On the Esplanade in the CBD. Closed before noon on Wednesdays for cleaning.
Directions in Google MapsThe city's swimming pool, by the sea
The Esplanade Lagoon is a 4,800 square metre saltwater swimming lagoon on the Cairns waterfront. It's open all year, it's watched by lifeguards, and entry is free.
Hours are 6am to 9pm from Thursday to Tuesday. On Wednesdays it opens at noon, after cleaning and maintenance.
Around it: free electric BBQs, toilets and showers, lockers and lawns, and the Esplanade's 2.5 kilometres of waterfront path.
Esplanade Lagoon opening hours
- Thursday to Tuesday: 6am to 9pm
- Wednesday: noon to 9pm. It's closed before noon for cleaning and maintenance.
Lagoon rules
To keep it safe and pleasant for everyone, council asks for:
- No food or drink in the Lagoon, and no alcohol in the parklands
- No diving or jumping, and no running
- Children supervised by an adult at all times
- No inflatables or toys in the Lagoon, they block the lifeguards' view
- No smoking
Facilities at the Lagoon
- Public toilets and showers
- Lockers
- Free electric BBQs
- Wheelchair accessible, with an aquatic wheelchair available
- A paid public car park (up to 10 hours)
Dogs are welcome on the Esplanade, but not in the Lagoon or its surrounding parklands.
The Lagoon: good to know
Free
No entry fee, ever.
Wednesday mornings
Closed until noon for cleaning.
Lifeguards
Patrolled, all year.
Accessible
Wheelchair access and an aquatic wheelchair.
The Lagoon and the Esplanade
Swipe or use the arrows. Tap a photo to see it bigger.
Where the Lagoon is
The Esplanade, Cairns
On the waterfront in the CBD, opposite the Night Markets. A short walk from most city hotels.
Open in Google MapsAround the Esplanade
Muddy's for the kids, the Night Markets for dinner. And from the marina next door, boats leave for the reef every morning.
Muddy's Playground
A free splash playground on the Esplanade, with a cafe for the grown-ups.
See the guide →Cairns Night Markets
Seventy shops, a food court and massages, open every night of the year.
See the guide →Rusty's Markets
180+ stalls of tropical fruit, coffee and bric-a-brac in the CBD, Friday to Sunday.
See the guide →Passions of Paradise
A full day of snorkelling on the outer reef.
Kuranda Skyrail & Scenic Rail
Up by train, down by cableway, with time in Kuranda village in between.
Esplanade Lagoon FAQs
Is the Cairns Lagoon free?
Yes. Entry to the Esplanade Lagoon is free.
What are the Cairns Lagoon opening hours?
6am to 9pm Thursday to Tuesday, and noon to 9pm on Wednesday.
Is the Cairns Lagoon saltwater?
Yes, it's a 4,800 square metre saltwater swimming lagoon.
Are there lifeguards at the Cairns Lagoon?
Yes, it's monitored by lifeguards.
Can you bring food into the Cairns Lagoon?
Not into the water. There are free BBQs and lawns around it, but no alcohol in the parklands.
Can you swim at the beach in Cairns city?
The city waterfront is mud flats, which is why the Lagoon exists. For beaches, head to the northern beaches.