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Finding quality childcare or kindergarten that suits you and your family’s needs can be easier said than done. Sometimes you need to leave your child in someone else’s care due to work, study, or other commitments. As well as providing care and supervision, attending child care or kindy helps children develop social, emotional, and learning skills by exploring the world and playing with other kids. This helps make the transition into school less bumpy once that day comes.

When choosing a childcare or kindergarten, there’s a lot to consider; what hours and days do you need? What location is most convenient? What is the philosophy of the centre? Do you like the programs they offer? It’s a big decision to be made, and understandably, it can seem a bit daunting.

Living in Cairns, we are so lucky to have such a wonderful selection of child care centres and kindergarten options available to us. Attending a child care centre or kindergarten helps children to develop social, emotional, and learning skills by exploring the world and playing with other kids.

Whether you are looking for a great child care centre or your child is approaching the age to commence kindergarten, this guide will help you find the centre that is perfect for you (Please bear in mind that many centres encourage early enrolment as spots do fill quickly and many have long waiting lists, so checking these centres and kindergartens out now for future planning is also a great idea).


CHILDS WORLD EARLY LEARNING CENTRES

2 Borrowdale Close, Bentley Park

Childs World Early Learning Centres is Cairns’ most dynamic Child Care that operates four centres on site. Centres accommodate children from the age of 6 weeks old (Nursery) to Kindergarten/Pre-School, along with Before and After School Care and Vacation Care programs.

They have also has its own Gold Accredited AUSTSWIM Learn to Swim School. Childs World has been purpose built to the latest Government regulations with all internal rooms being fully air-conditioned and designed to ensure that all internal play areas fully exceed the mandatory Government requirements. Nappies, all nutritional meals prepared fresh daily by a chef as well as a free bus service.

Hours 6.30am – 6.30pm, Monday to Friday
P 4045 4045
E amccallum@childsworld.com.au
www.childsworld.com.au


THE LEARNING COVE EARLY EDUCATION

Coral Coast Drive, Palm Cove

The Learning Cove is the only small boutique centre on the Northern Beaches which is family owned and operated. We provide a homelike environment with a natural outside play area. Family grouping allows siblings to learn together, and we encourage each individual child to grow and develop at their own pace. Food, nappies, hat, sunscreen, sports program and bedding provided.

Facilities include a homelike environment, natural outdoor play space, huge sandpit with a pirate ship and fruit and vegetable garden beds.

Their FlexiCare program allows for Occasional Care without the need for a permanent booking, great for parents who don’t work fixed hours.

Hours 6.30am – 6.30pm, Monday to Friday
P 4055 3977
E kristie@thelearningcove.com.au
www.thelearningcove.com.au


TRINITY ANGLICAN SCHOOL EARLY LEARNING CENTRES

Poolwood Rd, Kewarra Beach
200 Progress Rd, White Rock

Help your child by giving them the best possible transition to school.

TAS Early Learning Centres operate at both Kewarra Beach and White Rock, providing a Pre-Prep Program in a warm caring and nurturing environment. Our stimulating Prep Readiness activities help create resilient children and build social and academic readiness.

P Kewarra Beach 4036 8263
P White Rock 4036 8228
www.tas.qld.edu.au


PEACE LUTHERAN KINDERGARTEN

50-60 Cowley St, Kamerunga

Located on the grounds of Peace Lutheran College.

This kindy builds upon children’s interests and explorations to develop a curious love of learning. The kids love to play in the shaded natural setting of the grounds and make regular visits to the adjacent college’s library which assists with their seamless transition into Prep.

Hours 8.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday
P 4039 9039
E peace.kgt@qlecs.org.au
www.plc.qld.edu.au


FRESHWATER CHRISTIAN KINDERGARTEN

369-401 Brinsmead Rd, Brinsmead

Located on the grounds of Freshwater Christian College, this kindergarten is full of fun and laughter as the children learn about the world through play and discovery.

Learning at this centre is through play from exploring the gardens, to building tall buildings out of recycled materials. The kids love joining in with the ‘big kids’ for college events such as sports carnivals and fairs.

Hours 7.00am – 3.00pm, Monday to Friday
P 4055 1337
E kindergarten@freshwatercc.qld.edu.au
www.freshwatercc.qld.edu.au


CAIRNS SOUTH EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

31-33 Bruce Hwy, Edmonton

Cairns South Early Learning is a 150-place service with two rooms for each age group. They have long standing staff members who are passionate about engaging with children at all levels of development. Cairns South ELC pride themselves on inclusive practices and cater strongly to children with complex needs.

Nappies, meals, milk, hats and sunscreen provided. Purpose built playgrounds with a water park, free bus service, learn to swim program, community events and encounters with animals.

Hours 6.30am – 6.30pm, Monday to Friday
P 4055 5534
E director@cairnssouthelc.com.au
www.cairnssouthelc.com.au


BLUEWATER VILLAGE EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

A 1 Maritime Way, Trinity Beach

Bluewater Village is bringing back the ‘wildhood’ for children in our nature-based outdoor areas. We provide play-based learning experiences in a state of the art, well-resourced service. Children can interact with various reptiles, marine and barnyard animals, play at the nature inspired playgrounds or waterpark and enjoy quality chef cooked food each day.

All meals and nappies supplied, hat and t-shirt on enrolment, sheets for cots, and additional activities – Mini Master Chef, Animal education, Little Green Thumbs programs.

Hours 6.30am – 6.30pm, Monday to Friday
P 4229 9007
E director@bluewatervillageelc.com.au
www.bluewatervillageelc.com.au


SMITHFIELD VILLAGE EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Cnr Smithfield Village Drive and O’Brien Road, Trinity Park

Smithfield Village promotes the ‘wildhood,’ offering a wide variety of natural play spaces for the children to explore their natural environment. This includes dry creek beds filled with natural elements, a construction zone, water park, a barnyard of animals and a garden world with fresh produce and herbs.

They offer several programs including Animal Education, Mini Master Chef and Little Growers that allows children to learn about animals, cooking and the process of growing fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Hours 6.30am – 6.30pm, Monday to Friday
P 4057 8479
E director@smithfieldvillageelc.com.au
www.smithfieldvillageelc.com.au


LADY GOWRIE WARATAH DRIVE LONG DAY CARE

8 Waratah Dr, Manunda

Lady Gowrie believes that childhood is a unique time in life that is to be valued and enjoyed in its own right. Offering care from birth to school age and an approved Kindergarten Education Program, this centre offers high quality and affordable services that promote a sense of emotional wellbeing, plus social and cultural awareness for children.

They support the development of children in a safe, caring and fun environment – plus, all meals are provided.

Hours 7.00am – 6.00pm
P 4053 6803
E waratahdrive@ladygowrie.com.au
www.gowrieqld.com.au


GOODSTART EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

At various locations

Goodstart believes every child should have the best possible start in life.

They have 12 locations in Cairns and the wider area, including 8 between Edmonton and Brinsmead, 2 in Innisfail, one at Trinity Beach and one in Mossman.

P 1800 222 543
E enrolments@goodstart.org.au
www.goodstart.org.au


C & K CHILDCARE AND KINDERGARTEN

At various locations

C & K offers a strong play-based curriculum in large, natural and sustainable outdoor environments that encourage children to discover, explore and learn through nature. They have 12 locations in the Cairns and surrounding regions.

P 1800 177 092
E info@candk.asn.au
www.candk.asn.au


Catholic Education Kindergartens

Looking for a home away from home? Entrust your child to a Catholic Childcare or Community Kindergarten.

We cater for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years of age.

• Meals provided by our amazing cook.
• Long hours for busy families
• Beautiful settings both indoors and outdoors.

CHILDCARE & COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN – MT PETER

A 1 MacKillop Road, Mount Peter

The perfect place to start, from birth to year 12 with MacKillop Catholic College on the doorstep.

Hours 6.30am – 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
P 0438 620 587
E director.mtpeter@ccelc.catholic.org.au

CHILDCARE & COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN – REDLYNCH

A 185-205 Intake Road, Redlynch (adjacent to St Andrew’s Catholic College)

The perfect place to start, from birth to year 12 with St Andrew’s Catholic College on the doorstep.

Hours 7.00am – 6.00pm, Monday to Friday
P 4039 6055
E director.redlynch@ccelc.catholic.org.au

COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN – BENTLEY PARK

A 135 Robert Road, Bentley Park

kindy.bentleypk@ccelc.catholic.org.au

COMMUNITY KINDERGARTEN – SILKWOOD

A 6 Harold Street, Silkwood
Hours 8.30am – 3.00pm, Monday to Friday
P 4065 2128
E kindy.silkwood@ccelc.catholic.org.au

Catholic Early Learning and Care services in the Diocese of Cairns cater for children aged from 6 weeks to 13 years and include Kindergarten,
Long Day Care and Outside School Hours Care (Before School, After School and Vacation Care).

Get in touch today to find out more.
P 4046 5677
E admin@ccelc.catholic.org.au
www.ccelc.catholic.org.au