Bucket List Trip: The Great Barrier Reef
A bucket list trip doesn’t need to be complicated. The sights say enough for themselves. Below is my super easy, casual, yet INCREDIBLE itinerary of my Great Barrier Reef Trip from this past June.
Day 1 Itinerary:
Arrive in Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Check into the DoubleTree Cairns (and receive your complimentary cookies hehe)
Helicopter Ride over the Great Barrier Reef with GBR Helicopters
Relaxation time / explore
Dinner @ The Raw Prawn
Day 2 Itinerary:
All Day Small Group Great Barrier Reef Tour with Seastar Cruises
Tour includes coffee/tea/muffins, Snorkeling, Glass Boat Tour, Scuba Diving (optional + additional price), lunch and the best day! I looked at SO many different tours and I am so thankful I went with them! It was the perfect day and I learned to scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef. Seastar made me feel super comfortable and were very helpful all day. I ended up diving three different times during the day. I also ended up getting a bit seasick on the way home and the crew couldn’t have been any kinder or helpful. I would definitely recommend this exact tour.
Dinner @ the Salt House
Day 3 Itinerary:
Ride the Kuranda Scenic Train into Kuranda Village.
Visit and explore all the Kuranda Village + the Rainforest have to offer
Take the Cairns Skyrail back into town.
Lunch @ Paper Crane by Crystalbrook - seriously the best seafood I’ve ever had. You have to order the calamari starters.
Dinner @ the Splash Restaurant
Casino (optional - I am definitely not encouraging gambling BUT $20 of entertainment for the night is totally okay)
Day 4 Itinerary:
Brekky @ Helga’s Pancake House : Yes they do put ice-cream on pancakes here in Australia!
(Iced) Coffee @ Candy Cafe Bar : don’t forget here in Australia Iced Coffee means ice-cream in your coffee and an iced latte is what Americans call iced coffee
Shopping (optional of course)
Depart Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Why I choose DoubleTree Cairns?
Location is everything for me. As a solo traveler I want to be close to everything without breaking the bank! The DoubleTree Cairns is right along the Esplanade (right next to the water). You can walk along the esplanade boardwalk right into the heart of the city. It took me 8ish minutes to walk to my Great Barrier Reef Tour, 5-10min walk into the city center and a $12 Uber to and from the airport.
Service was one of a kind from the minute I checked in to when I checked out. Extremely friendly and helpful staff!
CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN! The rooms were super clean which is crucial to enjoying your stay!
COMFY BEDS - every day I was exhausted from my adventures and it was so nice to come back to a comfy bed!
Affordable - the price was easily one of the lowest prices in the area of HOTELS not hostels; and of course Hilton Honors Members and AAA members get additional deals
Views - the room view was incredible (I had city + mountain + sunset view) but I know there are beach view options
Although I did not use the pool, the pool was beautiful.
Breakfast was offered at an additional cost (I did not choose this option but it looked delicious)
They have an excursion desk inside the hotel to help you book any other last minute excursions you might want.
COOKIES - need I say more ;)
Other Excursions or Activities:
Below is a list of some activities that I didn’t get a chance to do but you might be interested in doing.
Overnight Stay on the Great Barrier Reef (I didn’t want to do this solo and stay in a room with a random)
Daintree Rainforest River Cruise
Daintree Jungle Surfing Zipline
Swim in the Lagoon (Pool on the esplanade)
Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Doom @ the Reef Casino Hotel
