The Best of Cairns Nightlife

While summer may not be peak season in Cairns, the nightlife of the city could certainly have you fooled! Come with us for a great night out in this tropical hub.

Flamingos Tiki Bar

Great cocktails, great bartenders, great vibes

Flamingos Tiki Bar is hidden just below street level, under the Bushfire Flame Grill. The venue may be small but it packs a punch with fantastic cocktails, fun tunes and energetic staff. You can order your drink of choice off the regular menu, or if you’re feeling brave, search for the secret menu…

Naturally, I had to try the namesake cocktail that comes in its very own flamingo floaty. I won’t spoil what is actually in this fabulous drink but I will say, it tastes as playful as it looks.

Head to Flamingos to kick off your night in Cairns. But don’t get too silly, because we’re heading to the aquarium next, and you certainly don’t want to lose your balance in there!

Cairns Aquarium Night Tour

Cairns Aquarium runs private, after-hours night tours for those wanting to see a different side to the region’s sea life.

Right in the middle of town you will find Cairns Aquarium, showing the unique and vibrant sea life of the FNQ region. It isn’t a particularly large place, so adding it to your evening itinerary with a guided tour will ensure you get the most out of this beautiful facility.

The night tour was fun and informative, whilst also driving home the importance of preserving our ocean’s vulnerable creatures. Seeing them in the dark, going about their business in a way rarely seen in aquariums, gave us a whole new perspective and appreciation for just how incredible the fauna of far north Queensland is. The tour is suitable for all ages, and can even end at the aquarium’s on-site restaurant if you so wish.

Prawn Star

A favourite among locals and tourists alike, Prawn Star’s unique setting and fresh food had us coming back for more just a few days later.

As the name suggests, you’re sure to find a prawn or two sitting along this string of old fishing trawlers. While these boats no longer pull the fish from the water themselves, it would be easy to believe they did based on the flavour and freshness of each item on the menu.

Prawns, Moreton Bay bugs, oysters and fresh salmon make up the majority of the menu here, available as either platters or individually dishes. Of course we opted for the full platter as well as their very own beers, and were seriously blown away by the entire experience. We were so impressed that we returned a few nights later, with a few other guests in tow. Safe to say, they were just as pleased with Prawn Star as we were.

Cairns Night Markets

Cairns Night Markets are one of the biggest icons of the city

After dinner, try walking it off through the famous Cairns Night Markets. Or, if you want to try something a little bit different, turn it competitive like we did! 15 minutes and a $10 budget, see who can find the best/weirdest/funniest/most cursed item.

The vendors inside are selling anything from mass-produced market fodder, handmade gifts (as seen above), naturopathic products and edible treats. If you are trying to stay within a $10 budget, you probably won’t get to leave with a hilarious piece of tapestry, but you might be able to enjoy a single hand painted coaster, or a bag of chocolate coated Cairns-grown coffee beans. Or, maybe you might something better.. let us know what you find!