9 Aquariums in Cairns Worth the Ticket

1.Cairns Aquarium Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 534 reviews · from $41Our pick

Follow a drop of rain from rainforest streams to the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns Aquarium. See sharks, rays, live coral, reptiles, and rare local species across 70 exhibits, with daily talks and feeding shows. Allow 1.5 to 3 hours, and consider the turtle hospital add-on if available.

“Wonderfully organized and educational exhibits. There is also a turtle rehabilitation center that I encourage people to visit and support. Great indepth education on sea turtles and Australia's huge role in their preservation. A great family activity :)”

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2.Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 422 reviews · 1 day · from $41

Spend a day at Cairns Aquarium in the city centre, moving from ancient rainforest habitats to reef tanks and a 20-metre underwater tunnel. You can watch sharks and rays, see Australia’s largest freshwater exhibit, join educator talks, and touch selected marine and reptile species.

“This was an amazing experience, staff extremely friendly and helpful as walking throughout there was always a staff member to assist”

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3.Cairns: Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 106 reviews · 3 hours · from $126

Join an English-speaking wildlife educator for a two-hour after-hours tour through Cairns Aquarium’s rivers, reefs, rainforests, mangroves, and Coral Sea exhibits. Guides such as Lisa, Michaela, Cameron, and Bradley have earned praise for lively explanations. Add a three-course dinner at Dundee’s restaurant afterward.

“The guided tour was excellent. There was nothing our guide did not know about eco systems and fish. Would highly recommend the tour but the drinks and dinner were just icing. Great night.”

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4.Cairns: Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 106 reviews · 2 hours · from $102

Join a Wildlife Educator after hours at Cairns Aquarium for a 1.5-hour walk through 10 tropical ecosystems. Watch night-active coral, rainforest animals, sharks, rays, and groupers, then sit down for a two-course dinner in the aquatic-themed restaurant. Guides may include Calvin, Lisa, Laura, or Jordan.

“Outstanding, guide was very knowledgeable and fantastic personality. We loved it and the dinner was divine.”

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5.Cairns: Aquarium Entry Ticket and Turtle Rehabilitation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 89 reviews · 1 day · from $55

Spend a full day at Cairns Aquarium, then join a 30-minute English tour of its Turtle Rehabilitation Center. You may meet turtles such as Tommy, see feeding, and learn from guides including Brett or Sharlie about plastic, habitat loss, and release plans. Entry, wheelchair access, and a small group of up to 10 are included.

“It was such a beautifully designed aquarium with the most spectacular wildlife! The turtle tour was so insightful and you can see the passion of the workers - a must visit for sure!”

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6.Cairns: Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 52 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Enter Cairns Aquarium after closing for a guided look at 10 tropical ecosystems, from rainforest and mangroves to the Coral Sea. An English-speaking Wildlife Educator introduces nocturnal animals, glowing coral, sharks, rays and groupers. The evening also includes a dining experience at Dundee’s Restaurant.

“An excellent night tour of a truly brilliant aquarium. Georgie was incredibly knowledgeable, bringing the animals to life with wit and storytelling that kept everything engaging and memorable. Experiencing the aquarium after hours felt genuinely magical — uninterrupted views and a completely different atmosphere. Highly recommend!”

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7.Cairns Aquarium by Twilight Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $60Top rated

Enter Cairns Aquarium after closing for a two-hour guided visit with a wildlife educator. You’ll watch nocturnal fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects become active, while guides such as Christine and Mikayla add clear explanations and lively stories. Food is not included.

“Our tour guide was Mykelah. She was outstanding. So personal le, knowledgeable and full of energy. She told us some facts and fun stories related to what we were seeing. Having a private, small group tour was great and we got up close to the fish. Definitely a must do and ask for Mykelah.”

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8.Cairns: Guided Twilight Tour of the Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 31 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Join an English-speaking ecologist for two hours inside Cairns Aquarium after closing. Watch reef fish shelter, nocturnal sharks and rays stir, and reptiles, amphibians, insects, and night-active fish change with the fading light. Cameron has led the tour, though guides may vary.

“Cameron our guide was fantastic. We did the aquarium tour prior to our snorkeling trip. The educational content provided made our snorkeling trip much more meaningful. Cameron was dynamic and enthusiastic. Snorkeling gave us a keyhole view of life on the reef but our aquarium tour gave us an overview and better understanding of the Great Barrier Reef. I feel we would have otherwise been disappointed with snorkeling alone.”

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9.Cairns Aquarium Marine Life Encounter Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · from $214

Spend about three hours with a wildlife educator at Cairns Aquarium, touring food preparation, quarantine, water filtration, coral propagation, the turtle hospital, and reptile breeding areas. You will hand feed Cownose rays and scatter-feed freshwater rays and barramundi. Guides may include Christine or Alex.

“This is an absolute must do whilst in Cairns. The behind the scenes workings of the aquarium are simply amazing. The staff, Christine and Alex were incredibly knowledgeable and couldn’t do more to make our experience fantastic. Highlights of feeding the baby stingray and seeing the turtle hospital were only topped off by a superb lunch”

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