Home to the Gimuy Walubara Tidinji people for more than 60,000 years, Cairns sits on Cape York Peninsula’s east coast. It is believed to be the area where Australia’s aboriginal people first arrived on the continent. Today, Cairns has a population of just over 150,000 people and is the fifth most populated city in the state of Queensland.
Cairns is unlike anywhere else, it offers unparalleled views you won’t find anywhere else in the world. This city by the sea is recognized internationally as the gateway to one of the world’s seven natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef.
The fourth most popular international tourist destination, Cairns’ sandy white beaches and breezy streets are filled with beauty and culture. The best way to fully immerse yourself in Cairns’ many delights, is to make sure you know where to store your luggage before you go. Continue reading below to find out where to store your baggage for the day while you set about on your adventure in Cairns.
Airports
Are you planning on flying in for your stay in Cairns? Then, as the only public airport in the vicinity, the Cairns Airport is most likely to be your entry point to the city.
Cairns International Airport
Deemed as the seventh busiest airport in the country, the Cairns International Airport is conveniently located 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) away from Cairns Central Business District. This airport sees more than 5 million travellers each year. Terminal 1 serves international flights and Terminal 2 caters to domestic flights. While you’re there, stop in at one of the airport’s several cafes, restaurants, bars, lounges, or bars.
Cairns Airport offers its passengers a couple of options for storing luggage. The first option is the self-service locker by the Car Park Service Kiosk in Terminal 2. The locker bank offers three different sized lockers, 24/7 self-service, and accepts payment by cash only. For anything too large to fit into a locker, the Baggage Storage Room in the Wilson Car Park Service Kiosk can store items up to 2 m x 2 m x 2 m.
The lockers are located by T2 Car Park Service Kiosk or the Baggage Storage Room in the Wilson Park Service Kiosk. The cost varies depending on the size of the locker.
Small Lockers – $6 for 0 – 3 hours, $10 for 3 to 24 hours, $10 for each additional 24 hours.
Medium Lockers – $8 for 0 to 3 hours, $12 for 3 to 24 hours, $12 for each additional 24 hours.
Large Lockers – $10 for 0 to 3 hours, $14 for 3 to 24 hours, $14 for each additional 24 hours.
Baggage Storage Room – you can pay with Amex, Eftpos, Mastercard, or Visa only; open from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 7 days a week, price by quote.
Trains
Home to several railway stations, most terminals in the city of Cairns are in dedicated use for the scenic tourism railway services. To find out how you can head out on the trackless travelled without your luggage tag along for the ride, continue reading below.
Cairns Railway Station
Initially constructed in 1891, the Cairns Railway Station consists of two platforms serving two transport railway lines and two tourist railway services. Today, the station is incorporated into the Cairns Central Shopping Centre, with the parking areas sitting atop the railway platforms. k
Catch a ride on the North Coast Line to Brisbane, or take the Tablelands line to The Atherton Tableland. Or, hop on the Kuranda Scenic Railway to explore the local terrain from the comfort of a passenger car.
Unfortunately, there are no luggage lockers available at the station to store baggage. However, if you head across the street to the Cairns Sharehouse and talk to the helpful staff at the front desk, you can safely stow your luggage away for a nominal fee while you spend the day riding the rails.
Freshwater Railway Station
A stop on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, the Freshwater Railway Station is the departure point for around 60% of the train’s annual tourists. Located in the Cairns suburb of Barron, the station does not currently offer any commuter services to locals.
As recently as September of 2018, the Freshwater Railway Station underwent massive refurbishment efforts. In addition to extending the station platform, new improvements include better accessibility for differently-abled passengers and enhanced bus and car park facilities.
Currently, there are no locker facilities or luggage storage options available at the Freshwater Railway Station. Once you get to the Cairns Railway Station, though, you can store your luggage at Cairns Sharehouse or the Cairns Airport if you plan on staying in the city.
Kuranda Railway Station
Famous globally for its stunning tropical gardens and incredible historical prominence, the Kuranda Railway Station is perhaps one of the most photographed stations in the world. The heritage-listed station is surrounded by tropical flora and fauna native to the area.
The station provides visitors with free Wi-Fi, free parking in the village, and a fantastic gift shop where you can purchase local trinkets and artists’ wares. Guests can also stop at the Kuranda Railway Tea Rooms for delicious refreshments in the unique, atmospheric setting.
Unfortunately, no lockers or luggage storage services are presently available for public use at the Kuranda Railway Station.
Stadiums
There’s no shortage of quality sporting and event stadiums in Cairns, with eight facilities for the Australian Rules Football League alone. Whether you want to catch an incredible show at the convention centre or get into the game at Cazalys Stadium, there’s something for every fan to sink their teeth into in Cairns.
Cazalys Stadium
Located in the Cairns’s suburb of Westcourt, Cazalys Stadium seats crowds as large as 13,500 people. Often utilized for rugby league, cricket and football, the stadium is suitable for all manner of sports.
Since the venue first opened, Cazalys Stadium has provided locals and tourists alike with once-in-a-lifetime events and games. Formerly known as the Australian Football Park and the Bundaberg Rum Stadium, Cazalys Stadium is the largest oval stadium in the city. It got its current name in honour of the iconic VFL superstar, Roy Cazaly.
The stadium does not currently offer any cloaking or luggage storage facilities for attendees. Instead, the Cazalys Stadium policy states that visitors refrain from bringing items that cannot fit underneath the stadium seats. However, the Cairns Airport is only a short ten-minute drive away, so you can safely store your luggage in the self-service lockers available there if you can find the time to stop by.
Cairns Convention Centre
As the first regional convention centre built in Australia, it has wholly transformed since first opening its doors in 1996. As recently as 2020, the Centre underwent a $176 million expansion, including a third level and more meeting spaces.
Cairns Convention Centre consists of an arena, auditorium, banquet space, plenary, and 20 meeting rooms. As a matter of fact, the Centre is so versatile that in a single year (2014), it held conferences on everything from tourism to buiatrics (study of cattle), G20 Finance and more.
While the Cairns Convention Centre does not offer baggage storage, there are numerous accommodation providers in the area that do. Even if you aren’t staying nearby, you can ask the staff if baggage storage is available.
Barlow Park
Featuring an impressive capacity of 15,000 people, Barlow Park is more than just a stadium. The park is comprised of an IAAF-standard track, two fields, long jump pits, a grandstand, and many other amenities.
Barlow Park regularly hosts football games, track and field events, and soccer. Barlow Park is also open for free public use from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday so long as the facility isn’t otherwise booked for activities.
Unfortunately, Barlow Park does not currently offer cloaking services or luggage storage services for patrons. However, there are some storage facilities available for pre-scheduled events and athletes.
Tourist Attractions
A laid-back tropical oasis, Cairns’s glorious beachfront views make the city one of Australia’s most scenic and relaxing destinations. Cairns’s incredible natural wonders, like Kuranda and the Great Barrier Reef, are matched only by its unique markets, extraordinary cuisines, and lively art and culture scene. To find out where you can safely store your items, continue reading below.
Kuranda
A cool escape from the beach, this mountainside village has been a favourite of tourists and locals since the 1900s. First gaining popularity in the 1970s and 1960s as a bohemian hippie hideaway, Kuranda is known today for many things. Including, its quaint outdoor markets, waterfall views, and personal experiences with the local wildlife.
Ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and marvel at the vegetation, as you glide mere metres above the canopy. Or, do you prefer to stay on land? Then take the Scenic Railway to explore the rainforest at eye level, without leaving the comfort of your seat.
While there are no official luggage storage services available, you may be able to store your baggage in local businesses. To find out more, stop at the Kuranda Visitor Information Centre and talk to the staff at the front desk.
Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest in the world, consisting of more than 3,000 corals and reef systems. As one of the most popular tourist destinations, the reef is visited by nearly 3 million people annually.
Covering more than 2,600 kilometres (approximately 1,165 miles), the Great Barrier Reef’s 900 islands are so large that the Reef itself is actually visible from outer space. Currently, scientists believe it was first formed around twenty million years ago. The first contact with the reef occurred approximately 40,000 years ago with Australia’s aboriginal peoples.
Since the Great Barrier Reef is located in the ocean, you may have already guessed that no lockers are available. However, because the Reef is accessible through licensed tour boats, chances are you’ll be afforded the opportunity to store your items before disembarking.