Tours/Cairns and the Tropical North/Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner
Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner
4.8(21)Cairns and the Tropical North1h 30min
VIATOR3.0(1)TRIPADVISOR4.9(20)
+12 photos
At a glance
Duration
1h 30min
Price from
$108 / person
Location
Cairns and the Tropical North
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 21 reviews
Group
1–15 pax
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Cairns Aquarium
Description
As the sun goes down on the Great Barrier Reef, a whole new world awakens. Corals glow, colourful reef fish seek shelter and predators begin their night hunt. At the same time, coastal forests stir with life, as reptiles, amphibians and insects emerge from their burrows to seek out food in the safety of the shadows.
Night at the Aquarium gives you a glimpse into the unique world of the region’s nocturnal creatures and their behaviours as they move about in the darkness. Complete your evening at Squire's Loft Restaurant with a perfectly matched dining experience while you enjoy a stunning sea life backdrop.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat
Start times
5:45 PM
Next available
Wed, Oct 14
Adult (ages 15+)
$108
Child (ages 3–14)
$51
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 5:45 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 6:19 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
2 Course Dinner
Itinerary
Cairns Aquarium
Admission included
Night at the Aquarium gives you a glimpse into the unique world of the region’s nocturnal creatures and their behaviours as they move about in the darkness. Complete your evening at Squire's Loft Cairns Restaurant with a perfectly matched 2 course dining experience while you enjoy a stunning sea life backdrop.
What's included
Included
1.5 hour guided night tour with a wildlife educator
2 Course Dinner including entree and main at Squire's Loft Restaurant
Exclusive after hours Aquarium entry
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
21 reviews
5
18
4
1
3
2
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Cairns & the Tropical North
Starting price $108 is 22% above the typical $89 for tours of similar length in Cairns & the Tropical North
Excurgo comparison of 242 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner take?
Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner cost?
Prices start at $108 per person for this Cairns and the Tropical North experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, starting at 5:45 PM.
How much does Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner cost for children?
Children aged 3–14 pay from $51, adults from $108.
Can I cancel Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 21 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Cairns Aquarium.
Reviews(21)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
G
Gesine_K
September 8, 2026 · via Viator
Aquarium is a winner
I loved the aquarium and it's massive tanks and beautiful exhibits.🐠 This would be perfect for people who are not able to go to the GBR. 🐙 The aquarium boasts live corals, quiet amazing. 🪸 5 stars for the aquarium itself. We had a private tour booked. The guide was not very engaging but very knowledgeable. A lot of info but presented in a school master way, not much personality. We heard applause from the other tour group, so it depends who you get as a guide.
I would not choose the meal deal, very brown food. It took ages to come out and you had to ask for each glass of table water. Why not put a bottle on the table? Definitely visit the aquarium!
Operator response
Thank you for leaving us a review for your night at the aquarium tour! We have an incredible team of wildlife educators that all have different styles of presentation and they are all extremely knowledgeable of the aquarium and the wildlife within it
G
G8253AYtobiasb
August 29, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Dinner not as expected
Dinner was not particularly good
We had previously requested to sit directly by the aquarium. Guests who were not participating in the tour and arrived after us were seated there instead.
The dinner is not exclusive but in the general restaurant - in our opinion, it is advertised in a misleading way
Food was good but the service was slightly overwhelmed
All in all not worth the money
Operator response
We can not guarantee that Evey guest gets to sit next to the aquarium, Squires loft is a popular restaurant that is open to the public not exclusively for aquarium guests! Thank you for coming on our night at the aquarium experience
M
mack831
July 22, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Something fishy
Great experience, admission process a little slow, due processing number of visitors in a short time, but crowd size was right per tohr group
Operator response
Thank you for leaving us a five star review! We are very pleased to hear that you had a wonderful tour!
B
bendalong
July 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing and enjoyable tour highly recommend
Loved this tour our guide was amazing. Very informative and extremely passionate about her job. Would highly recommend the tour at least. Dinner was also very good
Operator response
Thank you for leaving us a five star review! We are so pleased to hear that you had a wonderful tour and we will make sure to pass on your lovely review
F
FarAway47123038862
January 9, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Night at the Aquarium - thoroughly recommended!
This experience way exceeded expectations. Jordan, the Marine Biologist who ran the tour was brilliant - the additional knowledge imparted massively contributed to the experience. Booking through the Aquarium meant that our table for dinner was right next to the aquarium
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are very pleased to hear that you had a wonderful night at the aquarium tour! Jordan is one of our passionate marine biologist and will be very pleased to hear that you had a fantastic time on her tour!
Thank you for your five star review! 🐠
B
beckahc
December 13, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing combo deal!
Absolutely amazing combo deal! The tour and our tour guide, Makayla or Kayla I think her name was, had an amazing vibe and explained everything really well. This is one of the best aquariums I have visited, so much to see. The dinner at Dundees Restaurant was amazing too, the meals were small but I don’t eat much so that’s okay, but they tasted amazing!
We will be back!
Operator response
Thank you for this five star review on your night at the aquarium tour! We are so pleased to hear that you had a wonderful tour with one of best guides Makayla! We will be sure to pass on the lovely message to her! 🐠
P
Pauldial
December 3, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
A Night at the Aquarium. Where all of the exhibitions are already alive.
It was great to have the whole place for such a small group. Our guide was fantastic and very knowledgabe (sorry forgot her name. Tour was 2/12/24) Then to have such a stunning meal afterwards capped off a great night
Operator response
Thank you for this lovely review on your night at the aquarium tour! We will be sure to pass on the great feedback to our guide 🐠
O
O6427YAivanap
October 22, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Best night out
Cameron was so knowledgeable he even taught me a few new facts about the marine life on the Great Barrier Reef and I'm a local and thought I knew it all. The dinner was scrumptious and Brendan our waiter made the night a memorable one.
Operator response
Thank you so much for this great review! Cameron is a star wildlife educator! We will be sure to pass on this lovely message! We are very pleased to hear you had a great night 🐠
T
tricrafter
October 17, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Fabulous aquarium!
A really great look at the entire Queensland ecosystem, from freshwater to the Coral Sea! The guide was knowledgeable and passionate. She conveyed the science in a way that was scientifically accurate but not too weighty and jargon laden.
My only disappointment was that there was not more information about nocturnal activities.
Food at the restaurant is good quality too.
Operator response
Thank you so much for leaving us a review on your experience we are very pleased to hear that you throughly enjoyed your tour!
K
kerrycandy
August 1, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
See Cairns Aquarium at night
Innovative experience having a guided tour of the aquarium at night. Jack was very informative and easy to listen to.
Followed by a lovely meal at Dundee’s Restaurant, seated by one of the aquarium tanks.
Operator response
Thank you so much for leaving us a five star review! We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your Aquarium by Twilight tour with Jack through the aquarium and we will be sure to pass on the feedback!
Compare similar tours in Cairns and the Tropical North
Lowest price: Sirromet Winery Tour and Taste and 2 Course Lunch — $63
Best rated: Cairns Aquarium by Twilight Tour and 3-Course Dinner — 4.9 (209 reviews)
Shortest: Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner — 1h 30min