The Great Barrier Reef Masters Games In Cairns
Join in one of Cairns’ biggest events of the year: the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games! This multiday sports event draws in athletes from all over Australia, Oceania, and Southeast Asia for friendly competitions and fantastic local events. You can register your place now to attend the games as a competitor or a spectator.
Outside of the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games, guests can enjoy all that Cairns has to offer during their stay. From Great Barrier Reef and island tours to excursions in the lush rainforests, there is so much to do in this corner of Tropical North Queensland.
Here is your guide to the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games, including travel tips for Cairns!
About the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games In Cairns
The Great Barrier Reef Masters Games are a biannual sporting event held in Cairns, Queensland. This incredible 4-day event includes competitions in over 20 sports and several social events that bring the community together.
First held in 2013, the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games are a huge success for athletes and the city of Cairns every year. Thousands of people flock to the tropical city to compete in their favourite sports or to watch the festivities. Whether you’re a competitor or a spectator, the games are well worth attending!
Where and when are the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games?
This year, the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games will be held from the 29th May to the 1st June 2025.
Locations for the sporting events and social gatherings vary, but all will be conveniently held in downtown Cairns. The Games Hub is the centre of it all, which will be at the Western Event Lawn by the Cairns Esplanade, directly in front of the Reef Eye Ferris Wheel.
This is the spot where athletes, spectators, and sponsors can check in, chat with the volunteers, and meet others who are attending the event. If you’re ever lost during the games, head here to get all the information you need!
Great Barrier Reef Masters Games Hub Hours:
- Tuesday 27th May 12pm - 6pm
- Wednesday 28th May 8:30am - 6pm
- Thursday 29th May 8:30am - 8pm
- Friday 30th May 8:30am - 6pm
- Saturday 31st May 8:30am - 4pm
- Sunday 1st June 8:30am - 4pm
Sports at the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games
The games will include a variety of individual and team sports. Athletes can register to compete up until the 29th May 2025!
The 2025 Great Barrier Reef Masters Games will include the following sports:
- AFL
- Archery
- Athletics
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Beach volleyball
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Futsal
- Golf
- Hockey
- Indoor rowing
- Netball
- Pickleball
- Rugby League
- Shooting (single action & IPSC)
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Swimming (open water)
- Tennis
- Trail run & walk
- Wakeboarding
About the 2025 Games Ambassador
The ambassador for the 2025 Great Barrier Reef Masters Games will be Ashleigh Brazill, an accomplished Australian Netball and AFL player. Her inspiring career showcases dedication, versatility, talent, and passion, all of which make her the perfect fit for the games.
Throughout the games, Ash will be hosting netball clinics and attending events, where she can share her expertise and knowledge with the community. She will also officiate the opening ceremony!
Read more about Ash on the games official website.
2025 Great Barrier Reef Masters Events
In addition to the thrilling sports matches, the Great Barrier Reef Masters will host several social events to keep the vibes high throughout the weekend. Events are for any registered athletes, spectators, or sponsors to attend. So make sure you book your place in advance. Here is what’s in store!
Thursday 29th May 2025 - Opening Ceremony
- Time: 6pm - 7pm
- Location: Cairns Esplanade
Kick off the games with an inspirational opening ceremony and party on the Cairns Esplanade! The ceremony begins with a march of all the athletes, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the Games Cauldron which will stay alight until the end of the 4-day event.
Thursday 29th May 2025 - Opening “Welcome to the Jungle” Party
- Time: 7pm - 10pm
- Location: Cairns Esplanade
The excitement continues with the “Welcome to the Jungle” opening party. With live entertainment, games and prizes, and the charming glow of a Cairns sunset, guests can mingle, dance, and let loose before the competitions begin. It’s also a costume party, so don your best jungle outfits and embrace the wild energy!
Friday 30th May 2025 - Disco Fever Party
- Time: 7pm - 10pm
- Location: Cairns Esplanade
Unwind after the first day of competitions with a disco-themed celebration! Come dressed in your best glitzy disco-era costumes, as there will be prizes for the best dressed. The evening will also include live music and fun activities, plus plenty of time for mingling and dancing.
Saturday 31st May 2025 - Angels and Demons Party
- Time: 7pm - 10pm
- Location: Cairns Esplanade
For the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games final celebration, express your inner lightness and darkness with an Angels and Demons party. There is another best-dressed contest, so dress up as an angel, devil, or a combination of the two. With special surprises and more live music, this is the perfect way to wrap up an incredible weekend in Cairns.
Why Are The Great Barrier Reef Masters Games In Cairns?
Cairns is the perfect outdoor playground for sports enthusiasts in Australia, making it an ideal location for the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games. Combining a wealth of amenities and attractions with a laid-back vibe and a spacious Esplanade, Cairns nicely sets the scene for a weekend full of sports matches, events, and an influx of visitors.
Experience the best of Cairns with these activities!
Things To Do In Cairns
Cairns is known as the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest! Just outside the city, there are mutiple World Heritage Sites bursting with natural beauty and opportunities for adventure.
The tropical climate of Cairns also provides the perfect weather conditions for outdoor sports games and excursions. May and June in particular have stunning, warm, and sunny weather.
So when you have free time outside of the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games, you can book a variety of tours to the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding rainforests. You can also hire a car and explore on your own, or just hang out in the city and explore the local attractions.
Planning Your Trip To Cairns
When planning your stay in Cairns, try to book things in advance! The month of May in Cairns is especially busy, with several local holidays and events also happening around the same time as the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games. Just be sure to book your accommodations, tours, and car rentals in Cairns in advance to avoid missing out!
