The CaPTA Group – Cairns Tourism Attractions & Tours

The CaPTA Group is a leading tourism operator in Tropical North Queensland, offering visitors an unparalleled range of world-class nature-based, wildlife, and Indigenous cultural experiences​.

This family-owned group (established in 1976) runs four top-rated attractions – Rainforestation Nature Park, Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, and Cairns Koalas & Creatures – as well as the Tropic Wings Cairns tours and charters​. 

Together, these attractions and tour services allow visitors to explore the Great Barrier Reef, ancient rainforests, and unique Australian wildlife and culture, all in one coordinated holiday experience.

CaPTA is also known for its commitment to sustainable tourism practices that protect the environment and support local communities​.

With a focus on delivering high-quality experiences that exceed expectations, the CaPTA Group has become a trusted name in the Cairns tourism industry​.

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, located in picturesque Kuranda Village, is the largest live butterfly aviary and exhibit in the Southern Hemisphere​.

This all-weather sanctuary is home to around 1,200 tropical butterflies, offering an enchanting experience as thousands of these delicate creatures flutter around you in a lush rainforest setting.

Visitors can join guided tours through the free-flight aviary and even venture behind the scenes into the breeding laboratory to learn about the butterflies’ life cycle and behavior​.

Knowledgeable guides are on hand to answer questions and share insights into the importance of these winged wonders in the ecosystem​, making it an educational as well as visually stunning experience for all ages.

Free-Flight Aviary
Stroll amid boardwalks and gardens while colorful butterflies (including Cairns Birdwing and Ulysses varieties) flutter around you in a naturalistic habitat​.

Breeding Laboratory Tours
Gain a deeper understanding of butterfly metamorphosis by observing up to 4,000 caterpillars being raised in the breeding lab and learning how they are cared for before emerging into the aviary​.

Interactive Exhibits
Discover educational displays like microscopes that reveal the intricate detail of butterfly wings, see giant specimens such as the Hercules moth up close, and step into the UV-light room to view the world through a butterfly’s eyes​.

Visiting the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is a magical experience that lets you appreciate the beauty and diversity of tropical butterflies while also learning about conservation of these delicate creatures. It’s an ideal stop for families, photographers, and anyone who wants to be surrounded by the gentle flutter of countless butterflies in an immersive environment.

Rainforestation Nature Park

Rainforestation Nature Park is an award-winning nature attraction set on 100 acres of World Heritage rainforest near Kuranda, just a 30-minute drive from Cairns​.

This park (opened in 1976) offers a blend of adventure, culture, and wildlife all in one location. Visitors can experience the rainforest from multiple perspectives – by land and water, by foot, and through Indigenous eyes – making it a must-visit for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in Tropical North Queensland’s environment.

Army Duck Rainforest Tours:
Climb aboard a WWII-era amphibious Army Duck for a guided tour that travels both on land and across a freshwater lake in the rainforest. As the Duck rambles through dense jungle tracks, the driver-guide points out interesting flora and fauna, giving insight into the ancient rainforest ecosystem​. This unique land-and-water adventure is suitable for all ages and offers plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife among the trees.

Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience
Connect with Indigenous culture through the Pamagirri experience, which features traditional dance performances in a rainforest amphitheater and a guided Dreamtime Walk​. During the walk, Aboriginal guides demonstrate spear-throwing, boomerang throwing, and didgeridoo playing, inviting guests to participate and learn about their traditions. For even deeper immersion, an optional Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout can take you off the beaten path to learn survival skills and cultural knowledge in the bush​

Koala & Wildlife Park
Rainforestation also houses a mini zoo where you can encounter a variety of Australian animals. Hand-feed friendly kangaroos and wallabies, watch crocodiles and swooping cassowaries, and observe other native species like the wombat, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, and the rare Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. There are daily wildlife presentations, and you can even have your photo taken holding a koala or small crocodile under supervision.

With its mix of rainforest adventure, Aboriginal culture, and Australian wildlife, Rainforestation Nature Park offers a full day of activities. You can ride the Army Duck, enjoy lunch on-site (perhaps try the Aussie barbecue buffet), and then watch a dance show followed by animal encounters – all in one beautiful rainforest setting. It’s a fantastic way to experience the many facets of Far North Queensland in a single park​
 

Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas is an advanced eco-certified wildlife park where visitors can mingle with Australian animals in expansive natural habitats. This award-winning sanctuary is divided into several environment zones – Wetlands, Rainforest, Savannah, Nocturnal, and Woodlands – each recreating the native setting of its resident creatures. As you wander through open boardwalks and habitats, you’ll have chances to see animals up close and even interact with them, making it a highly immersive wildlife experience.

Immersive Habitat Zones
Explore five distinct ecosystems under one roof. Stroll through lush Wetlands alive with waterbirds, venture into a dense Rainforest enclosure, observe kangaroos and emus roaming the dry Savannah, peek into the secrets of nocturnal creatures in the Night Habitat, and enjoy the Woodlands where wallabies hop freely. The design allows many animals to roam or fly freely in large enclosures, so you truly feel part of their world.

Wildlife Encounters
Throughout the park, visitors can engage with the animals. You can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, watch cassowaries and other rare birds up close, and even have a professional photo taken cuddling a koala. Don’t be surprised if birds perch nearby or kangaroos approach looking for a snack – interaction is encouraged in a safe and supervised way.

Breakfast with the Birds
One of Wildlife Habitat’s signature experiences is enjoying a tropical breakfast while brightly colored parrots and lorikeets fly around you. This unique dining experience (also offered as “Lunch with the Lorikeets”) lets you dine in the Wetlands environment, surrounded by free-flying birds – a delight for animal lovers and photographers. (Note: “Breakfast with the Birds” is mentioned as an offering, and is a popular attraction unique to this park.)

CrocArena – Swim with Crocodiles
For the more adventurous, Wildlife Habitat offers the CrocArena, an only-in-Queensland experience where visitors can “Swim with the Salties.” In this thrilling encounter, you enter a clear underwater viewing tank that lets you come face-to-face (or rather, eye-to-teeth) with a massive saltwater crocodile in the water. You’ll be inches away behind safety glass as the crocodile glides by, giving you an unforgettable view of these apex predators.

Located in the popular beach town of Port Douglas (about an hour’s drive north of Cairns), Wildlife Habitat is a favorite for those looking to experience Australian animals in a spacious and natural setting. It’s both accredited for advanced ecotourism and beloved for the hands-on opportunities it provides. From casual visitors to avid wildlife enthusiasts, everyone comes away with great photos and even greater memories of interacting with Australia’s unique fauna.

Cairns Koalas & Creatures

Cairns Koalas & Creatures is a wildlife encounter in the heart of Cairns city that provides a fun, family-friendly and educational experience. This indoor attraction takes you on a journey through Australia’s diverse landscapes – from the vibrant Great Barrier Reef and coastal mangroves to lush rainforests, eucalyptus woodlands, and the rugged outback – all under one roof​.

As you explore each themed habitat, you’ll meet an array of Australian creatures and learn about the importance of protecting our natural heritage in these environments.

A highlight of Cairns Koalas & Creatures is the chance to get up close and personal with Australia’s iconic koalas. Visitors can enjoy a Koala Encounter, where dedicated keepers share insights about these beloved animals and help you gently hold a koala for a memorable souvenir photo​.

Regular photo sessions are scheduled throughout the day, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to cuddle a koala (in a safe and animal-friendly manner) and take home a special picture of the moment. In addition to koalas, the attraction features other native animals representative of each habitat, so you might find reptiles, birds, or marine life displays as you move through the different zones.

Multi-Habitat Wildlife Displays
Walk through recreations of reef, rainforest, and outback habitats to encounter diverse creatures and learn about each ecosystem’s conservation story​. Interactive signage and friendly staff help bring each environment to life.

Koala Holding & Photos
Don’t miss the koala photo sessions – a unique opportunity to hold a koala (one of Queensland’s must-do activities) and have a professional photo taken as a keepsake​. Knowledgeable handlers ensure both guests and koalas are comfortable during this experience.

Convenient All-Weather Venue
Located at the Cairns Pier shopping center, this attraction is easy to access and perfect for any weather. It offers air-conditioned comfort, a on-site café for snacks and refreshments, and plenty of covered space so you can enjoy the wildlife encounters rain or shine​.

Cairns Koalas & Creatures brings the Australian wildlife experience right into the city. It’s an ideal first stop for visitors, especially families, to get a taste of Australia’s famous animals and environments before exploring further afield. The combination of educational exhibits and hands-on encounters (like koala cuddling) makes it a memorable addition to any Cairns itinerary.

Tropic Wings Cairns Tours & Charters

Tropic Wings is Cairns’ longest-established coach tour company, known for its eco-friendly approach and comprehensive tour itineraries across the region​. If you prefer guided tours to renting a car, Tropic Wings offers comfortable air-conditioned coaches and expert local guides to showcase the best of Cairns, Port Douglas, and the Atherton Tablelands. They provide a range of day tours and package tours that connect you with the area’s most famous natural attractions, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree Rainforest, in a convenient and informative way.

Kuranda Tours
This full-day tour is a favorite, combining several highlights into one trip. You’ll travel to the mountain village of Kuranda (often via the Scenic Railway or Skyrail cableway, optionally) and enjoy visits to Kuranda’s top attractions. Uniquely, Tropic Wings operates Australia’s first 100% electric tour bus on this route – a quiet, zero-emission coach that reflects the company’s sustainable ethos​. The tour typically includes entry to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Rainforestation Nature Park, where you can experience the Army Duck and Pamagirri Aboriginal performances, before returning to Cairns.

Daintree & Cape Tribulation Adventure
Journey north along the scenic coastal road to the Daintree National Park, home of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest. Tropic Wings guides will take you on walks beneath the rainforest canopy and out to Cape Tribulation, the famous beach where the reef meets the rainforest​. You’ll cross the Daintree River (often spotting crocodiles on the way), explore forest boardwalks, and witness incredible biodiversity. This tour often includes a stop at Mossman Gorge for a guided rainforest walk and time to admire its crystal-clear river, as well as a visit to the town of Port Douglas. In Port Douglas, guests usually visit the Wildlife Habitat sanctuary to meet native animals, adding a wildlife component to the day​.

With Tropic Wings, visitors can sit back and soak in the beauty of Cairns and beyond without worrying about the details. It’s an ideal choice for travelers who want a convenient, eco-conscious way to see the highlights of Far North Queensland. The friendly guides share local stories and environmental knowledge, turning the journey into as much of an experience as the destinations themselves