Looking for a place to take your family on a much needed getaway? Cairns could very well be the spot for you. Here you'll find stunning locations where you can enjoy the outdoors, take part in a thrilling activity and learn more about this area and the world around us.

Check out the Esplanade lagoon

This free attraction is quickly becoming one of the most popular places to visit in Cairns. The lagoon is a new addition to the Esplanade and is an utterly stunning place to take a dip.

The lagoon is perfect for families for many reasons. The lagoon is 4,800 square metres large with sandy beaches and fresh seawater, but there is also a children's play area and two lifeguards constantly on duty, keeping an eye on the lagoon as well as the surrounding area.

Make a day out of your excursion here and enjoy the park, boardwalk and many areas where you can have a picnic or barbecue – you never know, you could even catch a gig on the outdoor concert stage!

Head on over any day of the week between 6:00am and 10:00pm.

Go hot air ballooning

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity your kid will remember long after your holiday is over. It's also a fantastic way to see the absolute beauty of Cairns, from a bird's eye view.

Getting up early is definitely rewarded with the truly stunning sunrise over North Queensland. Everyone will instantly be calmed in the fresh quiet of the morning. 

You'll take off on the rolling hills of the Cairns Highlands. The climate here is perfect for balloon flying and flights take place on nearly every day of the year, so no matter when you visit this is a great option.

Along with your flight, breakfast, transfers to and from your accommodation and in-flight photo opportunities are included.

Discover the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is without a doubt one of the most amazing natural attractions in Australia. With more than 3,000 individual reef systems and an amazing amount of marine life don't miss out on the opportunity to see more.

Go on a boat tour, snorkelling, scuba diving or climb into a helicopter and see the wonder from above – there are many ways you can discover this national treasure.

Great Adventures specialises in Cairns Great Barrier Reef and Green Island Tours. An outer reef tour includes a ride aboard a speedy catamaran, morning tea and coffee, three hours on the activity platform, snorkelling, a reef education presentation, buffet lunch, underwater observatory with a guided eco reef tour, afternoon tea and an exciting journey home – and that doesn't even include the optional extras such as introductory scuba diving. What more could you want?

Adventure on horses

Horse riding is a great way to discover more of the beauty of Cairns. This is a truly authentic Australian experience and is a great deal of fun, whether you head inland into the subtropical forests or onto the bountiful beaches.

There are many tourism operators that will provide you with a horse, guide and take you down some of the most stunning trails in the area.

Mount-N-Ride Adventures is just 30 minutes drive out of the city (which is an easy distance to cover when you have a rental car) and is situated in the Little Mulgrave Valley. Mount-N-Ride has been providing travellers with horse rides for 15 years, and those who book themselves a trip are never short of amazed by the world heritage mountains, some of the world's oldest rainforests and crystal clear Mulgrave river.