Cairns is a city in Queensland, Australia which is popularly known as gateway to the Great Barrier Reef or the Daintree Rainforest. Cairns is very well known for its natural beauty, cultural experiences and adventure attractions. The city Cairns is surrounded by many beaches that provide beautiful views and activities.
The best visiting areas in Cairns-
1. Kuranda Scenic Railway –
Kuranda Scenic Railway is a historic tourist railway service which travels 37 kilometres from Cairns to the village of Kuranda which was built in 1981 in Queensland, Australia. The top best place to explore in Cairns which is one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. The journey includes 15 tunnels and over 55 bridges with commentry and the route passing through Barron Gorge National Park ancient rainforest, waterfalls and dramatic gorges.
Kuranda Scenic Railway Station which is decorated by beautiful tropical setting with potted plants, hanging baskets, ferns etc.
The Kuranda Village which is a popular tourist spot with markets, craft shops or other local attractions.
The railway accept cash with credit cards, mobile payments etc.
Buy the tickets from – https://skyrail.com.au/
2. Cairns Aquarium-
Cairns Aquarium is the largest freshwater Aquarium in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. One of the best place to visit in Cairns which showcases the two World Heritage listed environments The Great Barrier Reef and The Wet Tropics Rainforest. The Cairns Aquarium where you can explore over 71 different habitats and the home of over 16000 animals which includes various types of fish, rays, sharks etc. One of the interesting place where you can also explore the experience such as animal talks, touch tanks, shark feeds. Carina Aquarium also held special events like Aquarium by Twilight which is focus on nocturnal animals.
Opens everyday from 9:30am to 3:30 pm
Duration- 2-3 hours
Book the tickets from- https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/cairnsaquarium/items/266983/calendar/2025/11/?
3. Esplanade Boardwalk-
Esplanade Boardwalk is a 2.5 km waterfront promenade which offers a scenic walking path along the foreshore in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. One of the top best destination for visitor in Cairns which features such as parks, playgrounds, swimming lagoons area with opportunities to see pelicans, birds, flying foxes with beautiful views of mountains and bay. One of the most popular spot for clicking the pictures.
Opens everyday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
4. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon-
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is a 4800 square metre free saltwater swimming pool for public which is located in Cairns, Australia. This is one of the best place to enjoy in Cairns which offers safe swimming environment and it is family friendly atmosphere. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon has a public free facilities with sandy shores, lifeguards or shallow pools for children which makes popular destination for locals or tourists.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon hosts various kind of activities such as live music, weekend market or free fitness classes and the lagoon also provides beach volleyball courts, boulder park, skate park etc. You can also enjoy food or drinks from the nearby cafes or restaurants.
Opens everyday from 6:00am to 9:00pm
5. The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum-
The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum is one of the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere which is dedicated to the collection, restoration, preservation and display of armoured vehicles or artillery from 1800s to till now which is located in Cairns, Australia. The best place to visit in Cairns which can feature over 230 vehicles with focused on World War II and offers some exhibits such as Tiger or T-34 tanks. The museum also provides experiences such as rides in Armoured personnel carriers(daily at 11am to 2pm), shooting gallery(50m underground shooting gallery)or children play areas.
Opens everyday from 9:30AM to 4:30PM
Duration- 1-2 hours
6. Cairns Botanic Gardens-
Cairns Botanic Gardens is a 38 hectare garden which is popular for tropical paradise where you can explore the beauty of tropical plants, stunning or relaxing nature or learn about the tropical flora or horticulture. One of the best place to visit in Cairns which offers the Flecker Gardens, Gondwana Heritage Garden, Zhanjiang Friendship Garden or a rainforest boardwalk. Cairns Botanic Garden also offers a bamboo collection, Aboriginal plant uses or conservation and find the information about local flora.
Opens everyday from 7:30am to 5:30pm.
7. Josephine Falls –
Josephine Falls is a scenic waterfall with a natural waterslide located in the Cairns, Australia. The best place to visit in Cairns which offers clear water swimming, a sandy beach, 700m rainforest walk or a 1.2km walk to the top waterfall with the beautiful view. Josephine Falls also offers a chance to see the flora and fauna and also provides picnic spots.
Be careful about Flash Flooding because water level can rise without any warning or warn about the colour signs.
Opens 24/7
8. Great Barrier Reef –
Great Barrier Reef is a world’s largest coral reef which is included in UNESCO World Heritage site known for its biodiversity which is located in Cairns, Australia. One of the best place to visit in Cairns which spreads over 2,300 kilometres along the coast of Queensland and it is made up of nearly 3,000 reefs or 900 islands. Great Barrier Reef is home for a marine life which includes 4,000 of mollusks or 1,500 species of fish and 400 coral types.
You can enjoy the activities like snorkeling, sailing, diving or exploring islands.
Opens everyday from 9:00am to 5:00pm
Duration- more than 3 hours
Book the tickets from – https://peterpans.com/australia/cairns-and-great-barrier-reef/
9. Muddy’s Playground-
Muddy’s Playground is a free public modern splash playground or parkland which is located on the Esplanade, Cairns, Australia. The best place to visit in Cairns which has a Life in Trinity Bay themed playground with a mixed feature of interactive or educational activities. Muddy’s Playground offers play equipment such as flying fox, rope bridges, slides, sound chimes, playhouses, story telling areas or puzzle games. Muddy’s Playground offers facilities such as picnic areas or tables, showers, restrooms.
Muddy’s Playground provides on site cafe where you can enjoy food, snacks and coffee.
Opens everyday from 9:00AM to 7:00PM.
10. Atherton Tableland –
Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau located in the southwest of Cairns, Australia. The best place to visit in Cairns which is popular destination for waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, rich agriculture, crater lakes, rainforest, mountains or diverse wildlife. Atherton Tableland is known for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, mountain biking, bird watching. Atherton Tableland has a various waterfall such as Zillie Falls, Millaa Millaa Falls or Ellinjaa Falls or Crater lakes like Lake Barrine or Lake Eachem.
Atherton Tableland offers Hot Air Balloon which offers a beautiful aerial view and charming towns such as Herberton or Mareeba.
You can also enjoy the food with cafes or restaurants.
Opens daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00PM.
These are the Top 10 destinations in Cairns, Australia.
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