Photo: Kerry Raymond · CC BY 4.0 · editedCairns Botanic Gardens
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Cairns Botanic Gardens is a wet tropics public botanic garden on Collins Avenue in Edge Hill, Cairns, south of Mt Islay in the Mt Whitfield Range.
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Steve Fitzgerald · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Why go
- Conservation of endangered plants from the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and support for scientific work.
- Three lawns, including an open-air performance and gathering space near McDonnell Street.
Opening hours
Today07:30 – 17:30Show all
Monday07:30 – 17:30
Tuesday07:30 – 17:30
Wednesday07:30 – 17:30
Thursday07:30 – 17:30
Friday07:30 – 17:30
Saturday07:30 – 17:30
Sunday07:30 – 17:30
Don't miss
- Munro-Martin FerneryBuilt in 1968 to house the Munro-Martin family’s fern collection, the fernery originally featured a miniature waterfall, pond, water lilies and fish.Across the lawn from the main entrance gate
- George Watkins Orchid HouseBuilt in 1986, the orchid house adjoins the fernery to the west.West of the Munro-Martin Fernery
- Teak treeThe main entrance lawn’s central teak tree was planted in 1946.Centre of the main entrance lawn
- Fitzalan CreekTwo footbridges cross the creek between planted banks.In the garden
- Figure-of-eight walkwayThe walkway from the garden’s 1960s design remains in the garden.In the garden
Shorts
History
Fitzalan grew coffee and grafted citrus and mangoes for local residents, while exporting orchids, palms, ferns and other plants to Europe. The herbarium grew from about 1,600 specimens in 1937 to about 5,000 in 1950. It returned briefly to the gardens from 1967 to 1971 and is now part of the CSIRO collection.
- 1886About 71 acres west and south of Mount Islay became a temporary recreation reserve. Botanist Eugene Fitzalan began developing an ornamental garden.
- 1887The reserve grew to more than 97 acres.
- 1921The reserve became a permanent recreation reserve.
- Early 1930sDr Hugo Flecker and the North Queensland Naturalist Club campaigned for a formal botanic garden.
- 1953The zoological garden closed for economic reasons.
Show all
- 1967Curator Vince Winkel designed a new botanical display garden.
- February 1986Cyclone Winifred severely damaged many garden trees.
- 2 February 2007The gardens were added to the Queensland Heritage Register.
How to get there
- On footFind the gardens at 78–96 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill, Cairns. The garden area is bounded by Collins Avenue and McCormack, Goodwin and McDonnell streets.
Sources: Flecker Botanical Gardens - Wikipedia · Flecker Botanical Gardens - Wikipedia (part 2) · Flecker Botanical Gardens - Wikipedia (part 3) · checked 28 Sep 2026
Where
78-96 Collins Ave Edge Hill, Cairns
- Phone
- 1300692247
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours for Cairns Botanic Gardens?
The gardens are open daily from 07:30 to 17:30.
How can I contact Cairns Botanic Gardens?
Call +61 7 4032 6650.
When were Cairns Botanic Gardens established?
The gardens were established in 1886 as part of a recreation reserve.
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