As a mermaid instructor in Cairns, I get a lot of students travel to the region to do a course. Here's some of my recommendations when visiting Cairns:
Ocean Safari:
Ok so my FAVOURITE tour to the reef is one called Ocean Safari out of Cape Tribulation. I have been to the reef on many tour operators from Airlie Beach and Cairns and Port Douglas but this one is hands down the best. You will need to drive 2hrs north of Cairns to a little community in the rainforest called Cape Tribulation which is super beautiful & worth staying a night or two there as well. The Ocean Safari tour desk has accommodation you can book there. The boat is 30mins out to the reef and it is a half day snorkel. https://oceansafari.com.au/
Waterfall Circuit:
If you have a car, there are LOADS of waterfalls around Cairns. There is a "waterfall circuit" loop that you can drive which will take a full day and stops at a few of them: https://www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/listing/itinerary/waterfall-circuit/ There are a few more that arn't on that list too: https://www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/articles/20-waterfalls-cairns
The Islands:
For students doing the Advanced Mermaid Course, we will visit one of the islands as part of your course, but I highly recommend it for your friends too. Green Island has plenty of schooling fish and marine life under the pier which I love. Fitzroy has a summit hike which is quite nice too.
Nightlife:
Depends on what your scene is! Salt House is a nice starting point, Pier Bar is where most people go for a beer after a day on the reef, at like 9pm it starts to liven up a bit more and people make their way to PJ O'brians, Woolshed and Gilligan's. If you are after something a bit more classy, the Pullman hotels have nice bars, and there's some along the esplanade as well.
Rustys:
The fruit & Veg Market Rustys is beautiful to pick up some exotic tropical fruits and veg for your stay if you are cooking. You can take some fruit for your waterfall day to picnic. I love getting coffee from Billy's cafe there and sometimes there will be a few people around playing Chess or Backgammon. Annie's Vietnamese Coffee is also super yummy.
Creeks:
We have two incredible swimming creeks nearby, Stoneys Creek and Crystal Cascades. Both are about 15min drive from Cairns city, and are tranquil locations.
Palm Cove For Sunrise:
I love visiting palm cove for sunrise, grabbing a coffee and a bite to eat, relaxing under the palm trees and enjoying a swim in the nets.
There's plenty to see in Cairns and surrounds. If you are coming up for a course with me, why not extend your stay a little longer to see what else the region has to offer!
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