Cairns Botanic Gardens

$6.2m centre awaits Botanic gardens visitors

Cait Bester

Monday, October 24, 2011

© The Cairns Post

THE state-of-the-art $6.2 million visitor centre at the Cairns Botanic Gardens will throw open its doors this weekend and everyone is invited to attend the grand opening.

Its "stunning" reflective exterior has already been the focus of photographs by visitors walking past the site but with construction now finished the inside is also sure to impress. Servicing the Cairns Botanic Gardens and Tanks Arts Centre, the new Cairns Regional Council building will be open to the public from 10am on Saturday. "It features interpretive displays, a gift shop and you can even get an up-close look at some native snakes," Mayor Val Schier said. "This new centre opens up many possibilities for both educational activities and recreation."

Opening day will feature activities including art workshops, guest speakers and presentations. And wildlife enthusiasts were eagerly waiting to see how birds would view the reflective exterior. Many fear birds may fly into the exterior causing them to die. The visitor centre will open from 9am to 4.30pm weekdays and 10am to 2.30pm on the weekend.

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