Cairns Private Tours
Our private day tour collection
Explore Far North Queensland on your terms with our Cairns private tours, designed exclusively for your group. Enjoy your own vehicle, a dedicated Wet Tropics Accredited local guide, and the flexibility to explore at your own pace. Choose from our four signature itineraries below, or let us create a completely bespoke experience tailored to your interests.
Cassowary Coast private day tour
The Cassowary Coast is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and one of the lesser-visited corners of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics Rainforest. This private day tour explores Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls and Etty Bay, one of the best stretches of Australian coastline for spotting the endangered Southern Cassowary.
Expect guided rainforest walks, swims in fresh water creeks, cascading waterfalls and unhurried time at each stop. Your guide will adjust the route on the day depending on conditions and what your group wants to see most.
Tour highlights
- Full-day interpretive nature tour
- Guided rainforest walks
- Swim in fresh water creeks in the Rainforest
- Explore Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls, and Etty Bay
- Opportunities to observe Southern Cassowary & other wildlife
What's included
- Private air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Accredited experience local guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- National Park and attraction entry fees (where applicable)
- Morning tea, lunch and refreshments
- Personalised touring at your pace
Ready to Experience the Cassowary Coast?
Daintree and Cape Tribulation private day tour
A private day tour through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation coastline. Two of the most ecologically distinct landscapes in Australia, joined by a single coastal drive
Cruise the Daintree River with wildlife sightings, often including saltwater crocodiles, then continue north on the scenic drive to Cape Tribulation. Stop at Thornton Beach and Coopers Creek along the way, walk in the Daintree on guided interpretive trails, and visit Daintree Ice cream Co., an exotic fruit orchard to enjoy unique flavours of gelato and sorbets.
The day concludes at Mossman Gorge, Country of the Kuku Yalanji people, with time for a swim in its pristine waters.
What's included
- Private air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Accredited experience local guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- National Park and attraction entry fees (where applicable)
- Morning tea, lunch and refreshments
- Personalised touring at your pace
Tour highlights
- Daintree River wildlife cruise explores the rich biodiversity of the Daintree River ecosystem
- A guided interpretive tour of the ancient old Daintree Rainforest
- Lunch at an exclusive beachfront restaurant
- Mossman Gorge, Daintree River, Cape Tribulation, Coopers Crossing & Thornton Beach
- Visit a tropical fruit orchard in the Daitree and enjoy an exotic fruit ice cream or gelato
- Swimming in Mossman Gorge (conditions permitting)
Atherton Tablelands private day tour
Discover the natural beauty and diverse landscapes of the Volcanic Province of the Atherton Tablelands on this privately guided day tour through rare Mabi rainforest, high altitude landscapes, pristine waterways and the dry Savannah – the gateway to the outback.
Stops include Dinner Falls at Mt Hypipamee National Park, Curtin Fig National Park, Crater Lakes National Park and the Savannah, where you’ll observe Unadorned Rock Wallabies in their natural habitat.
Tropic Tours is a financial partner of the Mabi Reforestation Project, which protects and regenerates the rare Mabi rainforest you walk through on this tour.
Tour highlights
- Interpretive guided walks
- Interact with Unadorned Rock Wallaby
- Platypus, Cassowary and Tree Kangaroo spotting opportunities in natural habitat (conditions permitting)
- Visit to iconic waterfalls, including Dinner Falls at Mt Hypipamee
- Explore the rare Mabi Rainforest of the Curtin Fig National Park
- Visit the volcanic Crater Lakes National Park
- Birdlife and endemic wildlife viewing opportunities
What's included
- Private air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Accredited experience local guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- National Park and attraction entry fees (where applicable)
- Morning tea, lunch and refreshments
- Personalised touring at your pace
Tour highlights
- Scenic journey from the Wet Tropics to the Australian Outback
- Morning tea at Skybury Coffee Plantation
- Travel through historic rural townships including Mutchilba, Dimbulah, Petford and Almaden
- Guided tour of one of the Chillagoe-Mungana underground caves
- Discover ancient limestone formations and geological wonders
- Visit the historic Chillagoe Smelters
- Lunch at the historic Post Office Hotel
- Guided walk through Chillagoe National Park to Balancing Rock
- Afternoon stop at Granite Gorge to enjoy the beauty of the savannah landscape
Chillagoe Caves Australian outback adventure and private day tour
A full-day private tour from Cairns into the Queensland outback. Travelling north-west, watch the Wet Tropics rainforest give way to the golden savannah plains of the Australian interior.
Begin your day with a relaxed morning tea at Skybury Coffee Plantation, overlooking sweeping views of the Skybury. Then continue through the historic rural townships of Mutchilba, Dimbulah, Petford and Almaden, each a glimpse into early mining settlement life of the region.
At Chillagoe, take a ranger-guided tour through the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves where intricate limestone formations and ancient coral fossils reveal a landscape shaped over millions of years beneath an inland sea. Above ground: the heritage-listed Chillagoe Smelters, Balancing Rock and lunch at the historic Post Office Hotel.
The day finishes with a visit to Granite Gorge where the warm hues of the savannah landscape create a fitting finale to this extraordinary outback experience, before the return drive to Cairns.
Tailor-made private tours. Build your own day
Your own private day in Tropical Far North Queensland, thoughtfully built around your interests with our guidance. Wildlife photography, accessibility, food and produce, deep cultural experiences, name the priorities and we’ll shape the day around them.
Tell us about your preferred travel dates, group size, interests and any accessibility requirements, and we’ll work with you to create a personalised itinerary and quote. With the flexibility to adjust timing, locations and inclusions, this is the ultimate way to explore the region in a more personal and considered way.
What's included
- Private air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Accredited experience local guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- National Park and attraction entry fees (where applicable)
- Morning tea, lunch and refreshments
- Personalised touring at your pace
Create your perfect day
- Fully customised private touring experience
- Flexible timing and pace throughout the day
- Choose from rainforest, waterfalls, wildlife or cultural experiences
- Personalised recommendations from local experts
- Ideal for special interests, families or small groups
What to bring
Hat
Tropical sun is strong year-round, a wide-brim or cap is essential for outdoor stops.
Swimmers and towel
Most tours include at least one swim stop in fresh water.
Comfortable walking shoes
Closed-toe walking shoes or sturdy sandals for short rainforest walks and uneven terrain at waterfalls.
Water bottle
Refillable, we’ll refill throughout the day
Cardigan
For cooler months (May–September)
Why a private tour with Tropic Tours
When you choose Tropic Tours, you’re choosing award-winning local expertise, genuine personal service, and a commitment to protecting the places we love to share. Here’s why travellers choose us
Frequently asked questions about private tours from Cairns
Every private tour includes hotel pick-up and drop-off in Cairns, your own air-conditioned vehicle, a Wet Tropics Accredited local guide, morning tea, lunch and refreshments, and all national park and attraction entry fees. The day is shaped around your group’s pace and interests, with no other guests joining. Choose one of our four set itineraries or build your own day with our help.
Private tour prices vary by group size, destination and the day requested, we quote each tour individually rather than fixing a per-person rate that doesn’t reflect the day you’re actually planning. To get an accurate quote, send a short enquiry with your preferred tour, number of guests and date, and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
Cancellations made more than 21 days before your private tour date are refunded in full, less a 20% administration fee. Cancellations within 48 hours, or no-shows on the day, are non-refundable.
Yes, every private tour with Tropic Tours is flexible. The four set itineraries on this page are our most popular routes, but each one can be adjusted to your interests: spend longer at a waterfall, skip a stop that doesn’t suit, swap in a swim or a coffee farm visit. If none of the set itineraries fit, our Tailor-Made Private Tour starts from a blank page and is built entirely around what you want to see, do and taste.
Small group tours run on set dates with up to 11 guests, follow a fixed itinerary, and are charged per person. Private tours are run for your group only, on a date you choose subject to our availability, with full flexibility on pace, stops and timing. Private tours suit families, accessibility needs, dietary requirements or anyone wanting a day shaped entirely around them.