Paronella Park
Paronella Park
4.5
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Everyone has a dream. Jose Paronella’s dream became a reality. On 5 Hectares beside Mena Creek Falls he built his castle, picnic area by the falls, tennis courts, bridges, a tunnel, and wrapped it up in an amazing range of 7,500 tropical plants and trees. He even harnessed the waterfall for his electricity. It opened to the public in 1935.Today, visitors to the park marvel at the achievements of one man. Admission to Paronella Park is valid for 24 months and covers all of the tours (a 45 minute guided walk that explains this extraordinary story & takes you through the highlights,the stunning Darkness Falls Tour where the castles and waterfall are flood-lit to allow for amazing photo opportunities, and the hydro tour, giving you an in-depth look at the hydro electricity system that harnesses the power of the waterfall to provide the electricity for the whole Park). Admission also includes a souvenir guide book, fish food for feeding our resident fish and turtles, a bookmark, as well as a site for one night in the adjacent van park.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Admission tickets
from £28.84
All you need to step foot in the door.
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  • Debbie B
    14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Definitely worth the visit
    We were really impressed with the park, information about it, the care taken to preserve the history and the staff. We did both the night and day tour and it didn't disappoint. I was super impressed with the owner personally greeting and farewelling park visitors and even expressing his gratitude to all for their support. It's a beautiful place and quite unique. Definitely will go again.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 April 2023
  • Kerrie D
    Canberra, Australia6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tropic tours Paronella Park Wednesday 10th May 2023
    Simon from Tropic tours picked our group up from Cairns for a day/night tour of Paronella Park. On the way we stopped at an amazing bakery in Babinda followed by another stop at Etty or Eddy bay on the Cassowary coast where we were lucky to see 3 of these amazing birds followed by morning tea provided by Simon, onto Paronella park for pm guide and dinner at the pub before returning for night light and music show. Informative and interesting history of park. Simon was a friendly and helpful guide. Would recommend Tropic Tours
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 15 May 2023
  • KB3
    Airlie Beach, Australia9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth turning off the highway for this one.
    Wonderful park. Really didn't know what to expect but honestly it was well worth it especially when you team it up with the night tour and the night included at the van Park plus you can return within 2 years. They have done an amazing job and the staff are some of the most friendliest I have come across in a long time! I don't know how they managed to get that many lovely people to work for them but they really made a difference to the whole vibe and just couldn't do more for you. Wonderful for families too!
    Visited May 2023
    Written 21 May 2023
  • Pacificwoman59
    358 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Paranella Park worth the trip
    We have wanted to go to Paranella Park for many years and we weren't disappointed. It's fascinating to see the ruins of the castle and the other buildings. Be sure to do the free half hour tour as it really does give you so much more information about the family. And don't leave without going to the cafe and having a devonshire tea. The best we've had in years!
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 July 2023
  • Nanette B
    Australian Capital Territory, Australia21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An absolute must see.
    This place is extraordinary. Its creation at all tells of one man's determination to make his dreams come true, and the legacy is maintained by family and now the new owners. The staff could not be friendlier, and our guide Angie was full of knowledge and extremely personable. All physical abilities are well catered for, and everything is accessible. The grounds are magnificent by day and night - I strongly recommend both a day and night tour. The accommodation and facilities were great too. Throw in the Skywalk and a meal at the Mena Hotel and you have the perfect day.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 August 2023
  • Janeane1965
    Melbourne, Australia549 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Simply Magical
    Oh wow thank you Jose Paronella for turning your dream and vision into reality for people like me to enjoy. What an incredible and serene location. Learning of your journey and tragedies along the way make this place even more beautiful. Congratulations and what a wonderful experience you created for us. A must see in FNQ. Entry ticket gets you 2 x to enter including night show and one night complimentary at caravan park.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 August 2023
  • elizabeth P
    Melbourne, Australia18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Passionate owners
    I'm not sure I've ever been to a business where you can say the owners are as passionate and dedicated as Mark & Judy. When Mark speaks you can hear how much they respect what the Paronella family have created and their story. Tour guide Younes was well educated in the grounds and all its history. He had a comical side and embraced the crazy kids we had. Our day tour was great, we walked and listened to our tour guide and then set off to explore. Kids under 5 managed the walk with no real issues. Pram/wheel chair friendly as they offer you a lift down the hill if required. The night tour was spectacular, very tranquil and a little surreal something like this is still around. Over all a great experience. One small whine - more signage/larger signals of where things were/used to be/what they are, maybe even a photo or two in some places, but as I said small things. Thanks for a great day/night out.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 17 September 2023
  • Tina M
    Cairns, Australia1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Do a Tour With Trudy
    My sister her friend and myself did the 3pm tour with Trudy, It was amazing, Trudy had so much knowledge which she shared with us. I would go back just to do another tour with Trudy. Nothing was to much trouble and she make us all feel welcome.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 October 2023
  • Carl C
    Townsville, Australia10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mesmerizing attraction in the rainforest fantastic attraction
    This was a fantastic way to spend the afternoon/evening. We did the afternoon tour at about 3:30pm. Then walked across the suspension bridge to the mena ck pub and had dinner. Then went back to the park for night tour. Megan was our tour guide and the passion and dedication of her and all the staff was like nothing I’ve ever seen. Well done guys. Very highly recommend
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 28 December 2023
  • 906chas1953
    Adelaide, Australia29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful day at a park with so much history
    We went with Simon from Tropic Tours. Visits included Babinda Boulders, Etty Bay, Paronella Park with Tea at the Mena Creek Hotel. A wonderful experience in a truly lovely forest area with amazing water flows and an inspiring history of perseverance and dedication. A hugely knowledgeable guide, Simon has a family link to the park and instilled his personable touch to the story. The night light show was a highlight. Highly recommend this trip.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 17 February 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,196 reviews
Excellent
2,347
Very good
553
Average
170
Poor
69
Terrible
57

jprd134
17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Really a magical and unique place, with a charm and inspiration. We have spend the night in the powered campground just next to the park, included in the visit ticket, really a great value!!!
And the best part was the guided tour with KEN, special mention for him who is so passionate and thankful to share the story of this place. For my girlfriend who is not perfect with English understanding, it was the first time she understood everything because Ken did his job so well. Thanks to you for this.
Julien and Amandine, visit of the 11th March at 4.30 pm.
Written 14 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

906chas1953
Adelaide, Australia29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
We went with Simon from Tropic Tours. Visits included Babinda Boulders, Etty Bay, Paronella Park with Tea at the Mena Creek Hotel. A wonderful experience in a truly lovely forest area with amazing water flows and an inspiring history of perseverance and dedication. A hugely knowledgeable guide, Simon has a family link to the park and instilled his personable touch to the story. The night light show was a highlight. Highly recommend this trip.
Written 17 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert T
Springwood, Australia33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
What an amazing story of the passion put into creating a castle and his pulling together of all the favourite places from his travels. Our guides were fountains of knowledge, and it was awesome to see the variety of ideas and creativity one man put into this epic project.
You can ignore the ridiculous one star review from January 2024, it was fascinating and inspiring when you hear of what one man went through to achieve this amazing outcome.
You’re not coming here to stay in a five star Castle!
The pub serves are great meal too, an easy 5 min walk over a swingbridge for some local hospitality.
Written 11 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joanne T
4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
Wow, definitely recommend the park but make sure you go on a tour as the park and buildings will make more sense. The night tour was a benefit and added a different element but would love more stories of what would have occurred during the night time with Jose's family. The staff definitely work there because they love it, Megan as a guide was amazing. Have dinner at the pub, the food is excellent and all meals had by our family were enjoyed.
Written 28 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ellen195420
Sydney, Australia31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
A wonderful day thanks to our guide Simon from TROPIC TOURS. First stop was Babinda Boulders where you can swim and do a rainforest walk. It was beautiful but very humid. Then drove to Etty Beach hoping to see Cassowaries in the wild. Sadly it was too hot for them. Simon made us afternoon tea. Lovely rainforest tea for me and really nice carrot and sultana cake made by Simons wife. Next we went to Paranella Park for a guided tour. We had 3 guided tours around different parts of the park. Simon had given us so much information and history about the park it was invaluable. After the second tour we went to the gorgeous old country pub for dinner then back to the park for a night tour. We got to sit in a rainforest with bats flying overhead listening to classical music with a waterfall flowing in the background and beautiful lights over the fountain and building.
Paranella Park is an inspiring, amazing story of one man’s dream. Please go and find out about this amazing place.
Thank you Simon for a wonderful day of learning.
Written 22 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RBang
Sydney, Australia14 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
The pictures are misleading. The so called castle, ballroom are just ruins with moss covered concrete. It's just your imagination that has to run wild when the guide talks about fun times people had here. There are better waterfalls, better rainforest experiences and better wildlife in Cairns outside Paronella Park. The cafe is good and the staff are very friendly. The ticket includes a night guided tour as well but that's useless if you have time just for the day trip.

In my view, it is way over priced for the experience it provides. There is literally nothing but ruins and a back story! I'm surprised how this can even be called a tourist destination. While I understand that every business wants to make money, this park offers very little value for the premium price it demands. I'm kicking myself that I didn't check the bad reviews. I feel that I've been given a sucker punch.
Written 21 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stacey C
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
A wonderful tour of the ancient Paranella Park, highly recommended to everyone. We have been twice and both tours were amazing, the guides are full of knowledge.
Written 3 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Resort608274
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
Mark and Judy are an amazing pair of owners. The time and love they put back into this park really shows. We went just after the floods and the work they did to get the park re-opened really showed. This was our second time in going and we will certainly visit again on our next trip to North Qld.
Written 2 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carl C
Townsville, Australia10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
This was a fantastic way to spend the afternoon/evening. We did the afternoon tour at about 3:30pm. Then walked across the suspension bridge to the mena ck pub and had dinner. Then went back to the park for night tour.
Megan was our tour guide and the passion and dedication of her and all the staff was like nothing I’ve ever seen.
Well done guys. Very highly recommend
Written 28 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mel
Mackay, Australia5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
The staff were friendly and extremely helpful! Les was an excellent tour guide and Karla was extremely helpful in organising accomodation and dinner at the local pub just up the road for us. Paronella is a MUST if you havent done it before, and the night tour with the majical light disply just topped the experience off! This was my third time back - il be back again for sure.
Written 18 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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PARONELLA PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Paronella Park

Paronella Park admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost £28.75, while a popular guided tour starts around £67.43 per person.

According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Paronella Park: