Nestled within the grounds of the hotel, weave your way through the beauty of our thriving botanic gardens and explore the fascinating world of living plants.
Our lush gardens connect guests with nature, where they can explore the beauty of horticulture and the power of plants at a leisurely pace.
Established in 1988, the gardens are rich with rare tropical and subtropical plants, creating an immersive experience that invites guests to linger longer in a serene verdant scene.
The hotel’s head gardener, Chris Young, is the passionate creator and custodian of this unique urban oasis in the heart of Cairns city.
The wet tropical gardens average 2,000 mm of rainfall per year and feature native Australian plants and exotic flora, from Africa and Asia through to South and Central America, India and the South Pacific.
A plethora of plant species includes Giant Dioon, Desert Rose, Powderpuff Lillypilly, Cultivar of Guzmania, Coral Cactus, Beehive Ginger, Purple Oxalis, Elephant’s Ear, Green Zebra and Scaly Fern Tree, to name a few.
Guests can take their time to wander along the themed pathways and vibrant displays on a self-guided tour or picnic under palm fronds and leafy foliage.
The hotel’s horticultural experts host exclusive tours where the diverse plant life and greenspaces are showcased in all their glory.
In the early morning, guests will often catch hotel chefs handpicking fresh ingredients from the herb garden to use in a variety of delicious dishes that feature on menus throughout the hotel.
Whether you are a nature enthusiast or enjoy the sensory pleasure of tranquil surrounds, our peaceful gardens provide the perfect setting for relaxation and discovery.
The hotel’s tropical garden initiative is part of Shangri-La’s commitment to the preservation of nature’s masterpieces, which play a vital role in the future of food, clean air and medicine.
The gardens showcase the hotel’s dedication to environmental stewardship, the preservation of biodiversity and a love of nature’s gifts. They also celebrate the unique ecosystem of Tropical North Queensland.
At Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns, garden tours take place each Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00am, weather permitting. The tours are open to hotel guests and the wider community. For more information or to join a tour, please visit reception, call (61 7) 4052 7500 or email [email protected].