Extending north of Cairns CBD, Cairns North is a coastal suburb on the traditional lands of the Yidinji people. It’s surrounded by the parklands of the Cairns Esplanade and the Botanic Gardens, as well as main aviation gateway to North Queensland, Cairns Airport.
Things to do in Cairns North
Cairns North is connected to the city centre via the Cairns Esplanade, which offers magnificent views across the mouth of Chinaman Creek and the Coral Sea. It’s dotted with children’s playgrounds such as the Fun Ship and the Healing Gardens and is home to the much-loved Skate Plaza. Partway along the Esplanade is a palm-shaded petanque court where you can socialise with the locals.
Green thumbs can visit the Cairns Botanic Gardens, which boasts one of the most impressive collections of tropical plants in Australia. You can learn how rainforest plants were used for food, shelter and medicine in the Aboriginal Plant Use Garden before getting up close to species from South America, Africa and South East Asia in the Flecker Garden. Birdwatchers can spot black-necked storks and cormorants at Freshwater Lake while kids can let loose in the Nature Playground.
Nestled behind the Cairns Botanic Gardens is Mount Whitfield Conservation Park, a rainforested area traversed by hiking trails offering magnificent views. Follow the Red Arrow Circuit as it leads through a large stand of bamboo and a shaded gully or make the steep climb up Lumley Hill to enjoy elevated panoramas of Cairns and Green Island.
Getting around Cairns North
Cairns North is just five minutes’ drive from the city centre and around the same distance from Cairns Airport, which has flights to destinations across Oceania and Asia. Buses travel through Cairns North, although many of the suburb’s attractions can be accessed on foot.