#1 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns Museum
Cairns
~0.18 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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The Cairns Museum is located on the corner of Shields and Lake Streets. The museum is housed in the historic Old School of Arts Building. The museum has a number of collections and provides a diversity of material depicting the development of Cairns into the cosmopolitan city it is today.
A small entry fee is charged as the museum is operated on a voluntary basis and receives no financial assistance. The museum also operates a souvenir and gift shop that has a wide selection of historical books, gift and souvenirs.
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#2 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Reef Teach
Cairns
~0.23 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#3 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns Regional Gallery
Cairns
~0.30 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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The "Land Down Under" boasts of many tourist spots, and one of its most popular is the Cairns Rainforest Dome. Committed to promote wildlife conservation through environmental awareness among its guests, this tropical sanctuary is found in the center of Cairns city, Queensland's capital in the north. Encased within a glass dome, which is 20 meters in height, it is placed atop the world-renowned Reef Hotel Casino. Beside the entry to this exotic park, which is through the hotel's foyer, is a souvenir shop. Moreover, to make sure that all its guests are able to access the different areas of the rainforest zoo, special ramps and rails are created for disabled visitors in the Dome.
Often called a "forest within a city", transportation to and from the Dome is not at all difficult since it is situated near Cairn's central business district. It is also just walking distance from another popular tourist spot, the Cairns Esplanade. Because the park is located near several 5-star hotels, travelers can experience first class accommodation here, while visiting the Cairns Rainforest Dome.
Inside the Dome
The park's layout is similar to a theme park's, while it presents its visitors with a miniature rainforest, which is complete with wild and exotic amphibians such as lizards, chameleons, iguanas, frogs and rare species of turtles. At the same time, Dome travelers can also interact with the koala bears in the koala handling area. Meanwhile, colorful, tropical bird species such as lorikeets, parrots, rosellas, cockatoos, and doves flock around, while guests roam around the glass-encased dome. Endemic animals such as curlews and kookaburras are also some of the wildlife that travelers can see and experience in the "forest within a city". Moreover, its exotic fauna also includes endangered snakes such as the Amesthystine Python, and the pademelons, while lush, tropical plants flourishing in the Rainforest Dome include palm trees and huge, leafy ferns.
The Rainforest Dome presents several shows created especially for tourists. In the Reptile Rap, rainforest rangers interact with and feed crocodiles in front of the audiences. Meanwhile, the main tourist attraction in the rainforest is the world's largest salt water crocodile, Goliath, living within the reptile area of the Dome. Travelers are given the opportunity to feed certain animals during the feed-out tour, while animals found only in Australia such as the koala bears are showcased in the Mammal show. The Rainforest Dome also offers dining areas, so guests can eat and enjoy their delicious meals, while watching the wild animals frolic around the dome. As an added treat, guided tours run simultaneously throughout the day, giving travelers bits of information about amazing Australian wildlife.
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#4 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns Rainforest Dome
Cairns
~0.31 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#5 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns Convention Centre
Cairns
~0.31 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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Cairns Convention Centre is multi-purpose meeting venue, concert hall and indoor sporting arena located in Cairns, Australia. It is the home arena of the Cairns Taipans basketball team. The capacity of the arena is 5,300. The record crowd is 5,500 for an NBL Finals game in 2004 between Cairns Taipans and Perth Wildcats.
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#6 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns City Council
Cairns
~0.34 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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The City of Cairns was a Local Government Area centred on the Far North Queensland city of Cairns. Established in 1885, for most of its existence it consisted of approximately 51.5 square kilometres (19.9 sq mi) around Cairns itself, with much of the metropolitan area being located in the Shire of Mulgrave. The Shire amalgamated into the City on 22 March 1995, as did small sections of neighbouring shires.
In 2008, the City amalgamated with the Shire of Douglas to become the Cairns Region.
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#7 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns Civic Theatre
Cairns
~0.45 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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The Cairns Civic Theatre is owned and operated by the Cairns Regional Council, and it has been presenting some of the best arts and entertainment available in Australia, since it was opened in 1974.
More than 100 shows are presented at the theatre each year, ranging from local amateur shows to national and international touring extravaganzas. Whether your interest is in comedy, dance, drama, circus or another form of live entertainment, the chances are you can see it at the Cairns Civic Theatre
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#8 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns Chamber of Commerce
Cairns
~0.53 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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The City of Cairns was a Local Government Area centred on the Far North Queensland city of Cairns. Established in 1885, for most of its existence it consisted of approximately 51.5 square kilometres (19.9 sq mi) around Cairns itself, with much of the metropolitan area being located in the Shire of Mulgrave. The Shire amalgamated into the City on 22 March 1995, as did small sections of neighbouring shires.
In 2008, the City amalgamated with the Shire of Douglas to become the Cairns Region.
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#9 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Barlow Park
Brinsmead
~0.60 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#10 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cazaly's Stadium
Brinsmead
~0.65 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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Cazaly's Stadium, formally known as Bundaberg Rum Stadium, is a sports stadium in Cairns, Australia, that is named after former VFL legend Roy Cazaly
The Stadium is largest oval stadium in the Cairns, Queensland and is used by Queensland Cricket Association, the Queensland Rugby League and AFL Cairns.
It features a main grandstand relocated from the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the late 90s.
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#11 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Flecker Botanic Gardens
Brinsmead
~2.51 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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Back-scratcher ginger, Tapeinocheilos queenslandiae, over the main garden entrance, is the floral emblem of Cairns.
This boardwalk takes you through a tropical swamp forest from the Main Gardens to the Centenary Lakes section of the gardens.
At the right are some mature swamp trees. The one leaning across is Red Beech, Dillenia alata, a beautiful large-leafed tree with soft papery mahogany red bark, and showy, bright yellow flowers. The tall slender trunks on the left and the smaller palms on the right front, are Alexander Palms. In the center at the rear are some Melaleuca leucadendron, with their creamy paperbark and honey filled blossoms. Also at the rear is a very tall Pandanus.
Below is a typical selection of plants that grow in these wetland swamps, young Alexander Palms, Archontophoenix alexandrae, (front left); Lawyer Cane, Calamus australis, (a very spiky climbing palm used as rattan for baskets and furniture); long-leaved Paperbarks, Melaleuca leucadendron, (grows to 43m high). Mature trees will take inundation up to 2m or more. The Pandanus is monticola, also at left.
This is an area of mostly Pandanus solmslaubachii and a climbing swamp fern, Stenochlaena palustrus. Clumps of mangrove ferns, Acrostichum speciosum, also grow in the same area. They are the only ferns known to tolerate salt water.
The Victoria is framed by Typhonodorum, green and red stemmed Thalia geniculata, and a couple of waterlilies.
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#12 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Mount Whitfield Conservation Park
Brinsmead
~2.76 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#13 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Royal Flying Doctor
Brinsmead
~2.96 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#14 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Copperlode Dam
Cairns
~6.24 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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Copperlode Dam or Lake Morris is a fresh water reservoir dam servicing the city of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The dam is located in the range immediately west of the city.
Originally Cairns' water needs were met with water drawn from Freshwater Creek and also some from Behana Creek. It was evident to even the earliest setters that a larger source of water would need to be secured as Cairns grew.
With this in mind, one of the city's engineers, Mr F Morris, explored the Lamb Range to the west of the city to find a place to build a dam. In 1935 he found a site at Copperlode falls, near the headwaters of Freshwater Creek, that he thought would be suitable for the dam. Many years later, after a series of surveys confirmed the site's suitability, the State Government approved the site for construction of an earth and rock fill dam.
The State Government originally set aside $3 million AUD for the dam, but by the time the dam was completed on March 25, 1976, the total cost had risen to approximately $6.5 million. The reservoir holds 45,000 Megalitres of water (In comparison to Lake Tinaroo's 407 000 Megalitres). The reservoir is named "Lake Morris" after the city engineer that discovered its site, but the dam itself is named after the waterfalls it replaced - Copperlode Falls.
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#15 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Holloways Beach
Holloways Beach
~6.72 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#16 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Crystal Cascades
Cairns
~6.75 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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Crystal Cascades is one of the secrets of Tropical North Queensland that locals like to hide from visitors.
It is a secluded freshwater swimming hole, hidden in a tropical rainforest. A series of small waterfalls flow into large pools surrounded by boulders.
Rainforest trees hang over the water, keeping it cool and refreshing. There are also picnic tables in the area, and a toilet block close-by.
For most, the only way of discovering the presence of Crystal Cascades is by being told by a local, or unwittingly following road signs to the unique sounding place.
Crystal Cascades becomes increasingly popular during the summer months of the year, because swimming in the ocean can be dangerous due to stingers.
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#17 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Cairns and Northern Beaches
~8.55 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#18 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Tjapukai Cultural Park
Cairns and Northern Beaches
~8.56 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#19 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Yorkeys Knob
Cairns and Northern Beaches
~8.75 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#20 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Trinity Beach
Palm Cove
~10.90 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#21 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Kuranda Koala Gardens
Kuranda
~11.83 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#22 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Clifton Beach
Palm Cove
~12.96 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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Clifton Beach is very similar to Kewarra Beach, because it remains largely untouched by tourist development and is retains a very laid-back atmosphere that is a delight to find. Clifton is favoured by many locals who enjoy sipping on a glass of wine while relaxing on beach chairs under the swaying trees that make up the backdrop to the beach.
The beach itself is clean and deep, entertains a moderate swell from the southeasterly trade winds, and is home to a large pippy population. In case you're wondering what on earth a pippy is, these are small muscle-like creatures that bury themselves in the sand but continuously get dredged back to the surface as waves climb up the foreshore. They are very entertaining to watch, and make great fishing bait if you have nothing else to use.
To access Clifton Beach, follow the Captain Cook Highway north from Cairns for about 20-25 minutes. You will pass a BP petrol station and then a MOBILE petrol station further down the road. Take the right turn off the highway immediately after this second petrol station and follow it to the very end. You will be met with a wall of trees - take a right turn here and follow the winding road until you reach the beach. On the left side is a parking lot with picnic tables, BBQs and play equipment. Or, if you'd rather avoid other people you can turn right and follow the road along the beachfront until you find a nice spot.
Note: This beach has a stinger net during the stinger season. When the stinger net is in place, please only swim inside its protective barriers. Swimming outside the nets exposes you to unnecessary dangers.
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#23 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Palm Cove
Palm Cove
~14.14 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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#24 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Cairns Tropical Zoo
Palm Cove
~14.80 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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Cairns Regional Gallery is housed in one of the finest heritage buildings of Far North Queensland - the site formerly occupied by the Public Office Building. The building was designed in 1933 and completed in 1936; the architect is thought to have been R.C Nowland, who also designed the historic Cairns Post building and the original City Council Council chambers (both of which are located in close proximity to the Gallery on Abbott Street).
The two-story Gallery building is constructed of red/brown brick, steel and concrete and incorporates a number of architectural features used on other Government buildings constructed in Queensland during the same era. However, the now-Gallery building also features a number of region specific design elements, including a raised ground floor, to combat flooding, overhanging eaves to provide shade, and wide verandahs with recessed colonnades.
Similarly, the interior of the building was constructed with a strong emphasis on timber panelling, this is not only because one of the building’s tenants was the Forestry Department, but also because timber does not absorb heat.
The original principal tenant of the building was the Public Curator’s Office, however the site also housed a number of other Government offices including the State Government Insurance Office, Government Travel Bureau, Land Commission and Agricultural Bank, Forestry Offices, District Supervisor of Works, Inspector of Weights and Measures / Health / Slaughter Houses / Fruit and Diseases in Plants and visiting Tax Inspectors.
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#25 of 25 Things To Do in Cairns Qld
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
Cairns and Northern Beaches
~20.87 miles from Cairns Qld city center
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