Tanks Arts Centre & Cairns Botanic Gardens

There is free street parking along Collins Avenue and the Tank 1 Car park at 20 Collins Avenue (Eastern end of Collins Avenue).

There are three accessible parking spaces available directly in front of the main entrance to the Tanks Arts Centre. There is also one parking spot located further along Collins Avenue and two next to Café Tank Sixty Four located at 64 Collins Avenue.

A dedicated drop-off and pick-up zone is located on Collins Avenue out the front of the main entrance; this can be used by taxis, rideshare or private cars.

More free parking is available along Greenslopes street, with an additional off-street car park which can be entered from Greenslopes Street across from Cominos House. There are pathways through Centenary Lakes, from Greenslopes Street, which lead you through to Collins Avenue.

As this is a popular day, car pooling, public transport or arranging a drop-off / pick-up could assist in the ease of venue access on the day.

Refer to the venue map on this page, or head to the Tanks website, for more information.

Accessible bathrooms
There is an accessible bathroom located near Tank 3 / the Pump House as well as in the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.

Accessible parking
There are three accessible parking spaces available directly in front of the main entrance to the Tanks Arts Centre. There is also one parking spot located further along Collins Avenue and two next to Café Tank Sixty Four located at 64 Collins Avenue.

Tanks Visual Story 
The Tanks Visual Story provides you with information about what to expect to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. It was developed in collaboration with Autism Queensland (July 2023).

Tanks accessibility
See Tanks website for full information.

Botanic Gardens
Some paths in Flecker Garden are not suitable for wheelchairs and prams. The remainder of the gardens, including Centenary Lakes, is fully accessible. Download the accessibility map ( PDF, 3.57 MB ) or view the accessibility map on-screen ( JPG, 0.94 MB ) to identify areas where carer assist is required and areas that are not accessible.

Quieter Journey
We have developed a Cairns Children's Festival Quieter Journey,designed to accommodate audiences who may need quieter spaces, less noise, or alternative adaptations to performances. There is a Quiet Space located at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.

Take Route 131 on TransLink's public bus service, Sunbus. There is a public bus stop located in front of the main entrance to the Flecker Garden, on Collins Avenue. Bus fares are $0.50 for a single fare, or $1.00 for a daily pass per person.

We love seeing families at the festival! Due to space limitations at some activities, pram access may be restricted. If prams can’t be accommodated, don’t worry—designated pram parking areas will be available and clearly marked with signage. For infants, we recommend also bringing a baby carrier in the instance you will have to park your pram.

We’ll have a delicious variety of food vendors offering a diverse spread mouth-watering dishes from all over the globe! Food vans will be located along the Tanks Promenade.

We want every child to have fun and stay safe! We encourage parents to visit the Information Booth and fill out a wristband with contact details at the start of your day. This helps us quickly reunite children with their parents or guardians if they become separated.

Cairns Children’s Festival has a Lost Child Policy, and all our volunteers and staff are trained to handle this situation. Key event personnel will also have UHF radios to communicate quickly and reunite families.

Your safety is important to us! Each venue is equipped with first aid kits. First responders will be on-site at Tanks Arts Centre and clearly identified on the event site map, to assist with any medical needs.

What happens if it rains?

Don’t let a little rain stop the fun! Some program changes may happen, such as moving events indoors, rescheduling, or adjusting activities to work with the weather. In the case of extreme weather, the event may be cancelled. We’ll keep you updated via our social media platforms 24–48 hours in advance.

• Facebook: Cairns Arts and Culture
• Instagram: @CairnsArtsAndCulture

Stay cool and hydrated! Water will be available at each venue, and we encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle. For outdoor activities, don’t forget to wear a hat, apply sunscreen, and use insect repellent to keep the fun going in the sun!