Our flight to Cairns took
around 7 and a half hours.
Cairns, in Queensland,
is one hour ahead of Japan.
It actually felt much quicker than I expected(^^)/
Security at Cairns Airport felt fairly strict,
but all the staff we met were very friendly.
From Cairns Airport to the City by Uber
From Cairns Airport,
we took an Uber to
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns,
where we were staying.
At the time of our visit,
the fare was
AUD24.27.
Because we arrived early in the morning,
it was a little more expensive than I expected.
(On the way back,
we used DiDi and paid AUD11.34.)
For us,
DiDi was cheaper,
so if you're travelling from Cairns Airport into the city,
it may be worth comparing
Uber and DiDi
before booking.
Rideshare fares can vary depending on the time of day, demand and traffic conditions.
Cairns Airport currently has designated rideshare pickup areas.
When we arrived at Shangri-La,
it was still too early to check in,
so we left our luggage at the hotel
and headed out into Cairns.
This tree was near the hotel.
So big～～!!
Cairns Weather and Pedestrian Crossings
One thing we noticed in Cairns
was how quickly the weather could change.
It could be sunny,
then suddenly turn cloudy
and start raining.
During our stay,
some showers only lasted a few minutes.
We saw local people walking or running in the rain
without using umbrellas,
but if you prefer to stay dry,
a small folding umbrella is useful.
Even when the forecast showed sunshine,
we still had short bursts of rain.
We also noticed some people crossing the road
even when the pedestrian light was red
if there were no cars coming.
As visitors,
we felt more comfortable
waiting for the pedestrian signal.
There are pedestrian buttons at crossings,
so press the button when you want to cross.
At some crossings,
the signal seemed to change fairly quickly.
For travellers in their 60s
or anyone who finds walking difficult,
it is worth starting to cross as soon as the signal changes
and taking your time safely.
We found ourselves walking a little faster than usual a few times.
Birds Everywhere in Cairns — and Tropical Flowers Too
Cairns had
so many wild birds we had never seen in Japan.
They were so cute
that of course I took photos(*´ω｀*)
This one was a
magpie-lark,
a bird found in Australia.
It seemed very used to people
and was clearly keeping an eye out
for any food that might be dropped nearby.
We also saw huge tropical flowers.
They really made Cairns feel like a tropical destination.
Even just walking around the city,
we kept noticing little differences from Japan,
which made it fun(^^)/
Looking for Fresh Fruit at Rusty’s Markets
Next,
we visited the famous
Rusty’s Markets.
It is within walking distance of central Cairns(^^)/
There were
so many fresh fruits and vegetables.
Each piece of fruit looked huge!
The eggplants and zucchini were
extra-large too!
Everything looked delicious～～!!
There was plenty of fruit,
including ready-cut fruit.
We bought some
and ate it back in our hotel room.
When we visited,
the cut fruit was around
AUD4–5
and the portions were generous,
so it felt like good value(^^)/
Snacks from convenience stores can feel expensive,
so buying fresh fruit like this
can also be a nice option
when you want something small to eat.
Prices are from the time of our visit and may have changed.
The bread was huge too!
Another surprise-sized Australian food item!!
Rusty’s Markets Opening Hours and Location
Rusty’s Markets is open
three days a week: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
As of 2026,
the official opening hours are:
- Friday: 5:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Saturday: 5:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Sunday: 5:00 AM–3:00 PM
Opening hours may change,
so check the official website before visiting.
If you're in Cairns from Friday to Sunday,
it is definitely worth taking a look.
