When it comes to attractions in the incredible tourism capital that is Cairns, there are few better than the aquarium in Cairns. It should be no surprise that the Cairns Aquarium offers a wonderful experience given its proximity to the incredible Great Barrier Reef. Despite this proximity though, it’s worth noting that the experience at the Cairns Aquarium stands alone and if you have kids, is an absolute must-do when visiting Cairns. We recently visited the aquarium with our son and he absolutely loved it, here’s all you need to know when visiting.
Where is Cairns Aquarium?
One of the biggest advantages of the aquarium in Cairns is its central location, right in the heart of the city. Located a short walk from the Esplanade, the Cairns Aquarium can be found amongst a plethora of accommodation options and other attractions to see. Attached to the Cairns Aquarium as well is a wonderful option for lunch or dinner, in Dundee’s at the Cairns Aquarium.
The aquarium in Cairns is located at 5 Florence Street, and is open from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm every day of the week, with the last admission at 2:30 pm to ensure you’ve got enough time to see all that is on offer.
What to expect at the aquarium in Cairns?
I know what you’re thinking, “You’ve done one aquarium, you’ve done them all”, but we can safely say that isn’t the case at the Cairns Aquarium. The aquarium in Cairns has so much to offer, including incredible species of fish, snakes, frogs, sharks, crocodiles and so much more.
As you start your journey in the Cairns Aquarium, you’ll be provided with a map and an experience that is designed to make you feel like a drop of water entering the marine waterways of the local area. As that drop of water, you’ll experience all aspects of the marine life our water-dwelling friends do from day to day. Walking through the entryway you’ll see so many new and fascinating species of fish, it will be hard to keep up. From tiny little creatures to enormous fish you didn’t know existed, the opportunity to learn at the Cairns Aquarium is endless.
As you continue through the experience, you’ll see other species such as tree snakes, pythons, frogs and other water-adjacent creatures that if you’re like us, were incredible to see up close and personal. We loved showing our toddler the variety of animals on display and helping him spot the snakes in the trees.
As you make your way through the aquarium in Cairns, you’ll experience so much of what the Great Barrier Reef offers the local area, including an amazing interactive coral display, and the opportunity to touch a starfish and see the local shellfish wildlife up close. The knowledge of the team really shines and you will learn so much more than thought possible at the start of your day.
As you make your way downstairs via the escalator or elevator, you begin to enter the predator zone! Our little one was particularly excited about seeing all the sharks, especially as we walked through the underwater tunnel. Sharks and rays swimming right about our heads was a real highlight of the day. If you have kids and you’re looking for something to really amaze them, the Cairns Aquarium will not disappoint.
One thing we didn’t get to try, but we’d love to do when our toddler is a bit older is the Night at the Aquarium tour. The Cairns Aquarium during certain times of the year offers a guided twilight tour of the facility, which includes 10 tropical ecosystems and runs for two hours. The tour can be purchased with meals at Dundee’s at Cairns Aquarium to complete the experience. Overall, our time at the Cairns Aquarium was amazing, seeing all the incredible sea creatures and wildlife that the Cairns local area has to offer, we will gladly be back again on our next visit.
How to experience Cairns Aquarium
With over 16,000 aquatic animals, 9 ecosystems and 11 zones, you won’t want to miss out on a trip to the aquarium in Cairns. Purchasing tickets can be done at the front desk or ahead of time online. General admission tickets start from $58 for adults and $33 for children aged 3-14, with infants 2 years and under entering for free.
There are plenty of Cairns Aquarium tour options available as well, including the twilight tour and others that can include an experience on the Cairns Skyrail (spoiler: we also did the Skyrail and highly recommend checking it out). No matter what option you choose, experiencing the Cairns Aquarium is an absolute must when coming to Cairns. Whether you’re travelling with the family or alone, the aquarium in Cairns has so much to offer from educational information to gasps at the unreal marine wildlife on display.
Travelling to Cairns is a holiday that everyone should experience at least once in their life, and when you do, don’t miss your chance to experience the true wildlife of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef at the Cairns Aquarium.
Are you ready to pack your bags and head North to sunny Cairns? Be sure to add Cairns Aquarium to your list of places to visit and check out our guide to Cairns.
