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Underwater wonderland
Cairns Aquarium is the place to go if you want to see and interact with the incredible aquatic life found only in Australia's Wet Tropics. North Queensland is home to 2 World Heritage listed ecosystems, here you can see some of the rarest and elusive animals on earth. This aquarium boasts over 15,000 animals from 71 habitats across Tropical North Queensland.
Streuth what a croc!
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is so much more that just crocodiles. This park includes a Cassowary Garden, a Wildlife Discovery Trail, an Evolutionary Walk on top of Hartley's Crocodile Lagoon. Tour the lagoon by boat to get up and close to these amazing creatures and to learn about North Queensland's diverse and amazing habitats. Covering 10 hectares there is over 2100 m of boardwalks and pathways for you to go discover!
Zip amoung the trees!
Voted as one of the must-do things while in Cairns, the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway delivers a unique experienceup among the tree canopy. With plenty of flexibility in packages you can tailor the perfect experience for you and your family. Situated in the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics you will get to see some of the very best of Australia from lookouts, stations and along the way!
Take the leap
The Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome is the world’s first Challenge Ropes Course in a wildlife immersion exhibit, It consists of 65 elements of crossings and ziplines.
Mid-ZOOM – At an easier level of difficulty, suitable for beginners and/or young people. Must be over 120 centimetres tall and less than 120 kilograms.
Hi-ZOOM – At a greater level of difficulty, consisting of more complex crossings and ziplines for the more adventurous, featuring three ziplines – one of which you dangle over Goliath the croc!
Must be over 140 centimetres tall and less than 120 kilograms.
Power Jump – This enthralling component is a freefall adventure, where you jump off a 13 metre high tower to make a rapid descent, with a fan device ensuring a gentle and smooth landing. Must be over 120 centimetres tall, over 20 kilograms and less then 120 kilograms.
Dome-Climb – Walk along internal walkways with a birds-eye view of inside the Dome, and then an external platform with spectacular views of the city and surrounding land and seascapes. Must be over 120 centimetres tall and less than 120 kilograms.
Plenty to see
Cairns Night Markets & Food Court is Australia's first night market. Open every day of the year, and boasting a wide variety of shops and food stalls, there is something for everyone
Food Court is open from 10am - 11pm
Shopping 5pm - 11pm
A little oasis
Welcome to Cairns Botanic Gardens, the only wet tropic botanic gardens in Australia. At Cairns Botanic Gardens, the collections reflect their tropical diversity, with plants from the steamy jungles of South East Asia, South America and Africa easily adapting to the warm, wet climate of Cairns. These gardens have a fairytale-like feel for many plant collectors, with the most outstanding flowering and foliage plants arranged in natural landscape style.
Situated on Collins Avenue only four kilometres from the Cairns City Centre, the gardens comprise of three main areas:
Cairns Botanic Gardens – main botanic collection, Orchid House, The Fernery and aboriginal Plant Use Garden. There is also the award winning Botanic Gardens Restaurant Cafe open for breakfast and lunch.
Centenary Lakes – has the wonderful rainforest boardwalk, Amazon Pond Lilies, native fruit trees, ample bird life, Freshwater Lake and Saltwater Lake with the occasional crocodile siting.
Mount Whitfield Conservation Park – the famous red and blue arrow hiking tracks with stunning views over Cairns and Trinity Inlet, where you can spot the occasional scrub turkey and orange footed scrub hen.
The Cairns Botanic Gardens can be found on Collins Avenue, Edge Hill.
Let's go exploring
Cairns Tableland Tours specialises in small to medium day tours. Cairns Tableland Tours offer personalised tours to cruise ship passengers as well as tours for hotel guests staying in Cairns and Northern Beaches.
They also offer a day tour for Golfers in Cairns or Yorkey’s Knob for hotel guests or ship passengers.
The most popular tour they offer for the cruise ship passengers is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda, lunch at Kuranda Hotel including a drink and Kuranda Scenic Railway.
A wide range of tour itineraries for guests who would like an all inclusive stay from three to seven days at very reasonable prices. You will have an endless choice for example, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Railway, Coffee Plantations, Wineries, Waterfalls, Heritage Museums, ATV rides etc. A tour can be tailor made to suit the guests.
Cairns Tableland Tours prides themselves on providing an all inclusive value for money tour.
For young and young-at-hearts
Cairns Wake Park offers a unique water-sport experience for young and old. A man made freshwater lake offers wake-boarding, knee-boarding, and water-skiing for beginners through to advanced riders. An open view terrace with chairs and tables, and a kiosk where you can purchase food, soft drinks or even a beer, invite you to relax and let the day go by.
Cairns Aqua Park provides fun for the individual or the whole family. An inflatable playground ideal for anyone wanting to get wet and get active! Great for birthdays, team bonding and group bookings.
A beach with umbrellas, a barbecue area and a small swimming lagoon for their youngest visitors contribute to the inviting atmosphere. Stay for an hour or the whole day – you’ll love it!
Located at the bottom of the Kuranda Range, situated next to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, Cable Ski Cairns is easily accessible by car or local transport. The cable park is on the main route to the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas.
Cable Ski Cairns – “Anyone can do it – Everybody is doing it”.
Carnival atmosphere
Rusty’s boasts over 180 stalls featuring exotic fruit, vegetables, and flowers, sumptuous delicatessens with fresh breads, diary, and seafood, a host of international food and beverage stalls, an abundance of bric-a-brac and specialty products including clothing, jewellery, coffee, and chocolate ... and so much more!
Friday — 5am to 6pm
Saturday — 5am to 6pm
Sunday — 5am to 3pm
More activities, more value
Discoverthe real reef with Sunlover Reef Cruises. Departing daily from the Reef FleetTerminal in the heart of Cairns, travel by fast, air-conditioned catamaran toour Moore Reef pontoon on the outer Great Barrier Reef, which is perfectlypositione d and equipped for you to explore one of the natural wonders of the world and home to the Sunlover Sunslide – the only water slide on the GreatBarrier Reef!
Designed for all ages and abilities to fully experience the brilliantly coloured corals and more than 10,000 marine species that inhabit the reef, you will enjoy more activities and more value.
Take advantage of the free inclusions such:
Sleep under the stars
An intimate once-in-a-lifetime overnight experience on the Great Barrier Reef.
Enjoy two days on Moore Reef pontoon including the onlywaterslide on the Great Barrier Reef!
As the sun sets, a lucky few can experience the reefexclusively with private snorkelling tours at sunset and sunrise, a deluxe BBQ and a magical night of stargazing.
Tucked up in an Aussie swag, slumber in one of the natural wonders of the world.
Take advantage of the free inclusions such:
Scenery from above
For that once in a lifetime experience, Nautilus Aviation offers one of the best ways to see the region's natural wonders.
Departing daily, guests can jump on board a scenic flight, enjoy a reef and rainforest day package, escape to a secluded sand cay, cast a line with HeliFish, design a tour of their own or, for the more adventurous, take the controls and fly themselves. The sky is no longer the limit.
Tropical island heaven
Departing daily from Cairns Marina, Sunlover Reef Cruises presents Fitzroy Island - 99% national park covered in lush tropical rainforest and boasting granite outcrops, open woodlands, mangroves, coral beaches. Walk to the lighthouse, visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, dine at the restaurant, or relax at the famous Nudey Beach -voted the best beach in Australia. This Fitzroy Island day trip gives you 5 hours to explore paradise.
Swim and stroll
A day spent at the Cairns Esplanade Swimming Lagoon is the perfect way to soak up some sun, enjoy some safe swimming, meet some other tourists to catch up with your friends and take in the views of the stunning Trinity Inlet and mountains that line the horizon of Cairns city in Queensland Australia.
While there are plenty of nearby restaurants and coffee shops at and near the swimming lagoon, locals like to lay out a picnic at one of the many tables located in the surrounding park grounds under the huge Banyan Trees. Dotted along the boardwalk of the Cairns Esplanade right by the Swimming Lagoon are 12 BBQ facilities that are cleaned daily and are available for use throughout the day.
The Cairns Swimming Lagoon on the Esplanade is a magnet for backpackers from around the world as a sunbaking and social gathering place, a place for locals to get fit on all the exercise equipment dotted thru the parks and the esplanade boardwalk, a place for little children and family to have fun on the play equipment and to learn to swim
A short walk north along the beachfront boardwalk you will discover a world of fun for families at Muddy's Playground, along with a Skatepark, Beach Volleyball, Healing Garden playground and at the northern end the Funship Playground.
Aboriginal & nature experience
Rainforestation Nature Park is located in Far North Queensland, amidst the Kuranda rainforest.
We are an all-weather attraction, home to the Army Duck Rainforest tours on land and water, the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and the iconic Australian animals in the Koala & Wildlife Park.
Exciting & exhilarating
The beautiful Barron Gorge National Park is only 20 minutes from the centre of Hides. It’s known for its rugged rainforest mountains, steep ravines, the mighty Barron Falls and of course, Barron Gorge, which has been carved out over thousands of years by the Barron River.
This is a scenic rafting / rainforest adventure which combines calm water floating with a series of white water rapids for adventure and action.
The Barron River Half Day Tour is a fantastic introduction to White Water Rafting. It’s fun, exciting and exhilarating, suitable for all the family. Enjoy up to two hours rafting, on up to grade 3 rapids.
Rafts carry up to seven passengers plus a river guide. No experience necessary.
Cairns beyond the crowds
By bike you can cruise with us through the quiet streets, pass tropical vistas, explore secret tracks, ride at the foot of mountains, see our many favourite spots and plenty more all in half a day! You will be able to come back from your Cairns holiday with the feeling that you got to know the real Cairns, not just what is in the guide books.
Where Australia begins
Discover where Australia begins at Tjapukai. Explore the rich history of the world’s oldest living culture, dating back over 40,000 years.
Whether you visit the park by day or night, you’ll enjoy a unique cultural experience with performance, dance, food and arts. Tjapukai is all-weather, wheelchair and pram friendly, offering unique experiences in one location.
However you choose to enjoy it, a visit to Tjapukai is the perfect way to gain a deeper understanding of Australia’s diverse Aboriginal heritage.
Tjapukai is a popular Cairns tourist attraction, a must-visit when holidaying in Cairns. It is one of the most authentic Aboriginal tours available in Australia.
The oldest tropical rainforest
Embark on a fascinating journey of discovery over and deep into the world’s oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest.
The iconic Skyrail experience is a must do Cairns attraction that provides a truly unique perspective of Australia’s World Heritage listed tropical rainforest - immersing guests in the sights, sounds, smells and tranquility of one of the most botanically fascinating areas on earth.
The uniqueness of the Skyrail experience is epitomised by the purpose built gondolas that offer a sustainable birds-eye view of North Queensland’s living natural wonder whose prehistoric ancestry is some 60 million years older than the Amazon.
Learn about ancient plants and animals that existed long before dinosaurs roamed the earth and whose descendants can still be seen in the rainforest today.
180 stores under 1 roof
For groceries & essentials
Monday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Subject to change
City and surrounds buses
Route 110
Route 111
Route 120
Route 121
Route 123
Route 130
Route 131
Route 133
Route 142
Route 143W
Route 150E
Subject to change
Intercity bus departure
Greyhound coaches depart the Reef Fleet Terminal going south to Sydney and Melbourne and Greyhound Australia also have coaches to the Northern Territory. Coral Reef Coaches have buses to Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and Cooktown.
Tropical paradise
The Cairns Botanic Gardens is a tropical paradise, renowned as one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia. Come and explore the beauty of tropical plants, relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture.
Cairns public hospital
24 hour acute care
Accident and emergency
Aged care
Alcohol, tobacco and other drug service
Cardiac Services
Child and youth health
Gynaecology
Intensive care
Medical
Mental health
Obstetric
Oncology
Peri-operative
Rehabilitation unit
Special Care Baby Unit
Surgical
Entertainment venue
Tanks Arts Centre is the leading contemporary venue in the region voted Cairns’ Best Entertainment Venue for seven years in a row, bringing the best local, National and International performers and touring shows to the region.
Situated in the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct, just 4km north of the city’s CBD, the centre is an iconic and innovative multi-use, contemporary arts facility housed in three converted World War 2 naval oil storage tanks, and set amidst a lush rainforest backdrop.
The main performance space, Tank 5, has a licensed bar and standing capacity of 650 (seated 480). The rugged, oil-stained poles and sheer concrete walls imbue the venue with a Gothic charm that never fails to impress both performer and patrons. With a strong focus on music, expect to see the best of Australian and international acts.
Tanks Arts Centre presents a full program of live music, theatre, visual arts, market days and workshops. History, nature and culture are entwined at this iconic heritage listed site, which has been creatively transformed into a contemporary arts facility. This iconic venue is entrenched in the creative fabric of Cairns and the surrounding Wet Tropics region.
Outdoor performance space
Munro Martin Parklands (MMP) is Cairns' newest community gathering place complete with an outdoor performance space. The Parklands boast tropical plantings, vine covered pergolas and arbours and an open-air plaza to encourage passive, casual use of the facility.
Business & events spaces
Stories of life in the tropics
The Cairns Museum has amazing stories to share about living in the tropics.
Stories of heat, sweat and hard work. Of cane, railways, rainforests and reefs. Of White Australia, Aboriginal resistance and European isolation. Tales of tourists, hippies and local celebrations, amidst humidity, cyclones, toads, mould and mozzies.
Come in and discover the real Cairns!
300ha forested mountain range.
Mt Whitfield Conservation Park is a 300ha forested mountain range that is home to rain forest, eucalyptus and grasslands.
The Park's Red Arrow, Blue Arrow and Green Arrow walking circuits are popular bushwalking tracks that offer stunning views. If you are observant, you can see local marsupials such as red-legged pademelons and echidnas, or plants such as the Chinese Fish Pole Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) that is a remnant of Cairns' pioneering days and the Chinese community that lived here.
Free rock climbing
The Bouldering Park is open every day and is free for casual use.
Bouldering is a form of rock climbing at low height and the Esplanade Bouldering Park is suitable for all ages.
There are free bouldering classes every Monday at 5pm and an instructor, chalk and shoes is provided. The class is a great introduction to the sport and a great training venue for the more experienced. Routes are colour graded.
Please be early and bring a pair of socks if you plan on using the climbing shoes provided. Only 12 varied sizes are available or bring your own climbing shoes.
The Bouldering Park is located at the Northern Esplanade Activity Precinct near the beach volleyball courts and Cairns Hospital.
Free fitness stations
The Esplanade fitness stations are open all day, every day and are free for casual use.
"Green Gym" fitness station equipment at the Northern Esplanade provides low-impact cardio style exercise that facilitates strength and mobility. The equipment is designed to suit the needs of older people or those recovering from illness or injury.
You will find "Green Gym" fitness stations at numerous places along the Cairns Esplanade.
Volleyball at Cairns Esplanade
There are four international standard beach volleyball courts at the Northern Esplanade Activity Precinct. The Activity Precinct is located on The Esplanade opposite Cairns Hospital.
The beach volleyball courts are open every day and are free for casual use.
Courts are also available for hire.
Hard surface court
Open all day, every day, with a hard surface court, the half-court is suitable for basketball and a range of other sports including soccer and netball.
The court is located within the Northern Esplanade Activity Precinct opposite Cairns Hospital.
The venue is also available for exclusive hire.
On Cairns Esplanade
There are electric BBQs and picnic areas for use right along the Esplanade foreshore. The BBQs are cleaned each day and are free for casual users.
Free every Saturday
Every Saturday, between 8am and 4pm, The Esplanade Markets showcase local, quality made products from jewellery, leather work and homewares to pottery, clothes and skincare. If you need a gift or souvenir you are sure to find it here.
Held against the scenic backdrop of the Cairns waterfront, you can follow your market shopping with a swim in the Lagoon or take advantage of the free barbecues, exercise equipment and children's playgrounds.
Native mangroves & wildlife
The Jack Barnes Mangrove Boardwalk offers two walks through different zones of mangrove forest including a mature stand of Stilt mangroves that can reach heights of 30 metres. Along the walk, you can see 11 of the 29 mangrove species found in Cairns, as well as epiphytes such as ant plants, basket ferns and golden orchids. As the tide rises and falls a myriad of crustaceans, fish and birds adapted to life in this special place can be observed.
Freshwater swimming hole.
Crystal Cascades is one of the secrets of Tropical North Queensland. A secluded freshwater swimming hole hidden in a tropical rainforest, it has a series of small waterfalls that flow into large pools. Park facilities include electric BBQs, picnic tables and a toilet block.
80ha Nature conservation park
Cattana Wetlands started out as a sugar cane farm and sand mining quarry and has since been rehabilitated to form an enjoyable 80ha nature conservation park with a 420m boardwalk through feather palm forest, freshwater and salt water lakes and abundant plant and birdlife.
Opening hours: 5.30am-7pm daily
Public swimming facility.
Features:
Domestic and international
Just 10 minutes from Hides Hotel.
