Cairns Parks and Gardens

(Cairns, Queensland (QLD), Australia)

A city surrounded by huge expanses of green filled with birds, reptiles and various mammals, a trip to at least one of the outlying parks and rainforests should feature in any holiday itinerary. Choose between the Atherton Tableland, the Barron Gorge National Park, Daintree National Park and the Mount Whitfield Conservation Park. For some of the best rainforest views possible, be sure to take a trip on the Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

Situated within the Edge Hill area of Cairns, the Flecker Botanic Gardens have become something of a tropical paradise, containing an extensive collection of cycads, palm trees and flowering heliconias.

Atherton Tableland

Located on the south-westerly side of Cairns, the Atherton Tableland is a part of Queensland's famous Great Dividing Range. Covering more than 30,000 square kilometres / 11,600 square miles, the Atherton Tableland is a popular spot for day trippers, with package tours heading to attractions such as Babinda, the Josephine Falls, Lake Barrine, Lake Eacham, the Millaa Millaa Falls, Mount Hypipamee Crater and the Wooroonooran National Park, as well as the town of Yungaburra, where an enormous ficus tree known as the Curtain Fig is a notable landmark. Wildlife spotting tours are also available, as are canoeing packages along the Barron River.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, charge for tour packages

Mount Whitfield Conservation Park

The Mount Whitfield Conservation Park is located on the northern side of the city, next to the airport and the suburbs of Aeroglen, Edge Hill, Freshwater and Stratford. Full of walking trails and vantage points boasting superb views of both the cityscape and the Trinity Inlet, the Mount Whitfield Conservation Park forms an imposing backdrop to the city and is known for its dense rainforest areas. There are two main walking trails, with the Red Arrow route being the shortest and easiest (1.5 km / 1 mile), and the Blue Arrow route (6.5 km / 4 miles) being rather longer and leading to the Mount Lumley Hill lookout.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Flecker Botanic Gardens

Address: Collins Avenue, Edge Hill, Cairns, Queensland (QLD), Australia, AU
Tel: +61 07 4044 3398
Each weekday, guided tours of the Flecker Botanic Gardens take place at 13:00 and offer an insight into the planting and history of the gardens. Close by is a rainforest boardwalk, which links the Centenary Lakes and the Saltwater Creek, where mature swamp trees await.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 07:30 to 17:30, Saturday and Sunday - 08:30 to 17:30
Admission: free, charge for guided tours

Barron Gorge National Park

Just a short drive to the west of the city centre (18 km / 11 miles) will take you to the enormous Barron Gorge National Park, which is to be found alongside Kamerunga and Lake Placid. Tourists will most likely experience this park via the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which passes through the Barron Gorge and has a station based at the Barron Falls. Many people come here to fish for the exotic sports fish that have been released into the river, while others simply come to marvel at the views and capture the scenery on camera.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Daintree National Park

Address: Mossman Gorge, Johnston Road, Mossman, Queensland, 4873, Australia, AU
Standing within the Far North Queensland area and just over an hours' drive north of Cairns, the Daintree National Park reliably draws tourists all through the year, ranking as a World Heritage Site. The park itself is divided into two distinct areas, which are separated by agricultural lands. Leading attractions include the Greater Daintree Rainforest, Daintree Village, the Mossman Gorge, the Great Dividing Range, Cape Tribulation and nearby Thornton Beach - home of the renowned Bouncing Stones Aboriginal Site.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free