Visiting Cairns
Nestled where two of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems converge, Cairns sits at the meeting point of the ancient Daintree Rainforest — the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth — and the Great Barrier Reef, the planet’s largest coral reef system and a UNESCO World Heritage Area. This remarkable corner of Far North Queensland is one of the few places on the globe where two World Heritage-listed ecosystems exist side by side, harboring an extraordinary richness of biodiversity found nowhere else.
From the lush, mist-draped canopy of the wet tropics, home to unique species like the cassowary and the Boyd’s forest dragon, to the kaleidoscopic coral gardens teeming with marine life just offshore, Cairns is a place of profound natural wonder.
This land and sea has been cared for over countless generations by the Yirrganydji and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji peoples, whose deep connection to Country and traditional ecological knowledge offer an enduring testament to what it means to truly live in balance with the natural world.
The region sits within the Wet Tropics bioregion, a global biodiversity hotspot shaped by millions of years of isolation and evolution, making it the perfect backdrop for a gathering of those dedicated to understanding and protecting our planet.
The WEC 2026 is partnering with the CaPTA Group to offer our delegates offers on tours. Access the Conference Tour Hub to see everything CaPTA has to offer. Registered attendees will receive a code via email to access the conference tour hub discounts.
For more options, visit: https://tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/
Explore Cairns and Beyond
From the rainforest to the reef, there is no shortage of places to explore while visiting Cairns.
Along the Esplanade
