The Cairns Port is one of Australia’s busiest cruise destinations with both major international cruise ships and domestic cruise vessels operating out of the city.
Cairns is the gateway to Tropical North Queensland where two World Heritage areas meet – the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Wet Tropics rainforest.
Passengers disembark at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal in the heart of the city and can head straight to the shops or be picked up for one of the 2500 tours exploring the reef, rainforest and Indigenous culture of Tropical North Queensland.
The waterfront city has a stunning seaside boardwalk linking the Terminal with the Esplanade Lagoon, public leisure areas, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Boats depart from the Cairns Marlin Marina, just a five-minute walk from the Cruise Liner Terminal, for the outer Great Barrier Reef and its islands where you can snorkel and dive.
The beaches north of Cairns include Palm Cove, a 30-minute drive from the city where resorts, cafes and restaurants overlook the palm-fringed beach.
Experience one of the world’s oldest rainforests with the iconic Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest, or venture further north past Port Douglas to explore the Daintree and Cape Tribulation.
Visit a wildlife park to feed wallabies and see a cassowary up close, sip coffee at a Port Douglas café, walk through Mossman Gorge with an Indigenous Guide and cruise the Daintree River spotting crocodiles.
Take a tour exploring waterfalls, drift down a rainforest river, discover a food trail or go white water rafting for an exciting shore adventure.
Cairns Airport is just a 10-minute drive from the city centre and has direct flights to regional Queensland cities, all major Australian cities, Singapore, Tokyo, Osaka, Auckland, Christchurch, Port Moresby, Bali, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Half Day Touring:
- City
- Hinterland
- Green Island
- Port Douglas
A variety of wildlife parks are located within 30 minutes drive of the port, with kangaroos, koalas, birds and crocodiles. Other activities such as bungee jumping, white water rafting, kayaking, parasailing, jet ski and jet boat tours, hot-air ballooning and golf are available.
Full Day Touring
- Daintree/Cape Tribulation area
- Cooktown
- Day trips to the Great Barrier Reef and islands via catamaran, sailing vessel, helicopter or seaplane.
- Scenic rail trips through the rainforest to the village of Kuranda with butterfly sanctuary, and craft markets.
- Minutes from Cairns Seaport is the worldメs most beautiful rainforest experiences : a 7.5 kilometre rainforest cableway, Skyrail and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
Best Beaches
- The northern beaches are made up of nine separate townships located along 26 kilometres of beautiful coastline.
- Or relax at Cairns Lagoon on the Esplanade
Best Shopping Areas
- Pier Marketplace is a waterfront shopping complex and leisure centre with over 100 retail outlets as well as live entertainment, restaurants and bars, open from 9.00am to 9.00 pm every day of the year.
- City centre is within 5 minutes walk of the Cairns cruise terminal.
- Cairns Central shopping complex is also within walking distance.
Specialty Products
- The stores cater for all needs including clothes, jewellery (especially opals) Aboriginal artefacts to general pharmaceuticals.
Working hours |
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Customs Officers | 24 hours |
Quarantine Officials | 24 hours |
Immigration Officials | As for Customs |
Customs and Immigration |
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Passenger Manifest | Three copies at the first port of call with one copy to Immigration with the passengers card one copy to Customs and the third copy to remain on board the ship. |
Embarking Passenger Manifest | 3 copies - 1 to Customs 1 to Port 1 stays |
Crew Manifest | 2 - 1 at first port to Immigration 2nd stays. |
Stores List | 2 (Aust. Customs Service and Sydney Ports Corporation |
Customs Declaration (Ship) | 1 (Australian Customs Service) |
Customs Declaration (Crew) | 2 (Australian Customs Service) |
Forms Comments | All forms listed above are produced at the first Australian port of call and then one copy of each form travels on board the ship to be produced at subsequent ports. |
Customs Declaration (Passengers) | One at first Australian port of call only. |
Port health |
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Health Declaration | One (pratique) at first Australian port of call only |
The following Ground Handlers are ACA members and supply superior ground handling services throughout Australia.
Approach |
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Arrival Departure Restrictions | Yes |
Tidal Variation | 3 metres |
Prevailing Currents | Approximately 2 knots |
Prevailing Winds | |
Length of Channel | 6.47 nautical miles (12 kilometres) |
Depth of Channel | Design depth of 8.3 metres Lowest Astonomical Tide |
Comments | N/A |
Depth and breadth of turning basin |
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Location of Turning Basin | Adjacent to Wharf No. 2 |
Diameter | 400 metres |
Depth |
Under keel clearances over 90,000GT UKC 2m in the channel and 0.6m in swing basin, over 40,000GT UKC 1.5m in the channel and 0.6m in swing basin, up to 40,000 GT UKC 1.3m in the channel and 0.6m in swing basin, up to 30,000 GT 10% of draft or |
Other points | |
Pilotage |
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Pilotage Name | Department of Transport Division of Marine and Ports |
Pilotage Address | Tingira Street Portsmith QLD 4870 |
Pilotage Phone No | 61 7 4052 7411 |
Pilotage Fax No | n/a |
Is Pilotage Compulsory | Yes - for vessels over 35 metres length |
Position of Pilot Pickup | The pilot boarding ground is approximately four kilometres seaward of the Fairway beacons, at position latitude 16ᄚ48.7 |
Distance from Berth | 5.94 nautical miles (11 kilometres) |
Pilot VHF Channel | 16 (then to 6) |
Description of Pilot Boat | White hull, Yellow Cabin top, with the word PILOT written in black. Call Sign: Tribulation |
Pilot Hours | As required |
Pilotage Fees | 8.7 cents per GRT for the first 20,000 GRT |
5.4 cents per GRT over 20,000 GRT to 40,000 GRT | |
3.4 cents per GRT over 40,000 GRT | |
Minimum charge $312 |
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Address | 9/189 Kent Street |
SYDNEY NSW 2000 | |
Telephone | +61 2 9439 7223 |
24 hour contacts | +61 416 189 760 |
Fax | +61 2 9439 8587 |
Website | www.barwil.com |
sydney@barwil.com.au | |
Services | Contact: Greg Coopman. |
For details of services see the Barwil entry under Members and Contacts- then scroll down to Shipping Agents. | |
Beaufort Shipping Agency Company | |
Address | Level 8, 120 Sussex Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000 |
GPO Box 3988 | |
SYDNEY NSW 2001 | |
Telephone | +61 2 9364 8960 |
24 hour contact | +61 411 123 013 |
Fax | +61 2 9364 8999 |
Website | N/A |
operations@beaufortshipping.com | |
Services | Contact Ian McAllister |
For details of services see the Beaufort entry under Members and Contacts- then scroll down to Shipping Agents. | |
Information on other Shipping Agents can be obtained from the Port Authority (see Port Operator). | |
Towage |
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Are tugs available | Yes |
Are tugs compulsory | No - at pilot's discretion |
Tug operator`s name | North Queensland Marine Towage - Cairns agent: Patrick Sleigh |
Tug operator`s fax | 61 7 4051 5082 |
Ship or tug lines | Either or both - at pilot's discretion. Cost $40 per tug line. |
Tug working hours | 0800 to 1600. Overtime rates apply after hours |
Linesman |
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Working hours | 0830 to 1600 |
Port officials | |
Working hours | 24 hours |
Overtime | 24 hours as required |
Stevedoring |
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Stevedoring Name | or details of suitable stevedores, please contact the Shipping Agent |
Stevedoring Address | n/a |
Stevedoring Telephone | n/a |
Stevedoring Fax | n/a |
Working Hours | n/a |
Provedoring |
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For details of several quality, competitively priced provedores please contact the Shipping Agent. | |
Telephones | |
Telephones | Yes |
How many | 1 |
Notice required | Yes |
Bunkering |
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Fuel Grades | Diesel |
Quay or barge | Tanker truck on quay or barge |
Suppliers | BP/Caltex/Mobil/Shell/Ampol |
Water |
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Fresh Water | Yes |
Exquay or barge | Quay |
No of hoses | As required |
Capacity per hose/hour | 12000 litres ph wharf 1 & 2 34-40000 lph at wharves 3 to 10 |
Tonnes per hour guaranteed | 120000 litres |
Type of connect | Supplied by Port Authority (international fitting available) |
Connect size in inches | 64 millimetres |
Dry garbage |
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Dry garbage | Yes - with quarantine approval |
Barge alongside | Yes |
Containers available | Yes |
Size of containers | 200 litres |
Two | |
Dump for deep burial | |
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Port operator |
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Name | Cairns Port Authority |
Address | Corner Grafton & Hartley Streets |
PO Box 594 | |
CAIRNS QLD 4870 | |
Telephone | 61 7 4052 3888 |
Facsimile | 61 7 4052 1493 |
Web Site | www.cairnsport.com.au |
Email Address | mktg@cairnsport.com.au |
Berth details |
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Berth | Trinity Wharf |
Maximum draft | 10 metres |
Tidal variation | 3 metres |
Berth length | 595 metres (continuous quay length) |
Guaranteed berthing for cruise ships | Yes |
Are other ships able to dock | Yes |
Cargo ships at dock | No |
Security fences | Yes |
Nearest ports |
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Australia | Townsville |
Nearest Overseas Port | Port Moresby |
Terminal facilities |
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Terminal Building | Yes |
Meet and Greet Facilities | Yes |
Toilet Facilities | Yes |
Telephones | Outside cruise terminal |
Availability of Maps and/or Brochures | Yes |
Souvenir Shopping | Within 200 metres walk |
Money Exchange | Within 200 metres walk |
Is the US Dollar Accepted? | No |
Transport |
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Closest Airport to Pier | Cairns Airport |
Distance to Airport | 8 kms |
Transport to Airport | Taxi (allow AUS$10.00) |
Can Passengers Walk to Town | Yes |
Drive Time from Pier to Shuttle Stop | n/a |
Distance from Pier to Town Centre | 200 metres |
Are Shuttle Buses Necessary | No |
Suggested Shuttle Stop in Town | City Centre |
Availability of Taxis at Pier | Yes |
Availability of Public Transport at Pier | No |
Other Forms of Transport at Pier | Yes |
Tour buses |
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Distance from Ship to Tour Buses | 50 metres |
What is the Normal Coach Capacity | Varies |
Are Tour Buses Air Conditioned | Yes |
Are Refreshments Provided on Buses | No |
Are Cold Towels Provided on Buses | No |
Are Step Stools Provided on Buses | No |
Tourism operators in Queensland: