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.

Bed and breakfast accommodation is also relatively expensive.

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.
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. 

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.

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.
 

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 of Woree 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 of Woree 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.

Plan Your Trip... the FREE Cape York Travel Pocket Guide

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.

Plan and Bring to the Trip... the full Destination Cape York Travel Guide

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' tips on how to spot that croc and palm cockatoo ;-)

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