Finding superyacht roles in Cairns
How to arrive, register with the crew agency and check your papers for superyacht work in Cairns.
Picture made with AI. It shows the place but is not a photograph.
What to do in your first week
Fly into Cairns Airport
Cairns Airport has international arrivals and departures. Cairns Marlin Marina is about 10 minutes from the airport (Ports North).
Helpful tips before walking the docks
Crew agencies in Cairns
| Agency | Find them | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Crew Pacific | 2B/117 Anderson Street, Manunda | Recruitment since 2001. Crew for motor and sail yachts. Steward, stewardess and deckhand courses |
Crew Pacific website. Other directories list a different street address.
Crew Pacific courses
Crew Pacific runs steward and stewardess courses and a deckhand course set to the standard of 50 to 80 m motor yachts. Email training@crewpacific.com.au for dates and prices.
Other Cairns providers
Yachting Pages lists Tropical North Queensland TAFE, First Response Australia and Great Barrier Reef International Marine College as crew training providers in Cairns. Ask each which courses it runs.
Australian visa rules
Australia sets visa rules by passport and by type of work. Check the rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs.
Crew pay by yacht size
| Role | 45 to 50 m | 70 m and over |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | EUR 9,000 to 12,000 | EUR 15,000+ |
| First Officer | EUR 4,500 to 6,000 | EUR 7,000+ |
| Chief Engineer | EUR 7,000 to 9,500 | EUR 8,500+ |
| Chef | EUR 5,500 to 6,500 | EUR 8,000+ |
| Bosun / 2nd Mate | EUR 3,200 to 4,000 | EUR 5,000+ |
| Chief Stew / Purser | EUR 2,800 to 4,000 | EUR 3,000+ |
| Deckhand | EUR 2,800 to 3,500 | EUR 3,000+ |
| Stew | EUR 2,200 to 2,500 | EUR 2,200 to 2,500 |
UKSA salary guide 2025, in EUR. The guide does not state the pay period and is not specific to Australia or Cairns.
Sources. Checked 7 November 2026.
- Cairns Local News: It's absolutely super, 2024
- Ports North: Cairns Marlin Marina
- Dockwalk SuperPorts: Cairns Marlin Marina
- PredictWind: The Reef Marina, Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina
- Yachting Pages: The Reef Marina
- Superyachts.com: Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina
- Australian Defence: Largest slipway in northern Australia, 2020
- Baird Maritime: Cairns shipyard expansion, 2020
- Norship: Our facilities
- GBRMPA: Superyachts
- Department of Infrastructure: Coastal trading
- Bureau of Meteorology: Cairns Aero climate statistics
- Bureau of Meteorology: Tropical cyclones in Australia
- Crew Pacific
- Yachting Pages: Crew training in Cairns
- Yachting Pages: New superyacht infrastructure gives Cairns the edge
- Cairns Airport
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