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Get your Cairns Aquarium tickets and explore 16,000+ animals across 10 ecosystems, including rare species from the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics. With 71 tanks, Australia’s largest freshwater display, and a 20-metre shark tunnel, it’s a must-visit for all ages.
Keep reading to know all your Cairns Aquarium ticket options, compare between tours, find the best deals, and plan your visit!
See species found nowhere else on Earth—from the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics to Cape York and the Coral Sea.
This 10m tank mimics the Great Barrier Reef’s continental shelf—only three like it exist in the world.
Tour coral labs, fish kitchens, and turtle hospitals on a Marine Life Encounter, or meet rescued turtles up close on the rehab tour.
Home to rare creatures like ribboned pipefish and emerald tree monitors, the aquarium puts research and rescue first.
Both offer 2-hour guided experiences after hours. The Twilight Tour starts earlier and suits families or early diners. Night Tours start later and offer a quieter, more exclusive feel with more nocturnal activity.
The Turtle Hospital Tour add-on includes a 30-min guided tour and supports marine rescue efforts. The Marine Life Encounter is a premium, hands-on experience with feeding sessions, lab access, and backstage tours.
Seniors, students, and carers with valid ID can get discounted entry. Family passes (2 adults + 2 children) save up to AU$20. Combos with Kuranda Scenic Railway or Wildlife Habitat are also available.
Begin your journey in the freshwater habitats of the Wet Tropics. Encounter ancient lungfish, river turtles, and venomous freshwater stonefish lurking beneath rainforest canopies.
You can choose from General Admission (from AU$58), Turtle Hospital Tour tickets (from AU$78), Marine Life Encounter (from AU$299), Twilight Tours (from AU$85), Night Tours (from AU$85), and combo tickets with other Cairns attractions like Kuranda Scenic Rail (from AU$240.35).
Yes! You can find Cairns Aquarium discount tickets for families, concession card holders, and during select seasons. Booking online also gives access to exclusive ticket deals and combos, including options with the Kuranda Scenic Rail.
Twilight Tours begin earlier and include a 3-course dinner—great for families or early evening plans. Night Tours start later and include a 2-course dinner, offering a quieter atmosphere and a closer look at nocturnal species. Marine Life Encounter is a premium, behind-the-scenes experience without dining, perfect for animal lovers and future marine biologists.
It’s a rescue and rehab center for injured sea turtles. Entry is not included—you’ll need to book the Turtle Hospital tour as an add-on.
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours exploring the exhibits at a relaxed pace. If you're attending presentations, adding a Turtle Hospital tour, or booking the Marine Life Encounter, plan for at least 3 to 4 hours. Including a reef-side meal at Dundee’s Café can extend your visit comfortably to half a day, perfect for a full, sea-worthy experience.
Yes! The aquarium is very family-friendly, with touch tanks, interactive exhibits, and live animal presentations perfect for kids.
Yes, you can eat dinner, snacks, and drinks with a view into the aquarium’s marine tank.
Yes, photography is allowed throughout the aquarium, but please avoid using flash to protect the animals.
No, pets are not allowed inside, except for certified assistance animals.
Yes, there is metered street parking near the entrance, along with free 3-hour zones and nearby paid parking lots.
Yes! Cairns Aquarium is completely indoors and climate-controlled, making it a perfect all-weather activity.
Yes, re-entry is permitted—just check with the front desk to get a hand stamp or wristband.
Yes! If you can’t visit the reef, this is the next best thing—reef sharks, clownfish, and coral life up close, plus expert talks at different zones.
Twilight is early and includes a 3-course dinner. The Night tour is later, and has a 2-course dinner. The Marine Life Encounter has no dinner, but is hands-on and behind-the-scenes.
Mornings are calmer. The aquarium is generally low-light, but some areas can get noisy during talks.
Yes, 9:30–10:30am on weekdays is the quietest. Fewer crowds, softer sounds.
Not officially, but the staff are helpful. Contact ahead for support or to plan a low-sensory visit.
Only during special tours like Marine Life Encounter, you may help feed rays or freshwater fish.
Most are rescued, born in captivity, or transferred from licensed facilities. No wild captures.
Yes, certified service animals are allowed, including on guided and behind-the-scenes tours.
We book for the day before by mistake but the young lady at the front was exceptional in her handling of out error. She let us in and helped us so much. Brilliant. Also the standard of the experience wes supurb. The man at the touch tank was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
Particularly the under water enclosure! Wonderful to see the sea life come over you.
The Cairns Aquarium was beautifully maintained, and it was such a wonderful experience to relax in a comfortable lounge chair while watching the fish gracefully swim by. The tranquil atmosphere and the gentle movement of the sea creatures made it easy to lose track of time. It truly felt like a peaceful escape into an underwater world.
It felt calm and quiet. I loved the tunnel experience something I have wanted to do for a long time
So well set out, informative and interesting. I will recommend it to all my family and friends.
I enjoyed the River Monsters especially.
Great displays and the talks throughput were very informative
My daughter (6 years old) and I enjoyed the bigger pool that had the stingrays and sharks
It took thirty minutes to get in even though we had tickets. Then they didnt use QR code, they had to find my printed email? I have two nurodiverse childrent and it wasnt for them. Loud. Also google said there was hammerhead sharks
The headout website adds 1 adult ticket as default, so when I picked 1 family and 1 child, and moved to pay, it charged me it. . I've raised it with the support team, haven't heard back. Such a dent in the experience. Wish I bought it directly from Aquarium instead.
No service, free money. Unhapy
The reef setting with the crayfish & starfish was beautiful, not to mention the large stingrays that swam around made it look magical.
Explore Queensland’s underwater worlds—from freshwater rivers to the Coral Sea.
Everything you get: Full-day admission to Cairns Aquarium with access to 70+ habitats, 10 regional ecosystems, and all presentations and feedings. From the forest to the reef, experience one of Australia’s most impressive aquatic displays under one roof.
Why choose this: A relaxed, all-ages introduction to the diverse marine life of Tropical North Queensland. Great for families, first-time visitors, and anyone curious about the reef environment without leaving the city.
Inclusions
Entry to Cairns Aquarium
All-day access to exhibits
Access to all shows, presentations, and facilities
Kaori
David
Margaret
Fabulous tour and great food afterwards 🙌🙌🙌👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎😎😎
Staff we're extremely helpful and explained everything really eell
It was something different. Headout was fine
Explore Cairns Aquarium after closing time with this quiet, crowd-free night tour.
Inclusions
2-hour guided night tour
After-hours entry to Cairns Aquarium
English-speaking wildlife educator
2-course dinner at Squires Loft Restaurant (as per option selected)
I had a wonderful time at the Cairns Aquarium! The place is beautiful and full of amazing sea life. The staff were incredibly kind and helpful — their great attitude made the visit even better. I especially loved the Turtle Hospital! You can really see how much they love their work and how much they care for the animals. It’s so nice to see people helping and protecting marine life. Thank you for such a great experience!
Good guide, good information and very informative
A meaningful marine experience—see rare species and support turtle rehabilitation.
Inclusions
All-day admission to Cairns Aquarium
30-min guided Turtle Hospital Tour
Exclusions
It was excellently laid out, some of the exhibits were exceptional in their details,however, I don't know why everything needs a ap to put your tickets. I have apple wallet for this very thing.
Journey from ancient Egypt to Australia’s underwater world with one easy combo ticket
Inclusions
Entry to Tomb of the Pharaohs
Entry to Cairns Aquarium
Access to all shows and presentations at Cairns Aquarium
The small group for the tour was amazing
The experience was great. No problem at all. We loved our guide his enthusiasm was catching. He was extremely knowledgeable. Thanks to Cameron the whole experience was first clasd
Cameron was a great guide with a lot of interesting knowledge and facts. The tour travelled at just the right pace for everyone. really great experience. Only surprise was the pot (midi) sized beer, would have appreciated atleast a schooner, otherwise all up a great evening with delicious food and awesome Aquarium
We had a wonderful time. Our host was full of information, she was more than happy to answer any questions and she made it fun.
Brilliant tour with knowledgeable staff member and the dinner was fantastic with great food and incredible friendly service
The tour was great and we loved seeing all of the exhibits. The tour group behind us was a little close at times and it was difficult to hear. The meal was a bit rushed and we thought that we would be seated near the aquarium.
Tour guide was excellent, giving plenty of information and allowing enough time to look around. Meal was delicious
Brilliant experience, loved the enthusiasm of the tour, food was great!
Everything was perfect and amazing. Absolutely loved it.
Great tour guide Matilda and fabulous dinner. Thank you
See the aquarium shift into night mode on a relaxed, guided twilight tour.
Inclusions
Exclusive after-hours entry to Cairns Aquarium
2-hour guided twilight tour through 10 tropical ecosystems
3-course dinner at Squires Loft Restaurant (as per option selected)
We book for the day before by mistake but the young lady at the front was exceptional in her handling of out error. She let us in and helped us so much. Brilliant. Also the standard of the experience wes supurb. The man at the touch tank was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
Particularly the under water enclosure! Wonderful to see the sea life come over you.
The train trip brought back many memories for me, when I travelled on the Red Rattlers. I must say , I did have issues with the commentary. With the train being so noisy, I could hardly hear the voice on the speaker. When I last travelled this train 18 years ago, it was much clearer.
The Cairns Aquarium was beautifully maintained, and it was such a wonderful experience to relax in a comfortable lounge chair while watching the fish gracefully swim by. The tranquil atmosphere and the gentle movement of the sea creatures made it easy to lose track of time. It truly felt like a peaceful escape into an underwater world.
Relaxed and informative tour .
It felt calm and quiet. I loved the tunnel experience something I have wanted to do for a long time
So well set out, informative and interesting. I will recommend it to all my family and friends.
I enjoyed the River Monsters especially.
Great displays and the talks throughput were very informative
So organised and easy. Everything went smoothly
My daughter (6 years old) and I enjoyed the bigger pool that had the stingrays and sharks
See Cairns from rainforest heights to reef wonders—Kuranda’s best and the Aquarium in one day.
Inclusions Kuranda Scenic Railway & Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
One-way Skyrail Rainforest Cableway ticket
One-way Kuranda Scenic Railway ticket
Round-trip hotel transfers from Cairns
Free time in Kuranda Village
Cairns Aquarium
Entry to Cairns Aquarium
All-day access to exhibits
Access to all shows, presentations, and facilities
Scenic Train & Skyrail Kuranda Tour
Cairns Aquarium Tickets
Monica
Kaori
David
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
Go behind the scenes at Cairns Aquarium with exclusive animal encounters and expert guidance.
Inclusions
Entry into Cairns Aquarium
Fully guided, personalized 3-hour tour
Cownose Ray encounter including hand-feeding experience
Behind the Scenes, Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, and River Monsters Scatter Feeding
