Say I do at these stand-out Cairns & Great Barrier Reef wedding venues

Make the most of the army of islands that sit within arm’s reach of Cairns, with a ceremony hosted offshore.

Lizard Island Resort

One of the most popular Cairns & Great Barrier Reef wedding venues can be found on the luxury Lizard Island Resort. The northernmost resort on the iconic reef, this opulent lodge promises ample seclusion for you and your guests, accommodating only groups of 80 at a time. A ceremony here may blow the budget but who cares when you have an all-inclusive offering at your disposal including unlimited use of kayaks, paddle boards, access to the dinghy, and deluxe hampers for a romantic picnic or two.

Fitzroy Island

Rainforest and reef collide on Fitzroy Island, the petite sandy stretch well-versed in weddings. Boasting easy access to Cairns (which sits just 45 minutes away), this picturesque place makes for an ideal destination ceremony, with a variety of packages available for two to 250 guests. After saying your vows, the bevy of sheltered beaches and snorkelling opportunities will convince you to stay awhile.

qualia

Your wedding promises to be truly unforgettable if held at qualia on Hamilton Island, considered to be one of the best resorts in the country. Better suited to smaller ceremonies, the exclusive accommodation offering boasts a series of different ceremony options, with its most popular sitting on the sand of quaint Pebble Beach on the cusp of the Coral Sea.

Waterfront wedding venues near Cairns

Say your vows on the water’s edge at the burgeoning collection of river and beachfront venues.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Say “I do” on a private beachfront headland wedged between Cairns and Port Douglas at Thala Beach Nature Reserve. As its name suggests, this 58-hectare property sits right on the sand, making for plenty of ceremony potential overlooking the Coral Sea. The best part of a wedding here? You don’t have to leave. You and your guests can instead spend the night in the collection of eco-designed bungalows on site.

Nu Nu Palm Cove

Exchange rings at one of Queensland’s best restaurants at Nu Nu. The much-loved Palm Cove resident is already a popular option among the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef wedding venues thanks to its unrivalled beachfront location and seriously sumptuous dining menu, which focuses on locally procured ingredients like mud crab and reef fish.

Salt House, Cairns

Forgo the sand for views of picturesque Trinity Inlet at Cairns’ Marina Point. It’s here you’ll find Modern Australian eatery Salt House perched on the water’s edge which has gained a reputation for its dishes, cooked in a custom-built Argentinian wood-fired grill and served in a 200-seat restaurant with a slew of private areas to choose from.

Port Douglas Sugar Wharf Weddings

Make the most of the sunny skies up north at one of the more iconic Cairns & Great Barrier Reef wedding venues, Sugar Wharf. Built back in 1905, the heritage-listed structure sits atop the water at the palm tree-fringed Dickson Inlet. Not only is it picturesque but big on convenience with both ceremonies and receptions catered to, thanks to an ability to seat 200 outdoors, and 160 inside.

Resort wedding venues near Cairns

Keep your special day fuss-free by choosing to get married at one of the bounty of all-inclusive resorts scattered across the region.

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa

Make Palm Cove your wedding destination of choice with a ceremony hosted by the opulent Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa. The five-star venue is well-acquainted with weddings, boasting a team devoted to helping you organise your big day’s ceremony and reception among the indoor and outdoor settings on offer.

Riley, Cairns

Host your special affair in Cairns city centre with a ceremony at suave new retreat Riley, which happily accommodates between two and 450 guests. The contemporary resort has 311 rooms, and a trio of event spaces to cater to your dream wedding, including rooftop restaurant and bar Rocco.

Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach

Get hitched between two world-heritage-listed wonders at Castaways Resort & Spa in Mission Beach. Sitting pretty on 14 kilometres of white sand, this absolutely beachfront retreat caters well to mid-sized groups with its array of 47 luxury beachfront rooms and self-contained apartments, alongside 18 rainforest rooms spread across a duo of properties.

Rainforest wedding venues near Cairns

Get hitched under the ancient rainforest canopy at one of the many ceremony spots tucked into the foliage.

Flames of the Forest

Celebrate your nuptials at Australia’s only rainforest dining experience, Flames of the Forest. You and your guests will find yourself toasting to the occasion from within a black-silk-lined ballroom, swathed in handmade chandeliers and crystal curtains.

Daintree Ecolodge

Give your wedding day a green edge with a ceremony hosted by the eco-friendly Daintree Ecolodge. After saying your vows below the rainforest canopy, newlyweds and guests can take a romantic stroll to the private waterfall within the resort’s grounds, or retreat to one of the 15 bayans scattered nearby.

Rainforest lakes by Rainforestation

Sitting on the edge of the world heritage Daintree Rainforest where you’ll find Rainforest Lakes. The designated wedding offering for cultural space Rainforestation is one of the most popular Cairns & Great Barrier Reef wedding venues thanks to its treasure trove of settings, from a fruit orchard to fairytale-inspired lake.

Something a little different

Make your matrimony seriously memorable with a ceremony hosted somewhere a little left of centre.

AJ Hackett

One of the more unique Cairns & Great Barrier Reef wedding venues can be found at AJ Hackett’s adventure site Skypark. Weddings of all shapes and sizes can be happily accommodated within this rainforest-based venue, with the added (and rather unforgettable) entertainment of Night Bungy and Swing on offer for your guests.

Sailaway Port Douglas

Get married out to sea with Sailaway Port Douglas. The experienced boat operators promise a ceremony to remember, with the chance to have your vows exchanged on a luxury catamaran near coral cay the Low Isles, or post-wedding waterborne celebrations on a sunset sail.