This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are based on our own stays and on primary sources, whether or not a link is involved.
Language: English | 日本語
In September 2017, when our daughter was 1 and our son was 4, our family of four went to Cairns. We flew Jetstar’s nonstop flight from Narita and stayed 5 nights at Pullman Cairns International.
What Our Family of 4 Thought
Cairns is a compact city, and it was just the right destination for traveling with kids. On Jetstar, our daughter slept in the bassinet on both legs, and Pullman Cairns International had the best location. It’s a city we’d love to go back to.
Our 2017 Trip vs. Current Information
Several things are different now from 2017: arrival times, infant fares, how to apply for Australia’s Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), and how the Kuranda Skyrail operates. The zoo near the hotel (Wildlife Dome) closed in October 2023. Current information is in each section and in What’s changed since 2017.
Cairns with Kids: Itinerary and Costs (September 2017, Family of 4, 5 Nights)
The trip was one night on the plane and 5 nights in Cairns. We left Narita at night and arrived in Cairns at 4:50 in the morning.
5-Night Cairns Itinerary: Green Island, Kuranda, and the Esplanade
| Day | What we did |
|---|---|
| Departure day | Departed at night from Narita Terminal 3 on Jetstar JQ26 |
| Day 1 | Arrived in Cairns at 4:50 a.m. Took a taxi to the hotel. Early check-in at 10:00 |
| Day 2 | Green Island (Big Cat boat) |
| Day 3 | Hotel pool, lunch at a restaurant, the market, the supermarket. Went to bed early because of an early start the next morning |
| Day 4 | Kuranda tour (left the hotel around 7:00 a.m.) |
| Day 5 | Wildlife Dome (crocodiles and koalas) → free BBQ and the lagoon pool at the Esplanade |
| Return day | Pool in the morning. JQ25 at 12:00 to Narita |
Cairns Trip Costs: About JPY 340,000 in Known Costs for a Family of 4
These costs come from our receipts and booking records. We have no records for taxis, meals, the Green Island boat, or the zoo, so they aren’t in the total.
| Item | Amount (2017) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | JPY 226,370 | Jetstar Narita ⇔ Cairns for 4 people (including the JPY 7,000 infant fare, seat selection, checked baggage, and taxes) |
| Hotel | A$1,230 (shown as JPY 106,348 on the booking screen) | Pullman Cairns International, 1 room, 5 nights, 2 adults and 2 children, breakfast included. Includes A$60 early check-in. Paid at the hotel |
| Kuranda tour | A$370 | For 2 adults (A$185×2). The 2 children were free |
| Overseas Wi-Fi | JPY 5,733 | 1 router, 7 days |
| ETAS (Electronic Travel Authority) | JPY 2,160 | For 4 people through an agency (JPY 540×4) |
| Total of the yen amounts | JPY 340,611 | Flights, hotel (yen amount shown on the booking screen), Wi-Fi, and ETAS. The A$370 tour is separate |
This Total Isn’t What We Actually Paid for the Whole Trip
The hotel figure is the yen amount shown on the booking screen. We paid in Australian dollars. The A$370 tour and the costs we have no records for are not in the total.
According to the booking information at the time, card payments carried a 1.3% fee.
Jetstar to Cairns with a Baby: The Jetstar Bassinet Got Her to Sleep Both Ways
Our outbound flight was JQ26 (departs Narita 20:25 → arrives Cairns 4:50, 7 hours 25 minutes). Our return was JQ25 (departs Cairns 12:00 → arrives Narita 18:35, 7 hours 35 minutes). Both flights were Boeing 787s.
In 2017, our daughter (1) flew as a lap infant, and she slept in the bassinet (a simple baby bed) on both the outbound and return flights. We didn’t have to hold her on our laps the whole time, so it was easier on us parents. The bassinet seats also have more room, which made the flights comfortable. We requested the bassinet by email after booking our flights, and there was no charge.
On the day we flew home, my wife packed while I took the two kids to the hotel (Pullman) pool. They played as much as they wanted early in the morning, and then we headed to the airport. The pool had tired them out, so the kids slept well on the flight home. If you’re traveling with small children, I think a swim on the morning you fly home is worth doing.
My Jetstar Cairns flight review (in Japanese) covers how to request the bassinet, seat selection, how we managed without buying meals on board, how cold the cabin was, and our luggage. It also has the breakdown of the JPY 226,370 airfare and the current rules.
Early-Morning Arrival in Cairns with Toddlers: Waiting for Early Check-In
Cairns Airport is small, and we found a taxi right away with no trouble.
From Landing to Getting Into Our Room
- 4:50
Arrive at Cairns Airport - Taxi to the hotel
Arrived around 7:00 - Wait on the sofas near the front desk
Took a walk around the area in between - 10:00
Early check-in
A Booking That Let Us Into the Room from 10:00
Regular check-in was 14:00. We had added early check-in from 10:00 (A$60) to our booking.
While we waited, we also spent a little time at Cairns Central (a shopping center).
Current Arrival Time
JQ26 still operates and still arrives early in the morning. The Cairns Airport schedule lists it to arrive at 4:35 from October 26, 2026 to March 28, 2027 (in 2017 it arrived at 4:50).
Pullman Cairns International for 5 Nights: Close to the Marina and the Esplanade
Pullman Cairns International was a wonderful hotel. The best part was the location.
- The Esplanade is close, so you can walk to the free lagoon pool and BBQs
- The marina, where boats leave for Green Island and other islands, is also close, so the islands are easy to reach
- The night market and a supermarket are close too
- The casino (The Reef Hotel Casino) is right across the street. In 2017 there was a zoo on top of it
I think it had the best location in Cairns. Accor’s official page also says the marina is 200 m away, a 5-minute walk (Accor official site).
My Pullman Cairns International hotel review covers the room and the crib, and what I emailed the hotel on the day I booked. It also covers the fresh juice at breakfast, the pool, and where it’s cheapest to book now (rates from 4 booking sites).
My Cairns hotel booking site comparison (in Japanese) compares booking-site rates for a family of 4 at Hilton Cairns, Shangri-La The Marina, and Rydges Esplanade. We haven’t stayed at these three hotels.
Check availability and rates at Pullman Cairns International
We booked directly on Accor’s official site in 2017. You can also compare current rates on booking sites
*Contains affiliate links
Day 2: Green Island with Our Family of 4
The day after we arrived, we went to Green Island. The boat was Big Cat (Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises), which I booked myself. As I remember, it was about JPY 2,000 per adult, and children were free.
On the island we rode a glass-bottom boat and watched fish through the windows. We didn’t book any other tour, so I think the ride was included in the boat fare.
We took the stroller we borrowed from the hotel to the island too. My Green Island day trip with kids covers booking the boat, the glass-bottom boat, snorkels and swim rings for the kids, and lunch on the beach. It also has current prices and times.
Kuranda Day Tour with Kids: Kuranda Scenic Railway Up, Skyrail Down
On Day 4, we joined a tour to Kuranda. Kuranda was great too.
We booked Hot Holiday’s “Budget Kuranda with Army Duck” tour. It bundled the Skyrail, the Kuranda Scenic Railway, and Rainforestation, with pickup and drop-off in Cairns city. We left the hotel around 7:00 a.m.
| Price (2017) | A$370 for 2 adults (A$185×2). Our 4-year-old and 1-year-old were free |
|---|---|
| Going up | Kuranda Scenic Railway |
| Coming down | Skyrail (gondola) |
| Also included | Rainforestation (Army Duck) and hotel transfers |
Riding Down with the Stroller
On the way back, we rode the Skyrail down over the rainforest. We took the stroller into the gondola with us.
In Kuranda, we held a koala. I think that’s an experience you don’t get very often.
My Kuranda tour with kids walks through the tour day, from the 7:20 pickup to the 17:20 bus. It also covers the Army Duck, the koala, the Skyrail’s changed operation during its upgrade (until November 1, 2026), and current children’s fares.
We also booked Kuranda as a tour with transfers. I think matching up the train and Skyrail times and booking everything yourself with kids would be hard work. KKday sells a Kuranda Scenic Railway + Skyrail day package (including a family set for 2 adults + 2 children; we booked ours with a different company). Check the product page for how the Skyrail runs during the renovation.
Cairns City with Kids: The Free Esplanade Lagoon Pool and BBQs
On the days we weren’t at Green Island or Kuranda, we stayed near the hotel.
The Esplanade BBQs and Lagoon Pool Are Free
On Day 5, we cooked and ate at the free BBQs on the Esplanade (the waterfront park). Afterward we played in the lagoon pool. Both the pool and the BBQs are free, and they’re close to the hotel, so it’s easy to just head over.
Hours and Maintenance Closures
The BBQs are free for regular use and available daily from 6:00 to 21:00 (Cairns Regional Council).
The lagoon pool is also free to enter, with lifeguards on duty during opening hours. It closes for maintenance for about 5 weeks once every 2 years, so check the council’s notices before you go (Cairns Regional Council, July 2026).
Wildlife Dome: Closed in 2023
Earlier that day, before the BBQ, we saw crocodiles and koalas at the Wildlife Dome, a zoo on top of the casino building. Both the casino and the zoo were right in front of our hotel.
The Wildlife Dome (Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome) closed on October 8, 2023 (notice on the official site). It is no longer an option for a zoo you can reach quickly from the city.
A Day at the Hotel Pool, the Market, and the Supermarket
We spent Day 3 at the hotel pool, had lunch at a restaurant, and went to the market and the supermarket. The Kuranda tour left around 7:00 the next morning, so we went to bed early that day.
We Ate Crocodile
We also ate crocodile meat. I’d eaten kangaroo as a student and found it gamey, so I skipped it this time.
Tim Tams for Souvenirs
You can buy them in Japan too, but Australia has lots of flavors, so they make good souvenirs.
Cairns Travel in 2017 vs. Now: Arrival Time, Infant Fare, and ETA
| Item | 2017 (our family) | Information as of October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| JQ26 arrival in Cairns | 4:50 | 4:30 / 4:35 (depending on the season). Daily service (scheduled not to operate on Wednesdays from May 13 to June 22, 2027) |
| Infant fare | Infant Fee of JPY 7,000 for our daughter (amount on the receipt) | Infants without their own seat: JPY 7,500 per booked segment on long-haul international flights. Online bookings allow up to 1 infant per adult |
| Bassinet | Requested by email → told to call for identity verification → called. Free | 787 international flights, for infants without their own seat. Request through the contact center or live chat |
| Electronic travel authority | ETAS through an agency, JPY 540 × 4 people | Apply for each person individually on the official “Australian ETA” app. AUD20 per person (children need their own application too) |
| Skyrail | Rode it on the way down | Until November 1, 2026: changed operation during the upgrade, Kuranda–Barron Falls return trips only (Wednesday to Sunday). July–November 2027: the Red Peak–Kuranda section is scheduled to close (Smithfield–Red Peak still runs) |
| Children’s fares | Free for our 4-year-old and 1-year-old at both Kuranda and Green Island | Skyrail, Kuranda Scenic Railway, and Big Cat: free for ages 0–3, child fare for ages 4–14 |
| Wildlife Dome | Saw crocodiles and koalas | Closed on October 8, 2023 |
The JPY 7,000 infant fare is the amount on our receipt. The JPY 7,500 figure is the fare per booked segment. You can’t compare the two directly as a price difference. Check current fares and conditions on Jetstar’s official site before booking.
Even for families, each person needs their own ETA application. Before applying, check the conditions in the Department of Home Affairs guidance. Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs. Arrival times: Cairns Airport flight schedules. Skyrail: Skyrail official notices (checked October 2026). Big Cat: Big Cat official site (checked October 2026).
Cairns with Kids Summary: An Easy City for Toddlers and Babies
Cairns is a compact city, just the right size for traveling with kids. Jetstar flies this route as a codeshare with JAL and felt dependable, and the bassinet was free. I’d say it’s an easy destination even with small children.
- Request the Jetstar bassinet separately after booking. Our daughter slept in it on both flights
- If the kids play at the pool on the morning you fly home and get tired, they’ll sleep well on the flight back
- On an early-morning arrival day, adding early check-in lets you rest in your room
- Pullman Cairns International is close to the Esplanade, the marina, and the casino
- The Esplanade lagoon pool and BBQs are free
We also traveled abroad with a baby to Guam in 2014 (Guam trip with kids, in Japanese). In June of the same year, 2017, when our daughter was 1, we also stayed at Renaissance Okinawa Resort with three generations (Renaissance Okinawa Resort: two stays with three generations). I’ve written up how to prepare for trips with grandparents in 20 hotels for three-generation trips and how to split the rooms (in Japanese).
Find a hotel in Cairns
Pullman Cairns International, where our family stayed
*Contains affiliate links
More from Our Cairns Trip with Kids