Best Places To See Rainforest Birds Near Cairns
Hoping to see some unique and colourful rainforest birds near Cairns? Luckily the landscape around this fabulous city is filled to the brim with gorgeous tropical birdlife. During your visit to Cairns, there are many places you can go to spot some incredible birds. Whether you book guided tours out to the rainforest, rent a car and explore on your own, or just walk to some of the wildlife attractions within the city itself, you are almost sure to see a few photo-worthy rainforest birds near Cairns.
Best Places To See Rainforest Birds In Cairns
While exploring the city of Cairns, there is a chance you may spot some cool rainforest birds just roaming around the area. Between the Esplanade walking path and the Lagoon, and the various local parks and gardens, common birds like rainbow lorikeets, cockatoos, and finches are often flitting from tree to tree.
If you want a closer look at some fascinating rainforest birds, the Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome has a small aviary that you can check out. Not only can you see tropical birds here, but you can also see reptiles, marsupials, and mammals and test your skills on the ropes courses!
Best Places To See Rainforest Birds Near Cairns
If you have the time to venture outside the city center of Cairns, you have an even better chance of seeing gorgeous rainforest birds. The Daintree Rainforest and the Atherton Tablelands are two lush natural areas that are part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of Tropical North Queensland. The Daintree is even the oldest tropical rainforest on the planet!
These areas are filled with wildlife and natural beauty, and rainforest birds do roam the forests. If you're on a guided tour of the rainforest, or you're going on hikes and exploring on your own, you may spot some birds in the wild! This is a truly magical experience, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Many travelers visit the Daintree in the hopes of seeing a cassowary, a giant, elusive, ostrich-like bird with vibrant colours. The Daintree Rainforest is the best place to see these birds in the wild, but they are still quite rare.
If you want guaranteed rainforest bird sightings while exploring the landscapes around Cairns, you can visit one of the many incredible wildlife sanctuaries! From Kuranda to Port Douglas and more, there are some great places to see rainforest birds near Cairns. Here are a few of the best options!
Birdworld Kuranda
Birdworld in the charming town of Kuranda is the best place to see rainforest birds near Cairns! As one of Australia's largest collections of free-flying birds, this massive aviary is home to birds of all shapes, sizes, and colours. After admiring all the stunning birds that thrive here, hop over to the Butterfly Sanctuary to continue observing some of nature's most colourful creatures.
Rainforestation Nature Park
Also located in Kuranda, the Rainforestation Nature Park offers a wide variety of experiences for travelers. Though the wildlife center specialized in classic Australian animals like koalas, crocodiles, kangaroos, pythons, dingos, and more, the park is also home to some beautiful cassowaries. So if you haven't managed to spot one of these giant birds in the forests of the Daintree, you can still observe one here! Consider trying an army duck tour of the rainforest or a Pamagirri Authentic Aboriginal Experience after checking out the wildlife.
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
This family-friendly wildlife park near Cairns has so much more than just crocs! Though the big saltwater crocodile feedings are a huge draw, you can also see koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, wombats, lizards, turtles, and more. There is a tropical walk-through aviary where you can closely observe some amazing birds! Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is located about an hour away from Cairns, but if you don't have a car you can book return transfers with your ticket.
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
In Port Douglas, about an hour north of Cairns, you can also see rainforest birds at the Wildlife Habitat. Here you can see, photograph, and interact with a wide range of Aussie animals including birds, marsupials, reptiles, and more. This is a great place to bring the whole family! After checking out the animals, continue exploring Port Douglas by heading to Mossman Gorge or booking a Great Barrier Reef tour! Port Douglas is also on the way from Cairns to the Daintree, so you can easily stop here before or after exploring the rainforest!
