Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Tours and Tickets

Cairns may be a pretty face but its history is also rich and deep, going back at least 40,000 years. Explore beyond the rainforest and reef to the ancient and recent history, complete with stories and photographable architecture, art and landmarks. We look at buildings of significance from the early colony, including architectural styles, as well as indigenous outdoor artworks. You will learn about the importance of the natural features of Cairns (reef and rain forest), the oldest living culture in the world and the pre-colonial lifestyle. We talk about the challenges of colonisation, pirates and opium trade, and the early gold rush, farming, business, and the cultural melting pot that makes Cairns what it is today. Historic buildings highlighted include Cairns Museum, Cairns Art Gallery, Mulgrave Shire Office, Telegraph Office, Post Office, Chambers, Boland's Department Store, the Adelaide Steamship Company, Central Hotel, Chinatown, and Hides Hotel.

PRIVATE TRANSFERS - We go when YOU & YOUR GROUP are ready to go. Safe & efficient transfer of small groups of up to 13 people at a time from Cairns Airport to and from Cairns CBD hotels. Private Transfers available to and from your Palm Cove & Port Douglas accommodation too.

Cairns is amazing Town steeped in History. Famous not only for its Reef and Rainforest but also for its early history and the trials and tribulations of the early settlers. Your tour not only encompasses the natural environment of Cairns and it’s surrounds but some of its early history and architecture. Kuranda Skyrail and the Historical Train can be included by prior arrangement.

Cairns is a tropical paradise. Make sure to make time to see the koalas at the Wildlife Dome and see the stunningly beautiful Esplanade Lagoon. Perfectly suited for discovery on foot, our self-guided audio tour allows you to set the pace and explore at your leisure as you uncover the stories of this exciting city. To discover this fascinating city in your own time and at your own pace just download this self-guided audio tour, pop in your headphones, open the map that comes with your download and start walking. On this tour you will learn about the history of the city from the Aboriginal people who first inhabited these lands to the gold rushes that saw European colonisation, the industries that emerged thereafter, and the impact of World War Two. The tour will take approximately two hours, but you can pause the audio guide when needed. Grab a bite to eat or do some shopping along the way. Please note that this tour is only available in English.