Cairns Area Attractions
Cairns Area Attractions Directory
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There are several modes of transport through Barron Gorge National Park, including the historic Kuranda train and the Skyrail cableway. They provide spectacular views of the Gorge and the Barron River far below.
At the top of the gorge near Kuranda are the Barron Falls (Din Din). The Barron Falls (Din Din) Lookout Track begins with an elevated boardwalk traversing the rainforest just below the canopy. It then winds its way down the hill past several lookout points and rest stops to the lookout...Barron Falls Lookout Track
Cairns
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Towering above the fertile coastal plain 70 kilometres south of Cairns in Wooroonooran National Park are the highest mountains in Queensland, Bartle Frere (1622 metres) and its neighbour Bellenden Ker (1593 metres).
More than 8 metres of rain falls on the summit of Bellenden Ker each year and it has recorded 1140mm of rain in 24 hours - one of the highest rainfall intensities in the world.
The track heads through dense rainforest towards Bobbin Bobbin Falls, a good place for water supply. Pa...Bartle Frere Trail (West)
Cairns
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Towering above the fertile coastal plain within the Wooroonooran National Park, 70 kilometres south of Cairns are the highest mountains in Queensland, Bartle Frere (1622 metres) and its neighbour Bellenden Ker (1593 metres).
The track begins at the Josephine Falls carpark close to the ranger's office. The beginning of the track is wide and clear through a tropical rainforest. It takes approximately one hour to reach Majuba Creek. This is a nice place to take a break, sit beside crystal clear m...Bartle-Frere Trail (East)
Cairns
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The adventurous Blue Arrow track loops through the Mt Whitfield Conservation Park. It is a continuation of the Red Arrow walk and branches off near the top of the hill.
Mt Whitfield and Mt Lumley are over 300 metres above sea level and offer spectacular lookouts over Cairns and surrounding areas. Along the walk you will traverse virgin rainforest, open woodlands and creek crossings and are likely to see agile wallabies and other wildlife.Blue Arrow Walk
Cairns
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In Mexico, meal times are like mini-fiestas. A time for everyone to enjoy good food drink and each others company. Whether you're out for lunch or dinner, dining al fresco or their outdoor balcony or sitting in the colourful airconditioned dining room, you will have an experience unlike any other.
Buckin Mex is open daily for lunch, offering great value deals under AUD10.00.
Dinner commences at 4.30 p.m. An extensive range of traditional Mexican favourites are on offer, along with some mouthwa...Buckin Mex Mexican Restaurant
Cairns
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Dining at C'est Bon French Restaurant is a truly unforgettable dining experience. Join Junelle and the team with Chef Samuel Daquin from Lille in France to savour the mouth watering delights from original classic French dishes. Samuels culinary talents emerge each week with some amazing specials of the week. C'est Bon is the only true classical French restaurant in Cairns, situated just five minutes from the Convention Centre and located just behind the Cairns International Hotel and the Reef Ho...C`est Bon French Restaurant
Cairns
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Cable Ski Cairns offers a unique watersport experience for young and old. A man made freshwater lake offers wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and waterskiing for beginners through to advanced riders. An open view terrace with chairs and tables, and a kiosk where you can purchase food, soft drinks or even a beer, invite you to relax and let the day go by.
A beach with umbrellas, a barbecue area and a small swimming lagoon for their youngest visitors contribute to the inviting atmosphere. Stay for an h...Cable Ski Cairns
Cairns
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With over 180 retail outlets spanning the largest shopping precinct in Australia's Tropical North, Cairns Central Shopping Centre really has got it all. Open seven days of the week and located near the Cairns Central Business District, Cairns Central is only a short walk from many of the Cairns hotels and apartments.
There are many fashion and accessory outlets, home ware, gifts and souvenir retailers as well as hair and beauty salons and day spa's. Browse through Myer and Target, two departme...Cairns Central Shopping Centre
Cairns
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The Cairns Night Zoo - A great Aussie night out! Come and see what the Aussies get up to after dark! This excellent evening activity operates every Monday to Thursday and Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Included in the evening you will enjoy a delicious barbecue of steak, chicken, fish, salads, prawns, dessert plus beer and wine.
The guided spotlighting tour is a great experience! Meet some of Australia's favourite animals - at their place. During the tour they enjoy billy tea and damper...Cairns Night Zoo
Cairns
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Cairns Regional Gallery is Far North Queensland's only visual art museum and in 2005 it celebrates it's 10th Birthday: a decade of documenting and presenting history, heritage and contemporary culture of this vast and distinctive region of Australia and the world through the visual arts, craft and design.
Houses in a refurbished heritage building in central Cairns, the gallery incorporates four individual exhibition spaces inside the building, showcasing an average of 30 exhibitions per year, a...Cairns Regional Gallery
Cairns
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Cairns Tropical Zoo, on the Captain Cook Highway at Palm Cove - 20 minutes north of Cairns is six hectares of tropically landscaped zoo featuring a natural habitat displaying Australia's unique animals - plus some international tropical animals.
You have the opportunity to 'Cuddle a Koala' (extra cost applies and includes a top quality souvenir digital photograph). This is a great place to pat a crocodile, meet a dingo, stroke a snake, scratch a wombat, hand feed colourful parrots and meet rain...Cairns Tropical Zoo
Cairns
Booking online is available
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The Cairns Wildlife Dome is a spectacular all weather wildlife exhibit encased by a 20-metre high glass dome on the rooftop of the Sofitel Reef Casino Cairns. More than 60 species of magnificent rainforest animals and birds wander and fly freely throughout the enclosure, replicating their natural environment.
Discover the secrets of the rainforest and enjoy informative presentations; Reptile Rap, Bird Show, Mammal Show and Dusk Creatures Show, and guided feeding tours. Meet Goliath the four-met...Cairns Wildlife Dome
Cairns
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The Cairns Centre of Contemporary Arts (CoCA) brings together a variety of exciting art forms under one roof. Resident company, JUTE (Just Us Theatre Ensemble), a professional renowned theatre company presents an annual season of contemporary plays developed from the region, whilst KickArts Contemporary Arts mounts a changing program of contemporary exhibitions in both the Lower and Upper Galleries. Admission to the galleries and exhibitions is free.
Every first and third Sunday of the month...Centre of Contemporary Arts (CoCA)
Cairns
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Located off Lizard Island, on the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns, Cobia Hole is a pinnacle of rocks covered with marine organism including sponges, soft coral, coralliamorpharians, feather stars, sea stars, sea squirts, shrimps, crabs and gobies. Look for sea whips, gorgonian fans and stinging hydroids. Hovering bream can often be seen, as well as circling pelagic barracuda or trevally. Large turtles, toadfish and estuary cod. Explore the sea grasses and algae on the nearby sand.Cobia Hole Dive Site
Cairns
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Cod Hole, located on Ribbon Reef no.10 on the Great Barrier Reef, is best accessed from Cairns or Port Douglas. Internationally recognised underwater photographers Ron and Valerie Taylor were the first to publicise this site. Swim with large friendly Potato Cod (6-30 kilograms). See clouds of cod like Maori Wrasse, red bass, and emperor. Other marine life includes average coral cover, anemonies, whitetip reef sharks, giant clams, schools of pyramid butterflyfish, Solomon's sweetlip, cleaning sta...Cod Hole Dive Site
Cairns
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Coral Gradens, on the the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, features a wall that stretches from 5m to the surface along the reef edge, dropping away down 10 to 20m. Superb variety of corals on the plateau and down the slope. Clownfish, batfish, trout, cod, fusiliers, angelfish, basslets and whitetip reef shark; also octopus, moray eels, barracuda, lionfish and nudibranchs. Good pelagic action, wrasse, parrotfish, rabbitfish, butterflyfish and anthias perform unique antics. Several other dive sites ...Coral Gardens Dive Site, Flynn Reef
Cairns
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Des Spencer Galleries are located on the Esplanade in Palm Cove and at the Sheraton Mirage, Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland. The galleries exclusively feature fine art by Des Spencer. Des is renowned for his vivid, vivacious images of the world around him. His landscapes and cityscapes, floral, underwater and abstract scenes explode with pulsating colour, conveying all the energy and passion of life. His imagery dances on the canvas, reminding us that living is joyous.
Des' paintings...Des Spencer Galleries
Cairns
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Barron Gorge is the traditional home of the Djabaguy people who have many special connections to this place.
The Douglas and Smiths tracks, traditional pathways for the Djabaguy for thousands of years, became the first pack routes linking the hinterland goldfields to the coast in 1876.
From the Rainforest Estate, the track follows an old sealed road and then winds through the scrub up to the Cairns-Kuranda railway line. From the nearby bridge continue climbing up to Red Bluff which offers s...Douglas Track
Cairns
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Dundee’s Restaurant captures the three ingredients of success at its best. Great Food, Great Location and Perfect Ambience. Locals can share in this magical location seven days a week, sharing an early sunrise over a sumptuous breakfast to the buzz of people wandering along the boardwalk.
Dundees breakfast menu is guaranteed to impress, from Eggs Benedict to Sauteed Mushrooms to build your own breakfast. Just add what takes your fancy. Stop for a light lunch along the way. Dundees is a great...Dundees Restaurant On The Waterfront
Cairns
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Hastings Reef in the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns is a large, popular diving and snorkelling reef and home to the 'Fish Bowl'. This site offers great protection from the prevailing South Easterly winds, which provides consistent diving and snorkelling conditions all year round.
The 'Fish Bowl' is home to 'Wally' the world famous Maori Wrasse so with a good underwater camera you'll have fantastic photo opportunities. Marine life includes White Tip Reef Sharks, Moray Eels, Spine Cheek Anemone f...Fish Bowl Dive Site
Cairns
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In Fitzroy Island National Park in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, densely forested Fitzroy Island offers bushwalking as well as swimming and snorkelling. The island rises to 269 metres, offering grand vistas from almost any vantage point. In winter (June to August), watch from the lighthouse for humpback whales. Walk to the disused lighthouse and continue on the 4.2 kilometre circuit walk via the summit, or return to Welcome Bay to swim and snorkel. Look for some of the island’s var...Fitzroy Island National Park
Fitzroy Island
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This walk in Fitzroy Island National Park travels through rainforest and open woodland, on route to a disused, wartime lighthouse. At the lighthouse, interpretational signage describes how the lighthouse was used during World War II.
From the lighthouse the track continues on the circuit walk via the summit, which presents spectacular views over the island and surrounding sea.
Rainforest and migratory birds inhabit the island.Fitzroy Island Summit Circuit
Cairns
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Welcome to Flecker Botanic Gardens, the only wet tropic botanic gardens in Australia. At Flecker Botanic Gardens, the collections reflect their tropical diversity, with plants from the steamy jungles of South East Asia, South America and Africa easily adapting to the warm, wet climate of Cairns. These gardens have a fairytale-like feel for many plant collectors, with the most outstanding flowering and foliage plants arranged in natural landscape style.
Situated on Collins Avenue only four kilo...Flecker Botanic Gardens
Cairns
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Flinders Group National Park protects seven remote and ruggedly attractive islands with a rich cultural landscape and heritage. The islands contain important Aboriginal story and burial sites, along with nationally significant rock art showing early contact with Europeans. Surrounding waters are protected in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Walk the 2.8 kilometre interpretive trail to learn about the Yiithuwarra 'saltwater people'. Contemplate their rock art in the Ship and Yindayin rock she...Flinders Group National Park
Cairns
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These five islands in Frankland Group National Park are popular for their relatively untouched rainforest, mangroves and surrounding reefs. A colony of spectacled flying-foxes roosts on Russell Island, while manta rays and sea turtles have been spotted in nearby waters.
Go out with a tour operator and enjoy a guided nature trail on Normanby Island. Comb the shores at low tide to see intriguing ocean treasures washed up by the sea. Snorkel or dive and enjoy the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef...Frankland Group National Park
Cairns
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The Goldfield Track in Wooroonooran National Park leaves Babinda Boulder and makes its way over the saddle between Mount Bellenden Ker and Mount Batle Frere, the two tallest mountains in Queensland, to the Goldsborough Valley.
The track follows Babinda Creek upstream through lowland rainforest with epiphytes and vines. Leaving the creek, but still on flat ground, the track enters World Heritage listed Wooroonooran National Park. The track begins to ascend to about 4.5 kilometres along, crossing...Goldfield Track
Cairns
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Nestled at the base of the rugged Bellenden Ker Range, this section of the park, Goldsborough Valley, Wooroonooran National Park, protects World Heritage-listed rainforest in the Mulgrave valley. A large grassy picnic area and campground near the river is a great place to relax.
Picnic or camp beside the winding Mulgrave River. Take a short walk through the rainforest to Kearneys Falls. A longer hike, the 18 kilometre Goldfield track, passes between Queensland’s two highest mountains (Bartle F...Goldsborough Valley, Wooroonooran National Park
Cairns
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Located off Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Detached Reef is a large complex of several reefs on an older fossil surface. This reef has about 46km of edge. Wall diving and very steep down to over 400 metres with some small caves in the wall. Barracuda, trevally and sharks, along with schools of basslets, fussiliers and sometimes blue-lined snapper. Moray eels, lobster, shrimp and nudibranch. Lots of large potato cod and some mantarays and turtles.Great Detached Reef Dive Site
Cairns
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Green Island, located off Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef, is a true coral island surrounded by sandy beaches and a huge coral reef system. 4m above sea level, 606 metres long, 200 metres wide and half a kilometre in circumference. Good snorkelling, average scuba diving, underwater observatory. Excellent for day visitors. Dive shop, scuba diving tuition and dive charter Boats to reef nearby. Resort accommodation, Cafe and souvenir shops also on island.Green Island Fringing Reefs
Cairns
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Green Island National Park is one of the Great Barrier Reef’s most popular destinations. This small rainforest-clad coral cay is fringed by palms and sandy beaches that slope gently to the clear, blue-green waters of the surrounding reef. The island is spiritually significant to the Gungandji Aboriginal people. Stroll around the island's boardwalks to explore the rainforest and birdlife and find out about the island’s history. Walk along the beaches to view seabirds and enjoy views over the reef...Green Island National Park
Green Island
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Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is the best place to see crocodiles and native wildlife in Tropical North Queensland. It's home to a range of habitats including melaleuca Wetlands, riverine rainforest and eucalypt woodland.
Hartley's was the first place in Australia to perform Crocodile feeding shows for the public and the 'Crocodile Attack Show' is world famous. Timber boardwalks provide elevated viewing of wildlife as visitors journey through a range of natural habitats.
The walk-in tropica...Hartleys Crocodile Adventures
Cairns
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Iron Range National Park is a remote coastal park in northern Cape York Peninsula, protecting the largest area of lowland tropical rainforest in Australia. Rainforest, eucalypt and paperbark forests and heath-shrouded hills provide a backdrop to long sweeping beaches, rocky outcrops and mangrove forests. Enjoy bush camping at one of several campgrounds. Take the 10 kilometre return walk along the banks of Claudie River. Spotlight for green pythons and common spotted cuscus; look for eclectus par...Iron Range National Park
Cairns
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Jardine River National Park and Heathlands Resources Reserve is a true wilderness at the tip of remote Cape York Peninsula. It includes much of the catchment of the Jardine River, Queensland’s largest perennial river. Heath, rainforest and woodland cover low sandy ridges separated by swamps. Shrublands and vine thickets cover massive coastal dunes. A rich Aboriginal cultural landscape, the parks also have colourful European historical links. Bush camp at Eliot Falls, Captain Billy Landing or bes...Jardine River National Park and Heathlands Resources Reserve
Cairns
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Josephine Creek begins as a trickle high on the south-east side of the summit of Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland's highest mountain. Approximately 7.5 kilometres from the summit of Mt Bartle Frere the waters of Josephine Creek tumble over granite boulders, forming the picturesque Josephine Falls.
This track leads you through lush tropical rainforest, to viewing decks overlooking the Josephine Creek and Falls, where there are excellent photographic opportunities. Below the falls are several swimmin...Josephine Falls Circuit
Cairns
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At Josephine Falls, Wooroonooran, the waters of Josephine Creek plunge over granite boulders and forming a turbulent waterfall at the base of Queensland’s highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere (1,622 metres). Surrounding the falls is mesophyll vine forest, the most complex rainforest type in Australia. Take an easy half-hour walk through lush tropical rainforest to viewing decks that offer excellent photo opportunities of this tiered waterfall. Discover a number of plants that normally occur only...Josephine Falls, Wooroonooran National Park
Babinda
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This walking track in Danbulla State Forest and Forest Reserve follows the creek to Danbulla Drive and the Day Use area by the road. You can walk from here too.
The walk continues upstream past pine forests and eventually enters intact rainforest and divides into a loop walk which climbs and circles back around to Kauri Creek and returning downstream on the other side of the creek. The track here can be rough in places, but the rainforest contains some large trees with pronounced buttress root...Kauri Creek Circuit
Cairns
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The original Kuranda Scenic Railway is a spectacular journey comprising unsurpassed views of dense rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls. This famous railway winds its way on a journey of approximately one hour 45 minutes from Cairns to Kuranda, the village in the rainforest.
The Cairns-Kuranda Railway was constructed between 1882 and 1891 and even today is considered an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude. Hundreds of men were employed to build the 15 hand-made tunnels and...Kuranda Scenic Railway
Cairns
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Part of Michaelmas and Upolo Cays National Park, Michaelmas Cay is one of the most important seabird breeding sites on the Great Barrier Reef. Michaelmas Cay is a small, low sand cay, covered by grasses and low-growing plants. Upolu Cay is a low, unvegetated sand cay. From the beach access area on Michaelmas Cay, watch seabirds nesting and tending their young without disturbing them. Marvel at the sight of up to 30,000 seabirds occupying the cay at peak nesting periods during summer. Look for so...Michaelmas and Upolo Cays National Park
Cairns
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Michaelmas Cay, on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, is 10km long reef with a sand cay. Explore the bommies, walls, swim-throughs, gullies, small caves and overhangs. See Giant clams, blue-spotted rays batfish, cleaner stations, nudibranchs, crayfish and turtle weed clumps. Schools of damsels and fusiliers dance over the coral. Standing on the beach you may experience fish 'biting' at your heels - they're only trying to catch shrimp and other small animals.Michaelmas Cay Dive Site
Cairns
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At Moore Reef, on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, you can dive over staghorn thickets on sand that slopes and drops to 22m. Explore around the bommies or stay close to the reef edge. There is an abundance of hard coral, damselfish hide in the soft coral and dash out to catch planktonic food. Wrasse, parrotfish, emperors, butterflyfish and surgeonfish are common. A good macrophotogaphy site - especially at night.Moore Reef Dive Site
Cairns
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Mount Whitfield Conservation Park protects the closest rainforest to Cairns. The rainforested slopes of the Whitfield Range form a dramatic backdrop to the city. Walking tracks climb through shady rainforest gullies and dry open forest and grasslands with cycads. Visitors often encounter mound-building brush-turkeys, orange-footed scrubfowl and graceful honeyeaters. Two linked circuit walks provide views over Cairns city, Trinity Bay and the coast to the north. Tackle the short but steep 1.5 kil...Mount Whitfield Conservation Park
Cairns
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Mulgrave Settlers Museum, next to the sugar mill in Gordonvale, was purpose-built to house objects used by settlers in the area then called Nelson in the late 1800s.
The aboriginal, miners' and timber cutters' displays are realistically set against a 40 metre rainforest backdrop. There's a fully equipped blacksmith's workshop. Furniture and homemakers' aides in the pioneer woman's domain demonstrate the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the era, plus a few luxuries.
Boats and packhorses brought...Mulgrave Settlers Museum
Gordonvale
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Nandroya Falls Circuit is part of a network of walks in the Palmerston section of Wooroonooran National Park. Wooroonooran National Park is an integral part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Its fertile soils and extremely wet climate have fostered some of the oldest continually surviving rainforests on earth, making this area of universal importance and value.
The walk winds about 700 metres into the rainforest before forking to form a circuit. The left hand fork is shorter - about 1.5 ...Nandroya Falls Circuit
Cairns
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Off Cairns on the Great barrier Reef lies Norman Reef, where Maori Wrasse, moray eels, giant clams, anemones and their commensals are permanent features. Large bommies, staghorn thickets and hillocks of rich coral cover. Excellent swim-throughs and a few caves. Garden eels in the sandy areas. Batfish, drummers, spangled emperors, fusiliers and red bass join in. Turtles, moray eels, blue-spotted rays and giant clams can be seen. In mid to late winter Minke whales take over.Norman Reef Dive Site
Cairns
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Normanby Reef is located in the Frankland Islands on the Great barrier Reef, a group of relatively untouched national parks about 12 km off the coast near Cairns. They are a group of continental islands with good beaches and some fine snorkelling. Normanby Island's pristine waters are a coral haven for snorkelling and diving. Visitors share the immaculate reef with green sea turtles, tropical fish and giant clams.Normanby Reef
Cairns
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The Ochre is recognised both nationally and internationally as one of the most innovative modern Australian restaurants not only in Cairns, but Australia. Formerly Red Ochre Grill.
Ochre restaurant offers a broad range of dining experiences to suit the varied markets of the tourism industry. Offering alternatives for both group and FIT clients, the Ochre wishes to grow its reputation and service’s to the tourism, conference and hospitality industry within Australia.
Craig Squire, renowned Aus...Ochre Restaurant and Catering
Cairns
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Oliver's - Australian Fine Cuisine is located in the centre of Cairns. The quest to create a haven for food and wine lovers has been achieved when Oliver's first opened its doors in August 2006. Attention to detail, love of good food and wines, exquisite service and hospitality prevail throughout every aspect of this restaurant. Oliver's offers modern Australian cuisine that utilises fresh Australian ingredients, including traditional Aboriginal produce, combined with European and Asian cooking ...Olivers – Australian Fine Cuisine
Cairns
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Osprey Reef is one of the most spectacular dive sites in the world, located off Cairns in the Coral Sea. The North Horn site on the reef is a remote sea mount rising 1000 m from the ocean floor. There are spectacular wall drop-offs, amazing visibility and a popular shark-feeding location!!! The northern most point attracts many reef fish and many pelagic species including barracuda, dogtooth tuna and mackerel. White-tips and Grey Whalers cruise off the wall and Hammerheads and Oceanic Silver ti...Osprey Reef
Cairns
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To start your free visit to the Outback Opal Mine why not view the interesting eight minute documentary available in English, Japanese and German. Then take a walk through the simulated Opal mine to see a variety of rough black, boulder and crystal opal embedded in the wall.
Relax on the verandah and enjoy morning or afternoon tea.
If you have ever wondered how opal gougers work, how opal is formed and how it is cut and polished, be sure to visit Joe and Susan Clyde's showroom.
A courtesy ...Outback Opal Mine
Cairns
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On the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns, rising 30m and about 15m across, Pixie Pinnacles is a huge cone shaped 'pyramid' that is covered in corals hard and soft, gorgonians, sea whips and sponges. Underneath the overhangs and caves see lionfish, moray eels, shrimps, anemones with their clownfish, cleaner wrasse. Fairy Basslets create an amazing pink cloud while they feed in the current.Pixie Pinnacle Dive Site
Cairns
