Queensland · Attraction
Cairns Botanic Gardens
Tropical plants in a heritage setting
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Established in 1886 and heritage-listed, the Cairns Botanic Gardens at Edge Hill is regarded as one of the finest tropical plant collections in Australia. Set at the foot of the Lamb Range, the gardens encompass a fernery, orchid house, bromeliad collection, and extensive wetland boardwalk, all freely accessible every day of the year.
The gardens are formally known as the Flecker Botanic Gardens, named after local botanist Hugo Flecker who greatly expanded the collection in the mid-twentieth century. Today they hold over 4,000 plant species, with particular strengths in palms, cycads, heliconias, and the native rainforest plants of the Wet Tropics. Free guided walks depart from the Visitor Centre on weekdays.
The Visitor Centre, located near the Tanks Arts Centre precinct on Collins Avenue, provides maps, interpretive displays, and information about the gardens' history. The adjacent Tanks Arts Centre occupies three World War II oil storage tanks converted into gallery and performance spaces, adding a cultural dimension to any visit.
The gardens connect to a network of walking trails that extends into the rainforest reserve on the lower slopes of the Lamb Range, making it possible to move seamlessly from cultivated garden to intact tropical wilderness within a short walk from the car park.
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