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Discover the Biggest National Park in Cairns, Australia

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Syarif Muhamad

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Cairns, Australia, is a city renowned for its natural beauty, and its proximity to some of the most stunning national parks in the country. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, an avid birdwatcher, or simply seeking a peaceful escape amidst nature, these 10 national parks offer something for every traveler. From the lush rainforests of the Wet Tropics to the rugged mountains of the Great Barrier Reef, these parks showcase the extraordinary diversity of Australia’s natural heritage.

With abundant wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and a rich cultural history, these national parks provide an unforgettable experience for visitors seeking adventure and tranquility. Discover hidden waterfalls, explore pristine coral reefs, and immerse yourself in the ancient traditions of the Aboriginal people.

Top National Park in Cairns, Australia

Cairns ( ; Yidiny: Gimuy) is a city in Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. The population as of the 2021 census was 169,312, having grown on average 1.02% annually over the preceding five years. The city is the 5th-most-populous in Queensland, and 15th in Australia.The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson river. Throughout the late 19th century, Cairns prospered from the settlement of Chinese immigrants who helped develop the region's agriculture. Cairns also served as a port for blackbirding ships, which crews transported slaves and indentured labourers to the sugar plantations of Innisfail. During World War II, the city became a staging ground for the Allied Forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. By the late 20th century the city had become a centre of international tourism. In the early 21st century it has developed into a major metropolitan city. The economy of Cairns is based primarily on tourism, healthcare and education, along with a major capacity in aviation, marine and defence industries. The city has a gross regional product at about $10.2 billion. The city is served by Cairns International Airport, the seventh busiest airport in Australia. Cairns also has a major cruise ship industry servicing both domestic and international markets, with terminals at Cairns Seaport and Cairns Wharf Complex. Cairns is a major tourist destination, with access to two UNESCO world heritage sites; the Daintree Rainforest as part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Top National Park in Cairns, Australia

Cairns Botanic Gardens

  • Address: 78-96 Collins Ave, Edge Hill QLD 4870, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (4141)
  • Phone: +61 7 4032 6650
  • Website:
  • Price Info: Moderate
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
    Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
    Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
    Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
    Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
    Saturday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
    Sunday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Pelican Park Esplanade Reserve in Cairns, Australia
Pelican Park Esplanade Reserve in Cairns, Australia

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Embark on a thrilling journey through the diverse array of National Park in cities like Townsville, Hobart and Geelong across the Oceania continents, revealing hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a local business or a multinational company, these cities proudly display a rich tapestry of profesional services designed to cater to a wide array of preferences.

The 10 Best National Park near Cairns, Australia

Pelican Park Esplanade Reserve in Cairns, Australia
Pelican Park Esplanade Reserve in Cairns, Australia

Barron Gorge National Park

  • Address: Wrights Lookout Rd, Kuranda QLD 4881, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (3491)
  • Phone: +61 7 4093 9311
  • Website:
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: Open 24 hours
    Tuesday: Open 24 hours
    Wednesday: Open 24 hours
    Thursday: Open 24 hours
    Friday: Open 24 hours
    Saturday: Open 24 hours
    Sunday: Open 24 hours
  • Reviews:
    Hemanta Sapkota✭✭✭✭✭
    a month ago
    Barron Gorge National Park rich tapestry of flora and fauna, along with the thundering beauty of Barron Falls, makes it a nature enthusiast’s dream. The accessible walkways and panoramic lookout points offer visitors a chance to absorb the tranquil yet invigorating energy of the gorge. Truly a five-star experience for adventurers and families alike.
    Shamim Islam✭✭✭✭✭
    2 weeks ago
    Sky rail, Scenic railway not to be missed. Barron Falls was truly amazing and can be viewed from Kuranda sky rail viewing area as well as scenic railway station. The township is a beautiful place to stop for food and souvenirs. Going over tropical forest and listening to birds on Sky rail was an amazing experience. To be with nature, this is one of the places.
    Julie H✭✭✭✭
    4 months ago
    Beautiful waterfall is called Barron waterfall The scenery around is stunning of the rain forest. You can use Skyrail cable car to look over the rain forest or a train , walk but very steep at times or use your car. There is so many different trees, creatures, water spots . It’s stunning. Well worth a visit .
    Chris Turner✭✭✭✭✭
    5 months ago
    Mc Donald track in the same area as the gorge just a few 100 meters… very steep track.. beautiful little spot by surprise creek… took about 45minutes to get there one way. Well worth the walk.
    Ryan Simpson✭✭✭✭✭
    2 months ago
    Steep but not unmanageable hiking at Glacier Rock, mostly sheltered track with nice swimming holes at the bottom to cool off. Well maintained track, bring plenty of drinking water.

Rainforestation Nature Park

  • Address: 1030 Kennedy Hwy, Kuranda QLD 4881, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.5 (1800)

Goomboora Park

  • Address: Shale St, Brinsmead QLD 4870, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.7 (685)

Yorkeys Knob Foreshore Park

  • Address: Sims Esplanade, Yorkeys Knob QLD 4878, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.5 (599)

Centenary Lakes Nature Play Space

  • Address: Greenslopes St, Edge Hill QLD 4870, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (259)

Cairns Cattana Wetlands

  • Address: Dunne Rd, Smithfield QLD 4878, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.6 (209)

Mount Whitfield Conservation Park

  • Address: Collins Ave, Whitfield QLD 4870, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.5 (155)

Glenoma Park

  • Address: Brinsmead Rd, Brinsmead QLD 4870, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.4 (141)

Pelican Park Esplanade Reserve

  • Address: Kewarra St, Kewarra Beach QLD 4879, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.5 (132)

Smithfield Regional Park

  • Address: Smithfield QLD 4878, Australia
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.8 (76)

Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the best National Park in Cairns, Australia, please leave a comment above. We would love to hear from you!

Comments

5 responses to “Discover the Biggest National Park in Cairns, Australia”

  1. Isabelle Siegal Avatar
    Isabelle Siegal

    Varied and fascinating gardens with shaded pathways, grass lawns, lakes and boardwalk. Particularly enjoyed the conservatory – though there was a snake in there with us so be alert! Loved looking at the butterflies.
    Maps and directions can be unclear (we spotted a few misleading arrows) and we saw a couple of big fern branches fall off trees and onto the paths, so be aware of where you’re walking or one might fall on you.

    Reply
  2. WB Adventures Avatar
    WB Adventures

    One of Cairns great visits, either the first thing or last thing you do before venturing back home or if you’re a local either way this place is full of shades and botanical beauty of the north. Within the parks there are many walking and hiking paths from easy half day hang outs to much harder gradients towards higher peaks, there is a cafe, a visitor centre, community space, nearby arts centre (Tanks), and plenty of parking spaces. If you’re visiting there is a local public transport to get you there or a lazy 30-40 minute walk from Cairns central. Be sure to give yourselves at least half a day to visit, bring your cameras and drinks lots of water! The sceneries can vary depending on what trails you take or if you prefer a catch up at the cafe is also nice place to relax and take in the local surroundings…

    Reply
  3. Kerbray Avatar
    Kerbray

    An expansive and beautiful garden to visit whilst in Cairns. There’s a butterfly sanctuary towards the middle, and numerous walkways throughout the park to explore. A great place to take photos of lots of spiders within the park too!

    Reply
  4. Marie NT Avatar
    Marie NT

    Absolutely beautiful.
    A must-see for any nature lover.
    Great display of rainforest trees, plants, and flowers.

    Very easy to walk through different areas, plenty of informative signage – perhaps the only improvement could be on directional signage, some of it completely faded or missing the usefully “you are here” marker.

    The garden are free to enter, and easily accessible by several bus lines.

    There are two cafés on site, I tried the Tank 40 Café for yummy salad and fresh juice, right next to the Vsitor Centre.

    Definitely recommend the botanic Gardens, I visited on a hot wet season day yet you can feel how much cooler it is to walk under the trees.

    Perhaps my only suggestion would be some information, a display maybe, about the fauna that lives (or lived) in the various environments mentioned throughout the gardens.

    The gardens are big enough to keep you walking for at least a couple of hours. Don’t forget to stop by the conservatory, then just lie down on the lawn under the shade of one of the giant trees, very relaxing.

    A great way to get a good dose of nature in our busy city lifestyle.

    Reply
  5. Wayne Ralph Avatar
    Wayne Ralph

    It’s always a joy to visit the Cairns Botanical Gardens. They have a wonderful variety of flowers and plants, it is well set out and extremely peaceful. There are beautiful walks among the trees and a lovely cafe to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee. I would highly recommend visiting this place if you enjoy tropical Queensland flora.

    Reply

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