Updated in October 2026, this Paronella Park guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
Paronella Park is a heritage-listed castle ruin and rainforest garden at Mena Creek on the Cassowary Coast of Far North Queensland. José Paronella built the Spanish-style castle beside Mena Creek Falls and opened the park in 1935. You can book through Viator before you travel. As of October 2026, adult admission costs $62 and a ticket stays valid for 24 months. The park closes at 18:00, not the 19:00 or 19:30 some listings show.
Quick facts for Paronella Park
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1671 Japoonvale Road (Old Bruce Highway), Mena Creek, Queensland 4871 |
| Opening hours | Daily 9:00 to 18:00. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day |
| Adult admission | $62 |
| Pensioner | $56 |
| Child (5 to 15) | $34 |
| Family pass | $182 for 2 adults and 2 children, or $192 for 2 adults and 3 children |
| Ticket validity | 24 months |
| Distance | 120 km from Cairns and about 20 minutes from Innisfail |
| Typical visit | At least 3 hours |
| Phone | +61 7 4065 0000 |
Why book Paronella Park tickets?
- 🏰 A Spanish castle in the rainforest: José Paronella built it in the 1930s beside Mena Creek Falls.
- 🔁 A ticket valid for 24 months: You can return as often as you like within two years.
- 🌙 An evening experience included: Floodlighting and a sound and light display light up the ruins and the falls at night.
- 🐢 Feed the fish and turtles: Fish food is included, and the creek is home to freshwater turtles.
- 🛏️ A free night in the van park: Your ticket includes one night at The Paddock Van Park.
Ticket prices for Paronella Park – and how to book
All prices are in Australian dollars, include GST and are valid until 31 March 2027.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $62 |
| Pensioner | $56 |
| Child (5 to 15) | $34 |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children under 15) | $182 |
| Family (2 adults and 3 children under 15) | $192 |
Your ticket includes the Dream Continues Tour, a 30-minute guided walk. It also covers the evening experience, a 16-page self-guided Botanical Walk booklet and a souvenir guide book. Fish food, umbrellas, the courtesy vehicle and a small history museum are included. Pass-outs are available, so you can leave and return on the same day.
Your admission includes one free night in The Paddock Van Park, with a maximum of one night. Bookings are essential for the evening experience, so phone +61 7 4065 0000 to book. You can book through Viator for a day ticket.
Opening hours for Paronella Park
Paronella Park opens every day from 9:00 to 18:00, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Weekday and weekend hours are the same.
| Item | Time |
|---|---|
| Park opening hours | Daily 9:00 to 18:00 |
| Dream Continues Tour | Departs frequently through the day |
| Evening experience | Starts around dusk, about 18:15. Booking essential |
| Christmas Eve and Christmas Day | Closed |
Confirm the evening start time when you book, because it can change with the season.
How to get to Paronella Park
Paronella Park is 120 kilometres from Cairns, about 90 minutes by car. From Cairns, drive south through Innisfail and take the Old Bruce Highway towards Mena Creek rather than turning right for Townsville. From Townsville, leave the Bruce Highway at Silkwood and follow the Canecutter Way, about 280 kilometres. Mission Beach is about 40 minutes away. Some guided day tours from Cairns include the park.
Five great things to do in Cairns
- 🐠 See marine wonders at two Outer Reef hotspots – on a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise.
- 🌿 On a day trip – explore Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest.
- 🚞 Combine the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – on a day trip to Kuranda.
- 🚣 On a full day rafting adventure – tackle the white water of the Tully River.
- 🌄 See giant trees, rainforest waterfalls and crater lakes – on an Atherton Tablelands day tour.
Parking at Paronella Park
Day visitors park at the site on Japoonvale Road. Visitors who cannot climb the staircase can use the free courtesy vehicle. The Mena Creek Hotel is 300 metres up the road.
How long to spend at Paronella Park
Allow at least three hours for the guided walk, the gardens and the creek. Your ticket is valid for 24 months, so you can come back for the evening experience. A full day suits you if you add the café and the Botanical Walk.
Accessibility at Paronella Park
The park covers 13 acres on two levels. A staircase with 47 steps joins the levels. A courtesy vehicle runs down a service road for guests who cannot use the stairs. You must be able to get in and out of a 4WD vehicle.
The paths are mostly concrete and gravel. Bring a baby carrier if you can. Some prams work on the paths, and large-wheeled prams are easier. Small-wheeled prams often get stuck in the gravel, and small sets of steps line the paths. Phone the park on +61 7 4065 0000 with any questions.
What to see at Paronella Park
The castle ruins. José Paronella built a castle, tennis courts, a picnic area, bridges and a tunnel on five hectares beside the falls. The buildings are State and National Heritage listed.
Mena Creek Falls. The falls flow all year and are best seen from the suspension bridge or the lower picnic area. They are floodlit at night.
The Dream Continues Tour. A guided walk of about 30 minutes tells the story of José Paronella’s dream. It takes you through the highlights of the park.
The hydroelectric plant. José Paronella built a hydroelectric plant in the 1930s, making the park one of the first places in Queensland to generate its own electricity. The restored generator lights the park today.
The gardens and Botanical Walk. More than 7,500 tropical plants and trees have grown into a lush rainforest. A 16-page booklet identifies the trees along the self-guided walk.
The wildlife. You can feed fish and freshwater turtles in the creek. Look for the electric blue Ulysses butterfly, and flying foxes leave their roosts at dusk.
The evening experience. Floodlighting and a sound and light display reveal more of the park after dark. The photo opportunities are excellent.
The Café on the Deck. The café serves Devonshire tea and light lunches, and you can bring your own picnic. A gift shop sells local art, craft and produce.
Practical visitor tips for Paronella Park
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead | You can pay on arrival, but book tickets in advance to plan your day. |
| Book the evening experience | Bookings are essential. Phone +61 7 4065 0000 for your place. |
| Use your 24 months | Return within two years for the evening experience or a second visit. |
| Bring a carrier instead of a pram | Gravel paths and small sets of steps make some prams hard to push. |
| Stay a night | Your ticket includes one free night in The Paddock Van Park. |
Frequently asked questions about Paronella Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What time does Paronella Park close? | The park closes at 18:00 every day. It is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. |
| How much does entry cost? | Adults pay $62, pensioners $56 and children aged 5 to 15 pay $34. Family passes cost $182 or $192. |
| How long is my ticket valid? | A ticket is valid for 24 months from purchase. |
| Is the evening experience included? | Yes, but you must book by phone on +61 7 4065 0000. |
| Is Paronella Park accessible? | Two levels join by a staircase with 47 steps. A courtesy vehicle takes visitors who cannot use the stairs. Phone the park on +61 7 4065 0000 to plan access. |
Things to do near Paronella Park
Mamu Tropical Skywalk: A rainforest canopy walkway with a tower near Innisfail on the Cassowary Coast.
Mena Creek Hotel: A country pub with meals about 300 metres up the road from Paronella Park.
Innisfail: A sugar town on the Cassowary Coast known for its Art Deco buildings.
Josephine Falls: A waterfall and swimming hole in Wooroonooran National Park near Innisfail.
Mission Beach: A beachside rainforest village about 40 minutes south of Paronella Park.
Alternatives to Paronella Park
Millaa Millaa Falls: A waterfall with a swimming hole on the Atherton Tablelands.
Lake Eacham: A volcanic crater lake with swimming on the Atherton Tablelands.
Babinda Boulders: A creek of granite boulders with walking tracks near Babinda.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway: A gondola ride above the rainforest canopy between Cairns and Kuranda.
Kuranda Scenic Railway: A heritage train that climbs through rainforest gorges from Cairns.
More Far North Queensland travel
Other Far North Queensland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Admire the magnificent Curtain Tree Fig in Yungaburra.
- Kuranda attraction guides: Barron Falls, Birdworld Kuranda, Kuranda Koala Gardens, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and Rainforestation Nature Park.
- Historic Village Herberton visitor guide: What to expect at this historic outdoor pioneer museum.
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures visitor guide: What to expect in this all-weather wildlife attraction at the Pier.
- Tomb of the Pharaohs, Cairns: Visitor guide with ticket prices, opening hours and what to expect.
