Stratford Travel Guide
Cairns
Popular places to visit
Cairns Esplanade
Stroll along the boardwalk surrounded by palms tree and landscaped gardens and watch the sun set over the Coral Sea.
Cairns Central Shopping Centre
During your visit to Tropical North Waterfront, you can do some window-shopping at Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Discover the spectacular coral reefs in this walkable area or enjoy its local tours.
Esplanade Lagoon
Relax after a day of sightseeing or cool down from the summer heat in this fresh-water lagoon, one of Cairns’ best city attractions.
Cairns Marlin Marina
Enjoy views of the harbour and and unwind with al-fresco dining, entertainment and shopping beside the bay.
Palm Cove Beach
Located in between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, this palm tree-lined beach is an idyllic spot to take it easy or begin an adventure.
Cairns Convention Centre
Learn about the events happening in Cairns Convention Centre during your trip to Tropical North Waterfront. Discover the spectacular coral reefs in this walkable area or enjoy its local tours.
Top hotels in Stratford
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Terrific location, close to everything.
Reviewed on 1 May 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
Clean and great location separated by a small road from the esplanade. Staff was nice. Everything was satisfactory. The rooms are dated and worn out.
Reviewed on 3 May 2026
Cairns Colonial Club Resort
This is a very nice resort. The rooms are spacious and clean. The bed was a bit hard for me and gave me an achy back and hips in the morning. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the property is well maintained. The food I bought at the Thirsty Flamingo was very good as well. The resort is ...
Reviewed on 2 May 2026
Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns
Comfortable stay for a stopover.
Reviewed on 2 May 2026
Hilton Cairns
Friendly and professional staff! Amy and Alexandra were very attentive and addressed all our questions! The hotel room was clean, comfortable, and had great views!
Reviewed on 3 May 2026
Cairns Harbourside Hotel
The hotel is quite tired and a little run down. The cleaning wasn't very good, the bathroom floor was a bit sticky and the doors and walls were quite grimy. There's not enough lighting which made reading difficult. The breakfast was very good and varied. The staff were friendly and helpful with any ...
Reviewed on 3 May 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Stratford
Aeroglen
If you're spending some time in Aeroglen, Mount Whitfield Conservation Park and Skydive The Reef Cairns are top sights worth seeing.
Whitfield
While there might not be top attractions in Whitfield, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Mount Whitfield Conservation Park and Centenary Lakes Botanic Gardens.
Barron
Barron might not have many top sights, but Australian Armour and Artillery Museum and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Station are two attractions nearby that you can check out.
Edge Hill
You'll enjoy the museums and parks in Edge Hill. You might want to make time for a stop at Tanks Arts Centre or Cairns Botanic Gardens.
Machans Beach
Though Machans Beach may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Yorkeys Knob Beach and Tanks Arts Centre.
Holloways Beach
Beaches, restaurants and gardens are just a few things travellers enjoy about Holloways Beach. Check out Yorkeys Knob Beach or Holloways Beach while you're exploring the area.
