Palm Cove Family Beach and Rainforest

Stay at Palm Cove Beach, with Green Island, Kuranda, a crocodile park and Mossman Gorge. The relaxed pace suits families with children.

Use Palm Cove, a northern beach, as your base and plan one main activity each day: a glass-bottom boat and shallow snorkelling at Green Island, a cable car to Kuranda followed by the Rainforest Habitat, then north to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures before Mossman Gorge swimming holes and Port Douglas. On the last day, take a stroll in the botanic gardens before heading to the airport. Renting a car is the most convenient option, and each sight is 20 to 60 minutes' drive from your accommodation. The trip skips the long journey to the outer reef and suits families and older travellers.

School holidays from June to September bring high demand for accommodation. Swimming at the beach is limited to the netted areas.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrival at Palm Cove Beach

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef（Palm Cove）

Pick up your rental car at the airport and drive north along the Captain Cook Highway, about 25 minutes to Palm Cove.

In the evening, walk along the beach boardwalk and the jetty.

Stay: Palm Cove

Day 2 · Green Island Shallows and Glass-Bottom Boat

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef（Green Island）

Drive about 30 minutes to the downtown marina. Take a catamaran, about 45 minutes, to the island and return in the afternoon.

The shallow reef at the island is good for children to snorkel. Bring sun protection.

Stay: Palm Cove

Day 3 · Skyrail to the Kuranda Rainforest

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef（Kuranda / Skyrail Rainforest Cableway、Rainforestation Nature Park）

Drive about 15 minutes to the Smithfield cableway station. The cable car up the mountain takes about 1.5 hours. Return by cable car or scenic railway.

The Rainforest Habitat has koalas and a platypus viewing area, and a half day is enough.

Stay: Palm Cove

Day 4 · Hartley's Crocodile Adventures and Mossman Gorge

Port Douglas & Daintree（Hartley's Crocodile Adventures、Rex Lookout、Mossman Gorge、Macrossan Street）

Drive north along the coast road. Hartley's is about 15 minutes away, then about 1 hour to Mossman. Return via Port Douglas. The total is about 180 km.

Hartley's has a morning feeding show. At the gorge, change to the shuttle bus at the visitor centre.

Stay: Palm Cove

Day 5 · Botanic Gardens Stroll and Departure

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef（Cairns Botanic Gardens）

It is about 25 minutes to the botanic gardens by car, and about 10 minutes from there to the airport.

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