Entry to Cairns Aquarium in the city centre, where more than 16,000 animals live in 9 ecosystems that run from the rainforest rivers of the Wet Tropics to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Daily talks, touch tank shows and the 11am shark and ray feed come with the ticket.
Days
- 1.5 to 2 hours
Age
- All ages
Group size
- Self-guided visit
Start / finish
- Cairns Aquarium, 5 Florence Street, Cairns City
Return
- See itinerary for details
Transport
- No transport included; walking distance of city hotels
Meals
- No meals are listed as included
Route
Included experiences
- Deep reef tank — Australia's only 10 metre deep reef tank
- Underwater tunnel — sharks and rays overhead in a 20 metre tunnel
- Oceanarium — 360 degree views into a marine tank
- Freshwater exhibit — Australia's largest, from the Wet Tropics rivers
- Mangrove boardwalk — crocodiles, pythons and tree monitors
- Shark and ray talk — 11am daily, followed by a feed
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
4.7
Based on 23 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 23 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the aquarium's well-presented exhibits, knowledgeable and friendly staff, and educational presentations that foster genuine interest in ocean conservation and marine life. The facility's logical layout that guides visitors through different ecosystems from rainforest rivers to the Great Barrier Reef, combined with the diverse array of animals on display including fish, sharks, rays, reptiles and coral, stands out as a particular strength that appeals to both families and nature enthusiasts. The most frequently raised concern is the entry price, which several visitors describe as expensive, though some acknowledge understanding the costs of maintenance and animal welfare; additionally, a few travellers note that queues can form at busy times and that food options are limited apart from a front restaurant.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
We began our day here, and it's a great place to explore the ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest.
So much to see, and the shark and ray tank is awesome. Even a whole day didn't feel like enough, and I want to come back.
The best aquarium I've been to, clean, informative, free of that usual smell and with lots to see. Allow a good couple of hours.
The sea life and coral were beautiful, and the short talks were given by a passionate, knowledgeable presenter. A wonderful family outing we'll repeat.
A beautifully designed aquarium that leads you through different environments from the rivers to the Great Barrier Reef, with exhibits featuring much more than marine life. We spent two to three hours here.
