Photo of Cairns Aquarium in Queensland1 / 3
Aquariums

Cairns Aquarium

📍 Cairns City, QLD

★4.6(7,429 Google reviews)💰$20-$89👶All ages

Cairns Aquarium showcases over 16,000 aquatic animals across 9 ecosystems including a 20-metre underwater tunnel, touch pools, a 360-degree oceanarium, and a turtle rehabilitation centre. Daily shark and ray feeding shows run throughout the day.

✓ Shark tunnel✓ Marine biologist talks✓ Touch pools✓ Night tours✓ Turtle rehabilitation

🏆 Family Action Verdict

Best for families with children aged 4 and up who are drawn to marine life and want genuine learning alongside spectacle. The shark tunnel captivates across all ages; touch pools hold younger kids attention.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

💡Allow at least two and a half hours to move through all nine zones properly
⏰The turtle rehabilitation centre costs extra as proceeds go directly to the hospital — worth it
🎟️Night tours are less crowded and reviewers rate the guides among the best in the building
🚗Marine biologist talks run to a daily schedule — collect it on entry and plan around the topics that interest your kids

💬 What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.6
★★★★★

7,429 Google reviews

5★
5,296
4★
1,562
3★
378
2★
111
1★
82

G Reviews from Google

V

Vikas Hali

3 weeks ago

★★★★★

“We had an absolutely wonderful experience visiting the Cairns Aquarium. The entire facility is beautifully designed, well maintained, and offers an incredible opportunity to learn about the unique marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and tropical North Queensland. What truly made our visit exceptional was the guided tour with Sasha. She was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about marine life. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she explained everything in such an engaging and easy-to-understand way. She took the time to answer questions and shared fascinating insights that we would never have learned just by walking through on our own. Sasha’s passion for conservation and the ocean really shines through, and it made the entire experience much more meaningful for us. Highly recommend visiting the aquarium and, if you get the chance, joining one of Sasha’s tours – it truly elevates the whole experience!”

K

Kyle Watson

2 months ago

★★★★★

“5/5, what an absolutely awesome evening. The night tour of the Cairns aquarium is definitely worth it. Our tour guides were Sasha and Cameron and we couldn’t have asked for better guides. They were both packed full of knowledge and were engaging throughout the entire tour. Being able to walk through the aquarium at night and see the exhibits without the usual hustle and bustle was a treat and you feel so much more immersed in the environment. I highly recommend either the Twilight or Night tours for those that want to make the trip just that bit more special.”

D

Deb J Hill

a month ago

★★★★★

“Credit in spades to all the staff at the Aquarium. The organised talks once you enter are fantastic to understand the landscape and journey that many of the species have to make as the seasons change. The presenters' stories make you remember how amazing these underwater creatures are. Well worth a visit! It's also been voted the best in Australia. A+++”

📊 Commonly mentioned in Google reviews

Based on Google review tags

Friendly staff

407 reviews

Reef

280 reviews

Knowledgeable guide

100 reviews

Sharks

74 reviews

Twilight tour

74 reviews

Overview

Cairns Aquarium presents Tropical North Queensland marine ecosystems across nine themed zones — freshwater rivers, mangroves, and Great Barrier Reef habitats. The 20-metre underwater tunnel puts sharks and rays directly overhead. Touch pools allow hands-on interaction with marine species. Marine biologist talks run throughout the day and receive high praise for depth and accessibility. A turtle rehabilitation centre tour is available as an add-on.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday09:30 – 15:30
Tuesday09:30 – 15:30
Wednesday09:30 – 15:30
Thursday09:30 – 15:30
Friday09:30 – 15:30
Saturday09:30 – 15:30
Sunday09:30 – 15:30

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