Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is obvious haven for water sports. From snorkeling and diving to flyboarding and kayaking, check out all the ways you can get active and explore the warm, clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef:
Snorkeling
Clown fish and the bright-colored sea life in the Great Barrier Reef.
Cairns tends to elicit the desire to dive right into the reef and being exploring some of the world’s most renowned underwater depths — which is valid, given that the Great Barrier Reef is home to 1,500 pecies of fish and 411 types of coral. One of the best ways to see these famed reefs is to take a snorkeling and diving cruise departing Cairns. This will give you the opportunity to get away from the crowds and out to reef locations some five hours off shore to enjoy a diving experience with professional guides. There’s also the option to snorkel shallower depths or to see the reef by air with a scenic helicopter flight.
Flyboarding
After a dive, try flyboarding.
Looking for a thrilling experience that will take you to new heights? Try flyboarding. Taking off from the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, flyboarding will blast you 30 feet into the air via water propulsion where you’ll zip around and learn exciting tricks and maneuvers on a fly board. This could include dolphin diving, 360-degree turns, and reverse bungees, depending on initial skill level.
Jet Boat Ride
Flyboarding isn’t the only way to create thrills on the water, though. Taking a jet boat ride is another high-speed adventure you can’t miss. On this fast-paced 35-minute ride around the Trinity Inlet you’ll be splashing against the waves, doing high velocity spins, and riding the wild tide of the ocean. In addition to whooshing across the water, you’ll also spy on crocodiles and other wildlife set against the surrounding mangroves.
Sea Kayaking
Kayaking is a great way to explore the waters around Cairns.
Sea kayaking to Fitzroy Island will allow you to both explore the Coral Sea at your own pace while also hitting the water and paddling along the unspoilt coastline. When it’s time to cool off, just slip on a mask and dive off the side of your kayak to explore the waters at Nudey Beach. Afterward, finish off the experience with an ice cold drink from the bar.
Sailing
A sailing cruise to the Low Isles from Cairns offers the ultimate day in paradise. A luxury catamaran carries passengers who, cocktail in hand, relax in an air-conditioned lounge before arriving to the Low Isles, located 15 miles north-east of Port Douglas. A pristine coral cay with some 55 acres of reef to explore, Low Isles is a vital habitat for turtles, dugongs, and rays. The calm lagoon off the sandy beach makes for ideal snorkeling and swimming conditions, especially for beginners.
River Rafting
While most water sports in Cairns are in the ocean, don’t forget that inland from Cairns lies the several rivers. The Barron River flows the Atherton Tableland, a scenic plateau where giant Curtain Fig Trees and Curtain Fig Trees flourish. A half-day river rafting excursion on the Barron River from Cairns is a calmer journey (with mostly class three rapids) and is an excellent run for beginners. For more enthusiastic rafters, a full-day on the Tully River offers some of the best river rafting in Australia, with a five-hour trip down class four rapids, and also includes a BBQ lunch break.
-Contributed by Megan Snedden
Watersports in Cairns from Cairns & the Tropical North Things to Do