So
where would you find cheap accommodation in Cairns?
Being
a city popular with tourists and travellers, there is a
fair range of accommodation in Cairns.
And the budget places don't need to be crappy - Australian backpackers
establishments are often top quality, clean and friendly places to stay
that
don't cost you an arm and a leg.
Another way to budget it is to camp,
and that's for sure what
you're looking at if you are on a trip up to the Cape.
There is plenty of
camping in
the many caravan parks
in Cairns.
But let's have a look at the not so cheap, and the cheap accommodation
in Cairns.
Obviously, the luxury
apartments
along the waterfront and some central streets are not cheap.
They may work out cheaper if you are two couples and get
a two bedroom apartment, but you still never get them for prices that
you pay for budget accommodation.
Large central hotels
such as Holiday Inn, Rydges and similar are also expensive.
All of the
above will definitely cost you more than $100 a night, easily a few
hundreds.
You will usually pay between $100 and
$150, but as you know and like the name says, the breakfast is included.
Motels
are
cheaper, at about $70 - $100 a night. Still not really cheap
accommodation.
Some resorts
can
be cheap at about $50 a night, but by far the most are more expensive.
The real cheap
accommodation in Cairns
is backpackers hostels and caravan parks.
In the caravan
parks,
that means camping. You can get a tent site for $20ish per night.
If you choose to stay in cabins in the caravan parks,
it will cost you closer to $100.
Powered sites, mainly meant for caravans,
cost
about $30-40 per night.
Backpacker
hostels
are great if you are young, on a tight budget and want to find cheap
accommodation in Cairns. They are not only cheap but
a lot of them are also nice places to stay.
You don't have to muck around with a tent,
still in dormitories you can get a bed for $20.
Single rooms are
$30ish, double rooms $50ish.
The good thing is there is a common
kitchen so you can cook your own meals; there is internet, and
often a bar and an entertainment area.
It is a competitive market - which
only adds to the quality - staff are often helpful and knowledgeable,
and most put in a good effort to make your stay as good as possible.
Hostels
in Cairns
There are
many cheap backpackers hostels in Cairns.
Australian
backpacker hostels
are most often of excellent quality and the ones is Cairns
are no different.
They are mainly found in two areas - along the Esplanade;
and just
south of
Cairns Central Shopping Centre.
Both are in walking
distance to
anything you want to do in the city centre.
The ones on the Esplanade
are obviously closer, while the southern ones can be quieter.
The Esplanade Hostels
Below are a few, the full list is in the Destination
Guide with prices, addresses, contact numbers and full
detail.
Cairns
Waterfront Backpackers
This hostel has an excellent location right in the middle of the
happenings on the Esplanade. It has shared accommodation and has
a
pool, an outdoor terrace and a tour desk. It has also got free airport
pickup and gives its guests a nightly free dinner voucher.
Bellview
Backpackers
Also
on the Esplanade, this hostel has dorm, twin, double and single rooms
and also rooms in motel style. There is also a communal kitchen, free
use of a safe, laundry facilities, a TV room and a large swimming pool,
and security staff on duty during the night time.
Global
Backpackers
Another
beauty on the Esplanade (there is also a central one on Shields St),
this hostel has dormitory, single, double and twin rooms, some with
private balconies, all with shared facilities like a common kitchen,
safe, laundry, luggage storage, 24hr check-in and WIFI.
Southern Hostels
Cairns
City Backpackers
This backpackers hostel is located in a popular area for backpacker
hostels, a block south of Cairns Central Shopping Centre.
There are twenty single, double and twin
rooms - all air conditioned. There are also safes and a kitchen. On the
permises is also a BBQ area.
Central
Hostels
Gilligans
Backpackers Hotel
More like a backpacker city, this is the largest and probably the best
of all
backpacker hostels in Cairns. It may look all concrete from the front,
but there are nice clean rooms with balconies, private bathrooms and
a/c. In the back there is a lagoon pool with sandy beach and three bars
with nightly entertainment. BBQs, shopping and markets.
Northern Hostels
Njoy
Backpacker Resort
This travellers resort is in the busy Sheridan Street in North Cairns,
about 10 minutes from the city centre. There is a free shuttle bus and
free airport pickup and dropoff service. There is a lagoon style pool,
communal kitchen, laundry, off-street parking, free
storage, 24 hour internet, and weekend movies.
Cairns
Beach House
This backpackers place is in Sheridan Street in North Cairns, about 15
minutes from the city centre but it does have a free shuttle bus to the
city. It is newly renovated and has a variety of rooms such as
dorms, twin, double and family rooms. There's an in-house bar, a
swimming
pool and kitchen facilities.
Caravella
Backpackers
This backpackers place is also on the Esplanade but in the northern
end. It has renovated dorm, single, twin, double and ensuite rooms with
fridges, and there is also a large swimming pool, TV, free pool table,
luggage storage, laundry, security safe, free WIFI and internet
available.
Castaways
Backpackers
This
backpacker resort is on the busy Sheridan street, and has no bunk beds
even in the dormitories. Ensuite rooms with TVs and all rooms have
fridges. There is a fully equipped kitchen, a free entertainment and
BBQ area, a swimming pool, laundry, free WIFI, courtesy buses and a
lounge area with flat screen TV.
Caravan
Parks Cairns
There are
ten caravan parks in Cairns.
If you
are on
your way to Cape
York, you may be looking for one.
Three caravan parks are in the city
and
in the inner suburbs.
Three are in the north-western
suburbs Brinsmead, Caravonica, and Crystal Caves.
And four
are in the southern
suburbs
Earlville, White Rock and Edmonton.
Central Caravan Parks
Cairns
Holiday Park
This is the most central
of all caravan parks in Cairns. It is not in the city
centre but if you don't mind a little stroll, it is in a walkable
distance. Like most caravan parks, they have powered and unpowered
sites, a/c cabins, a kiosk, a camp kitchen and a swimming
pool.
Cairns
Villa and Leisure Park
This park is in the inner suburb Manunda,
not in the walking distance to
the city centre, but a short drive. On
10
acres of landscaped gardens, there are self contained cabins and
villas, swimming pools and BBQs, a volleyball court and an internet
cafe.
Sunland
Leisure Park
This
caravan and holiday park is in the inner suburb Manoora near Peace
St. It
has powered and unpowered camping sites as well as cabin and self
catered villa accommodation. All cabins and villas have kitchenettes
and air conditioning. There is a swimming pool and an internet cafe.
Northern Caravan Parks
Cool
Waters
Holiday Park
This park is away from the city centre, in a northwestern suburb called
Brinsmead.
There are cabins, tent and caravan sites that
are quiet and private. Cabins have TVs, fridges and microwaves. There
is a swimming pool, a tour desk; and it is one of the better caravan
parks in Cairns.
Lake
Placid Tourist Park
This park is even further away in the northwestern suburb Caravonica. It is
next to the beautiful Lake Placid that is a popular recreation area.
The park has camping sites, and accommodation in cabins, villas and
cottages. It is a nice park with a camp kitchen and good amenities.
Crystal
Cascades Holiday Park
This park is even further away - a fair way from the
north western suburb of Redlynch.
It has camping, caravan and ensuite sites as well as cabins, chalets,
villas and family villas. There is a swimming pool and the usual
amenities, and they also have caravan storage.
Southern Caravan Parks
First
City Caravilla
This caravan park and motel accommodation is in the southern suburb
of Earlville.
It is not in a walking distance to the city. It has powered and
unpowered camping sites as well as accommodation in standard, ensuite
and family ensuite cabins. They also have van storage.
Cairns
Coconut
Holiday Village
This park is even further south, between the outer suburbs ofWoree and White
Rock,
but it is a good and a popular
one. They have accommodation in condos, villas, cabins and units; and
they also have unpowered, powered and ensuite camping sites. It is a
family friendly place with great amenities.
White
Rock Leisure
Park
This 3.5 star leisure park is one of the southernmost caravan parks
Cairns, between
the suburbs ofWoree and White
Rock, not far from the Cairns
Coconut Resort. It has caravan sites as well as units,
cabins and villas. Rooms
are non-smoking and have
TVs and in-room safes.
Barrier
Reef Tourist Park
This park is the southernmost one of all caravan parks Cairns, in the
outer suburb of Edmonton.
It has caravan sites, ensuite sites, and accommodation in a few
different types of villas. There is a camp kitchen, a swimming pool, a
TV room, and also van storage.
Get
this 50 pages
guide totally for FREE.
It
contains information that helps you getting started with planning of your trip.
You get to make early-stages desicions such as when to go, how long time you
should take, how to get
there and get
around, where
to stay (general info), what
will it cost..
and a short insight to what is there to see and do in Cape York.
This complete 300 pages
travel guide is all you need before and during your trip. Besides the
background chapters on the peninsula's history and wildlife; and the comprehensive detail about all
the places (down to prices, opening hours and full contact
detail), it has invaluable information on at least 10 four wheel drive tracks,
at least 30 guaranteed FREE
camping spots on the Cape (and at least 150 on your way to
the Cape), at least 40 best
swimming holes, all mapped; as well as practical things -
from fuel, roads, wireless internet and mobile phone reception,
how to deal with the national
parks booking rules; and Aboriginal land entrance and camping permits
and alcohol restrictions - to vehicle preparation and accessories and necessary recovery
gear by my vehicle-recovery-guy partner).
Not to mention locals'
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This site uses British
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Disclaimer:
Although
best efforts have been made to ensure that all the information on this
website is correct, this site is not to be blamed should there be a
mistake.
This is the ORIGINAL Cape York Travel Guide run Locally on the Peninsula.