Cairns Heritage Tour

A self-guided tour that will take you back in time as the rich history of Cairns is illuminated by interviews, images and fascinating facts. You'll learn about the stories behind the monuments and facades of what is now a bustling city and will discover how the struggling frontier town became what it is today. 

Dig beneath the shiny surface of modern day Cairns with this self-guided tour of 20 heritage sites around the city, including images, spoken-word stories and fascinating information on historical sites and influential people, dating back to 1896.

Sites include the old dance halls, the ‘Golden Block’, the Indigenous Hospital Camp, Floating Sea Baths, Lover’s Bower, Russian Guns, Chinatown, the Lit Sung Goong Temple, the Red Light District, Rusty's Market, Barbary Coast and the Marlin Marina among others.

Category views and the keyword search function enable you to access the tour anyway you wish, while the interactive map allows you to navigate your way around town. Use this guide to before, during or after your visit to Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia.