Cairns Wildlife Dome review

Location - 35 - 41 Wharf Street, Cairns QLD 4870 Australia

Entry Price – Adult $22.00AUD Children (4 - 11) $11.00AUD

Opening Hours - 9am – 6pm daily closed Christmas Day open other public holidays from 9am to 5.30pm

Cairns Wildlife Dome web page

 

Layout

Perched on top of a building in the middle of Cairns this is a small indoor wild life park, housing Australian animals. Entry is via a lift through the foyer of the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. The park is enclosed under a giant glass and steel dome. Board walk style paths guide you around the outer edge of the park where most of the enclosures are situated. A large presentation space for keeper talks is located in the centre. 

The grounds have a good coverage of indigenous plants with each of the enclosures well foliaged specifically for the each individual animal species. An outdoor store is located on an adjacent floor with great views of Cairns and the Coral Sea.

Ranger Introducing Koala

Extra Activities

  
A ranger does guided talks, taking you through the entire park with detailed commentary on all animals as well as photo opportunities with koalas and other animals and this is included in your entry ticket. Opportunities to handle a Koala are scheduled throughout the day.  
 

Stu’s Favourite Bit 

The dome acts like a huge bird aviary. This allows for lots of interaction with all sorts of tropical birds. I had some great experiences with birds just landing on my shoulders and being very social! 

Very social birds

Stu’s review and tips 

This is a funny little park that focuses on Australian animals or more specifically North Queensland animals. They have an extensive range of reptiles, birds, small mammals and a huge salt water crocodile called Goliath. Goliath can be viewed underwater through glass or from above. 

Sugar Glider

 
There is an emphasis on conservation in this wild life park and that message is told in many different ways as you go on the guided tour. Most of the animals housed are rescued animals that have not been able to be sent back into the wild for one reason or another.

Tickets are very expensive for what is on offer so to get value for money make sure you take advantage of the tour and guided talk.  

The enclosures look great and are well managed but I’m not sure what I think of this park. For me there’s something not quite right about all the animals being stuck indoors. I think the jury is out on this one. I also found the web page to be a little out of date, just saying !  

Crocodile enclosure in the dome

Must See Animals 

Koala
Sugar Glider
Crocodile