If you've dreamt of exploring the rainbow wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef all your life, we'd like to propose Mission Beach as the base from which you do it. Far cheaper than its popular older siblings, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach, Mission is actually in a way better location to access the reef directly – and far less crowded. Only a two-hour drive from Cairns, Mission is peppered with affordable accommodation options. You can book a hostel for around $80, and can find a deluxe resort, hotel or motel room for between $90 and $180 a night. Far more relaxed than Port Douglas, you're in for long, languorous days on a beach full of swaying palm trees.
Pro tip: Drive from Cairns on your own and explore the incredible array of waterholes, beaches and ancient rainforests that live along the way.