Why Cairns is your new adventure capital

We’re all in desperate need of a fun shock to our systems, and Cairns has adrenaline activities to rival even New Zealand.

Not to be a downer, but we’ve had a couple of years of many low times.

The only racing hearts we’ve had was more to do with anxiety and existential dread than excitement. So it feels about time to restart our hearts, and there’s no better place to do that than Cairns.

So yes, we already know Cairns is a tropical haven, but that’s not why I’ve suggested it for your freedom trip.

In between the fab food, friendly locals and island-hopping, there are enough adrenaline activities to rival even New Zealand (and they’re a whole lot easier to get to right now) – think bungy jumping, helicopters and white water rafting.

After all, we deserve racing hearts to remind us we’re more alive than baking sourdough from scratch.

I'm not going to tell you which one I am, but I'm smiling so I guess I enjoyed it. Picture: supplied.

I was recently able to escape the dreary Sydney weather and venture up north myself, thanks to a new Adrenline and Tourism Events Queensland partnership. I had three days, and three activities to get my heart pumping – which is more action than I’ve had in what feels like three millennia.

White Water Rafting

My first adventure was white water rafting. It’s something I’ve only tried once before and it was in Canada’s glacial waters, so the balmy weather was already a win for me.

I was picked up from my hotel and carted up to the Barron Gorge river to try my luck on its grade three rapids.

It was raining quite heavily as we geared up for the boats, but to be honest in the hot and humid Cairns weather, the rain was welcomed.

The guides are a lot of fun – also I think there must be a rule that all white water rafting guides must have long hair, but will need someone to confirm – and really made even the most nervous among us feel calmer.

The beauty of Baron Gorge National Park was almost as exciting as the rapids. Picture: supplied.

After a just a few bumps and dips, the whole boat settled in and was ready for more. It’s a lot of fun, you will absolutely get wet – but to be honest the views of the Barron Gorge as you come out into calmer waters are almost as breathtaking.

Snorkelling

I know a lot of you saw snorkelling and scoffed. OK yes, it’s not technically an adrenaline sport, but it is when you factor in an extreme phobia of all underwater creatures (except turtles, turtles are the best).

Side note: reminding your phobic friend that fish won’t hurt them does precisely nothing to help.

We went out for a four hour tour of the Great Barrier Reef. For me, if this had just been a boat cruise, it would have been a bougie day of relaxing fun in the sun. The clear blue water, the surrounding islands covered in lush greenery; *chef’s kiss*.

Actual footage of me snorkelling, already poised to nope out of there if the fish got too close. Image: supplied.

This is my friend, not me, but I stayed in the water long enough to see a turtle! Picture: supplied.

Alas, even though I was under absolutely no obligation to actually snorkel, and there was a glass-bottom boat ride to look forward to (which is essentially a more realistic aquarium), I had decided to be brave.

Hitting the water in our ever-flattering stinger suits (and thank god, because the stingers were out in force that day), I braved the beautiful, open ocean with a small, guided group.

Our marine biologist leader promised to drag me back to the boat if I became paralysed with fear, and pointed out the most interesting parts of the reef so we actually knew what we were looking at.

One thing I didn’t need help to recognise, was the very adorable turtle that was checking out the area. Honestly, it was all I needed to see, I sunbaked on the boat after that.

The tour checked out two different reefs – for us it was Saxon Reef and Hastings Reef, but they make a judgment call depending on the conditions – a submerged boat experience and a classic BBQ lunch. All your snorkelling equipment is provided.

Images from my snorkelling trip, while I cowered on the boat. Image: supplied.

Giant Swing

On my final day, I signed up for something we can all agree is objectively terrifying: a 12 metre swing.

Popping 20-minutes out of Cairns’ CBD, the Skypark is home to a bungee jump and giant swing. Having bungee jumped before I can confirm that the swing is nowhere near as terrifying, but your stomach will drop and your legs will turn to jelly all the same.

What I love most about the swing is that you can have up to three people on it at once, plus the harnesses feel like a giant hug, and it just makes the whole thing feel more comforting.

once you (and your companions, if you choose to make it a team sport) are harnessed in, you’re winched up to the top, 12 metres above the ground, where one of you has to pull the lever to release the swing.

The first couple of swings are for real, and all you will remember is being terrified. After that, though, you can enjoy panoramic views of Cairns and you slowly swing to a stop.

I’ll be honest with you, we did take a Go-Pro video of the whole thing, but I would rather die than let you all see my face during that time. Instead, please enjoy this lovely women who posted her experience to Instagram.

Ready to shake up the routine that Covid threw you into? You can book all these activities and plenty more through Adrenaline.