What else can you do in Cairns, apart from diving in the sea and exploring the Kuranda Rainforest? Why not do a day trip to Paronella Park, which is considered the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s film “Castle in the Sky.” Located in Cairns, Paronella Park is a hidden forest castle that is considered a place of love and dreams.
Things to do at Paronella Park
Upon entering the park, the first thing you’ll notice is a wishing pool. The castle is nestled against the forest and built around waterfalls, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment. The scenery is amazing! You can listen to the sound of the waterfall as you explore the secret gardens within the park.
The Tree Avenue is a really popular spot for taking photos. The tall and straight Kauri trees were personally planted by Jose. When the weather is clear, the sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a truly beautiful scene that’s perfect for photography.
Take a Tour at Paronella Park
The tour guide will take you through the life of the castle’s owner and the story of how he devoted his life to protecting his dream. The park has vast open grassy areas where you can have a picnic and enjoy the sun.
Nighttime experience at Paronella Park
The nighttime experience at the castle is completely different from the romantic atmosphere during the day. In the evening, the castle and waterfall take on a more mysterious and tranquil ambiance under the illumination of lights. If you’re lucky, you may even encounter the unique rainforest blue elves of Australia and New Zealand – the blue glow of fireflies shining brightly under the starry sky, giving you a dreamy night.
Paronella Park offers both day and night tours, providing a magical experience for visitors.
Where is Paronella Park (and opening hours)
Address – 1671 Japoonvale Road, Mena Creek, QLD 4871, approximately 1.5 hours’ drive from Cairns
Ticket – Adults $47, Children (5-15 years) $26, Children under 5 years old free
Opening Hours – 09:00-19:30 (last entry at 18:00)
Who made Paronella Park (and its history)
Everyone has dreams, but most people forget about them. Jose Paronella, however, made his dreams come true through a lifetime of effort. In 1929, he finally began to realise his dream of creating a castle. Jose purchased 13 acres of land by Mena Creek for 120 pounds.
It took him six years to transform the barren land into his castle garden. He used discarded railway tracks for the structural support of the buildings and gathered gravel from the creek bed as the primary building material, constructing the castle with his own hands. Even to this day, we can still see the various marks left by Jose.
Jose Paronella dedicated his entire life to transforming barren land into his dream castle garden. It is worth mentioning that this park also served as the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s film “Castle in the Sky.”
During the day, the fairy-tale castle shines under the sunlight, as if it is expressing the deep love of its owner for his wife. Over the years, the castle has been enveloped in lush greenery, with moss covering the park, creating a mysterious and enchanting atmosphere, as if it has its own magical filter, reminiscent of the charm of “The Wizard of Oz.”
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