Cairns History Walking Tour
Description
Walk through the heart of Cairns and journey back in time on a tour full of stories, secrets, and surprises. From the city’s early settlers to its iconic landmarks, uncover the fascinating tales that shaped Cairns into the vibrant city it is today. Along the way, experience hidden gems, hear captivating anecdotes, and see the city through the eyes of its past. Perfect for curious visitors who love history, storytelling, and a little adventure!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discuss the historic meeting place for traditional owners and colonial settlers.
Discuss the Shields Street traditional aboriginal shields street art by Paul Bong as well as the gold rush and establishment of the colony. The history of the Public Curators building, now the Cairns Regional Gallery, is explored.
The history of the reef and rainforest as World Heritage Sites is discussed. The history of early settlers, including pirates, is discussed.
The history of early government in Cairns is discussed in front of Mulgrave Shire building, the original local government headquarters for the colony.
The war memorial next to the Casino is visited and the role of the wars in Cairns life, especially World War 2, is explored.
From this position, the historic Bolands Centre as the first department store in Cairns is discussed. The Adelaide Steamship Company and the Central Hotel are also discussed from this vantage point.
The Chinatown exhibit infront of the bookstore is visited to discuss the important role of the Chinese in Cairns history and the history of Grafton Street as the heart of Chinatown.
Return to location of start of tour in front of Cairns Museum. Discuss the role of the School of Arts in the founding colony. Discuss the history of Hides hotel and the role of historic hotels in early colony life. Discuss the Trocadero Dance Hall across the road from Hides and role in World War 2 life for soldiers.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(57)
This was an Excellent tour of downtown sites & history. He weaved in ancient and recent history of many sites. Most impressively and usedukky, he had a mn iPad with pictures of what the town and historical figures looked like and how they impacted Cairns. This was so helpful and greatly enhanced our tour and our understanding. It now makes me surprised other tour guides don't use such devices as well. Very well done.
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review! I'm delighted that the historical photos and stories on the iPad helped bring the past to life for you. Cairns has such a rich, multilayered history—from its ancient roots to more recent times—and I find those visuals really help connect the dots. I truly appreciate your kind words about the approach. Thank you for joining me on the tour! — Peter
Feel more familiar with Cairns and more at home here The tour guide shared his knowledge of Cairns, the area and Australia and its history
That is so wonderful to hear! I always hope my guests walk away feeling like locals rather than just visitors. It’s great that you enjoyed the deep dive into the history and culture of the region—I certainly love sharing those stories. I'm thrilled I could help make Cairns feel a little more like home for you. Safe travels, and I hope to see you back in the tropics again soon!
Amazing Tour! We recently joined Peter for the Cairns History Walking Tour and it was one of the highlights of our trip to Cairns. Peter was warm, friendly, engaging and most importantly knowledgeable and passionate. The tour was done at a great pace, and was extremely insightful and the use of the i-pad to give perspective on some buildings and areas was a great touch. If you are visiting Cairns, I would highly recommend doing this tour, you will no regret it.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! It was a true pleasure having you on the tour. I’m thrilled to hear that the iPad visuals helped bring the history of our buildings to life—I find that seeing those 'then and now' comparisons really adds a special layer to the stories we walk through. It’s always my goal to keep the pace comfortable while sharing the passion I have for Cairns’ unique heritage, so I’m glad it was a highlight of your trip! Safe travels on the rest of your journey, and thank you again for recommending the tour to others visiting our beautiful city.
I had an amazing experience on the Cairns History Tour and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. The tour was incredibly informative and engaging, offering a fascinating look into Cairns’ past. Our guide Peter was knowledgeable, passionate, and a fantastic storyteller. The pacing of the tour was perfect, with plenty of time to take in each location, ask questions, and enjoy the atmosphere. Even if you think you know Cairns, you’ll come away with more insight. Overall, this tour was one of the highlights of my visit & the Cairns History Tour is absolutely worth it.
Thank you so much for the kind words! It was a pleasure sharing the stories of Cairns with you. I’m thrilled to hear that the pacing and insights made it a highlight of your visit. Hope to see you back on the pavement again someday!
A really interesting and informative time learning about cairns, from a very well-informed and enthusiastic guide. If you have the time to spare I thoroughly recommend it. 5pm as a meeting time was good too.
Thank you so much for the lovely review! I’m really glad you enjoyed learning about Cairns and that the 5pm start time worked well for you — it’s a great time of day to explore the city. It was a pleasure having you on the tour, and I truly appreciate the recommendation. Hope to see you back in Cairns again soon! 🌴
An excellent walk despite the rain. Peter was very knowledgeable about Cairns. I am a local and he taught me a lot about my own town. Highly recommended.
Good to see that you enjoyed the tour and learned something new. Thank you very much for coming along.
My sister and I really enjoyed our tour with Peter. He had a very good knowledge of the history of Cairns and shared some interesting stories of the people who helped Cairns to become what it is today. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed the tour.
Joining together for an evening stroll around CAIRNS learning about the history of the area. Also good places to eat and shop.
A great tour to take at the start of your visit to Cairns. Great overview of the history of the town and many informative additional details about where to find good food! Book it for your first day and you will have a good base for a great visit.
Excellent walking tour of Cairns. Guide exceptionally knowledgeable about the area and its history. Would highly recommend.
