Cairns: Tropical Nature and Culture

When looking for a hotel in Cairns, you can start by considering which experiences you want to shape your stay. The range of attractions described here extends from tropical plant displays and walking trails to cultural venues and wildlife. Trips to the Great Barrier Reef and its islands are also among the options: they depart from the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns. These different highlights give you a practical starting point for organising your travel plans.

Tropical Plants and Trails

The Cairns Botanic Gardens is known for its display of tropical plants. Admission is free, and guided tours about plants and animals are also offered free of charge. Walking trails offer another way to experience the gardens. This means there are several ways to enjoy them: you can explore the plant displays, join a guided tour or stroll along the trails.

If you are interested in nature trails, Mount Whitfield Conservation Park has four interconnected loop trails: Red, Blue, Green and Yellow Arrow. They climb the slopes of the Whitfield Range. The park is also suitable for birdwatching.

Waterfront Promenade and Swimming Lagoon

The Cairns Esplanade is a 2.5-kilometre-long waterfront promenade in the heart of Cairns. It is home to a free public swimming lagoon. Toilets, showers, lockers and parking are also available along the promenade. This area therefore offers both a waterfront walkway and somewhere to swim, along with several practical visitor facilities.

Compared with the uphill loop trails at Mount Whitfield, the Esplanade offers a different kind of outdoor experience: the waterfront promenade and swimming lagoon are the main attractions here. This distinction can help you sort through Cairns' outdoor spaces according to the activities that interest you.

Art, Regional History and Wildlife

The Tanks Arts Centre owes its present form to a change of use: three oil storage tanks from the Second World War were transformed into a multi-purpose arts centre. Its history connects the story of the tanks with their later cultural use. The Cairns Museum has a different focus, offering an insight into the fascinating frontier region and its people.

The Cairns Aquarium also focuses on a particular subject. It showcases aquatic wildlife from the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. Visitor offerings include animal presentations and talks about habitats, a touch tank and daily shark and ray feedings. This lets you distinguish between art and the conversion of historic tanks, insights into the frontier region, and glimpses of aquatic wildlife.

Trips to the Great Barrier Reef

From the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns, you can travel to the Great Barrier Reef and its islands. This adds a trip to the reef or an island to the attractions within Cairns. For your planning, it is worth distinguishing this option from the things to do in town: the botanic gardens, the Esplanade, the museum and the aquarium each offer a different focus, while a trip from the terminal opens up a separate excursion.

Discover more destinations: Palm Cove, Kewarra Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Clifton Beach, Fitzroy Island, Woree, Holloways Beach, Gympie.

For the broader travel overview: Queensland.