15+ top attractions, must-see & best places to visit in Cairns, Australia

Cairns is a beautiful tropical city in Queensland, Australia, always welcoming visitors with interesting surprises. This place is not only famous for its warm climate all year round but also possesses countless attractive destinations. Let’s join us to check out these hottest Cairns tourist destinations that you cannot miss when visiting here. So, where to visit in Cairns? Below are 15+ top attractions, must-see & best places to visit in Cairns, Australia!

Cairns Aquarium

• Address: 5 Florence St, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
• Ticket price: Adults – 42 AUD, children – 28 AUD

Cairns Aquarium is a must-see destination in Australia, where you will admire more than 16,000 marine creatures from 10 different ecosystems. With 71 tanks, including Australia’s largest freshwater tank and the world’s first moving tide pool, this aquarium promises a journey of discovery full of surprises and fun for all ages.

Great Barrier Reef (#best places to visit in Cairns)

The Great Barrier Reef – a UNESCO world heritage site is an extremely rich and diverse marine ecosystem. Stretching over 2,300 km, this coral reef is home to many unique marine species such as whales, manta rays and sea turtles. You can explore the reef by joining a full-day diving, snorkeling and helicopter tour available on Klook. In particular, here, you also have the opportunity to enjoy fresh seafood right on the fishing boat.

Kuranda Railway

• Location: Bunda St, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: Daily from 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Ticket price: From 27.5 – 137.5 AUD/ticket (depending on the category)

The Kuranda Scenic Railway will take you on a breathtaking adventure through the UNESCO World Heritage Rainforest. Starting from Gimuy, Cairns, this journey will take you to Ngunbay, Kuranda, passing by the beautiful waterfall and Barron Gorge.

In Kuranda, you can explore the rainforest village, visit the markets, art galleries and especially experience the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to see the forest canopy from above.

In addition, you can book Kuranda Scenic Railway tickets, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway tickets online at Klook to enjoy the best price!

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

• Address: Captain Cook Hwy, Wangetti Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: 8:30am – 5:00pm
• Price: Adults ($41), children ($21.50)

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is a Cairns tourist destination for crocodile lovers. Here, you will see the giant saltwater crocodiles, the animals made famous by the Steve Irwin show. In addition, you also have the opportunity to touch baby crocodiles, observe Australia’s iconic hoopoe and admire many other wild animals.

Green Island

• Location: Green Island, Queensland, Australia

Green Island is a beautiful 6,000-year-old coral island located in the Great Barrier Reef. It has an extremely rich marine ecosystem with about 400 types of coral and 1,500 species of fish. Visitors can explore the underwater world by diving, snorkeling or taking a glass-bottom boat.

In addition, you can also walk to explore the island, learn about native plants and visit Marineland Melanesia to see the largest crocodile in captivity.

In particular, if you are passionate about exploring, you can refer to and book an eco-tour on a cruise to see the coral reefs of Green Island from Cairns on Traveloka at a preferential price!

Daintree National Park

• Address: Cairns, Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Ticket price: 199 AUD/person

Daintree National Park is a beautiful virgin rainforest, located northwest of Cairns. It is known as “the world’s oldest rainforest”, with an extremely rich and diverse ecosystem.

When joining a full-day tour to visit the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, you will have the opportunity to cruise on the Daintree River, stroll under the rainforest canopy on the boardwalks. At the same time, this is also a great opportunity for visitors to admire many rare animals such as hoopoe and saltwater crocodile.

Fitzroy Island

• Location: North Queensland, Australia

Fitzroy Island is a stunning Cairns tourist destination, an eco-resort paradise known for its beautiful hiking trails and diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems. For the best view of Fitzroy, don’t forget to visit the lighthouse at sunset.

In addition, you can book tickets to join the eco-tour to experience a cruise to Fitzroy Island & a day tour from Cairns on Klook to enjoy the best preferential price!

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

• Address: 6 Skyrail Drive, Smithfield, Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
• Ticket price: Daytime: Adults (AUD 55.80), children (AUD 37.80)/Nighttime: Adults (AUD 110.70), children (AUD 65.50)

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park is a must-see Cairns tourist destination, where visitors have the opportunity to explore Australia’s unique indigenous culture. Here, you will be immersed in a unique cultural space, learn about the history and heritage of the Aboriginal people through traditional dances, enjoy tribal cuisine and admire exquisite works of art and crafts.

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Swimming Pool

• Address: 52/54 Esplanade, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm (Thursday – Tuesday), 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Wednesday)

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Swimming Pool is one of the famous Cairns tourist attractions, providing a safe and fun swimming space for the whole family. The area around the lake also has a 2.5 km long walking path, suitable for walking, cycling or jogging.

In addition, Esplanade also has a beach volleyball court, children’s playground, climbing park and outdoor gym to meet all the entertainment needs of visitors.

Yorkeys Knob

• Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Yorkeys Knob is a gem located along the coast of Cairns, Australia, famous for its wild beauty and clear blue water. The special feature of this beach is the modern anti-jellyfish net system, ensuring absolute safety for visitors to enjoy swimming and playing.

Not only is it an ideal place to relax and sunbathe, Yorkeys Knob is also a paradise for those who are passionate about water sports. Here, you can try your hand at windsurfing, sailing or simply immerse yourself in the cool water.

Cairns Botanic Gardens

• Address: 78-96 Collins Ave, Edge Hill, Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: Daily from 7:30am – 5:30pm
• Admission fee: Free

Cairns Botanic Gardens is a place to preserve diverse plants in Australia. Here, visitors can easily learn about rare plants and birds, including the famous Kookaburra bird with a laugh-like call.

In addition, Cairns Botanic Gardens also impresses with the Watkins Munro Martin conservatory – which displays many rare plants and a collection of local butterflies.

Palm Cove

• Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Palm Cove is a small but charming coastal village that offers visitors a relaxed and peaceful pace of life. The beach here is famous for its wild beauty, white sand and clear blue water, very suitable for swimming, sunbathing or taking photos.

Here, visitors can also participate in fishing in the sea or simply relax on the sand. In addition, Palm Cove is also a paradise for health care treatments, from traditional Aboriginal spas to yoga classes.

Crystal Falls

• Location: Redlynch Intake Rd, Lamb Range, Queensland, Australia
• Opening Hours: Open Daily
• Admission: Free

Crystal Falls is a unique freshwater pool, surrounded by rainforest, creating a cool and isolated space. It consists of many small waterfalls pouring into large pools, hidden among giant granite boulders. Crystal is also an ideal place to participate in adventure activities such as canyoning, ziplining and kayaking.

Atherton Plateau

• Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Atherton Plateau is one of the prominent Cairns tourist attractions, located about 1 hour drive from the city center. This place is known as a culinary paradise with local farms and Yungaburra farmers market. This destination is also famous for its mountain bike trails or Crystal Cave – a place to display rare minerals.

Mount Whitfield Conservation Park

• Address: Collins Ave, Whitfield, Queensland, Australia
• Opening hours: Open daily
• Admission fee: Free

The 300-hectare Whitfield Mountain Conservation Park is a rainforest oasis in the heart of Cairns. It is a favorite destination for locals and visitors who want to immerse themselves in nature.

Hopefully the 15 suggested Cairns tourist destinations in the article above have given you satisfactory and suitable options for your upcoming trip to Australia.

Cairns guide: Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Cairns you can refer to

• Shared Cairns Airport Transfer (CNS) from and to Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove
• Great Barrier Reef Cruise (GBRA)
• Grand Kuranda Experience
• Kuranda Scenic Railway Heritage Class Admission in Cairns [Klook Exclusive 10% Off]
• Unpublished Cairns Reef Tours Full Day Green Island by Big Cat
• Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket
• Fitzroy Island Ferry Transfer Ticket from Cairns
• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Ticket
• Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket in Cairns
• Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Ticket
• Green Island Snorkelling & Glass Bottom Boat from Cairns
• Army Duck Tour with Skyrail Cable Car and Kuranda Scenic Railway Ride
• Grand Kuranda Full Day Tour from Cairns
• Klook Pass Australia Tours
• Great Barrier Reef Snorkel, Dive & Helicopter Full Day Tour
• Half or Full Day Fitzroy Island Transfers & Optional Activities
• Great Barrier Reef Day Tours
• Great Barrier Reef Full Day Tour from Cairns

Are you looking for more top things to do in Cairns: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here and Australia here.