The mudflats and mangrove-lined estuary of Trinity Inlet that fronts Cairns are not conventionally beautiful, but they reward attention. At low tide the exposed mud attracts enormous numbers of wading birds — godwits, sandpipers, egrets, and herons — and the estuary is one of the few truly wild urban waterways left in a major Australian city. Saltwater crocodiles are present; you will be told this many times.
The best way to see the inlet is by kayak, from the Esplanade or the marina. Several operators rent kayaks or run guided paddles through the mangroves, particularly at sunrise when the birds are most active and the light is extraordinary. The mangrove boardwalk at the northern end of the Esplanade gives a ground-level view of the ecosystem. At sunset, the colours over the inlet and the mountains behind the city are remarkable.