Cairns Esplanade Lagoon — Restaurant in Cairns City

The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon was an absolute hit with our whole family! My wife, our two kids, and I spent a fantastic afternoon there. This public swimming lagoon is brilliantly designed and maintained, offering a safe and enjoyable space to cool off from the tropical heat. The sheer size of the lagoon means it never feels too crowded, and there are different areas that cater to various ages and swimming abilities. Our youngest loved splashing in the shallow edges, while my wife and I enjoyed a more relaxed swim in the deeper sections. However, the unexpected highlight for our eldest child was definitely exploring the mudflats at low tide. They were absolutely fascinated by the little crabs scuttling around, especially the ones with the vibrant purple claws! It turned into an impromptu wildlife photography session, and they were thrilled with the unique subject matter. It was a great opportunity for them to connect with nature in an unexpected way, right in the heart of the city. The facilities around the lagoon are excellent too. There are plenty of shaded areas, grassy spots for picnics, clean restrooms, and even barbecue facilities. It's clearly a well-thought-out space for both locals and tourists. The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon offers a perfect blend of relaxation and unexpected adventure. It's a fantastic free activity that kept everyone in our family entertained. We highly recommend it for families visiting Cairns – you might be surprised by the little natural wonders you discover on the mudflats! We'll...

I visited on a Sunday, and the place was lively with people of all ages,from small children to elderly couples. By around 1pm, more and more people had arrived to sunbathe, and it got to the point where there were hardly any spots left to sit. Still, the pool itself wasn’t too crowded, and it was a very comfortable and relaxing experience overall.🏊‍♂️

While sitting by the pool and chatting with a friend, we noticed an older man across from us staring in our direction for nearly an hour. As we were getting ready to leave, he suddenly approached and said he was going to teach us how to swim. We politely declined, saying we had to go, and he walked away. To be honest, it didn’t leave a very good impression, and I would suggest being cautious if someone like that approaches you. It seemed like he was specifically targeting people who looked like tourists. Frankly, it felt like he may have had other intentions, possibly just wanting to touch someone.

Other than that, there were no real issues with the place.

Some people say public pools can have an unpleasant smell, but I didn’t notice any urine smell at all The depth of the water goes up to 1.55m in the deeper areas, so you can comfortably submerge up to your neck, which made it even...

Cairns Lagoon is situated on Cairns Esplanade literally across from shops and restaurants of Cairns. It’s world class with both locals and visitors visiting throughout the year. It’s closed every Wednesday morning and around three weeks in June or July for cleaning and maintenance.

The water is chlorinated throughout, the lagoon is free to use and offers everything from swimming in deep water to very shallow water for children.

The lagoon is shaped the same as Queensland itself and encompasses changing rooms with toilets and showers, a man made beach with white sand, grassy areas, and free to use BBQ’s - some BBQ’s require booking beforehand.

The lagoon is staffed by lifesavers, has a first aid post and a police station. It’s ideal for picnics or there’s plenty of eating places within a 5-10 minute walk.

At planned times throughout the week, there are water exercises and dance classes for all ages and abilities that are free to join.

If you’re visiting Cairns, the lagoon is a place to visit even if you don’t swim. It’s beautiful to see, walk around and take some gorgeous...