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Twilight at the Esplanade, Cairns
Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Destination template · 12 days

Cairns & Brisbane in 12 days

2 sightseeing days in Cairns, a dedicated relocation day, then 9 days in Brisbane. Includes Cairns Esplanade and Gallery of Modern Art, with guide-listed dining suggestions.

Adapted from community travel guides · Researched Sources & notes

The stops are drawn from the guides below; daily order, times and durations are our suggested adaptation. Available map pins are approximate, not provider-verified; missing coordinates remain unset. Prices are left unknown; check tickets, opening hours and transport before booking.

Route data adapted from Wikivoyage contributors, with our own selection and suggested timing; shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source pages link to contributor histories. This is an editorial multi-day schedule; the source community has not rated this itinerary.

  • Stay in Cairns for the first 2 sightseeing days; move to Brisbane on day 3, then stay for 9 sightseeing days. Book accommodation in both bases rather than returning each night.
  • The 1391 km figure is approximate straight-line separation, not transit distance. The relocation day reserves room for travel and check-in without promising a direct service or a same-day connection. Verify the journey before booking this two-base plan.
  • City visits and restaurants are adapted from the linked retained community-guide material, not newly verified opening hours, live menus or first-hand visits. Suggested times are editable planning blocks. Check closures, reservations, accessibility and dietary needs.
  • Cover photo shows the first city. Original source and photo credits remain attached. Adapted community route selections retain CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution; source research dates remain in the individual stop and dining notes.
5 local dining picks added to this itineraryDining sources

These picks have positive travel-guide coverage or a named professional recommendation; they are not live customer ratings. Suggested times are not reservations. Confirm service days, dietary needs and prices. Other days remain open for your own food discoveries.

  • Day 1 · Yaya's Restaurant — Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 2 · La Pizza Trattoria — Pizza. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 4 · Montrachet — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 5 · Landmark — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 6 · Lefkas Taverna — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗

Sources checked 2026-10-30. Community-guide dining data is adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; source pages link to contributor histories.

Cairns & Brisbane itinerary: 12 days at a glance

Review the original daily plan before editing below. Times and durations are suggested planning blocks; dining stops are not reservations. Your personal edits appear in the editor and downloads.

Day 1: Cairns: Cairns Esplanade & Cairns Botanic Gardens

  • · Cairns Esplanade · 120 min
  • · Cairns Botanic Gardens · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Yaya's Restaurant (Traditional) · 75 min

Day 2: Cairns: Cairns Museum & Cairns Regional Gallery

  • · Cairns Museum · 120 min
  • · Cairns Regional Gallery · 120 min
  • · Dinner: La Pizza Trattoria (Pizza) · 75 min

Day 3: Cairns → Brisbane: travel and check-in

  • · Relocate: Cairns → Brisbane · 600 min

Day 4: Brisbane: Gallery of Modern Art & Queensland Art Gallery

  • · Gallery of Modern Art · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Queensland Art Gallery · 30 min
  • · Queensland Art Gallery · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Montrachet (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 5: Brisbane: Brisbane City Hall and King George Square & Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower

  • · Brisbane City Hall and King George Square · 75 min
  • · Transfer to Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower · 30 min
  • · Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower · 75 min
  • · Dinner: Landmark (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 6: Brisbane: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary & UQ Anthropology Museum

  • · Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary · 75 min
  • · Transfer to UQ Anthropology Museum · 45 min
  • · UQ Anthropology Museum · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Lefkas Taverna (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 7: Brisbane: City Botanic Gardens & Commissariat Store Museum

  • · City Botanic Gardens · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Commissariat Store Museum · 30 min
  • · Commissariat Store Museum · 120 min

Day 8: Brisbane: Cathedral of St. Stephen & MacArthur Museum

  • · Cathedral of St. Stephen · 90 min
  • · Transfer to MacArthur Museum · 30 min
  • · MacArthur Museum · 120 min

Day 9: Brisbane: New Farm Park & Museum of Brisbane

  • · New Farm Park · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Museum of Brisbane · 30 min
  • · Museum of Brisbane · 120 min

Day 10: Brisbane: Roma Street Parklands & Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying

  • · Roma Street Parklands · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying · 30 min
  • · Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying · 120 min

Day 11: Brisbane: Queensland Maritime Museum & Queensland Museum

  • · Queensland Maritime Museum · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Queensland Museum · 30 min
  • · Queensland Museum · 120 min

Day 12: Brisbane: Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha & Japanese Garden, Toowong

  • · Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Japanese Garden, Toowong · 30 min
  • · Japanese Garden, Toowong · 120 min

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Day 1
  • 10:00120m
    Cairns

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Map pin unavailable; locate the entrance before navigating. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cairns (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 14:00120m
    Cairns

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cairns (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    L 1 Aplin St

    Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Sun-Tue Thu 5-9:30PM, Wed 5-10PM, Fri Sat 5-11PM. Recheck with the restaurant. Route distance is unknown; check travel time and the entrance. Map pin unavailable; use the address to locate the restaurant. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cairns (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5396330; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 2
  • 10:00120m
    Cairns

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cairns (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 14:00120m
    Cairns

    Suggested visit block; confirm opening hours, admission and transfer time. Approximate map pin from a community guide; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cairns (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    93 The Esplanade

    Pizza. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Mon–Thu 6AM–10:30PM, Fri–Sun 6AM–11PM. Recheck with the restaurant. About 0.3 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Cairns (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5396330; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 3
  • 08:00600m
    Cairns → Brisbane

    Dedicated relocation day from Cairns to Brisbane; no transport is booked. The city centres are approximately 1391 km apart in a straight line, not a measured road or rail route. Choose and book a suitable flight, train, bus or ferry; confirm operating days, total door-to-door time, luggage rules and arrival before making reservations. This full-day block is reserved time, not a timetable. Move the following day if your journey needs longer.

Day 4
  • 09:30120m
    Brisbane

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.27 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Stanley Place, South Bank

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    1/30 King Street

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Service hours need confirmation. About 2.7 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5402017; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 5
  • 09:3075m
    between Adelaide and Ann Streets

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.06 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:0075m
    Museum of Brisbane

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    101/358 Mains Rd

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Service hours need confirmation. About 11.9 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5402017; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 6
  • 09:3075m
    708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0045m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (5.94 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    9 Chancellor Pl

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    170 Hardgrave Rd, West End

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Service hours need confirmation. About 1.3 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5402017; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 7
  • 09:30120m
    Brisbane

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.65 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    115 William St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 8
  • 09:3090m
    249 Elizabeth St

    Check visitor access and worship times; follow site-specific dress and photography rules. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.16 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Level 8, MacArthur Chambers, 201 Edward St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 9
  • 09:30120m
    Brisbane

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (2.6 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Level 3, Brisbane City Hall

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 10
  • 09:30120m
    Brisbane

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.67 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    317 Edward St

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 11
  • 09:30120m
    cnr Stanley and Sidon Streets, South Bank

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (1.26 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    cnr Grey and Melbourne Streets, South Bank

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 12
  • 09:30120m
    Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Brisbane

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.31 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Toowong

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Brisbane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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