22 days in Great Barrier Reef 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.

Get out of town with these interesting Cairns side-trips: Palm Cove (Hartley's Crocodile Adventures & Palm Cove Beach). Spend the 3rd (Sun) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 6th (Wed) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. There's much more to do: hike along Esplanade Boardwalk, enjoy some diversion at Esplanade Lagoon Pool, take in nature's colorful creations at Botanical Gardens, and appreciate the history behind Cairns Cenotaph.

Plan my Cairns trip by asking Inpirock to come up with tips and suggestions.

Dusseldorf, Germany to Cairns is an approximately 23-hour combination of train and flight. You can also fly; or do a combination of train, shuttle, and flight. You'll lose 9 hours traveling from Dusseldorf to Cairns due to the time zone difference. In February, Cairns is much warmer than Dusseldorf - with highs of 36°C and lows of 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Wed) to allow enough time 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.

Spend the 7th (Thu) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 8th (Fri) spotting exotic species with a safari tour. And it doesn't end there: meet the residents at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, tour the water at your own pace with Port Douglas Boat Hire, look for all kinds of wild species at Mossman Gorge, and see the vivid underwater world at Agincourt Reef.

For other places to visit, ratings, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Port Douglas trip maker app .

Getting from Cairns to Port Douglas by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a shuttle; or do a combination of bus and shuttle. In February in Port Douglas, expect temperatures between 36°C during the day and 28°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel to Townsville.

Tucked snugly beneath a steep, craggy mount--known as Castle Hill--the vibrant city of Townsville is as picturesque as its backdrop.

Start off your visit on the 11th (Mon): see some colorful creatures with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Here are some ideas for day two: take an in-depth tour of Museum of Tropical Queensland, enjoy the sand and surf at The Strand, and then go for a walk through Castle Hill.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, read Townsville trip planning site .

Do a combination of shuttle and flight from Port Douglas to Townsville in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and train. In February, daily temperatures in Townsville can reach 37°C, while at night they dip to 28°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 12th (Tue) so you can catch the ferry to Magnetic Island.

Start off your visit on the 13th (Wed): tour the water at your own pace with Pilgrim Sailing, kick back and relax at Geoffrey Bay, and then tour the water at your own pace with Big Mama Sailing.

To see other places to visit, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Magnetic Island attractions tool .

Magnetic Island is just a short distance from Townsville. In February, plan for daily highs up to 37°C, and evening lows to 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Wed) so you can travel to Airlie Beach.

Very much a town with an emphasis on the tropical lifestyle, Airlie Beach offers exotic surroundings with palm trees and charming, sandy beaches.

Spend the 14th (Thu) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. On the 15th (Fri), spend a thrilling day on the water with a speed boat tour. There's much more to do: get some thrills out on the water with a waterskiing or jet-skiing adventure, kick back and relax at Airlie Beach Lagoon, and contemplate the waterfront views at Heart Reef.

To find more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Airlie Beach travel itinerary planner.

Traveling by combination of ferry and car from Magnetic Island to Airlie Beach takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry and bus; or do a combination of ferry, flight, and bus. In February, daily temperatures in Airlie Beach can reach 34°C, while at night they dip to 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sat) to allow enough time to ride a ferry to Whitsunday Island.

Start off your visit on the 17th (Sun): contemplate the waterfront views at Hill Inlet and then enjoy the sand and surf at Whitehaven Beach.

To find ratings, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Whitsunday Island trip itinerary website .

Traveling by ferry from Airlie Beach to Whitsunday Island takes 1.5 hours. In February, plan for daily highs up to 36°C, and evening lows to 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Sun) early enough to travel to Fraser Island.

Fraser Island is known for nature, beaches, outdoors, historic sites, and spas. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: explore the activities along Lake McKenzie, enjoy the sand and surf at Indian Head, and stroll through Seventy-Five Mile Beach.

To see reviews, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Fraser Island trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by combination of flight, ferry, and car from Whitsunday Island to Fraser Island takes 9 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train, car, and ferry; or do a combination of bus, ferry, and car. In February, plan for daily highs up to 35°C, and evening lows to 24°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Thu) early enough to travel back home.