Cairns Esplanade Lagoon: Size, opening times & cost
The Cairns Esplanade is a 4,800 square metre stinger and crocodile-free swimming pool in the heart of Cairns. Opening hours are 6am to 9pm most days, and entry is free.
What is the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon?
The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is a large, open air public swimming pool. It is similar to the Airlie Beach Lagoon in Airlie Beach and Yeppoon Lagoon in Yeppoon.
The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is designed to offer visitors a safe swimming experience away from the marine stingers and crocodiles that can make swimming at Cairns’ beaches risky.
Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday
- Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
- Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
- Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
- Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
- Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
- Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
- Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.
Where is the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon?
The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon acts as a focal point for Far North Queensland’s tourist hub. It is on the Cairns Esplanade, next to the Cairns Marina, Cairns Aquarium and Cairns Night Markets. Several top Cairns hotels are a very short walk away, including the Crystalbrook Flynn, the Shangri-La and the Pacific Hotel.
How big is the Cairns Lagoon?
The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon covers around 4,800 square metres in a roughly triangular shape. The size of the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is only part of the appeal, however. There are also sports and fitness classes, plus three childrens playgrounds on the Cairns Esplanade.
Again the lagoon is a focal point, while the Esplanade is a far bigger hub of activity.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon opening hours and entry fee
The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon opening hours are 6am to 9pm, Thursday to Tuesday. On Wednesday mornings, the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is closed for cleaning.
The lagoon is open from noon to 9pm on Wednesdays.
There is no entry fee for the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon.
Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance
- From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
- At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
- For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
- For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
- For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.
More Queensland travel
Where to stop on a Gold Coast to Airlie Beach road trip.
What to see on the Maroochydore to Gympie drive.
Is there a ferry to Whitehaven Beach?
Walk to the Boiling Pot Lookout in Noosa National Park.