Cairns Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Cairns Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

January 21, 2017 - last modified on July 1, 2024

Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS/YBCS) is the international airport of the city of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The airport offers flights to all major destinations in Australia served by various carriers, but some international flights to destinations in Asia too, adding up to almost 5 Mio passengers a year. The highlights at Cairns for spotters are mostly the regular flights to Papua Newguinea or the mining flights, plus Cairns is also base to the Australian border guard Dash 8s.

Apart from that Cairns is home to Jet Aviation facilities leading to many Dashs, ATRs and similar standing around awaiting or receiving maintenance, thus you may see some rare aircraft sometimes: for example Dash 8s or ATR72s from Papua Newguinea visit quite frequently for maintenance.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Thomas Rings. Last Update: Spring 2024

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
15/33	3.156 m / 10.354ft
Terminals
T1	Northern terminal handling the intl. longhaul flights
T2	Western terminal handling the domestic flights
Spotting Information
Ladder	Very useful at spot 2-4, but you can also work with the lense thru the mesh or from your car’s top.
Car/Public Transport	A car is also very useful, however there is a bus stop west of spot 2-4.
Drinks/Food	Not a lot around the spots, but there are some shops here and there nearby.
Hotels	No spotter hotels around CNS airport.
Season	There is no season with more or less traffic in Cairns, however summer can bring harsh light and storms.
Security	Spotting is no issue in Cairns, but be very careful of wild animals such as snakes or insects!
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 15/33 is used in both directions according to wind and direction of destination/origin. Runway 15 is mainly used during winter months for operations and 33 for summer months.

	Spot #1 – Barron River ramp – 15 Arrivals
WHERE	Take Christensen St down south till you end up at the riverside of Barron River. There you can park in the shadow beneath some trees and walk up to the boat’s ramp from where you have a nice view onto the arrival path.

WHAT	From here you can nicely spot arrivals on runway 15.

TIME	From sunrise till early noon.

MISC.	Nothing needed, but also nothing around. However, you have to go the corner of the boat’s ramp for a view onto the arrival path: while standing close to the water, take care of the crocodiles in the river!

FOCAL LENGTH	250-500mm ATR72 = 300mm / Cessna 208 = 500mm

	Spot #2 – Crash gate – 15/33 Movements
WHERE	This spot is located up north after continuing on Tom McDonald Dr leading to a dead end road. Pass some trees located airside behind the fence and then position yourself along the fence around crash gate nr. V14.

WHAT	From here you can spot runway 15/33 movements.

TIME	From noon till sunset.

MISC.	Ladder would be very useful, but may attract too much attention, so just quickly shoot thru the mesh, the crash gate’s lock (see 2nd overview) or hop on your car’s top. Apart from the aviation facilities nothing around like shops.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm B788 = 100mm / ATR72 = 210mm

Unluckily, the light conditions were really harsh once we visited this spot, but examples show the angle nicely:

	Spot #3 – Tom McDonald Dr – Ramp
WHERE	This position is located west of the airport along Tom McDonald Dr: just walk down the fence here to find your favourite position depending on your subject and the time/angle of the light.

WHAT	From here you can see the sort of abandoned ramp in front with the white short belfast (white cargo aircraft).

TIME	Depends on the subject, but afternoon/evening is best.

MISC.	Ladder would be very useful, but may attract too much attention, so just quickly shoot thru the mesh or hop on your car’s top as we did. Apart from the aviation facilities nothing around like shops.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-200mm Short Belfast (white cargo aircraft in front) = 25mm

	Spot #4 – Jet Aviation – Ramp + 15/33 Movements
WHERE	Turn off Captain Cook Hwy to Tom McDonald Dr and then simply make your way up to the fence front around the Jet Aviation hangar: you have various options as marked on the map, simply just check them all out and choose your favourite one depending on light and subject.

WHAT	This spot includes various positions along the fence around the Jet Aviation facility: from around here you can spot the ramp and nearby parts of the runway and taxiway.

TIME	Depending ont he angle, but best from noon till sunset.

MISC.	Ladder would be very useful, but may attract too much attention, so just quickly shoot thru the mesh or hop on your car’s top as we did. Apart from the aviation facilities nothing around like shops.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm E290 on runway = 170mm / Saab 340 on runway = 240mm / Dash 8-100 right in front on ramp = 20mm

	Spot #5 – Mount Whitfield – 15/33 Movements + Airport overview
WHERE	From the airport, exit it by taking the “Airport Ave” road. Then, turn on the right onto “Captain Cook Hwy”. You will cross a river and you will have to turn on the left onto “Aeroglen Dr” to finally take the first again on your left to reach the car park where you can start from. Make your way up the mountain (under sometimes very humid and hot weather conditions) by following the trail. There are several options where you can stay. The first one 5A is the lowest point, a small hill. If you continue you will reach the “Old Lookout” 5B. The best view is from the top 5C “Aeroglen Lookout”.

WHAT	Arrivals runway 33 and departures runway 33 + 15. 5A is only good for ground-to-air shots as you cannot see the runway!

TIME	Light is good from 1300 to sunset. The problem with heat haze and creatures during the summer months (October – March) and high temperatures make climbing up the mountain hard.

MISC.	There are public restrooms at the parking. Be prepared with enough water before you climb up! Be careful of snakes and other dangerous animals!

FOCAL LENGTH	18-500mm Airport overview = 20mm