Flecker Botanic Gardens Cairns natural attractions

Natural attractions in Cairns and Far North Queensland Australia

Flecker Botanic Gardens - Centenary Lakes - Mt Whitfield Conservation Park and The Tanks Art Centre

Flecker Botanic Gardens provides an outstanding visitor experience of three unique eco-systems, just 4klm from the City heart of Cairns. With the Tanks Art Centre, these council provided attractions are a definite must see.

Providing a close look at Australia's unique and timeless beauty from exotic plants and palms to native flora, the Flecker Botanic Gardens give the visitor an enchanted look at our Wet Tropics Rainforest eco-system. The Flecker Botanic Gardens, Centenary Lakes and The Mount Whitfield Conservation Park are a local council initiative designed to preserve our natural ecological wonders.

Flecker Botanic Gardens
The only Wet Tropics garden in Australia. The main garden mimics the tropical rainforest with its informal style. Visitors find tall trees and palms supporting lianas and tropical climbers, orchids, fens and bromeliads. The understory of colourful flowering shrubs, gingers, heliconias and other new and exotic flowers is underscored by a wonderful display of low growing ground covers and plants. Fallen seed and attractive fungi are left in their place which gives the visitor the complete experience of wondering through a living and evolving tropical rainforest.
An information centre and book shop is provided where visitors can obtain maps, self guide books and information leaflets. An 'Al Fresco' style cafe is set amongst the tropical surrounds serving, morning and afternoon teas and meals.

The Centenary Lakes
Connected to the botanic gardens via a boardwalk through pristine lowland swamp forest and melaleuca wetlands. The Centenary Lakes consists of both a fresh-water and salt-water lake. Both areas provide BBQ, picnic shelters and well equipped children's playgrounds. A chance to see aquatic life - birds, turtles, water lilies, plants and birds is what the visitor can expect from these attractions. Don't forget, all this is only 4klm from the heart of Cairns.

Mt Whitfield Conservation Park
More adventurous and active visitors will find another world high above the gardens. Just behind the Flecker Botanic Gardens is the Mount Whitfield Conversation Park. With over 300 hectares of forested mountain range reaching an elevation of 365 metres above sea level, the park offers many opportunities for for nature based recreation and educational activities. With two major walking tracks - the Red and Blue arrow circuits. Visitors may come across the Bush Turkey or the more elusive Scrub Hen. shy Agile Wallabies can be seen in the early morning or late afternoon in the open grasslands. Bird enthusiasts are always delighted with the varied range of bird life.

The Tanks Art Centre
A popular tourist destination where the gardens at this historic site have been constructed and maintained by the Flecker Botanic Gardens staff. The theme of this garden is Native Tropical plants. Originally WW2 Oil storage tanks, they have been converted into a great Art Centre.