Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal
International cruise terminal in a heritage-listed wharf shed, handling about 2,000 turnaround or 3,000 transit passengers; ship size is limited by the channel depth.
Cairns, Queensland Australia
Cairns is the tropical gateway to two World Heritage areas: the Great Barrier Reef offshore and the Wet Tropics rainforest in the ranges behind the city. More about Cairns →
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Ship schedule by month
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
ShipDateArrivalDeparture
Showing 3 of 3 calls in October
Cruise Ships in Cairns
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Today · Fri 23 OctNo ships
0 people in port
No cruise ships today
Next 7 days
Quietest: Sat 24 Oct · busiest: Wed 28 Oct- Fri23 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Sat24 Oct364Quiet1 ship
- Sun25 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Mon26 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Tue27 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Wed28 Oct3.7kPeak1 ship
- Thu29 Oct–No ships0 ships
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Cairns day.
Planning a day in Cairns?
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Where is the Cairns cruise port?
Ships that can enter Trinity Inlet dock at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal on Wharf 2/3, in a heritage wharf shed an easy walk from the city centre, the Esplanade and the Reef Fleet Terminal. Larger ships anchor off Yorkeys Knob, 13 km north, and tender ashore.
The airport is about 10 minutes' drive. Turnaround passengers use the same terminal; Cairns Airport is about 10 minutes' drive.
Terminal
Getting to the Cairns cruise port
Cairns Airport → Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal
7 km · 10–20 min by car
About 7 km, typically 10–20 minutes by taxi or shuttle.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Taxi
AUD 25–35per vehicle
Varies
Approximate, including the airport levy.
Shared airport shuttle
AUD 15–26per person
Varies
Approximate.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
Taxis from the terminal to city addresses cost about A$10–15.
Cairns Cruise Terminals
1 terminal
Parking at the Cairns cruise port
Official port parking
AUD 12/ day
Daily rate · per vehicle · confirm before travel
Official long-term cruise parking is right beside the terminal, at about A$12 a day for permits of up to 10 days, paid at on-site machines by card or cash; there is no advance booking. Enter from the corner of Wharf and Lake Streets or Wharf and Abbott Streets.
Parking facilities
FacilityServesRatesReservationRate notes
Wharf Shed 2 and Cruise Liner Terminal car parkPorts North
Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal
~AUD 12/day
—
Serves Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal · Reservation: —
Pay and display; long-term permits up to 10 days.
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Cairns Marina / Wharf Street
AUD 155 / night
Walk to the terminal.
Typical hotel
AUD 155 / night
Pre-cruise nights within walking distance of the ship.
Hotels here
- Park Regis City Quays
Cairns Esplanade
AUD 185–262 / night
Lagoon and restaurants.
Typical hotel
AUD 185–262 / night
Lively waterfront with dining, a short walk or taxi to the terminal.
Hotels here
- Pacific Hotel Cairns
- DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns
Cairns City Centre
AUD 139–214 / night
Value city stays.
Typical hotel
AUD 139–214 / night
Central hotels near shops and the night markets, under 1 km from the terminal.
Hotels here
- Alivio Hotel Cairns
- Coral Tree Inn
- The Benson Hotel
Prices are approximate per night, in AUD; rates rise in the dry season (May–October).
Eating in Cairns
- Coffee per item
- AUD 7
- per item
- Breakfast per person
- AUD 20–40
- per person
- Casual lunch per person
- AUD 20–40
- per person
- Restaurant dinner per person
- AUD 40–100
- per person
- Soft drink per item
- AUD 6.50
- per item
Prices are approximate.
Where to eat
The Esplanade
Cafes and casual restaurants facing the lagoon and sea.
Marlin Marina / The Pier
Waterfront seafood and bars beside the cruise terminal.
Cairns Night Markets
Food court and stalls in the city centre.
Destination
About Cairns
Cairns is the tropical gateway to two World Heritage areas: the Great Barrier Reef offshore and the Wet Tropics rainforest in the ranges behind the city. Reef boats leave daily from the marina for snorkelling and diving on the outer reef and Green Island.
Inland, the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway climb to the village of Kuranda. In town, the Esplanade's free saltwater lagoon, boardwalk and night markets make an easy, laid-back base close to the ship.
- Time zone
- Australian Eastern Standard Time
- Currency
- AUD
Things to Do in Cairns
Great Barrier Reef
Day boats to the outer reef or Green Island from the Reef Fleet Terminal.
Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway
Cableway over the rainforest and heritage train to Kuranda village.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Free saltwater swimming lagoon and boardwalk.
Cairns Aquarium
Reef and rainforest aquarium in the city centre.