Cairns is a magical place where the rainforest kisses the reef and where adventure isn’t so much an option as it is a way of life. With 48 hours on the clock, you’ll want to move quickly – but never rush.
This Far North Queensland playground demands your attention, your appetite and your sense of wonder. Here’s how to do Cairns right in two perfectly packed days of food, culture, cocktails and topical charm.
Where to Stay: Crystalbrook Bailey
First things first: drop your bags at Bailey. Part of the Crystalbrook Collection and where sustainability meets luxury. Centrally located and unapologetically art-focussed, the entire property champions artists and sustainability without skimping on luxurious amenities. Each of the 12 guest floors feature individual creatives, immersing you in the wonderful world of the artist.
You’re walking distance to the Esplanade, the marina and most of the city’s must-do activities. Onsite you’ve got full access to an enviable selection of restaurants, bars and culinary hotspots that are guaranteed to gratify your hunger. From CC’s Bar and Grill, to the Mexican inspired open-air bar of Pachamama, to breakfast fare from ARTE Café or the Breakfast Bar, it’s almost your own private city.
Day One: Reef Meets Rooftop
Start the day at Coffee Buoy, a breezy blend of relaxed TNQ vibes with a splash of retro surf shack charm. Here the coffee is specialty grade, the atmosphere relaxed and the service warm. Pair your latte with a hearty breakfast (think sauteed mushrooms with garlic, thyme, spinach, marinated goats’ cheese and poached eggs), or grab a takeaway for a coffee on the go. It’s the ideal spot to ease into your full day of adventuring.
Now it’s time to leave the city behind. Cruise from the Cairns Marina across the East Trinity Wetlands with Mandingalbay Tours. An award-winning, immersive half-day experience on the traditional lands of the Mandingalbay Yidinji people. Led by Traditional Owners, the tour offers you insights into bush medicine, local flora and fauna and the deep spiritual connection First Nations people have to this land.
It's humbling, enriching and essential if you want to understand the real story of this place.
By now you would have worked up an appetite. If the thought of charred octopus, saganaki or wild caught barramundi gets your mouth-watering, then ELA Mediterranean is a must-see. Delivering big Greek energy in a stylish, contemporary setting with dishes meticulously crafted from locally-sourced ingredients, ELA manages to combine the best of TNQ with the greats of Mediterranean cuisine. Cocktails with a gentle sea-breeze? Yes please!
Take your time, enjoy a long lunch and savour the moment.
Back at the hotel, take a self-guided tour of the artworks spread across Bailey’s many levels. Showcasing unique artists all across the property, art isn’t just on the walls here. It’s woven into the DNA of the hotel. Refresh with a dip in the pool and then recharge with a cocktail at Pachamama.
As the sun starts to dip over the Coral Sea, it’s time for to hop over to Bailey’s sister venue – Riley. This time, we’re going straight to the roof. Rocco is the premier bar with panoramic views of the coast line and a menu that reads like a love letter to the Mediterranean. Order yourself a signature cocktail (or two) and watch the sky melt into a pool of gold.
Ready to dive into Cairn’s best steakhouse? Most locals will point you back home. That’s right, CC’s Bar and Grill inside Crystalbrook Bailey is where you want to be. Inspired by the cattle stations of inland Queensland the stellar menu celebrates the best of Australian produce, sourcing most of its steaks from the nearby Atherton Tablelands, with an enviable wine-list, it’s everything a great steakhouse needs to be. It is also the perfect place to end the night.
Day Two: Boats, Breweries and a Seafood Showstopper
If the night has gone well, a sleep-in may be required. Let’s do away with the breakfast fanfare and set our sights to an indulgent brunch. Luckily you don’t have to hike it too far. ARTE is your resident, neighbourhood café. Laid-back and perfectly appointed, mornings are in no rush to start. Think fresh bakes and light, seasonal plates (made with local ingredients, of course) and the only venue in Cairns to be pouring Jack Murat coffee – a bean grown in the rich volcanic soils of North Queensland.
Now, depending on how slow the start to the day is, it could be time for a refreshing tour around the city with Brewery Tours Cairns. You’ll visit local craft breweries like Coral Sea Brewing and Macalister Brewing, as well as distillers like Narrow Tracks Distilling or Wolf Lane. Along the way you’ll be sipping and snacking the essence of Far North Queensland.
Once the tour is done and you’ve stocked up on some craft brews and spirits, saunter through the streets of Cairns and whet the appetite with some truly unique boutiques. Everything from locally made goods and gourmet produce all make perfect mementos of your whirlwind trip around Cairns.
If you’re feeling a little peckish, Prawn Star is calling your name. Step onboard the old trawler turned floating seafood bar. There are no white tablecloths here; just ice-cold beer, fresh-caught prawns, bugs, oysters and sashimi served in the sun. Wildly popular – arrive early to grab a seat.
Time to head back to Bailey for a dip and decompress. If you’re so inclined, take the chance to indulge in one of the day spas at sister venues Riley or Flynn, all offering a decadent day spa experience.
Cap off your 48 hours with dinner at Ollies Italian, a delightfully vibrant restaurant in the exclusive waterfront dining precinct of Marlin Parade. Expect sweeping views of the Trinity Inlet and the Great Barrier reef while sipping on a curated menu of local produce and seafood delivered daily. From dry-aged steaks to handmade pasta and pizza, Ollie’s will take you on a culinary journey.
Cairns isn’t trying to be Melbourne and thank God for that. It’s tropical without being tacky, refined without being pretentious and in just two days you will taste the reef, walk through the rainforest and be surrounded by stories that make this an unmissable city.
It’s not just what you do in Cairns – it’s how it makes you feel while doing it, the perfect balance of buzzing with excitement while maintaining a delightfully relaxed air.
For more on what Cairns has to offer, check out Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
