Cairns

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Surrounded by the reef and lush rainforest, the Australian Watercolour Muster invites you to visit us in Cairns, gateway to Queensland’s tropical north.

The region of Cairns is home to the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest, but the city of Cairns itself is also a must-visit. You’ll find brilliant cafés, bustling markets and plenty of beaches nearby. No better place for inspiration for your next watercolour masterpiece!

www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns

Cairns Botanical Gardens

This beautifully laid out 42 hectare of tropical ‘botanical’ gardens is also home to one of the most unique Arts precincts in the world - ‘The Tanks’. Constructed to store fuel during World War 2 for the Royal Australian Navy these tanks now house a combination of Exhibition and Working Studio spaces.

Courthouse Gallery

Thanks to the Cairns Regional Council - The Australian Watercolour Muster ‘32 Best In Muster’ exhibition will be held in this beautiful space again throughout September & October 2023.

Opening night 6pm - 6th September 2023

The Cairns Esplanade

Cairns Esplanade is know for it’s scenic walking track and open parklands as well as contemporary bars and all day multi-cultural dining experiences with tastes including our own Indigenous ‘Bush Tucker’ flavours, along side Italian, Indian and the freshest Australian Seafood Restaurants

Optional Muster Excursions

Quinkan Rock Art

The Australian Heritage Commission’s 1980 entry on the register of the national estate describes the Quinkan rock art as being located across 230,000 hectares of rugged sandstone plateaux and escarpments 4 km south east of Laura and 50 km west of Cooktown.

Selected sites are open for visits by the public, through guided tours with local Aboriginal guides organised by the Quinkan Regional Cultural Centre. Split Rock, approximately 15 km south of Laura, is currently open to self-guided visitors for a small fee. The Quinkan Reserves, owned by Aboriginal Trustees, are closed to public access.

The Quinkan rock art is described as constituting “..some of the largest bodies of prehistoric art in the world. The paintings are generally large and well preserved, and engravings of great antiquity occur. The Quinkan art is outstanding both in variety, quantity and quality.”

Optional excursion lead by an Indigenous cultural guide, offering a chance to photograph the rock art and region for our paint-out session in Cairns during the Muster.

The two brothers, George Musgrave and Tommy George dedicated their lives to protecting the rock art and teaching a number of younger Aboriginal Traditional Owners about the history and stories relating to their connection to the land and rock art of the Quinkan region.

Millaa Millaa Falls

Millaa Millaa Falls are magnificent waterfalls surrounded by lush rainforest located on the Waterfalls Circuit, along with Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls. The falls cascade perfectly to a pristine waterhole below where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the cool water. There’s also a lovely grassy picnic area for you to relax.

Millaa Millaa Falls are one of the most photographed in all of Australia, so make sure you bring your camera. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a platypus!

Babinda Boulders

Surrounded by lush rainforest, the Babinda Boulders is an iconic Cairns attraction and popular swimming hole and tourist attraction south of Cairns. It is a classic example of the fast flowing tropical creeks in the area that are perfect for afternoon dips in the cool water to combat Far North Queenslands tropical heat.

The creek is lined with huge boulders and the clear fresh water weaves between the obstacles to fill large pools where people can swim. Visitors to the Babinda Boulders are often amazed that the water is quite cool, even during mid-summer.

Optional excursion lead by Australian Watercolour Artist – Phillip Edwards, offering a chance to paint the rainforests of north Queensland. optional muster excursions

Cairns Botanic Gardens

Enjoy a morning or afternoon visiting the Botanical Gardens of Cairns. Bring your Camera, your paints and a picnic lunch.

The Cairns Botanic Gardens is a tropical paradise, renowned as one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia. Come and explore the beauty of tropical plants, relax in stunning surroundings and learn about tropical flora and horticulture.

https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/botanic-gardens

Optional Muster artist workshops with leading international artists in the ‘Tanks’ at the gardens