Bad Fishy Sunset Cruise Cairns: 90 Minutes on Trinity Inlet
Quick answer
The Bad Fishy sunset cruise costs $53 per adult for 90 minutes on Trinity Inlet from Berth A1, Cairns Marlin Marina, rated 4.6/5 from 245 GetYourGuide reviews.
It includes one beer, wine or soft drink and a light snack on a boat of about 10 passengers; transport to the marina is not included.
Bad Fishy Jet Boating in Cairns
90-minute Sunset Inlet River Cruise
4.6 (245) · from $53
The Bad Fishy sunset cruise is a 90-minute evening trip on Trinity Inlet, the tidal waterway that runs behind the Cairns waterfront. It departs from Cairns Marlin Marina on Google Maps, Berth A1, and costs $53 per person at the time of writing.
The detail that changes the decision is the weather risk: two of the four review excerpts mention cloud that hid the sunset. You still get the skipper, the drink and the inlet, but not always the colour. I'd book it for a dry-season evening; the climate table below shows which months those are.
For a wider choice, see all boat tours in Cairns or go back to the Harbour Advisor home page.
| Operator | Bad Fishy Jet Boating in Cairns |
|---|---|
| Boat and group size | Small boat; one reviewer counted about 10 passengers. The listing gives no official capacity. |
| Price | $53 per adult (listing shows a crossed-out $59). About A$76 at 1.437 AUD per USD. |
| Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Departure times | Not stated; the listing shows start times only after you pick a date |
| Start point | Berth A1, Cairns Marlin Marina |
| Route | Trinity Inlet, out and back from the marina |
| Food and drink | One beer, wine or soft drink and a light snack; extra drinks can be bought on board |
| Language | English, live skipper commentary |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before; reserve now and pay later |
| Rating | 4.6/5 from 245 reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is the Bad Fishy sunset cruise and what do you see on Trinity Inlet?
It is a calm-water cruise on a small boat with a skipper who talks about the inlet, the port and the wildlife as the light drops. Trinity Inlet is lined with mangroves, with the Cairns skyline and the mountains behind it.
- Skyline and marina lights as the evening light fades from the water
- Mangrove edges, where wildlife settles for the evening, according to the listing
- Commentary from the skipper; reviewers rate the guide 4.8/5 on the listing's review summary
- A drink and a light snack, handed out on board
The listing does not publish a stop-by-stop route, so I won't invent one. It reads as an out-and-back loop on the inlet. If a specific landmark matters to you, ask Bad Fishy through GetYourGuide after booking.
Where does the Bad Fishy sunset cruise leave from?
It leaves from Berth A1 at Cairns Marlin Marina, on the waterfront next to the Pier Shopping Centre. The listing lists hotel pickup in the includes list, but its own bracket says you must make your own way to the marina, so treat transport as not included.
| From | Walk |
|---|---|
| The Pier Shopping Centre | 3 min (239 m) · walking route |
| Cairns Esplanade Lagoon | 6 min (457 m) · walking route |
| Cairns Central railway station | 8 min (624 m) · walking route |
| Cairns Aquarium | 14 min (1,027 m) · walking route |
Every stop in the table is within a 14-minute walk, so a taxi is rarely needed. The return trip after dark follows the same streets, so allow a few extra minutes if you linger over the drink.
How long is the cruise and when does it sail?
The cruise takes 1.5 hours, and the listing says to check availability for the start time on your date. The timetable is not published as a fixed list, so the sunset table below is the most useful guide to planning your evening.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5:54 am | 6:58 pm |
| Feb | 6:10 am | 6:51 pm |
| Mar | 6:18 am | 6:33 pm |
| Apr | 6:24 am | 6:09 pm |
| May | 6:32 am | 5:54 pm |
| Jun | 6:42 am | 5:52 pm |
| Jul | 6:45 am | 6:00 pm |
| Aug | 6:34 am | 6:08 pm |
| Sep | 6:11 am | 6:13 pm |
| Oct | 5:47 am | 6:17 pm |
| Nov | 5:33 am | 6:29 pm |
| Dec | 5:36 am | 6:46 pm |
Here is the arithmetic. If a 90-minute trip starts 45 minutes before sunset, the sun sets halfway through. In October that means a start near 5:30 pm; in June, when sunset is 5:52 pm, it means roughly 5:05 pm. When you pick a date on the booking page, compare the offered start time with this table.
What is on board and what is included?
The fare covers the boat, the captain, one complimentary beer, wine or soft drink, and one light snack. Reviewers describe the snack as a pre-packed cheese and crackers portion, and one mentions that beverages can be bought after the free one.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Boat trip and captain | Included |
| One drink (beer, wine or soft drink) | Included |
| Light snack | Included, small portion according to reviewers |
| Extra drinks | Paid on board, per a reviewer; payment method not stated |
| Hotel pickup or drop-off | Not included, despite appearing in the includes list |
| Dinner | Not included |
The listing recommends a camera and a jacket. The jacket is sensible, because the listing for the daytime cruise warns that it can get cooler on the water. Toilets, shade and seating are not described, so ask the operator if any of them matters to you.
How does the Bad Fishy sunset cruise compare with other Cairns evening trips?
At $53 for 90 minutes, it is the cheapest evening river option on this site by trip price, though not by hour. The table compares it with its closest rivals in the same city.
| Trip | Price | Length | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Fishy sunset cruise (this page) | $53 | 1.5 h | 4.6 (245) |
| Mandingalbay sunset cruise with canapes | $69 | 2 h | no rating yet |
| Spirit of Cairns dinner cruise | $100 | 2.5 h | 4.5 (432) |
| Inlet cruise plus sunset cruise, two tours | $96 | 3 h | no rating yet |
Choose the dinner cruise if you want a meal; this one is a drink and a snack. If you want a longer, culture-led evening, the Mandingalbay trip costs $16 more. The full set of options sits on the sunset cruise Cairns page.
Is the Cairns sunset river cruise worth it versus the daytime inlet cruise?
Yes if you want the drink and the light, no if wildlife spotting is your priority. The same operator sells a 75-minute daytime inlet cruise for $44, which is $9 cheaper and 15 minutes shorter.
| Factor | Sunset, 90 min | Daytime, 75 min |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $53 | $44 |
| Price per hour | $35.3 | $35.2 |
| Included | Beer, wine or soft drink plus snack | Drink plus light savoury snack |
| Rating | 4.6 (245) | 4.6 (70) |
| Wildlife light | Dim after sunset | Full daylight |
The hourly price is almost identical, so you pay for the time of day, not extra content. I'd pick the sunset trip for couples and pre-dinner drinks, and the daytime trip for anyone who wants to see crocodiles or birds clearly.
When is the best time to go?
June to October is the best window, because Cairns averages 7 to 11 rain days a month then, against 17 to 23 from December to March. Wind matters too: April to September has 10 to 15 days a month with 25 km/h or stronger wind.
| Month | Avg daily high (°C) | Rain days (1 mm+) | Days with 25 km/h+ wind | Sea surface (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29.9 | 23 | 5 | 30.0 |
| Feb | 30.3 | 20 | 5 | 30.0 |
| Mar | 29.3 | 21 | 7 | 29.1 |
| Apr | 28.0 | 18 | 14 | 28.2 |
| May | 26.0 | 14 | 15 | 26.0 |
| Jun | 24.6 | 11 | 11 | 24.4 |
| Jul | 24.1 | 10 | 10 | 23.8 |
| Aug | 24.5 | 7 | 10 | 23.7 |
| Sep | 25.9 | 10 | 12 | 24.8 |
| Oct | 27.8 | 9 | 5 | 26.6 |
| Nov | 29.1 | 12 | 5 | 28.5 |
| Dec | 29.6 | 17 | 6 | 29.3 |
The wet-season months raise the odds of a cloudy sky, which is the exact complaint in the reviews. October is a good compromise, with 9 rain days, 5 windy days and a sea surface near 26.6°C. The listing does not say how wind affects sailings.
20,000-30,000 estuarine crocodiles live in Queensland, counting non-hatchling animals, according to the state's management plan.
Trinity Inlet is crocodile habitat. You are on a boat, which is the safe place to be, and the Queensland Government's boating advice says to keep arms and legs inside the boat. Follow the skipper's instructions on that.
What do passengers say?
The pattern across the listing's reviews is relaxed, informative and small. The AI summary on the listing counts 39 verified reviews from the past year, and the review summary scores the guide 4.8, transport 4.7 and value 4.5 out of 5.
- Knowledgeable, friendly skippers appear in most excerpts
- Small groups; one reviewer counted about 10 on board
- Snack is minimal, noted by the summary and one reviewer
- Cloud hid the sunset on two of the four excerpts; the weather is outside the operator's control
The sample leans positive, with 5-star ratings in every excerpt, so read the 4.6 average as a floor for the skipper and a risk for the sky.
Who should skip the Bad Fishy sunset cruise?
Skip it if you want a full dinner, a big stable vessel or guaranteed sunset colour. The boat is small, the food is a snack, and the trip is weather-dependent.
- Dinner seekers - take the dinner cruise options instead.
- Wildlife photographers - the daytime cruise has better light.
- Anyone needing step-free access - the listing does not say, so ask the operator before booking.
- Families with young children - the listing states no child age rule; ask what applies.
If you are comparing every option, the river cruise Cairns page lines them up.
How do you book the Bad Fishy sunset cruise?
The Bad Fishy sunset cruise costs $53 per person for 90 minutes with a drink, a snack and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best boat rides in Cairns?
For a short, cheap evening ride, this $53 trip is one of the best; for the reef you need a full-day boat. The hub page ranks every option by price, length and rating.
What month are crocodiles most active?
The Queensland Government says crocodiles are more active at night and in breeding season, September to April. A sunset cruise falls inside that window for most of the year, so keep limbs inside the boat.
Are there crocs in Trinity Inlet?
Yes, saltwater crocodiles live in Queensland's estuaries, and the same operator's daytime listing mentions them in the inlet. No count for the inlet is published here, so I won't give one.
Does the sunset cruise include drinks?
Yes, one beer, wine or soft drink is included. A reviewer says more beverages could be bought on board; ask the crew how they take payment.
Where does the cruise start?
At Berth A1, Cairns Marlin Marina. It is a 3-minute walk from the Pier Shopping Centre and about 8 minutes from Cairns Central railway station.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. The includes list mentions it, but its note says you must make your own way to the marina, so I treat it as not included.
What if the sunset is cloudy?
The cruise still runs, as far as the listing says. Two reviewers of four reported cloud, and I found no weather refund rule, so ask the operator before relying on one.
What should I bring?
The listing recommends a camera and a jacket. Add insect repellent if you are sensitive to mosquitoes near the mangroves, which is my own suggestion rather than the operator's.
Can I cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.
How long does the evening trip last?
It lasts 1.5 hours. The listing shows exact start times once you choose a date.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing 422132 (checked 2026-10-17); Queensland Crocodile Management Plan 2025; Queensland Government, Boating in crocodile habitat areas; Open-Meteo archive and marine APIs; sunrise-sunset.org API; Frankfurter (ECB) exchange rates; OpenStreetMap OSRM walking routes.
