5 days in Great Barrier Reef Itinerary
5 days in Great Barrier Reef Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Great Barrier Reef trip builder
Route & dates
5 days in Great Barrier Reef Itinerary
Start: Sydney
Fly + shuttle:
6h 45min
1
Port Douglas
— 2 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive:
1h 15min
2
Cairns
— 2 nights
Find places to stay »
Fly:
6h
End: Sydney
Edit
View full calendar
2
nights
Port Douglas
2
nights
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.Start off your visit on the 13th (Wed): stop by With Sugar and then get to know the resident critters at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 14th (Thu): discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour.
For ratings, where to stay, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Port Douglas trip planner .
Sydney to Port Douglas is an approximately 7-hour combination of flight and shuttle. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and bus. In March, Port Douglas is a bit warmer than Sydney - with highs of 36°C and lows of 27°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Fri) so you can go by car to Cairns.
Things to do in Port Douglas
Find places to stay Mar 13 — 15:
Highlights from your plan
Scuba & Snorkeling
10:00am, Thu Mar 14
Safaris
10:00am, Fri Mar 15

Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
4:00pm, Wed Mar 13
2
nights
Cairns
2
nights
The Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
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.On the 16th (Sat), look for all kinds of wild species at Wildlife Areas. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 17th (Sun): have fun at Esplanade Lagoon Pool, then appreciate the history behind Cairns Cenotaph, and then stroll through Esplanade Boardwalk.
Take the guesswork out of planning a Cairns vacation by using our trip itinerary maker.
Getting from Port Douglas to Cairns by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or take a shuttle. In March, daytime highs in Cairns are 36°C, while nighttime lows are 27°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Sun) so you can travel back home.
Things to do in Cairns
Find places to stay Mar 15 — 17:
Highlights from your plan
Scuba & Snorkeling
10:30am, Sat Mar 16

Esplanade Boardwalk
1:30pm, Sun Mar 17

Esplanade Lagoon Pool
10:00am, Sun Mar 17
Similar Plans
7 days in Great Barrier Reef
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
March, outdoors, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: March, outdoors, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
6 days in Great Barrier Reef
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
February, kids, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: February, kids, outdoors, relaxing, beaches
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
14 days in Australia
BY A USER FROM INDIA
June, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: June, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
8 days in Great Barrier Reef
BY A USER FROM JAPAN
February, relaxing, historic sites, slow & easy, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: February, relaxing, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Slow & easy
7 days in Great Barrier Reef
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
February, kids, relaxing, beaches, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: February, kids, relaxing, beaches
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
17 days in Australia
BY A USER FROM CANADA
August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
16 days in Australia
BY A USER FROM CANADA
August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
22 days in Australia
BY A USER FROM CANADA
August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
3 days in Great Barrier Reef
BY A USER FROM INDIA
February, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife, popular sights
PREFERENCES: February, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
18 days in Great Barrier Reef
BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA
January, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, museums, wildlife, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: January, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, historic sites, museums, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
8 days in Great Barrier Reef, Uluru & Surrounds & Sydney
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
April, culture, romantic, beaches, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: April, culture, romantic, beaches, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
20 days in Sydney, Great Ocean Road & Great Barrier Reef
BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM
June, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: June, culture, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
View more plans