Intrepid's Ultimate Guide to Cairns Ecofiesta

Get your eco-conscious cap on and learn about an ancient landscape in need of protection.

Support the very environment you love exploring by combining your Intrepid trip with a visit to Cairns’ premier sustainability festival, Cairns Ecofiesta. Whether you’re about to start your journey through the tropical Daintree Rainforest or you’ve just finished adventuring along Queensland’s sun-kissed coast, this fun-filled festival offers a chance to connect with the organisations and individuals working for this diverse ecosystem’s preservation. From green tech and sustainable living markets to workshops suitable for all ages, switch on your conservational brain and light up your nature-loving heart at the environmental event of a lifetime.

What is Cairns Ecofiesta?

Cairns Ecofiesta is a sustainability festival that promises good food, great fun, and a whole lot of eco-inspiration. Combining elements of a traditional festival such as musical acts and performance stages with environmentally focused workshops and sustainability-led stalls full of green tech and local produce, Cairns Ecofiesta is an experience like no other.

When is Cairns Ecofiesta in 2022?

Cairns Ecofiesta is scheduled for Sunday, May 29^th from 10 am to 6 pm at the Munro Martin Parklands. With a location that’s at the doorstep of two World Heritage-listed sites, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, this festival is in the perfect spot to enjoy some of Cairns’ most beloved landscapes. The best news? This event is completely free and suitable for all age groups with a whole heap of activities catered towards young kids, as well as adults.

How is Cairns Ecofiesta being sustainable?

As Cairns Ecofiesta aims to educate and inspire others on best sustainability practices, it only makes sense for the event itself to try and be as environmentally conscious as possible. With that in mind, the event is going to be powered by solar energy and is also aiming to be completely waste-free thanks to their system of re-usable, commercially washed cutlery and crockery. Yep, no single-use items in sight.

Things to do at Cairns Ecofiesta

Woman doing some produce shopping in the market at Cairns Ecofiesta

Buy up big at the sustainability stalls

If you’ve left a workshop feeling inspired about how you’re going to lead your new eco-conscious life and want to get started right away, why not take a stroll among the sustainability stalls selling local produce and green living solutions? From fresh, wholefood ingredients such as nuts, animal products, and spices to handmade gifts and waste-reducing items you’ll soon learn you can’t live without, Cairns Ecofiesta encourages you to get your spend on the eco way.

A mother and daughter participating in an eco workshop at Cairns Ecofiesta

Participate in a few eco workshops

Whether you’re eager to learn some handy sustainable tips and tricks or you want to pick up some technology that’ll help you live greener, visiting one of the many eco workshops on offer is a must-do. Offered by an array of knowledgeable eco-organisations including environmental groups, climate committees, reef and rainforest authorities, and green businesses, these workshops will have you feeling excited about today and hopeful for tomorrow.

Woman serving a vegetarian takeaway food option at Cairns Ecofiesta

Eat your way through the vegetarian food trucks

Wandering through the many activations and experiences at Cairns Ecofiesta can be tiring work but luckily there’s a perfect way to recharge - eating. With a large array of food trucks offering up local eats and plenty of vegetarian options, you’ll never go hungry. Whether you want to try a few edamame fritters, chow down on some falafel croquettes, or dig into a halloumi or mushroom burger with all the fixin’s, we can guarantee you’ll feel fully satisfied after your meat-free meal.

Child sitting on an adult's shoulders watching a musical act perform on stage

Listen to bands play for those music festival vibes

It wouldn’t be a festival without some form of entertainment so prepare your ears for the sweet, sweet sounds of the region’s best bands. Listen to a variety of genres including the blues, jazz, pop, and country, and let your body move to the rhythm of songs that are bound to get stuck in your head. As if it wasn’t cool enough, the performance stands are completely powered by solar energy, demonstrating that you can produce a big event and still leave a small ecological footprint.

Cairns Ecofiesta FAQs

How to get to Cairns Ecofiesta

Cairns Ecofiesta is held at Munro Martin Parklands which is in the heart of Cairns' city centre. If you're staying in Cairns, it's an easy walk from popular accommodation options with the journey on foot likely to take 10 minutes or so. If you intend to come by car, there is plenty of parking available and the city streets are easily navigable so you shouldn't have any trouble finding the Parklands.

How much are tickets to Cairns Ecofiesta?

Tickets to Cairns Ecofiesta cost absolutely nothing - yep, they're free! You don't even have to register your interest in attending, all you have to do is show up and enjoy the myriad of sustainable workshops, activities, local produce markets, musical performances, and tasty food trucks on site.

What to pack for Cairns Ecofiesta

To ensure you have a perfect and stress-free time at Cairns Ecofiesta, there are a couple of essential items you should bring with you. These items include:

sunscreen
hat
sunglasses
reusable drink bottle
snacks
camera

What are some other things I can do in Cairns?

Once you've had your sustainability fill, there are plenty of other things you can do in Cairns. From swimming and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef to exploring Cape Tribulation, you'll never run out of exciting and adventurous things to do. Here are some of our favourites:

Explore the city centre
Visit Mossman Gorge
Take a day trip to Lake Barrine
Walk tropical rainforest trails such as the one to Barron Falls or the Mount Bartle Frere track
Spot native wildlife in Granite Gorge

Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to join a trip in Queensland?

Everyone travelling on an Intrepid trip must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage. 

All travellers are required to produce:

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
All children aged 5 to 17 years old must provide proof of vaccination (if eligible), proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.

In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

Is Queensland accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.