Discover 20 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Cairns (Australia). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Cairns Botanic Gardens, Cairns Aquarium, and Crystal Cascades. Also, be sure to include Cairns Regional Gallery in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Cairns (Queensland).
Table of Contents
Cairns Botanic Gardens
Flecker Botanical Gardens is a heritage-listed botanic garden at Collins Avenue, Edge Hill, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1886 to 1960s. It is now known as Cairns Botanic Gardens, and also known as Edge Hill Nursery, and Fitzalan's Botanical Gardens. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 February 2007.[1]
Address: Collins Avenue, 4870 Edge Hill
Cairns Aquarium
Aquarium in Cairns, Australia. Cairns Aquarium, the first public aquarium built in Australia in 18 years, is home to more than 16,000 specimens and 10 ecosystems. The $54 million, 7,800sq m, three-level facility in Queensland holds 71 tanks including Australia's largest freshwater tank with 400,000 litres of water, a deep sea tank and the world's first true tidal motion tank. It has 10 lifelike and recreated habitats and is the only aquarium of its type to display endangered or rarely seen endemic species such as the emerald tree monitors, Jardine River painted turtles, ribboned pipefish and scalloped hammerhead sharks. The aquarium is also an interactive research and education centre and is home to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.[2]
Address: 5 Florence Street, Cairns
Crystal Cascades
Scenic spot in the Redlynch, Queensland, Australia. The Crystal Cascades is a cascade waterfall on the Freshwater Creek in the Far North region of Queensland, Australia.[3]
Cairns Regional Gallery
Building complex in Cairns, Australia. Cairns Court House Complex is a heritage-listed site incorporating a former courthouse and a former public administration building at 38–40 Abbott Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1919 to 1921. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[4]
Address: 40 Abbott St, 4870 Cairns City
The Reef Hotel Casino
Casino in Cairns, Australia. The Reef Hotel Casino or Pullman Reef Hotel Casino is the only casino in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
The hotel has 128 hotel rooms and is jointly owned by Casinos Austria International Limited and Accor Casino Investments (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
The complex features a central LED pillar and interactive floor which is prominent next to BAR36. The bar hosts free live entertainment 5 nights a week and serves food from 4pm-8pm every night. The Reef Hotel Casino also houses the Merchant Artisan Food & Coffee cafe plus four restaurants: Tamarind, Café China Noodle Bar (in the former Cairns Customs House), Cafe China Restaurant and Flinders Bar & Grill. It also hosts the Cairns Zoom & Wildlife Dome on the rooftop.[5]
Address: 41 Wharf St, 4870 Cairns City
McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery
Cemetery in Australia. McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery at 127-145 McLeod Street, Cairns North, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1877 to 1954. It is also known as Cairns General Cemetery and Cairns Pioneer Cemetery. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[6]
Address: 180 McLeod St, 4870 Cairns
Jack and Newell Building
Jack and Newell Building is a heritage-listed office building at 29 Wharf Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1911 by Hanson & Sons. It is also known as Bartlam's Ltd, Fearnley & Co. Ltd, and Nosworthy's Stores. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 November 1996.[7]
Cairns City
Cairns City is a coastal suburb at the centre of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It is also known as the Cairns Central Business District. In the 2016 census Cairns City had a population of 2,737 people.[8]
Cairns Wharf Complex
Heritage preservation in Cairns, Australia. Cairns Wharf Complex is a heritage-listed wharf at Wharf Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1910 to 1948. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 17 December 1999.[9]
Cairns War Memorial
Cairns War Memorial is a heritage-listed memorial at The Esplanade, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1925. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[10]
Australian Armour and Artillery Museum
The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum is a privately owned museum dedicated to tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery from the Second World War and post war periods. It was officially opened in 2014, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
The museum has purchased a number of vehicles and items for display from overseas, including some items from the Littlefield Collection when it was downsized. It is the largest collection of military vehicles in Australia, and the only major collection of vehicles in Australia apart from the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Memorial and Army Tank Museum at Puckapunyal. It is one of the largest private collections of artillery and AFVs in the world.
The museum houses vehicles from a number of overseas manufacturers, including vehicles from Russia, Germany, Japan, the UK, the US and Czechoslovakia.[11]
Address: 2 Skyrail Drive, 4878 Smithfield
Cairns School of Arts
Cairns School of Arts is a heritage-listed former school of arts and now the Cairns Museum at 93-105 Lake Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Tunbridge, Tunbridge & Lynch and built from 1907 to 1941 by Hanson & Sons. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
The Cairns Museum is a local history museum operated by the Cairns Historical Society.[12]
St Monica's Old Cathedral
Cathedral in Cairns, Australia. St Monica's Old Cathedral is a heritage-listed former Roman Catholic cathedral at Minnie Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Lawrence and Lordan and was built in 1927 by Michael Garvey. It is also known as St Monica's Cathedral and St Monica's Church & School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 1 July 1997.[13]
Address: 181 Abbott St, 4870 Cairns City
Cairns City Council Chambers
Town hall. Cairns City Council Chambers is a heritage-listed former town hall and now council library at 151 Abbott Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Hill & Taylor and built from 1929 to 1930 by Alex McKenzie. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 October 1998. It is now home to the Cairns City Library.[14]
Address: 151 Abbott Street, 4870 Cairns
Cairns Railway Station
Tourist attraction in Kuranda, Australia. The Kuranda Scenic Railway is the name for the railway line that runs from the coastal city of Cairns, Queensland, Australia, over the Great Dividing Range to the town of Kuranda on the Atherton Tableland. The tourist railway snakes its way up through the Macalister Range on the Cairns-to-Kuranda railway line which is no longer used for regular commuter services, but instead operates as a tourist service, operating every day of the year, except Christmas Day. It passes through the suburbs of Stratford, Freshwater and Redlynch before reaching Kuranda. The line is used for some freight services and other passenger services, such as The Savannahlander.
The railway is 37 km (23 mi) in length. It takes about one hour and 55 minutes to climb one way including the stopoff at Barron Falls.[15]
Dr EA Koch Memorial
Dr EA Koch Memorial is a heritage-listed memorial at Abbot Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Melrose & Fenwick and built in 1903. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 May 1997.[16]
Copperlode Dam
Reservoir in Australia. Copperlode Falls Dam or Lake Morris is a fresh water reservoir dam in Lamb Range, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, servicing the city of Cairns. The dam is located in the range immediately west of Cairns.[17]
Address: Copperlode Dam, 4870 Cairns
Tanks Arts Centre
WWII RAN Fuel Installation is a heritage-listed former fuel depot and now arts centre at Collins Avenue, Edge Hill, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1943. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 February 2007.
The building is now home to the Tank Arts Centre, a multi-use, contemporary arts facility for the visual and performing arts.[18]
Address: 46 Collins Ave, 4870 Edge Hill
Bishop's House
Bishop's House is a heritage-listed former Roman Catholic monastery and now bishop's residence at Abbott Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Father Joseph Phelan and built in 1930 by Michael Garvey. It is also known as St Monica's Monastery/Priory. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 1 July 1997.[19]
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
Address: 4 Skyrail Drive, Cairns