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Cairns Jetboat Tours are fast, furious and so much fun! For 35 minutes you’ll be speeding, spinning and splashing your way through Trinity Inlet and the Cairns waterfront. The tunes will be pumping, the vibe is most definitely high and you’ll finish up with a massive smile on your dial. The focus of the Cairns jetboat tour is to maximise adrenaline, while including some sightseeing and commentary from your captain. Dress to get wet, because you most definitely will! Departing from Marlin Marina, you’ll power down into Trinity Inlet, taking in the sights of the Cairns waterfront and Navy precinct, before exploring mangrove-lined waterways of the Inlet. This is where the spins and slides begin. Before returning to Marlin Marina you’ll head out for a quick burst in front of the Cairns Esplanade. Maximum of 14 guests. Minimum height to participate 1.1m tall.
The Cairns Jetboat tour is suitable for anyone taller than 1.1m, which is for safety reasons. The tour price includes the jetboat ride, hosted by an epic captain. Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult or guardian. Child price is for children aged up to 11 years old. There is a Family Rate.
Cairns Jetboat Tours are fast, furious and so much fun! For 35 minutes you’ll be speeding, spinning and splashing your way through Trinity Inlet and the Cairns waterfront. Dress to get wet. Maximum 14 guests.
What We Love About Cairns Jetboating Tours. This is absolutely the most fun 35 minutes you can spend in Cairns. So much to love. Spins and slides, high adrenaline, but accessible to most people, pumping tunes and awesome captains. We’ve done this tour many times over the years and every single time, leave with a big smile. You will get properly splashed with wet clothes, so prepare for that, but otherwise, don’t think just do! This is one of the first reviews we ever did, way back in 2021 when the boat was a different colour but the vibe remains the same today in 2026. Read our Cairns Jetboating Tour Review.
Get a free action camera rental when you book tours departing Cairns through us valued at over $750, we’ll lend you a GoPro camera to use for the duration of your tours. Numbers are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Get in touch with us to claim this deal today.
Cairns Adventure Group (CAG) is a locally owned and family operated company, passionate about showcasing the best of our region to guests. We love what they do and they are mates of ours, sharing our passion for Cairns and all it offers. Their Cairns Jetboat tour operates every day with 3 departure times, being 10.30am, 2pm and 3pm. This tour has Adult, Child and Family Rates. Departures are from the CAG Marine Centre, which is located on A Finger at Marlin Marina, immediately opposite the Reef Fleet Terminal.
The Cairns Jetboat ride is epic! Super-charged fast boat with wicked styling, pumping tunes and a captain that brings the A-Game energy. If you’ve done jetboating anywhere else before, then you know the drill – but this is Cairns style. You’ll roar down Trinity Inlet, past the Cruise Liner Terminal and moored boats, into the mangrove-lined waterways that form the heart of this place. Here you’ll spin and slide, splash and squeal and quite frankly, just have an awesome time. Do you have to hold on? Yes. Will you get wet? Yes. Will it just be so much fun? Again, Yes. There will be time for some commentary and stories from the captain, but the focus is on the adrenaline rush of jetboating.
The stage is set for your Cairns jetboat tour and it all takes place in Trinity Inlet and along the Cairns waterfront. Trinity Inlet is the marine epi-centre for our tropical port city, a place for recreational and commercial boating and fishing and also a place for mangrove forests and sheltered waterways. You’ll power through it all, stopping at some key areas for the captain to point out significant features. The backdrop of your tour changes from Cairns city to rainforest mountains and mangroves, back to the city again. It’s a really adventurous way to explore this hidden watery heart of Cairns.
The Cairns Jetboat Tour has 3 departures daily and you should allow 55 minutes in total for the whole experience, which includes 35 minutes of jetboating. The first jetboat tour of the day is 10.30am – 11.25am. The second jetboat tour is 2pm – 2.55pm. The third jetboat tour is 3pm – 3.55pm. For the purposes of providing some detail, we’ve prepared the below itinerary based on the first session of the day. Please note details and times may be subject to change, pending weather on the day. The start and end point for the tours is the CAG Marine Centre at Marlin Marina. If you are worried about motion sickness, we strongly suggest taking some preventative medication before setting out.
Arrive at the Cairns Adventure Group Marine Centre, located on A Finger of Marlin Marina, immediately adjacent to the Reef Fleet Terminal. The centre is easily identifiable with prominent signage. You will see the jetboats moored alongside the centre. On arrival you will be provided and fitted with lifejackets. Glass straps are available for sunglasses and clear ‘googles’ are also available for use. Once everyone has arrived (max 14 guests) it’s time to get into the boat. The captain will allocate seats (top tip – the back seats are where you’ll get the most wet) and ensure safety ‘hold beams’ are in place.
You slowly depart the marina (speed limits in place here) and commence your journey into Trinity Inlet. As soon as you’re clear of the marina the jetboat powers up and you’re away! During the ride you’ll pass by some of Cairns’ waterfront hotels and bars, as well as the Navy base and commercial shipyards. The jetboat rockets deep into the Inlet, leaving the city behind and entering the mangrove-lined waterways.
Apart from the speed, a highlight of the Cairns jetboat tours is the spinning and sliding. These are done at controlled high-speeds, delivering splashes all round. The captain gives everyone a countdown for the action, making sure everyone is OK and holding on. At the conclusion of each slide / spin the captain checks everyone is OK, before continuing on with the ride. We’ve done this tour a lot (so much fun!) and have never seen anyone not be OK, but this gives you peace of mind about the pace if it’s something you are worried about. Spins and slides are performed at various locations in Trinity Inlet and also in front of the Cairns Esplanade area.
The jetboat returns to the CAG Marine Centre and you can disembark. Lifejackets and protective googles must be returned. From here you can continue your Cairns holiday, perhaps having lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants which are located nearby, with waterfront views.
It’s a good idea to book your Cairns jetboat tour at least 24 hours prior to your preferred date / time of travel, to ensure you confirm your place. With a maximum of 14 guests, these tours do sell out on the day.
The Cairns Jetboat Tour departs Marlin Marina and takes you into Trinity Inlet. Along the way, enjoy views of some of Cairns’ waterfront hotels and the Navy base. You travel into the Inlet and then head back out along the Cairns waterfront.
You should allow 55 minutes for the Cairns Jetboat Tour, which includes 35 minutes on the jetboat. There’s 3 daily departure times, being 10.30am, 2pm and 3pm. It departs from Marlin Marina. You should arrive 15 minutes prior to your booked departure time.
Generally speaking ‘no’ you won’t get seasick on a Cairns Jetboat Tour. The pace is fast and furious, speeding across mostly calm, flat water. The jetboat itself is low to the water. That being said, if you are worried about motion sickness, then take preventative medication prior to travel.
Yes, as long as your child is over 1.1m tall then this tour is suitable for children. We’ve done it many time and our son loves it! There are also Adult, Child and Family Rates, making it affordable for families.
100% yes, you will get wet on the Cairns jetboat tour and I’m not talking some spray, I’m talking big splashes and wet clothes. So take this into consideration with what you wear on the tour and make sure to have a towel and change of clothes available for the next part of your day.
Yes, the Cairns Jetboat Tour does operate in light rain but not during heavy rain. This is for passenger comfort. If there is severe weather and any tour changes, you will be contacted directly.
© I Love Cairns 2026
