Public listings checked 25/10/2026. Dates use each event’s local time. Check organiser details before travelling.
Explore the region
Discover Cairns and the northern beaches through to Palm Cove. Kuranda is a separate day-trip destination; reef and rainforest travel depends on access, transport and conditions.
Listings across Cairns, Cairns City, Edge Hill, Kuranda, Manunda, Palm Cove, Parramatta Park, Redlynch, Smithfield.
Attractions and places to visit
60 places in this selection. Opening hours, access and admission vary; check the place details.
The heartbeat of contemporary arts in Cairns.
Experience Cairns' leading contemporary arts and entertainment venue located in the lush Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct.
History, nature and culture entwine at this iconic heritage listed site, which takes its name from three WWII oil storage tanks, completed in 1944 for the Royal Australian Navy, decommissioned in 1987 and creatively transformed into an innovative multi-use arts centre by Cairns Regional Council.
Open since 1995, Tanks continues to present a diverse program of live music, performance, visual arts, market days, workshops and more, and is consequently firmly entrenched in the creative fabric of Cairns and the surrounding Wet Tropics region.
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 performers and patrons.
Expect to see the best local, national and international performers and touring shows, plus a few surprises!
Bougainville Reef is a small reef in the Northern Coral Sea surrounded by some amazing dive sites! Only four kilometres in diameter, and offering no shelter in rough weather, Bougainville Reef is usually only dived on a stop-off between other reefs in this remote area.
Wall diving is the name of the game at Bougainville Reef, with walls plunging into one kilometre offering exciting diving. Decorating these walls are spectacular corals – giant soft corals, red whip corals, wide gorgonian fans and black coral trees.
Cruising these walls are large pelagic fish like barracuda, trevally, tuna and mackerel, and often following them are grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks and silvertip sharks. Many caves, gutters and ledges are also found at Bougainville Reef, so take a torch to explore these darker recesses.
There is also a shipwreck to investigate at Bougainville Reef, with the broken up remains of the MV Antonia Tarabocchia scattered in depths from 6 metres to 18 metres.
The Cairns Botanic Gardens, renowned for having one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia, is a lush paradise where you can explore the beauty of tropical plants, relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture. The Gardens is divided into: The Flecker Gardens, Gondwana Heritage Garden, Watkins Munro Martin Conservatory, Freshwater and Saltwater Lakes, and Zhanjiang Friendship Gardens.
The Flecker Gardens is the formal garden and houses several other smaller gardens. It epitomises the diversity of tropical flora that can be found across the world's tropical regions including plants from the steamy jungles of South East Asia, South America, Africa and of course Far North Queensland. The Garden is home to a broad range of plants ranging from shade giving trees and palms, exquisite orchids, bromeliads and ferns through to the bizarre beauty of insect eating pitcher plants. Once inside the Garden, visitors feel they have been transported to the Daintree. The Garden's signature trees create a green canopy guarding a plant collection that is interspersed with flowing paths and waterways, which wind their way through the leafy undergrowth.
The Cairns Botanic Gardens can be found along Collins Avenue, Edge Hill and is open every day of the year. Entry is free.
The Snake Pit is located inside the Ribbon Reefs, not far from Lizard Island, and is a dive site where divers are guaranteed to encounter an olive sea snake or three. Although highly venomous, olive sea snakes are fortunately quite docile and pose little threat.
The main feature at the Snake Pit is two large bommies, but in depths from 10 to 30 metres, divers will also find a drop-off, sand flats and lovely coral gardens to explore.
Prolific marine life gathers at this site and commonly seen are Maori wrasse, sweetlips, reef sharks, stingrays, turtles, coral trout, barracuda, gropers, cuttlefish, snapper, batfish and numerous titan triggerfish that are best avoided if nesting.
Fairy Falls is a picturesque waterfall, found tucked away in the dense rainforest close to Crystal Cascades. The track begins just to the left of Crystal Cascades car park.
Follow the path along for approximately 15 minutes. When the track forks, be sure to stick to the creek and don't head uphill.
Keep a look out for stinging plants that are found along the track, there are warning signs in place to help identify these plants.
With its diverse wilderness and abundant national parks, Tropical North Queensland is home to many beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes. It's important to always follow the advice from Queensland Parks and never venture into out of bounds areas, flooded waters or dangerous areas to prevent serious injury or death.
The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum are dedicated to collecting, preserving, restoring, and displaying armoured vehicles and artillery from the 1800s to the present day. Their collection includes armoured vehicles and artillery from both world wars, with a particular focus on WWII.
Currently, their collection consists of over 230 armoured vehicles and artillery pieces, many of which will not be found anywhere else in Australia. The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum are constantly on the lookout for additional pieces of equipment that will make the museum a richer experience for those visiting.
The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum opened to the public in 2014 and has tripled in size since then. The museum is privately owned and is the largest museum of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Enjoy a unique perspective of Australia's World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest, glide above the canopy before descending to explore. Learn about ancient plants and animals that existed before dinosaurs roamed the earth, whose descendants can still be seen in the rainforest today.
Complimentary Ranger guided boardwalk tours, the immersive Rainforest Discovery Zone, engaging interpretive signage and scenic lookouts at Red Peak help you unlock the secrets of this mystical landscape. Marvel at the iconic Barron Gorge and Falls from The Edge Lookout at Barron Falls / Dindin.
Discover the World's Oldest Rainforest Story, a collaboration between Buda:dji, the Djabugay people and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Hear the dreamtime stories of the Djabuganydji bama, Traditional Custodians of this land, in the multilingual Skyrail Audio Guide App. Get the most out of your experience with in-gondola commentary and more.
Just 15 minutes from Cairns, there is free parking for self-drivers including RV's, and electric vehicle charging bays. Bus transfers available from selected Cairns City locations.
Skyrail is universally accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Pre-planned preventative maintenance dates are listed on the visitor information tab of the official Skyrail website.
*Important Note: From Wednesday 19 August, they're offering a modified Kuranda to Barron Falls Loop Experience only, available until Sunday 25 October. Opening 5 days per week, from Wednesday to Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday).
Cairns Wake Park offers a unique watersport experience for the adventure seeker. A man-made freshwater lake offers wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and waterskiing for beginners through to advanced riders. An open view terrace and deck area with chairs and tables, a cafe with great burgers, coffee, 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, barbecue areas 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, Cairns Wake Park and Aqua Park is easily accessible by car or local transport. The cable park is on the main route to the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas.
Cairns Wake Park - "Anyone can do it - Everybody is doing it".
Home to Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Event Cinemas, Dan Murphy's, Petbarn, the Smithfield Tavern, plus over 100 specialty and service retailers, Smithfield Shopping Centre is conveniently located in the heart of the Northern Beaches of Cairns, and is 15 kilometres north of Cairns International Airport.
It lies at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Atherton Tablelands and Port Douglas.
With a proud history of being a community hub, Smithfield offers shoppers access to fresh food, fashion and a focus on everyday needs in a convenient setting.
Smithfield is now home to a six screen Event Cinemas which is the ultimate experience for movie-goers plus the all new Casual Dining Precinct with family friendly casual dining restaurants including: Burger Urge, Burrito Bar, Rise and Bake Creperie and Lone Star Rib House.
Locally owned and operated by the Woodward family since 1976, the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park is set amid World Heritage Tropical Rainforest, located only 30 minutes from Cairns and ten minutes from Kuranda Village.
Board an amphibious World War II Army Duck for a unique rainforest tour on land and water, while your driver identifies and introduces fascinating plants and wildlife. Then check out the Tropical Fruit Orchard, with over 40 different species of exotic tropical fruits.
Connect with local Indigenous culture in the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience. Watch the traditional dance performance in our Rainforest Amphitheatre and join the Dreamtime Walk to learn about hunting with spears and boomerangs, and how to play the didgeridoo. Enhance your Indigenous experience with the Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout, an intimate and interactive look into Indigenous cultures that takes you into the Rainforest.
Featuring wildlife presentations throughout the day, the Koala and Wildlife Park gives you the opportunity to hand feed kangaroos and wallabies and see the best of this region’s unique wildlife including Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, Southern Cassowary, Saltwater Crocodiles, Tasmanian Devils, Dingoes, and a Wombat. Wildlife photos are also available.
Offering everything from barista coffees to fresh juices and tropical fruit ice creams, the fully licensed Treehouse Café is also a great choice for lunch, serving the Aussie BBQ Lunch daily.
Rugged rainforest-clad mountains and gorges, tumbling waterfalls, varied wildlife, easy access and a fascinating history make Barron Gorge National Park one of Queensland's most popular parks. The park extends from the coastal lowlands (Lake Placid) to the elevated regions of the Atherton Tableland (near Kuranda), and lies within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
The Barron River dominates the park. Rising from the rainforests of Mount Hypipamee, the river winds 60 kilometres across the Atherton Tableland and enters the deeply-incised Barron Gorge, where it falls 250 metres onto the coastal lowlands before flowing into the Coral Sea. Barron Falls is best viewed from the Din Din Barron Falls lookout near Kuranda.
The park is part of the traditional lands of the Djabuganydji Bama (local Aboriginal people) who maintain a close spiritual connection with this country. Their historic walking trails now form sections of an extensive network of walking tracks throughout the park.
Visit the upper sections of this park to view the scenic Barron Falls and stroll along an elevated walkway through the rainforest. Set out on one of the half or full-day walks on the extensive network of walking trails throughout the park.
Barron Falls (Djabugay: Din Din) is a dramatic rocky waterfall in the Barron River near Kuranda Village. During the wetter months of summer and autumn, the falls transform into a roaring spectacle, and the volumetric flow rate of water can reach almost 265,000-megalitres in a day
Barron Falls can be seen from the Din Din Barron Falls Lookout, which is reached via a short, wheel-chair accessible walkway. The Kuranda Scenic Railway stops at Barron Falls Station, giving guests a chance to hop off and enjoy views of the falls. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway soars directly over Barron Falls, giving a beautiful aerial perspective. It can also be viewed from Skyrail's The Edge lookout.
With its diverse wilderness and abundant national parks, Tropical North Queensland is home to many beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes. It's important to always follow the advice from Queensland Parks and never venture into out of bounds areas, flooded waters or dangerous areas to prevent serious injury or death.
