Cairns and Kuranda form the tourism hub of the Wet Tropics. They offer a variety of natural and cultural tourism, with minimal travel and opportunities to take commercial tours if you wish. This small region takes in the Barron Gorge National Park and straddles the ranges between the Cairns urban area and Kuranda Village which is set high in the hills surrounded by rainforest.

As well as its long, sandy northern beaches, Cairns has numerous rainforest walks and swimming holes close by in the surrounding ranges of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Crystal Cascades and Stoney Creek are two popular swimming holes used by locals and visitors alike. Mount Whitfield and the Flecker Botanical Gardens are well worth a visit to get an insight into the tropical flora and fauna of the region.

Kuranda is a busy tourist village. A popular day trip from Cairns, it has several parks for wildlife, birds and butterflies. Many visitors go there on the Kuranda Scenic Railway or take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to see the World Heritage rainforest. Barron Falls and the sheer gorge are a highlight for most visitors, especially when the river is in flood after heavy rain in the wet season. There are a variety of walks around Kuranda Village and Barron Falls, some of these walks link to the coastal lowlands around Cairns.