10 days in Queensland Itinerary

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Scuba & Snorkeling and Palm Cove Beach. When in Cairns, make a side trip to see Hartley's Crocodile Adventures in Palm Cove, approximately 44 minutes away. There's much more to do: hike along Esplanade Boardwalk, kick back and relax at Trinity Beach, and take a stroll around Tanks Arts Centre.

To find other places to visit, more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Cairns online trip builder .

Denver, USA to Cairns is an approximately 25-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train. The time zone difference when traveling from Denver to Cairns is 17 hours. Expect much hotter temperatures when traveling from Denver in January; daily highs in Cairns reach 89°F and lows reach 75°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Mon) early enough to drive to Port Douglas.

A holiday in Port Douglas balances an activity-filled getaway with plenty of opportunities to relax, thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and bustling beach life.

Kick off your visit on the 7th (Mon): discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour. On the next day, take an exotic tour of a safari tour.

For traveler tips, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, use the Port Douglas trip maker site .

Traveling by car from Cairns to Port Douglas takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or do a combination of bus and shuttle. January in Port Douglas sees daily highs of 89°F and lows of 75°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 9th (Wed) to allow time for travel to Brisbane.

Queensland’s biggest town and state capital, Brisbane has an attractive, manicured image based around its riverside aesthetic as well as the contrast between its high-rise center and extensive urban greenery.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Thu): identify plant and animal life at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and then get great views at Mount Coot-tha Lookout. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: admire the natural beauty at Roma Street Parkland and then let the kids burn off some steam at South Bank Parklands.

To see maps, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Brisbane route planner.

Traveling by combination of shuttle and flight from Port Douglas to Brisbane takes 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle, flight, and bus; or drive. When traveling from Port Douglas in January, plan for a bit cooler days in Brisbane, with highs around 84°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 71°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Fri) early enough to travel back home.