Cairns Aquarium (solo trip)
How Solo-Friendly is Cairns Aquarium?
What makes it 86% Solo-Friendly: A solo traveller can move at own pace through 10 ecosystems, join free daily talks, add turtle rehab tour, and the city-center location makes access easy and safe.
Positives:
- Central location: Located in downtown Cairns, it is within walking distance of major hotels and public transport.
- Group-friendly tours: Solo ticket holders can join small-group turtle tours and twilight tours with no minimum requirement.
Challenges:
- Fixed talk and tour times: Educational talks and turtle tours run at set times; plan your visit to match these schedules.
- Additional tour fees: Add-on tours like the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre incur extra costs beyond entry.
What is Cairns Aquarium?
- An aquarium in the heart of Cairns that presents the biodiversity of North Queensland’s marine and rainforest ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef
- Home to more than 16,000 specimens organized into nine exhibit zones representing 71 distinct habitats
- Housed in a purpose-built facility with fully air-conditioned galleries that recreate environments from mangrove forests to deep coral reefs
What is so special about Cairns Aquarium for solo trip?
- See over 15,000 North Queensland creatures across nine ecosystems
- Experience hands-on interactions at the Marine Touch Tank and daily talks
- Join small-group behind-the-scenes Turtle Rehabilitation Centre tours
- Enjoy a fully air-conditioned, central city venue ideal for hot or rainy days
- Solo travellers can join evening tours with no minimum group size
Recommended visit duration: 2-3 hours
Why 2-3 hours visit duration is ideal for solo trip: This timeframe lets you see all main exhibits and attend a talk or touch tank session without rushing.
Solo-Friendly Activities in Cairns Aquarium
Explore nine exhibit zones:
Walk through displays of the Great Barrier Reef, Wet Tropics rainforest and mangroves.
Tip: Start at the Reef Tunnel, then work your way to the Deep Reef Tank.
Join daily educational talks:
Hear from Wildlife Educators about sharks, rays and tropical species at set times.
Tip: Check the schedule on arrival and arrive 5 minutes early to secure a spot.
Handle creatures in the Marine Touch Tank:
Touch sea stars, sea cucumbers and carpet sharks under supervision.
Tip: Plan this between 10 am and 3 pm when sessions run.
Visit the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre:
Go behind the scenes to see how injured sea turtles are treated and released.
Tip: Book the 11:30 am or 12:30 pm group tour online in advance.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Cairns Aquarium
- Buy tickets online: Purchase general admission and add-on tours online to skip the ticket line.
- Visit at opening: Arrive at 9 am to enjoy the galleries before crowds build.
- Check talk schedule: View the daily presentation times on the aquarium website and plan around your favorite topics.
Reviews of Cairns Aquarium
Aidy Aaward
We did the Twilight tour and if you want to see the aquarium with a guide and be the only people in the aquarium, this is the way to go. We had 9 people plus our guide, Marine Biologist Neve, and she showed us everything! We learned a ton and got to ask as many questions as we wanted. There are plenty of fish and of course the sharks and rays, but also so many reptiles. And everyone has a great na...
Jae Jang
Great experience at the Cairns Aquarium. Location : Centrally located, walking distance to most accommodations in the city. Curation : plenty of local sealife. Very suitable for children, my 3 year old niece had a ball. Recommend getting tickets in advance so you can skip the queue.
Liam Miles
AMAZING 🤩 The Cairns Aquarium is a great place for all ages it has lots of fish, lizards and snakes. The tickets are a bit pricey ($58 for adult pass) but they are the money's worth. Make some time for a good hour in the aquarium and exit through the gift shop afterwards. If you get in at opening times there is not much of a wait but after that you can be waiting for a half hour.
Jim Kim
Night toor was amazing! Felt like we had the place to ourselves. The exhibits are really great and our guides Cameron and Ruby were so knowledgeable and enthusiastic! Thanks a lot guys!
Keri Keightley
Fantastic set up, loads of different creatures. Staff very friendly and helpful. Beautiful aquarium and worth every cent. Before we entered we thought it was a bit pricy but once we were inside we definitely got more than our moneys worth.
When is the best time to visit Cairns Aquarium (Great Barrier Reef Area, Australia)?
The aquarium is air-conditioned year-round. Arrive early during the wet season (Dec–Feb) to avoid peak indoor crowds on rainy days.
Explore These Activities
Typical Budget for Solo Traveler (1 Adult)
| Item | Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| General admission (ages 15+) | AUD 58 |
| Turtle Rehabilitation Tour | AUD 20 |
| Total Estimated | AUD 78 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Content Notice: This content combines editorial expertise with AI assistance to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date information. Our team regularly curates and reviews all content for accuracy and relevance. Help Us Improve
Map of Cairns Aquarium
Address: 5 Florence St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Map will load when you scroll here
Scroll down to view the interactive map
Looking for other Things to Do besides Cairns Aquarium (Great Barrier Reef Area)?
About Cairns Aquarium
Opening Hours
Hours may vary during holidays, special events, and peak seasons. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
Website
Official WebsitePhone Number
+61 7 4044 7300Explore Popular Things to Do
🇦🇺 Australia, solo trip
🇺🇸 United States, solo trip
🇬🇧 United Kingdom, solo trip
How You Can Support Us
If our website helps you, please support us by booking your travel needs through this link: Book Flights, Hotels, Activities on Trip.com - New App User Promo up to 10% OFF. We may earn a small affiliate commission - at no extra cost to you!
It's a simple way to help us keep the site running and improving for everyone. Thanks for your support!