Shopping · Cairns · Australia
Shopping in Cairns
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Steve Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Shopping in Cairns focuses on markets, Aboriginal art, outdoor gear and souvenirs, with a couple of malls for essentials. Best souvenirs: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, Tablelands coffee and Reef-safe sunscreen and swimwear.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art
Where to shop
Cairns city centre
Souvenir shops, outdoor and dive gear, and art galleries around the Esplanade and Abbott Street.
Cairns Central
The main city shopping centre next to the railway station.
Kuranda
Craft stalls, Aboriginal art and souvenirs in the rainforest village markets.
Markets
Rusty's Markets
Weekend produce, coffee and food market in the city centre.
Cairns Night Markets
Nightly souvenir stalls, massages and a food court near the Esplanade.
Port Douglas Sunday Market
Crafts, local produce and food stalls in Anzac Park.
What to buy
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art
Paintings, prints and carvings from ethical galleries and the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.
Tablelands coffee
Roasted beans from the coffee plantations around Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands.
Reef-safe sunscreen and swimwear
Locally made products suited to tropical sun.
Tropical-fruit preserves
Jams, chutneys and liqueurs made from local fruit.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Kuranda
Kuranda village and markets
The rainforest village at the top of the railway has two market areas of craft stalls, food and Aboriginal art, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary with Ulysses butterflies, and small wildlife parks with koalas and birds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Shopping
- Nature
Market · Cairns City
Rusty's Markets
A covered produce market between Grafton and Sheridan streets, open from Friday to Sunday, selling tropical fruit — mangosteen, rambutan, dragon fruit, black sapote, soursop — along with local coffee, honey, hot food and crafts.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Kids
Market · Cairns City
Cairns Night Markets
An arcade of souvenir stalls, massage booths and a food court running between the Esplanade and Abbott Street every evening.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Tropical fruit, Tablelands coffee and Tropical-fruit ice cream. Rusty's Markets from Friday to Sunday and roadside stalls on the Atherton Tablelands. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Cairns City and Esplanade | $$ | Compact tropical centre of waterfront hotels, the lagoon, night markets and reef-tour desks |
| Palm Cove | $$$$ | Resort village of melaleuca-shaded beachfront, day spas and restaurants |
| Port Douglas | $$$$ | Upscale beach town an hour north, closer to the Daintree and outer reef |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in AUD. Tipping is not expected in Australia. Leaving a tip for reef-boat crews or about 10% for good restaurant service is appreciated but optional.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February–March; the busiest months are July–August.
- July: Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (usually July)
- August: Cairns Festival (usually late August to early September)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Cairns?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, Tablelands coffee, Reef-safe sunscreen and swimwear and Tropical-fruit preserves.
+Where is the best shopping in Cairns?
Cairns city centre: Souvenir shops, outdoor and dive gear, and art galleries around the Esplanade and Abbott Street.
+What are the best markets in Cairns?
Rusty's Markets, Cairns Night Markets and Port Douglas Sunday Market.