Location: Cairns Region
Top Things to do in Cairns Region
Top 10 Nature & Parks in Cairns Region, Queensland
The Cairns Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia, centred on the regional centre of Cairns. It was established in 2008 by the amalgamation of the City of Cairns and the Shire of Douglas.
Restaurants in Cairns Region
1. Yellow Arrow Walk
2. Palm Cove Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,154 reviews
Reviewed By 71lynw
Nice clean beach on one side with Beach patrolled flagged area and the fishing jetty at the end great spot Amazing sunrises from the beachfront
3. Barron Gorge National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By WorldTravla7 - Cairns, Australia
Lake Placid is an easily accessible tourist/recreation area in Barron Gorge National Park just a few minutes drive from Smithfield. It’s not actually a lake, but part of the Barron River - the river bulges out on either side to form a large lake like body of water (Lake Placid) before thinning again heading up into Barron Gorge towards Kuranda. For this reason crocs have been known to make their way upstream and therefore swimming is not recommended as the signs point out (there was a Croc attack on a stupid local swimmer in January 2021). There is a nice & easy short walk that takes you a few hundred metres along the lake through rainforest but it doesn’t continue to the end. Adjacent to Lake Placid is an excellent pizza restaurant called Alessandro’s which offers fantastic ambience and traditional pizza & there is a convenience store selling groceries and takeaway nearby. Also nearby is the drive up to Barron Gorge where you can check out some amazing views and cross the bridge over to Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station. Well worth a visit.
4. Ellis Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By leonp303 - Noosaville, Australia
A rare find on the Captain Cook Highway. A swimming enclosure with Lifesavers. Beautiful water and a really great Tavern across the road for lunch. Well worth a stop for a couple if hours.
5. Crystal Cascades
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 352 reviews
Reviewed By overthereoverhere - Kallaroo, Australia
great place for a walk along the river or a swim in a pool lots of wildlife to see butterflies river perch lizards etc take an eski and a picnic and make a day of it you wont regret it
6. Cairns Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 146 reviews
Tropical Gardens
Reviewed By KathyM134
Wonderful gardens with a great display of orchids and butterflies in the Conservatory. We attended the free botanical talk - on every day at 10 am - which was really interesting and informative.
7. Atherton Tablelands
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 654 reviews
Reviewed By D6035PRkathyd
This was a really enjoyable area to explore by car at a leisurely pace. We did not get as far as we hoped, but thoroghly enjoyed Crater Lakes National Park (including the tea house on Lake Barrine), Yungaburra's walk along Peterson Train in search of a platypus sighting, Emerald Creek Ice Cream and the Cathedral Fig Tree.
8. Michaelmas Cay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 639 reviews
Reviewed By UrsulaHans - St. Gallen, Switzerland
A great sandy island - inhabited by thousands of bird... A good spot to go snorkeling - even though the water is very shallow. One can still see a few fish, some corals, turtles - but it is not the reef of 30 years ago...
9. Muddy's Playground
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,419 reviews
Muddy's playground is open every day of the year between 9am and 7pm (including public holidays and weekends). Sections of Muddy's are closed for maintenance on Tuesday and Thursday mornings until noon. Even when maintenance works are being carried out, Council aims to have at least half the playground available for use. Muddy's is a modern, fun, safe, splash playground and parkland. It incorporates active, passive, interactive and educational facilities with a combination of play equipment. Muddy's playground is themed "Life in Trinity Bay" and the playground includes water play areas plus a flying fox, sound chimes, track ride, rope bridge, slides, play houses, story telling areas, see-saw, trick track and puzzle games. Please note that the disabled-use Liberty Swing uses the MLAK national keying system. For access please ask at Muddy's cafe. Muddy's has two toilet facilities one at the north end of Muddy's near the cafe and one at the southern end of Muddy's. Muddy's has barbecues, picnic tables and an on-site cafe.
Reviewed By KittyO25
This place is just fantastic. Well maintained and just great for kids of all ages. Would most definitely recommend to all families
10. Cairns Botanic Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,904 reviews
The Cairns Botanic Gardens are a tropical paradise where you can explore the beauty of tropical plants, relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture. The Gardens are open from 7.30Am to 5.30Pm every day of the year and entry is free. The Botanic Gardens includes several spaces used for demonstrating the diverse plant life that can be found within a tropical climate. The Cairns Botanic Gardens include: Flecker Garden Centenary Lakes - Saltwater and Freshwater The Rainforest Boardwalk Mount Whitfield Conservation Park The Gondwanan Heritage Garden
Reviewed By Y9976NNdavidw - Petersham, Australia
Visited this as part of tour very well cared for by volunteers we'll set out easy to get to the tour guide gave us a talk on the gardens history @ about the various tropical plants very worth while visiting this attraction allow about 1hr to see without hurrying you will enjoy
