
Cairns on a Budget
Cheap things to do in Cairns! Budget tours and accommodation, sightseeing tours, free activities - making sure you have a great holiday at a budget price in North Queensland
Discover the Best Deals in Cairns
Experience Cairns and Tropical North Queensland on a BUDGET!
The region boasts the meeting of two UNESCO World Heritage-listed natural wonders – the spectacular Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Daintree Rainforest.
You can visit the AthertonTablelands, Port Douglas and even see the oldest aboriginal art on the planet – the list goes on. With a good assortment of tours and accommodation for those who are on a budget and want to experience the true beauty of Tropical North Queensland.
With its breathtaking scenery and warm climate, this region has taken its place as the most desired domestic holiday spot and world-class international tourist destination.
Cheap boat tours include snorkelling, lunch, glass-bottom boats and more. It might just take a little longer to get to the reef the tours still offer the same attractions as the more prominent more expensive operators.
Top 5 things to do in Cairns on a BUDGET
- Compass Cruise is Cairns favourite Budget Great Barrier Reef Tour
- Crocodiles at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
- Train & Skyrail visit to the Kuranda Village
- Fitzroy Island, hiking, swimming
- Tablelands and Waterfalls Tour
Top 10 Things to do in Cairns for FREE
- Cairns Lagoon
- Muddies if you have kids Muddies is so much fun
- Cairns Botanical Gardens
- If you love fitness & bushwalking the Red, Blue, Green & Yellow Arrows are awesome
- Centenary Lakes Nature Play has a great play area for kids
- Rusty’s Farm Markets open Friday to Sunday
- Swimming holes Behana Gorge and Crystal Cascades are great spots for a refreshing dip
- Munro Martin Parklands are World Class gardens
- Free Activities on the Esplanade – Skate Park, Exercise Equipment, Yoga, Beach Volleyball
- Treehouse another excellent option for kids & Wharf One Cafe right next door
Cairns Attractions
Great Barrier Reef

No visit to Tropical North Queensland is complete without a visit to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Take in the world’s largest living structure and witness the reef’s incredible aquatic life from a glass-bottom boat.
Day trips start at $115 and family rates from around $400
The Esplanade

Cairns Esplanade is one of Cairns’ most affordable attractions.
From Yoga to Zumba, fitness programs for all fitness levels and ages are offered free.
Once you’ve burnt up the calories, you can cool down in a salt-water lagoon surrounded by sand with a clear view of the Coral Sea.
Shops, art and live entertainment are open to the backpacker set and families alike.
Galleries &Museums

Don’t miss the opportunity to discover Cairns’ rich and varied culture expressed through indigenous and contemporary art displayed in its host of art galleries.
For $5 per person and $12 per family, the Cairns Museum offers a diversity of collections. That illustrates Cairns’ growth from frontier town for gold miners to the top class tourist attraction it is today.
Botanic Gardens

Cairns has one of the best botanic exhibits in Australia.
One of the Free things to do in Cairns is the Cairns Botanical Gardens.
Located only 4 kilometres from the heart of the city, and the gardens are a prime example of the types of plants that grow in the tropical atmosphere of the Daintree Rainforest.
20 of the Best Tours under $120

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
Visit the largest butterfly aviary in the Southern Hemisphere! Find the Ulysses Butterfly and the Cairns Birdwing Butterfly.
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Cairns Wildlife Dome
Cairns City Zoo at the top of the Reef Casino. You can get your photo taken with a koala. Meet some of our Aussie animals!
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Mamu Tropical Skywalk
Not only beautiful but sustainable too! You will explore the rainforest from the floor to the canopy and experience breathtaking views from this canopy boardwalk.
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Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat
No trip to Far North Queensland is complete without a visit to Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat!
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Hartleys Crocodile Adventures
Hartleys Crocodile Adventure is located just minutes north of Cairns or minutes south of Port Douglas Located on a hectare World Heritage location at Wangetti
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Cairns Aquarium
Discover over 16,000 creatures from the reef and rainforest by immersing yourself in the 5 unique habitats which are on display.
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Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome
Cairns Zoom is an awesome adventure ropes course that is great for the whole family don't miss the chance to zoom over the crocodile pit
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Paronella Park
The Spanish Castle in the Rainforest Spread over 5 Hectares Jose Paronella began construction of his labour of love in the early 1930s
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Fitzroy Island Ferry
Fitzroy Ferry departs several times a day from Cairns Choose from halfday fullday and resort accommodation Prices start at for an adult for a child
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Kuranda Scenic Train and Coach
The Kuranda Scenic Train Kuranda is a must when visiting Cairns. Discover Kuranda Markets unique art galleries and stalls with return coach transfers.
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Cairns Sight Seeing
The ultimate “City Sights” tour of Cairns and its spectacular tropical environs Offering so much more than the usual City tours this truly rewarding afternoon.
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Green Island Day Trip
Green Island Reef Cruise options for both full or half day spend a lovely day options for snorkeling relaxing on the beach walking and more
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Cairns Estuary Fishing and Crabbing
Enjoy a great morning or afternoon Fishing and Crabbing in the calm waters of our Cairns Estuary Trinity Inlet which is surrounded by lush greenery.
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Cairns Calm Water Fishing
Only the best equipment is supplied to ensure the best Cairns fishing trips.
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Estuary Fishing Cairns
Estuary Fishing Cairns. Catch barramundi, mangrove jack, queenfish, fingermark, trevally, salmon and more hard fighting tropical species.
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AJ Hackett Giant Jungle Swing
AJ Hackett Giant Jungle Swing is the only multi-person swing in Australia swooping through the jungle from 45 metres to 1 metre in 3.5 seconds!
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Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Half Day
Experience the famous Crocodile Attack Show where you see the notorious head shake and death roll of these huge prehistoric animals
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Green Island Half Day Tour
Enjoy beautiful Green Island with the Green Island Half Day tour. Laze on the beach, snorkel, dive or wander the rainforest boardwalks.
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Cairns Skyrail
Cairns Skyrail gives you a whole new perspective of North Queensland's rainforest. With an amazing boardwalk tour and the village to explore.
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Great Barrier Reef Budget Cruise
Cairns favourite icon budget tour to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Best crew, unlimited snorkelling, BBQ lunch, 2 locations and boomnetting
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Reef Encounter Stateroom
Cairns best liveaboard rated unbeatable on locations, service and value! Staying on Australias Great Barrier Reef is the number one thing to do in Australia
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Summer House Backpackers Cairns
Summer House Cairns is a slice of paradise in the heart of Far North Queensland.
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