Cairns, Queensland
Cairns Hotels and Accommodation.

Map of the Great Barrier Reef

Occupying a prime location that offers access to Far North Queensland and the fabled Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a popular tourist hub. Added bonuses for visitors are abundant wildlife reserves, unspoilt beaches, and great dining and nightlife venues. Accommodation options in greater Cairns include hotels and self-catering apartments as well as campervan and camping sites in the leafy suburbs.

There is a good selection of Cairns Hotels for visitors to choose from. The varied five star establishments include the landmark Pullman Reef Hotel and Casino. This is located on the Esplanade and the downtown precinct is just behind it. There are numerous other hotels on the seafront as well as in the streets leading back from it. They range from basic backpacker to chic establishments that suit the rich and famous.

The Captain Cook Highway runs north and parallel to the coast from downtown. This road accesses the Northern Beaches. These 10 beaches include Machans. Kewarra and Ellis. There are a few additional hotels in Cairns that are dotted around these peaceful beachside suburbs. The Cairns Tropical Zoo at Palm Cove and Kuranda Koala Gardens are both in this locality.

Boat trips out to the Great Barrier Reef leave from the Trinity Inlet Port at the east end of the Cairns Esplanade. The delights of snorkelling or scuba-diving at one of the wonders of the world cannot be understated. Glass-bottomed boat tours are an alternative for those not brave or fit enough to venture into the water.

Riding the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway from the Cairns suburb of Smithfield to Kuranda provides panoramic vistas over Barron Gorge National Park. Another iconic destination in this part of Queensland is the Daintree Rainforest. Vast expanses of forest, golden beaches, coral reefs, and eclectic flora and fauna await intrepid travellers.

See a full list of over 250 Hotels in Cairns where you can check availability and compare pricing.

There are now several luxury 5 star hotels in Cairns that cater to the whims of travellers who like stylish lodgings with top-notch amenities. The Pullman Reef Hotel and Casino and the Hilton Cairns are both located at the south end of the Esplanade and are just a few minutes’ walk from Trinity Inlet Port, the departure point for Great Barrier Reef sightseeing and diving trips.

Luxury 5 Star Cairns Hotels

Cairns accommodation: Hilton Cairns Hilton Cairns
Rated 5 stars

From $143

Cairns Wildlife Dome sits on top of the Reef Hotel and is an interactive rainforest attraction with tropical birds flying around. The Pullman Cairns International is on a street just at the back of the Esplanade. The location of these hotels is close to the CBD and the city’s convention centre. There are abundant outlets for shopping and dining as well as nightlife venues such as the Woolshed and Paddywhacks in the vicinity.

The Shangri-La Cairns is one of the other luxury 5 star hotels in Cairns. As with the other premium hotels, the Shangri-La has guest amenities including a shopping arcade and award-winning restaurants and bars. Although this establishment is two blocks from the seafront its balconies do offer seaviews.

Additional 5 star accommodation is located at the Northern Beaches, but these tend to be self-catering apartments. Many city visitors find themselves heading up to beaches such as Clifton and Machans in this peaceful part of town. The Captain Cook Highway links the beaches to downtown and is also the route north to Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest.

Cairns is the ideal base for exploring northern Queensland. Diving and sightseeing cruises for the Great Barrier Reef depart from the city’s Marlin Marina. On land, major excursion destinations include Daintree Rainforest and Chillagoe Mungana Caves National Park. Cairns offers travellers a varied collection of accommodation with luxury hotels, bungalow resorts and budget hostels among them.

4 Star Cairns Hotels

People who like comfort, elegance and good amenities will discover 4 star hotels in Cairns are the optimal choice. The Pacific Hotel Cairns is a great choice offering a prime location at the end of the seafront Esplanade near the marina. Stylish accommodation and facilities such as a swimming pool and laundromat have made this a popular choice.

The Convention Centre, the business district, pubs, and the Esplanade dining and retail strip are all in this locality. Other nearby 4 star establishments include a Hilton and the Hotel Cairns. The latter provides guests with suites and rooms done out in marble and terracotta which offer a taste of heritage Queensland.

The Northern Beaches stretch up the coast from downtown and there are a few more 4 star hotels in Cairns at beaches such as Holloways and Clifton. This part of town is family-friendly, yet guests can easily get into the city on the Captain Cook Highway. The highway also travels up to Daintree where myriad draws include pristine beaches and jungle surfing through the treetops.

A good proportion of Cairns’ tourist sites are in the environs of the Northern Beaches. These include Tjapukai Aboriginal and Cultural Park, Kuranda Koala Gardens and the Tropical Zoo. The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes visitors on an eight-kilometre voyage of delight over Barron Gorge. This trip can be combined with riding the Kuranda Scenic Railway as Kuranda is an interchange station for the two services.

Visitors looking to conserve their funds for their particular interest or activity can check-in at budget hotels in Cairns. Even though this class of establishment is economically priced it often occupies a prime location and has good guest facilities. Lake Street and Sheridan Street run parallel to the seafront Esplanade and have quite a few cheap hotels and backpacker hostels on them.

Budget Cairns Hotels

Cairns accommodation: Adobe Motel Adobe Motel
Rated 3 stars

From $56

Cairns accommodation: Reef Palms Reef Palms
Rated 3 stars

From $73

Cairns accommodation: Motel Nomad Motel Nomad
Rated 3 stars

From $75

Cairns is the biggest city in northern Queensland and is the obvious choice to use as a start point when travelling to the abundant tourist destinations in the state. The city stretches for almost 50kms down the east coast of Queensland. A large proportion of the city’s hotels and hostels are in and around the city centre, but there are camp grounds and self-catering apartment complexes around the Northern Beaches.

The award-winning Cairns Plaza Hotel is one such option and is only minutes from the Esplanade and its shopping and café strip. Downtown Cairns is the place to be for people who like to be at the heart of the action. Marlin Marina, the Convention Centre, Gilligan’s Nightclub, a casino and a historical museum are just a few of the attractions here.

The Northern Beaches are another good place to find budget hotels in Cairns. There are establishments at beaches including Yorkeys Knob and Trinity. Staying in this locality is great for families. Nearby Smithfield is home to Tjapukai Aborigine Cultural Park and Caravonica Skyrail Cableway Station. The Skyrail takes visitors on an odyssey above virgin rainforest and the spectacular Barron Gorge.

Animal preserves themed on koalas and tropical species are also in the Northern Beaches. Captain Cook Highway travels from central Cairns past the beaches and on to the southern borders of the Daintree Rainforest. Most Great Barrier Reef diving, snorkelling and sightseeing excursions leave from Marlin Marina.

More Cairns Accommodation

A1 Motel
211 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 4499

Acacia Court Motel
230a Lake St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 5011

Adobe Motel
191 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 5511

All Round Motel Inn The Pink
263-269 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 4800

Angsana Resort & Spa Great Barrier Reef
1 Veivers Rd Palm Cove Cairns Queensland 4879
Telephone: (07) 4055 3000

Bay Village Tropical Retreat
Cnr Gatton & Lake Sts Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 4622

Beltana Motel
380 Mulgrave Rd Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4054 3777

Bungalow Motel
200 Aumuller St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 3277

Cairns Angler Motel
287 Lake St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4031 1666

Cairns Holiday Lodge
Cnr Thomas & Sheridan Sts Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 4611

Cairns International Hotel
17 Abbott St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4031 1300

Cairns Motor Inn
187 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 5166

Cairns Tropical Garden Motel
312 Mulgrave Rd Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4031 1777

Cape York
Cnr Spence & Bunda Sts Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 2008

Captain Cook Endeavour Inns
204 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 6811

Club Crocodile Lake St
183 Lake St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 4988

Compass Motel
232 Mulgrave Rd Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 5466

Coolabah Motel
564 Mulgrave Rd Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4054 2711

Crown Hotel
35 Shields St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 1806

Fairways Motor Inn
702 Bruce Hwy Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4054 4444

Flying Horseshoe Motel and Holiday Apartments
28/289 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 3022

Four Seasons Cairns
The Esplanade Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4031 2211

Glenlee Motel
560 Bruce Hwy Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4054 1009

Great Northern
69 Abbott St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 5966

Hides Hotel
City Square Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 1266

High Chaparral Motel
195 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 7155

Hilton International Cairns
Wharf St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4052 1599

Hospitality Inn Cairns
137 Lake St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 4933

Il Palazzo Boutique Hotel
62 Abbott St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4041 2155

Leo’s Budget Accommodation
100 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 1264

Lyons Motor Inn
Cnr The Esplanade & Aplin St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 2311

Newmarket Motel
Pease St Manoora Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4053 4811

Pacific International
The Esplanade P.O. Box 2325 Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 7888

Paradise Village Resort
119-121 Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove Cairns Queensland 4879
Telephone: (07) 4055 3300

Poinsettia Motel
169 Lake St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 2144

Quality Harbourside Motel
209 The Esplanade Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 8999

Radisson Plaza Hotel
Pierpoint Rd Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4031 1411

Rainbow Motor Inn
179 Sheridan St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 1022

Reef Palms Motel
41 Digger St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 2599

Royal Harbour Condominium Hotel
73-75 The Esplanade Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4080 8888

Royal Palm Villas
184 McLeod St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4052 1444

Rydges Plaza Cairns
Cnr Grafton & Spence Sts Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4041 1022

The Leichhardt Motel Cairns
468 Mulgrave Rd Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4054 5499

The Reef Hotel Casino
35 Wharf St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4030 8888

Tradewinds Esplanade
137 The Esplanade Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4053 0300

Tradewinds Outrigger Motel
Cnr Abbott & Florence Sts Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 6188

Tradewinds Sunlodge
Cnr Lake & Florence Sts Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 5733

Tree Tops Motel
7 Tanner Cres. Stratford Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4055 1048

Tuna Towers Motel
145 The Esplanade Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4051 4688

Village Resort Motel
Cnr Bruce Hwy & Anderson St Cairns Queensland 4870
Telephone: (07) 4054 7700

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