cairns culture attractions

Paronella Park is a unique cultural activity in the Cairns region.

paronella park

Paronella Park, south of Cairns near Innisfail, is a unique monument to a man’s love of his wife and love of his adopted home. The picturesque ruins sprinkled amongst lush vegetation are a relaxing and beautiful take on the region.

 

One of the Cairns region’s more eclectic tourist offerings, Paronella Park was created in the 1930s by a Spanish immigrant, Jose Paronella. Rising out of the gardens that surround them are castles, battlements, paths, terraces and waterways that decorate the landscape.

 

José Paronella arrived in Australia from Catalonia in Spain, in 1913. His dream was to build a Spanish style castle for his wife Margarita, nestled in the rainforest surrounds of Mena Creek. They laboured with unswerving determination, until, in 1935 after much hard work, the Park was officially opened to the public.

 

Upwards of 7000 trees were planted by José, including the magnificent Kauris lining Kauri Avenue. Disaster struck the park several times, with floods and a fire causing major damage forcing the park to be closed for a number of years.

 

The park was sold in 1977 and for many years remained untouched, allowing the park to become overgrown. Mark and Judy Evans, the current owner/operators, purchased the Park in 1993 and formulated a plan to put the Park back on the map. After much hard work they were successful, with the Park gained National Trust listing in 1997.

 

It has since been recognised by a total of 11 Tourism Awards in the period from 1998 till April 2000. Paronella Park's life as a pleasure gardens continues as José intended, for visitors, and with social gatherings, particularly weddings, continuing to make use of this unique location.

 

Visitors can explore, dine, experience Aboriginal culture and learn the amazing history of one man and his dream to build a legacy. The park is located at Mena Creek, around 120kms from Cairns. Tours leave daily, with a Caravan Park available for overnight stays.

mossman sugar mill & chillagoe hub

To learn more about the industry of the region check out the Mossman Mill, north of Port Douglas, or head inland and visit the Chillagoe Hub, home to an abundance of information about the natural and man-made attractions of the region including the amazing Chillagoe Caves.

 

undara lava tubes

If you have some time to spend in the Cairns region, head out west to the unique natural attraction of the Undara lava tubes. The workings of an extinct volcano have left a fairy world of coloured stone to be enjoyed.

The Undara Lava Tubes near Chillagoe were formed around 190,000 years ago when a large volcano in the McBride volcanic province erupted, spewing forth lava over the landscape.

 

The tubes were created when the top layer of lava cooled, leaving the still-hot molten bottom to dig deep underground. The world Undara means "long way" in local aboriginal language.

 

One of the flows extends over 160kms, making it the longest unbroken lava flow in the modern history of the planet. The tubes are accessed by a number of means, including by air, historic train ride or by guided tour from Cairns.

 

Accommodation is available in restored railway carriages turned into cabins or you can simply pitch a tent in the campground.

 

Guided tours leave daily that show visitors the history and geology of the extinct volcano along with some local bushcraft of the Savannah region. Visitors are able to travel deep into the tubes and discover the unique environment that has formed as a result of their creation.

 

fruit bat falls

Lush waterfalls such as Fruit Bat Falls are in abundance on Cape York, north of Cairns. The scenery of Cape York is highly diverse, ranging from rugged wilderness through to lush tropical rainforest and white sandy beaches.

 

Waterfalls such as the picturesque Fruit Bat Falls dot the landscape, providing a chance for visitors to rest and cool off on their journey around the Cape. Most of the best places are only accessible by 4WD, ensuring crowds are limited and the landscape remains relatively free of commercialised tourism options.

 

While most people choose to take their own vehicle when visiting, there are a number of guided Cape York tours that will do the work for you, providing food and accommodation along the way.

 

Most natural attractions are free to visit if they are part of the National Parks Authority but for tours and to stay overnight you’ll need to book and pay. Other attractions like Skyrail, Paronella Park and Flames of the Forest are paid for activities.