Cairns & the Tropical North attractions

Cairns Botanic Gardens is a horticultural oasis that’s home to more than 4,000 species of flora from around the world. The lush grounds are ripe with thick ferns and brilliant foliage. Tall palms and towering shade trees cast cooling shadows across the lawn, great for escaping the midday sun.

Part of Australia’s UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef, the sandy island of Michaelmas Cay—now a bird sanctuary and national park—is a nesting site for thousands of seabirds, from common noddies to sooty terns. Marine creatures such as leopard sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles also call the offshore coral reefs home.

Explore the world’s oldest tropical rain forest, the Wet Tropics UNESCO World Heritage Area. Stretching along the northeastern coast of Queensland, the area is renowned for its rich biodiversity, spectacular scenery, and rugged terrain, including lush rain forests, deep gorges, and waterfalls.

Carved out by the crater of an ancient volcano and encircled by a lush band of rainforest, Lake Barrine is a tranquil oasis within the Crater Lakes National Park. At the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Atherton Tablelands area, the lake serves as a popular recreational ground, with options for hiking, swimming, and boat cruises.

Queensland’s Paronella Park is the result of José Paronella’s dream of building a Spanish-style castle. The spacious grounds beside the Mena Creek Falls include the castle building as well as lush tropical rainforest, tennis courts, a suspension bridge (along with other bridges), and a tunnel. Opened to the public in 1935, Paronella Park is a local favorite and has won multiple awards—including eco-tourism awards.

Despite its location by the sea, Cairns doesn’t have any natural beaches within the city (the closest are to the north, but you can still enjoy the sun and sand at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. This 50,000-square-foot (4,645-square-meter lagoon is the highlight of the Cairns Esplanade. Here you can relax, swim, and sunbathe.

This private nature reserve is known for a rockscape of unusually-shaped boulders, deep swimming holes free of crocodiles, and a community of Mareeba Rock Wallabies, first identified as a new and endangered species here in the mid-1990s. Visitors can walk short nature trails, mingle with the wallabies, and spend the night in cabins or powered campsites.

Set in the heritage tin mining town of the same name in Far North Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, Historic Village Herberton is a living museum featuring more than 60 lovingly restored period buildings. Enjoy shops, a pub, a bank, a grocer’s, a printer, a garage, and more, with antiques, memorabilia, retro vehicles, and even working exhibits.

The Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas provides a chance to see Australia’s native animals—including koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, and cassowaries—in the context of conservation. The animals live in expansive enclosures that mimic their natural environments, and the 8-acre (3-hectare) park comprises five areas: woodlands, wetlands, rain forest, savannah, and nocturnal.

The pretty mountain town of Kuranda is tucked into hills 16 miles (25 kilometers) northwest of Cairns in Queensland, Australia. The journey is part of its appeal; visitors get views of forests and waterfalls, whether by train, skyrail, or road. The laid-back town has outdoor markets, eateries, wildlife tours, and an alternative vibe.

The beauty of the Great Barrier Reef often draws visitors to Cairns, but the natural beauty found on land is another great reason to visit. Lush, green, and with a touch of wilderness, this tropical city has a rainforest feel just off the Australian coast. One of the best places to experience this scenery is at the Flecker Botanic Gardens—specifically inside the swampy section known as Centenary Lakes.

Experience Cairns like a local by visiting Rusty’s Markets, a farmers’ market that’s considered one of the best in Australia. What started in 1975 as a sparse handful of stalls has ballooned into a long-running and beloved weekend marketplace. Every Friday through Sunday, more than 180 vendors gather to sell a range of goods.

Within Northern Queensland’s Wooroonooran National Park, Behana Gorge is a fun place to hike and swim in the refreshing Clamshell Falls. It’s popular with in-the-know locals but is less visited by tourists. So pack your walking shoes, a bathing suit, and plenty of water, and discover the delights of Behana Gorge.

Cairns visitors don’t need to get out into the bush to see Australian wildlife. The Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome, in the heart of the city, offers the chance to see koalas, cockatoos, snakes, and crocodiles up close, all while enjoying an exhilarating zipline ride or other high-octane adventure.

Cairns Cruise Port is one of Australia’s busiest cruise ports, set along the Coral Sea coast in northern Queensland. Located in the heart of Cairns, the port offers easy access to the city center and the Northern Beaches, but it’s also the gateway to the tropical north and the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia’s only rain forest dining experience invites travelers for an evening of food and entertainment under the stars in one of the world’s oldest rain forests. The multi-course meal, highlighting ingredients from the rain forest, is served by candlelight to the sounds of live acoustic guitar or Aboriginal music and storytelling.

In between diving the Great Barrier Reef and hiking in the Daintree Rainforest, be sure to visit the Cairns Night Markets & Food Court to shop, eat, and even get a massage after a day of exploring. The marketplace has over 130 stalls selling everything from touristy souvenirs and T-shirts to blown glass, local honey, and Aussie leather hats.

Despite its name, Muddy’s Playground is a modern water playground that isn’t really that messy. Incorporating active, passive, educational, and interactive elements in its play equipment, Muddy’s is hugely popular with Cairns locals. Themed around the waterfront it sits on, the park includes a range of equipment for kids of all ages, including splash areas, a rope bridge, multiple slides, and puzzle games.

The 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer Esplanade Boardwalk is the heartbeat of Cairns. Running along the scenic coast in the Cairns CBD, the promenade features picturesque lawns and landscaped parklands along the palm-fringed waterfront. It’s the perfect place for joggers, cyclists, and travelers to stretch their legs and take in the sights.

With an elevated walkway, a cantilevered viewing platform, and a 121-foot (37-meter) high observation tower, the Mamu Tropical Skywalk is a highlight of Wooroonooran National Park in Queensland, Australia. Enjoy dramatic views over the North Johnstone River gorge and the surrounding rainforest as you walk across the 33-foot (10-meter) cantilever and get an up-close look at the park’s wildlife and foliage.

Trinity Beach offers a tropical getaway within easy access of the city of Cairns. Popular with locals from the suburban community of the same name, the laid-back Trinity Beach features crystal clear waters, a sandy stretch of beach, paved walkways that wind past lush gardens, and almond trees cast shade from the strong sun.

Mount Whitfield Conservation Park is a rainforest surrounded by the urban development of Cairns. Covering 741 acres (300 hectares), it’s a popular place for locals and visitors alike to escape the bustling city. As a forested range completely isolated from other natural vegetation, it’s incredibly delicate, consisting primarily of rainforest, with patches of both eucalyptus forests and grasslands with cycads.

One of four linked trails running through the Mount Whitfield Regional Park, the Red Arrow Walk offers a scenic introduction to Cairns’ lush rainforest and is a popular choice for runners. The 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) circuit runs from the base of Mount Whitfield, behind the Cairns Botanical Gardens, and follows a scenic route through the eucalyptus forest and bamboo groves.