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Explore the Local Area around Cairns Southgate Hotel

Cairns Esplanade & Lagoon

Swimmers in the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon beside the fish sculptures

Cairns Esplanade & Lagoon

Swim year-round in the free saltwater Esplanade Lagoon, stroll the waterfront boardwalk and parklands, and enjoy some of the city’s best restaurants and bars, plus the Cairns Night Markets, as the sun sets over Trinity Inlet.

About 8 minutes by car from Cairns Southgate Hotel

  • The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870

Great Barrier Reef Day Trips

Scuba diver swimming alongside a sea turtle over coral on the Great Barrier Reef

Green Island

A coral cay inside Green Island National Park, ringed by reef. Snorkel, ride a glass-bottom boat or relax on the beach.

  • Departs Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns City
  • About 45 minutes by fast catamaran
Snorkellers in clear turquoise water off the rocky shore of Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island

A rainforest-covered island with fringing reef, walking trails, a beach for snorkelling and the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

  • Departs Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street, Cairns City
  • About 45 minutes by fast catamaran
Aerial view of a sailing catamaran beside the sandy Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef

Michaelmas Cay

A sand cay and protected bird sanctuary where you can wade in from the beach. Snorkel, try an introductory dive or take a semi-submersible tour. Great for non-swimmers and families.

Cairns Botanic Gardens

Visitors walking through the entrance of the Cairns Botanic Gardens

Cairns Botanic Gardens

One of Australia’s finest tropical plant collections, with the Flecker Garden, Gondwana Heritage Garden, a conservatory of orchids and pitcher plants, and freshwater and saltwater lakes. Free entry, open every day.

About 12 minutes by car from Cairns Southgate Hotel

  • 78-96 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill QLD 4870

Kuranda Scenic Railway

Skyrail gondola over the rainforest and the Kuranda Scenic Railway passing a waterfall

Kuranda Scenic Railway

Ride a heritage train from Cairns Station up through the Barron Gorge, past waterfalls and hand-built tunnels, to the rainforest village of Kuranda. Pair it with Skyrail for a classic one-way-up, one-way-down day trip.

Cairns Station is about 7 minutes by car from Cairns Southgate Hotel

  • Cairns Station, Bunda Street, Cairns City QLD 4870

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Couple in a glass-floored Skyrail Diamond View gondola above the rainforest

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Glide 7.5 km above World Heritage-listed rainforest, among the oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforests on Earth, stopping at Red Peak and the Barron Falls lookouts on your way to Kuranda.

About 25 minutes by car from Cairns Southgate Hotel

  • 6 Skyrail Drive, Smithfield QLD 4878

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Family exploring the rainforest butterfly aviary at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Walk among more than 1,200 tropical butterflies in Australia’s largest butterfly flight aviary, then take a behind-the-scenes tour of the breeding laboratory. A favourite with families.

In Kuranda, about 40 minutes by car from Cairns Southgate Hotel

  • 8 Rob Veivers Drive, Kuranda QLD 4881

Rusty’s Markets

Family choosing tropical fruit and vegetables at Rusty’s Markets in Cairns

Rusty’s Markets

Cairns favourite farmers market, open Friday to Sunday, with seasonal tropical fruit, local produce, Indigenous foods, street food and live music from local musicians.

About 8 minutes by car from Cairns Southgate Hotel

  • 57-89 Grafton Street, Cairns City QLD 4870

Shopping & Dining near Cairns Southgate Hotel

Stockland Cairns is a 5-minute walk from the hotel, with Woolworths, Coles, Big W, Target, a food court, cafes and BCC Cinemas, and DFO Cairns is about 1.5 km away. For dinner, head to the Cairns Esplanade and Marina for waterfront restaurants and bars, or the Cairns Night Markets for casual Asian street food. Uber Eats and DoorDash also deliver to the hotel; just meet your driver at the front of the property on Mulgrave Road.

Further afield, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest all make easy day trips by car.

Shoppers inside the multi-level Cairns Central shopping centre
Cairns Central – the city’s major shopping centre with fashion, dining and a cinema.
Visitors walking through the underwater tunnel at Cairns Aquarium
Cairns Aquarium – discover the reef and rainforest ecosystems of Tropical North Queensland.
Spacious bistro dining room with tables set at Cazalys Cairns
Cazalys – casual dining, bistro meals and entertainment close to the hotel.
Waterfront restaurants with outdoor tables along the Cairns Esplanade at sunset
Esplanade dining – waterfront restaurants and bars in the heart of Cairns.
Yachts moored at Marlin Marina in Cairns at sunset with mountains behind
Marlin Marina – departure point for Great Barrier Reef and island day trips.
Shoppers browsing souvenir and food stalls inside the Cairns Night Markets
Cairns Night Markets – souvenirs, massages and Asian food stalls open every evening.
Palm-lined beachfront walking path at Palm Cove, north of Cairns
Palm Cove – a relaxed palm-fringed beach village around 30 minutes’ drive north.
Open-air dining court with tropical plants and festoon lights at Stockland Cairns
Stockland Cairns – shopping, dining and supermarkets just a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
Family choosing tropical fruit and vegetables at Rusty’s Markets in Cairns
Rusty’s Markets – local produce, coffee and street food every Friday to Sunday.
Family exploring the rainforest butterfly aviary at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary – the country’s largest butterfly flight aviary in Kuranda.
Visitors walking through the entrance of the Cairns Botanic Gardens
Cairns Botanic Gardens – free tropical gardens and boardwalks in Edge Hill.
Open-air DFO Cairns outlet centre with palm trees and festoon lights at dusk
DFO Cairns – outlet shopping just a few minutes’ drive along Mulgrave Road.

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