Excavator Dry Hire
in Cairns
- Flexible Hire Options
- Reliable Local Delivery
- Safety-Focused Trailers
Mareeba Excavator Dry Hire
Need an excavator but prefer to do the work yourself? Mini Digger and Trailer Hire provides affordable and dependable dry hire options for customers across Cairns and surrounding areas. Perfect for tackling projects like removing tree roots, digging drains, preparing garden beds or boring postholes, our compact mini digger delivers the strength and control you need for any small to medium job.
Each hire includes buckets and a ripper, making it ready for use the moment it arrives. Designed for versatility, the machine is easy to operate on both residential and rural sites, offering efficiency without the added cost of a full wet hire.
- Daily Dry Hire – $275
- Two-day (weekend) Dry Hire – $450
- Weekly Dry Hire – $1300
With flexible hire terms and optional attachments available, you can dig, clear or level your site your way. Call
0480 532 871 to book today.
Get the Job Done Your Way
Dry hire is ideal if you want to save money and take control of the work yourself. Our mini digger makes light work of tough jobs like cactus and palm tree removal, drain digging, driveway preparation and even pet burial site clearing. It’s compact, easy to operate and designed to handle residential or rural projects with ease.
Add optional attachments to suit your project; choose from an auger, grab or stick rake, each available for just $50. With flexible daily, weekend or weekly hire, you can tackle property improvements on your own schedule without the stress of waiting for contractors.
- Optional attachments from $50
- Flexible hire terms
- Ideal for property and landscaping work
Whether you’re reshaping the garden or preparing a new area for use, contact us to book your excavator hire today.
Common Uses For Dry Hire
- Cactus & Palm Tree removal
- Pet Burial
- Drains
- Garden Clean-up
- Driveway Maintenance
- Posthole boring
- Trailer drop-off for green waste removal
- Garden mulch delivery
Do you need a licence to operate a mini digger?
In most cases across Australia, you don't need a special licence to operate a mini digger on private property—particularly for dry hire jobs like landscaping or minor excavation. However, that doesn't mean there's no responsibility involved. Users should always follow safety instructions, wear appropriate gear, and never operate the machine under the influence or around people or pets without proper care. If the work involves digging near utilities or public land, it may trigger other legal or safety obligations, such as Dial Before You Dig. It's always smart to check the guidelines for your local area before getting started.
Is it cheaper to do dry hire instead of wet hire?
Dry hire is generally the more budget-friendly option—especially for straightforward jobs that don’t need a pro on site. With dry hire, you're only paying for the machine, not for the time and expertise of an operator. For example, a typical mini digger dry hire might cost around $250 a day, compared to wet hire rates starting at $100 per hour. That said, dry hire only works if the person using the machine can operate it safely and get the job done efficiently. If not, mistakes can lead to extra time, damage or unfinished work that ends up costing more in the long run.
What can a mini digger do on a residential block?
A mini digger is a compact excavation machine designed to handle tight-access residential jobs that larger machinery can’t reach. Despite its size, it’s capable of a wide range of tasks around the home or yard. It can be used to dig trenches for plumbing or electrical lines, prepare foundations or footings for extensions, clear out overgrown garden beds, remove small stumps, level uneven ground, or help with landscaping and retaining wall prep. Mini diggers are also ideal for backyard drainage projects, pool excavation, and tight-access demolition jobs.
