Home to exotic flora and fauna, the Flecker Batonic Gardens is one of the top tourist destinations to be visited in Cairns. Visitors are sure to experience a sense of entering into a different world where the hidden beauty of tropical nature can be appreciated. Filled with colourful rare flowers, thick foliage and several different types of trees, the Gardens are set in a natural landscape covering an area of 38 hectares. Uniquely, the Flecker Botanic Gardens features diverse plant growth resembling the tropical jungles of South East Asia and Africa, and plant life suited to the wet weather of Cairns.

Managed by the City Council of Cairns, the Gardens originally opened up to the public in 1886 as a recreational spot but was later converted to the Flecker Botanic Gardens in 1971. This natural oasis can be separated into 3 sections, which are the Collin’s Avenue main garden area, the Mount Whitfield Conservation Park and the Centenary Lakes.

Tourists visiting the Flecker Botanic Gardens should not miss out on exploring some of the site’s main attractions that includes an orchid abode, a fernery, a garden where plants used by Aboriginals are grown, and the salt and fresh water lakes that dot the Gardens. For those interested in hiking, the Mount Whitfield Conservation Park, the Garden’s Rainforest Boardwalk and the Gondwanan Heritage Trail are a must see.

The Mount Whitfield Conservation Park features a typical rainforest environment. The site is home to two hiking trails known as the Red Trail and the Blue Trail. Trekking along these trails will not only allow visitors to admire the lush foliage that grows here and engage in bird watching, but also to behold a breathtaking view of the surrounding area from the peak top. The Rainforest Boardwalk trail takes guests through a diverse environment of palm trees and rainforests that ends up in a swampy marsh area. At the end of this trail, tourists arrive at the Centenary Lakes. The Gondwanan Heritage Trail is more educational and goes through an area where wet tropical plants and trees are grown and conserved.

Tourists holidaying in Cairns should definitely make a trip to the spectacular Flecker Botanic Gardens. This popular attraction in Cairns is a great place for the whole family to visit. Travellers looking for an elegant and luxurious hotel to stay in whilst vacationing in the city should consider the Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns. This contemporary hotel will leave visitors with unforgettable memories of their holiday in Cairns.