9 days in Cairns & Townsville 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 outdoors at Safaris and Four Mile Beach. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Cairns: Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas (in Port Douglas) and Palm Cove (Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Spas & Wellness, & more). Spend the 20th (Sat) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. And it doesn't end there: trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, kick back and relax at Trinity Beach, have fun at Esplanade Lagoon Pool, and sample the tasty concoctions at Blue Sky Brewery.

To find reviews, more things to do, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Cairns day trip planning site .

Sydney to Cairns is an approximately 6-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Sydney in April, with highs in Cairns at 34°C and lows at 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Thu) to allow 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.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Fri): go for a walk through Castle Hill, enjoy some diversion at Tobruk Memorial Baths, and then kick back and relax at The Strand. On the 27th (Sat), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports.

To find other places to visit, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Townsville trip itinerary maker site .

Traveling by flight from Cairns to Townsville takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In April, daily temperatures in Townsville can reach 35°C, while at night they dip to 24°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.