3 Attractions around Cairns that Your Kids Will Love

Although many families that holiday in Queensland pass straight through Cairns on their way to the Great Barrier Reef, the area actually is a beautiful and interesting spot that provides plenty of fun and affordable outings for people of all ages to enjoy. Whether you only have a weekend to explore Cairns or can dedicate longer, you’re sure to love exploring the region’s breathtaking natural scenery, family-friendly attractions and cultural sites. Cairns is a tropical Aussie hot-spot that boasts temperate weather all year-round, and it provides a fun combination of city sights, beaches, rainforests, coral reefs, cultural tours and animal interactions that every child will love to see. If you’re planning to head north over the winter months with your family then consider adding some relaxing time in Cairns to your itinerary. Read on for three great spots to explore with your family.

Kuranda SkyRail and Kuranda Scenic Railway

What child doesn’t love a day out that involves rides on a fun train or gondola? To explore the beauty of the area around Cairns and to learn some historical facts, take the family on a journey to the suburb of Kuranda, found approximately 25-kilometres north-west of the city. Make your way there via the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Kids (and parents too) are sure to love a trip on the more than decade-old train that covers one of the most unique journeys in the country. The railway winds its way between the hub destination of Cairns and the pretty little village of Kuranda, with travellers having the chance to admire towering bridges, hand-made tunnels and views of ancient rainforests, ravines and waterfalls along the way. Once in Kuranda, don’t miss a trip on the local SkyRail, a gondola ride that carries visitors on a 90-minute trip over the area’s World Heritage-listed rainforests. The Kuranda SkyRail was actually the first tourist attraction on the planet to be Green Globe certified, meaning that you can feel good about not only showing the kids a wonderful part of Australia, but also know that the journey does not impact negatively on the environment.

Cairns Tropical Zoo

Another favourite activity with children is a visit to a zoo. In the suburb of Palm Cove you can head to the award-winning Cairns Tropical Zoo, a tourist destination that’s set amongst six hectares of tropical landscaped gardens. The Zoo has been operating for more than three decades and is home to a wide array of Aussie wildlife species – indeed, it boasts the largest collection of wildlife in North Queensland. Children will love to explore the many animal exhibits in the zoo (popular creatures to see include kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, emus and birds); and they can watch daily snake, bird and crocodile shows, as well as hold and feed kangaroos and koalas, at specified times of the day. Animal lovers are also sure to be keen to stay late at the facility in order to enjoy the Cairns Night Zoo. During this time participants get to enjoy munching on a barbecue dinner and then explore the zoo further on a guided night-time tour to learn about all of the venue’s nocturnal creatures.

Cairns Wildlife Dome

Another attraction that’s perfect for families is the Cairns Wildlife Dome. Located on top of the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, the Dome is an educational, all-weather “wildlife immersion exhibit” that is the perfect place to visit on a rainy day. The Wildlife Dome is enclosed by a 20-metre high glass dome that stands out on the city’s skyline. Within the venue kids can have fun interacting with a variety of Australian creatures such as turtles, lizards, gliders and snakes. They can also watch animals being fed of an afternoon, or take part in the first ever Challenge Ropes Course to be set in this type of environment. Called the Cairns ZOOm, the ropes course is particularly popular with children and consists of over 50 different ziplines and crossings to undertake. Kids are sure to love the thrill of zooming over the top of the enclosure that holds a four-metre long saltwater crocodile as they complete the course!

About the author: Kellie Byrnes is a writer, entrepreneur, sustainable-living advocate and animal lover. You can follow her on Twitter or read eco-friendly tips and gift suggestions on her blog at Kindred Gifts.