowledgeable about the natural world, professional and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Although not cheap we think this was good value for money as we saw all the key highlights, plus several additional stops,and there were morning and afternoon refreshments plus a delicious lunch. Any dietary requirements were asked at the start, I am coeliac and my gluten free requirements were very well catered for, with no need to take my own food! Would highly recommend.

Hello. Thank you for such an amazing review. It's wonderful to hear you were well looked after throughout the day. I have passed on your feedback to the team. Thank you for choosing Down Under Tours!

Overall trip was good but lack of clarity by tour group on meeting point meant bus left without collecting us. Had to arrange private Uber to skyline at own cost with no reimbursement. Skyline ride and train itself interesting and rainforest tour informative.

Hello. I would like the opportunity to look into this further for you. please feel free to call me on +61 7 40470 9050 or if you prefer you can email me via [email protected] with your booking number and details.

Really enjoyed this tour. Being new locals, we wanted to experience the Daintree and Cape Tribulation with an experienced tour guide for tips and the best attractions. We learnt so much about the flora, fauna and all the wildlife! Scott was a fantastic tour guide and gave us some awesome local information as well! Really enjoyed the sights, the food was fantastic- everything was so well organised - I highly recommend this tour for tourists and locals alike!!

We love it when locals join our tours to learn more about the World Heritage Listed Daintree! It's great to hear you enjoyed your day with us. Thanks for the review.

Down Under Tours - Day Tours

• See all photos

Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation Day Tour from Cairns

Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail including Artillery Museum

Sightseeing Kuranda Self-Driving Tour

Waterfall Wetlands and Skyrail from Cairns

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Down Under Tours - Day Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Down Under Tours - Day Tours

• See all photos

Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation Day Tour from Cairns

Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail including Artillery Museum

Sightseeing Kuranda Self-Driving Tour

Waterfall Wetlands and Skyrail from Cairns

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

DOWN UNDER TOURS - DAY TOURS (Cairns) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

• Full Day Reef Cruise
• Scuba Diving
• Reef Cruise & Heli Scenic
• Gold Class VIP Lounge
• 2 Day Reef & Rainforest
• 3 Day Reef, Skyrail & Rainforest
• Fly / Cruise - Half Day Trip
• Cruise / Fly - Full Day Trip
• 2 Day Reef & Skyrail + Kuranda Train
• Daintree Rainforest Tour
• Outback Tour
• Snorkeling Cairns
• Introductory Dives
• Certified Dives
• Marine Biology Guided Snorkel Tour
• Semi Submersible Tour
• Photography
• Private Charters
• Schools Groups
• PADI Learn to Dive Open Water Course
• PADI Advanced Dive Course
• PADI Referral Course
• PADI Open Water + Advanced Course
• Reef locations
• Gift Vouchers

• Book Online
• Tour Packages
• Latest Deals
• Charters & Groups
• Private charters
• Schools groups
• PADI Courses

VOTED #5 BEST DAY CRUISE IN THE WORLD & #4 BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE IN AUSTRALIA BY TRIPADVISOR

Why choose us?

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 30 YEARS

Down Under Cruise & Dive are a locally owned & operated company taking locals & tourists to the Outer Great Barrier Reef for over 30 years!

AWARD WINNING TOURIST & DIVE BOAT

35-metre luxury superyacht, Evolution, was awarded the 2016 Ausmarine Best Tourist & Dive Boat in Australia. Discover the reef onboard the best boat!

TRIPADVISOR #5 TOP DAY CRUISE IN THE WORLD

Awarded Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards year on year. Our Reef Cruise was voted #5 Day Cruise in the WORLD and #4 Top Travel Experiences in Australia.

AUTHORISED 5-STAR PADI DIVE CENTRE

Our PADI Diver Training Courses ensure that your certification is accepted internationally so you can dive anywhere in the world!

Snorkel and dive at two outer reef locations

During your Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise, you will travel to two different Outer Reef locations. Saxon Reef is located in between Norman Reef and Hastings Reef and is a haven of marine life and thriving coral colonies. Relatively smaller in size than our other Great Barrier Reef destinations at just 1.9 square kilometers, Saxon Reef is a spectacular reef location not often frequented by many other tour operators and therefore is a pristine, untouched snorkelling and diving paradise. Saxon Reef offers an abundance of diverse areas to explore for both snorkelers and scuba divers.

Award-Winning Reef Tours from Cairns

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef so it would come as no surprise that the Great Barrier Reef is the #1 reason people travel to Cairns.

Down Under Cruise and Dive is one of the only Cairns reef tour operators that are still locally owned and operated. During our 30 years of operation, our outstanding customer service, commitment to eco-tourism and exceptional reef tour has helped us win many awards.

Departing Cairns, our 35-metre luxury superyacht Evolution provides an unforgettable day on the Great Barrier Reef. Our Cairns reef tour offers the most activities for even greater value. Experience two outer reef locations with up to 5 hours on the Great Barrier Reef snorkelling and scuba diving. Dial up the adventure with a scenic helicopter flight over the reef or join one of our Semi-Submarine Tours.

The world’s largest coral reef system and world-heritage listed site is ready and waiting for you to explore. Join Down Under Cruise and Dive for an unforgettable, personalised day on the Great Barrier Reef.

The best snorkelling at the best reefs. We have selected our outer reef locations for their variety to provide the best experience for both beginners, experienced snorkelers and children of all ages.

Try scuba diving without any previous experience! That’s right, if you have never dived before, and have always wished to experience firsthand the beauty of the underwater world you can arrange an Introductory dive with one of our friendly and professional Instructors.

Learn the secrets of the reef with our Marine Biology Tours

SCENIC FLIGHTS

Discover the Great Barrier Reef from above with our helicopter packages

Check out our latest reef specials, discounts and local deals.

LOCALS SPECIALS

Check out our local reef special for NQ and Cairns locals.

City, Beaches and Palm Cove return transfers available

WETSUIT HIRE

Hire onboard to stay warm and protected

What our customers say

Down under dive's evolution - extraordinary experience.

"My husband and I have done numerous reef trips in our glorious back yard, but this was by far the best. Evolution is a perfectly designed vessel for this type of experience, manned by outstanding staff, who give all guests an unforgettable day. I could not fault any part of the trip, from the food, professionalism, diving, weather and the relaxing attitude of the staff. There's a reason why they are in the top 5 in the world - an absolutely fabulous day out. This company has perfected the reef experience - not to take away from other operators in Cairns & Port Douglas, but this was just a cut above the rest. We loved it!" - NancyFNQ via

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ABN: 73 683 832 334

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How to have an epic adventure in Queensland

Jump, swing, climb and dive your way through the thrilling, diverse landscapes of this action-packed australian state, article bookmarked.

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If you’re planning a memorable trip Down Under, don’t skip Australia’s Sunshine State. Aside from ancient tropical rainforest, the world-famous Great Barrier Reef and rugged outback landscapes, the state is also chock full of heart-pumping activities for those who crave a little adventure. Here’s our ultimate guide to activities in Queensland for those who want to leave no stone unturned while keeping the adrenaline flowing.

Hot Air Balloon GC

A scenic hot air balloon ride over the Gold Coast is one of the best ways to see a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the region’s diverse landscape from above. Wake up early and watch the sun come up as you float through the clouds and soak up the 360-degree panoramic views from 2,000ft, snapping photos of the sprawling coastline, iconic skyscrapers, and golden beaches below. Your journey can begin from a variety of different launching points, from which you’ll soar high above vineyards, spot stingrays gliding around in the shallow waters or follow meandering waterways through the Gold Coast hinterland. You can even round off your morning experience with breakfast post-flight.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Nature lovers are in their element in Queensland, but places like O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat make it that bit more special. Located in the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, just a 90-minute drive from the Gold Coast, the retreat offers a place to stay among breathtaking nature and native wildlife. Enjoy tree-top canopy walks on suspension bridges installed high up throughout the rainforest, or head on a glow-worm tour, where a four-wheel-drive bus will take you to a secluded gully lit up by the bioluminescent glow of these abundant little beetles. There’s also a flowing creek that makes for the perfect picnic spot and naturalist-guided walks where you might catch sight of wallabies, pademelons (small, wallaby-like hopping marsupials) and platypus. For those who are all about wining and dining, the retreat has its own vineyard with wine-tasting sessions and three restaurants with epic landscape views.

Visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is a magnificent, ancient ecosystem and one of the oldest rainforests in the world, estimated to be around 135 million years old. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site thanks to its incredible ecological significance and biodiversity, and home to all kinds of unique flora and fauna. Want to catch a glimpse of the large flightless Cassowary bird? This is one of the few places in the world where it can be found in its natural habitat. Deep between the forest, you’ll also find Mossman Gorge, renowned for its crystal-clear water and ancient rocks, perfect for cooling off after taking a tour to learn about the Aboriginal Kuku people who have called the region home for centuries.

Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett

For those who prefer something a little more adrenaline-fuelled, Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett is the place to be, and it’s only a 20-minute drive from Cairns City. Plunge through the rainforest on a bungee jump or see if you can handle the Minjin Jungle Swing, the world’s fastest jungle swing, which will catapult you a speedy 120 kmph through the trees. If you’d rather keep two feet sort of firmly on the ground, the Edge Lookout boasts epic views of Cairns and the surrounding mountains; it’s Cairns’s highest viewing platform.

It may be chock full of nature, but the Gold Coast is also where you’ll find the best theme parks in Australia, including Dreamworld. It’s the ultimate Aussie playground, with slides, rides and wildlife all in one place. Make your way around the heart-racing roller coasters, including Steel Taipan, Australia’s only triple launch coaster hurling you up to 105 kmph and around 1.2km of twists and turns. The park is also a wildlife conservation park, so if roller coasters aren’t really your thing, you can meet all kinds of native Australian wildlife, and tigers on their famous Tiger Island.

Noosa Everglades

Noosa is a chic seaside town bordered by lush rainforest, drop-dead gorgeous beaches and glistening lakes. It’s a great place to spend a few days beach-hopping, swimming at secluded beaches and hiking through Noosa National Park. It’s also where you’ll find the Noosa Everglades, one of only two Everglade systems in the world, and one of the best ways to experience it is by taking a canoe tour . Coast through the mirror-clear calm waters surrounded by purple waterlilies and flitting blue dragonflies. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell where the water starts and ends, leading to its nickname: the River of Mirrors.

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