“Great food, great wine, and the Cairns waterfront on a warm evening — Salt House is where the city shows off.”
Cairns’ Premier Waterfront Food and Wine Celebration
The Salt House Food and Wine Festival is one of the highlights of the Cairns events calendar — an annual celebration of regional cuisine, Australian wines, and the extraordinary produce that North Queensland’s agricultural landscape delivers. Held at Salt House on Marina Point, on the Cairns waterfront, this is the kind of event that makes Cairns feel like one of the most enviable cities in the country.
The festival brings together some of Cairns’ finest chefs alongside producers from across the region and Queensland, creating an evening of exceptional food that showcases the best of what grows, runs, swims, and is harvested in this part of the world. Tropical fruits, reef fish, premium meats, locally roasted coffee, and the innovative tropical spirit of Cairns’ culinary scene all converge in a format that rewards genuine food lovers.
The wine selection is carefully curated to complement the food and the setting — Queensland wines alongside the best of Australian varietals, served by knowledgeable staff in the warm, convivial atmosphere that the Salt House consistently delivers.
The festival is held annually in August. Dates, times and ticketing change each year, so check the current details on the Salt House website before you plan around it. If your visit happens to line up with it, it is a genuinely enjoyable way to taste a great deal of the region in one place.
What To Expect
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When | Annually in August. Confirm the current date with the venue |
| Where | Salt House, Marina Point, Cairns waterfront |
| What is there | Winemakers, distillers, brewers and regional producers, alongside food stalls and live music |
| Booking | Ticketed. Check the Salt House website for the current arrangements |
Is This Event Right for You?
| Ideal for | Consider something else if |
|---|---|
| Visitors in Cairns in August who enjoy tasting widely across a region in one sitting | You are travelling at any other time of year, in which case the everyday Cairns food scene is the better plan |
| Anyone who wants to meet producers rather than just read about them | You are looking for a quiet, seated dinner. This is a busy festival format |
| Couples and groups of friends | You are travelling with young children |
An annual event should never be the reason a trip disappoints. If your dates do not line up, Cairns has plenty of everyday food experiences that are just as memorable, and the links below will point you to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Salt House Food and Wine Festival?
It is held annually in August at Salt House on Marina Point in Cairns. Dates change each year, so confirm the current date with the venue.
Where is the Salt House Food and Wine Festival held?
At Salt House on Marina Point, on the Cairns waterfront.
What happens at the festival?
Winemakers, distillers, brewers and regional producers set up alongside food stalls showcasing Far North Queensland produce, with live music through the event.
Do you need tickets for the Salt House Food and Wine Festival?
Yes, it is a ticketed event. Check the Salt House website for the current ticketing arrangements.
What if my visit does not line up with the festival?
Cairns has a strong everyday food scene, from Rustys Market on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to the waterfront restaurants and the Night Markets food court, which opens every evening.
Where To Go Next
Whether or not your dates line up, here is where to look next.
- Cairns Events — What else is on in the city while you are here.
- Waterfront Restaurants — The Marina Point and Esplanade dining precinct, any day of the year.
- Cairns Food and Drinks — The wider Cairns eating and drinking picture.
- Cairns Markets — Where the region sells the produce the festival celebrates.
- Cairns Cocktail Bars — If it is the drinks side that interests you most.
A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.
