Updated in October 2026, this Tomb of the Pharaohs guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
The Tomb of the Pharaohs is an ancient Egypt exhibition at 122B Lake Street in central Cairns, Queensland. Eleven galleries recreate the tombs of the kings and queens of Egypt, with more than 450 handcrafted items. The attraction is run by the directors of Cairns Aquarium. You can book through Viator before you travel. As of October 2026, general admission costs $52 for adults and $33 for children. Guided Sunset and Night Tours, added in September 2025, are missing from older guides.
Quick facts for the Tomb of the Pharaohs
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 122B Lake Street, Cairns, Queensland 4870 |
| Opening hours | Every day of the year, including public holidays. 10:00 to 16:00 with last admission at 15:00 |
| Adult (15 and over) | $52 |
| Child (3 to 14) | $33 |
| Minimum age | 3 years |
| Night Tour | From $99. Tuesday to Saturday |
| Sunset Tour | From $99 |
| Nearest transit | Public bus terminal one block away at Lake and Aplin Streets |
| Parking | Three hours of free on-street parking close by |
| Typical visit | One to two hours |
| Phone | 07 4044 7312 |
Why book tickets for the Tomb of the Pharaohs?
- 🏺 Eleven galleries of recreated tombs: Walk the dimly lit passages of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens.
- 👑 Tutankhamun’s treasury: See rooms of solid gold artefacts as Howard Carter found them in 1922.
- 💎 The treasures of Queen Nefertari: Gem-encrusted displays honour the wife of Ramses II.
- 🌙 Guided Night Tour: A guide leads you through the tombs after hours, with an optional two-course dinner.
- ❄️ Air-conditioned and accessible: The exhibition is fully indoors, with lifts, accessible toilets and even floors.
Ticket prices for the Tomb of the Pharaohs – and how to book
All prices are in Australian dollars.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| General admission, adult (15 and over) | $52 |
| General admission, child (3 to 14) | $33 |
| Night Tour, adult | $99 |
| Night Tour, child (3 to 14) | $59 |
| Night Tour with two-course dinner, adult | $179 |
| Sunset Tour | From $99 |
| Combo with Cairns Aquarium, adult | $100.70 |
| Combo with Cairns Aquarium, child (3 to 14) | $58.90 |
| Combo with Cairns Aquarium, concession | $89.30 |
| Combo with Cairns Aquarium, family (2 adults and 2 children) | $301.15 |
General admission gives all-day entry during opening hours. The Night Tour runs Tuesday to Saturday. Check-in is at 17:45, the guided tour runs from 18:00 to 19:30, and the optional dinner starts at 19:45 at Squire’s Loft. The Sunset Tour lasts up to 3.5 hours.
Companion Cards are accepted. You can book online or at the door, and you can book through Viator for a general admission ticket.
Opening hours for the Tomb of the Pharaohs
The attraction opens every day of the year, including public holidays. Weekday and weekend hours are the same.
| Item | Time |
|---|---|
| General admission | Daily 10:00 to 16:00. Last admission 15:00 |
| Night Tour | Tuesday to Saturday. Check-in 17:45, tour 18:00 to 19:30 |
| Sunset Tour | By booking. Up to 3.5 hours |
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.
How to get to the Tomb of the Pharaohs
The attraction is on Lake Street, two blocks from the Cairns Esplanade. It is within walking distance of most major hotels. By bus, the public bus terminal is one block away at Lake and Aplin Streets. By car, three hours of free on-street parking is available close by.
Parking at the Tomb of the Pharaohs
Three hours of free on-street parking is available close to the attraction. Check the signs for time limits. The Cairns Aquarium entrance is on Florence Street if you use its facilities.
How long to spend at the Tomb of the Pharaohs
Allow one to two hours to explore the 11 galleries. The Night Tour takes 1.5 hours. A combo with Cairns Aquarium takes about 2.5 hours across both attractions.
Accessibility at the Tomb of the Pharaohs
The attraction has lifts, accessible toilets and even floor surfaces. It is fully enclosed and air-conditioned. Toilets are on level two at the attraction, and on the ground floor at Cairns Aquarium.
Companion Cards are accepted. The exhibition has dimly lit passages, so contact the team on 07 4044 7312 if you need help planning your visit.
What to see at the Tomb of the Pharaohs
The recreated tombs. Eleven galleries recreate the key burial tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. You walk through life-like scenes of tomb chambers.
Tutankhamun’s chambers. You look into the antechamber and treasury of the boy pharaoh. Rooms of gold artefacts appear as Howard Carter found them in 1922.
Queen Nefertari’s treasures. The exhibition shows the gem-encrusted treasures of Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramses II. It presents them as recreations of the lost treasures.
The coffins, mummies and statues. Decorated wooden coffins, stone sarcophagi and mummies wrapped in bandages fill the galleries. Colossal statues show Ramses, Akhenaten, Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye.
The Silver Pharaoh. A tomb recreation shows the solid silver falcon-shaped outer coffin of King Shoshenq II. The silver coffin stands in a recreated burial chamber.
The earliest tombs and the Rosetta Stone. A gallery shows the earliest burial tombs of Saqqara, near the 4,500-year-old step pyramid. The Rosetta Stone and extracts of hieroglyphs help you learn to read them.
Mummified animals and photo backdrops. Mummified animals and room-sized carved statues fill the galleries. You can have your photo taken against golden treasure rooms.
Practical visitor tips for the Tomb of the Pharaohs
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead | You can buy at the door, but book tickets in advance to secure your day. |
| Arrive by 15:00 | Last admission is at 15:00 every day. |
| Combine with Cairns Aquarium | A combo ticket covers both attractions and takes about 2.5 hours. |
| Choose the Night Tour for atmosphere | The Night Tour runs Tuesday to Saturday with check-in at 17:45. |
| Use the free street parking | Three hours of free on-street parking is available close to the attraction. |
Frequently asked questions about the Tomb of the Pharaohs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Every day of the year, including public holidays, from 10:00 to 16:00. Last admission is at 15:00. |
| How much does admission cost? | Adults pay $52 and children aged 3 to 14 pay $33. |
| Is the Tomb of the Pharaohs open on public holidays? | Yes. It is open every day of the year, including public holidays. |
| Is the exhibition accessible? | Yes. Lifts, accessible toilets and even floors serve the exhibition, and it is air-conditioned. |
| Do I need to book in advance? | You can buy at the door, but advance booking is recommended for the Night Tour and busy days. |
Things to do near the Tomb of the Pharaohs
Cairns Aquarium: An aquarium of Great Barrier Reef, outback and rainforest species on Florence Street in central Cairns.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon: A public swimming lagoon on the Esplanade foreshore, two blocks from the attraction.
Cairns Museum: A local history museum in the 1907 School of Arts building on Lake Street.
Cairns Art Gallery: A regional art gallery in a heritage building in the Cairns CBD.
Cairns Night Markets: A souvenir and food market in the city centre.
Alternatives to the Tomb of the Pharaohs
The options below are other Cairns-region attractions within about two hours’ travel.
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures: A crocodile and wildlife park on the Captain Cook Highway north of Cairns.
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.
Green Island: A coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef, reached by boat from Cairns.
More Far North Queensland travel
Other Far North Queensland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Cairns Botanic Gardens.
- Cairns Koalas and Creatures visitor guide: What to expect in this all-weather wildlife attraction at the Pier.
- Historic Village Herberton visitor guide: What to expect at this historic outdoor pioneer museum.
- When to visit Mamu Tropical Skywalk and what you’ll see there.
- Planning a visit to the Jindalba Boardwalk, Daintree Discovery Centre, Myall Beach, Cow Bay Beach and Noah Beach near Cape Tribulation.
