Your local guide to accommodation in Cairns.
Cairns
has a thriving and popular backpacker culture, with many restaurants,
cafes and nightclubs supporting almost exclusively backpacker clientele.
For those on a budget, backpacker hostels in Cairns are a popular option
for cheap Cairns accommodation.
Mutual back scratching abounds, hostels support the backpackers who support them! Many have meal deals to go with the accommodation, as well as a wide network of backpacker supporting businesses which give discounts for various things around the city.
To go backpacking in Cairns is to PARTY! Backpacker hostels in
Cairns have fun daily specials, and give out lengthy lists of discount
vouchers to tours, restaurants and souvenirs. Some of the funky things
you can expect to find in Cairns hostels include; white water rafting
practice in the pool, strip naked for an adventure tour, boob painting
with your native flag for a bar tab, sumo suit wrestling and many more
crazy party antics!
Many fellow backpackers in Cairns can be found catching some rays around the lagoon on the Cairns Esplanade. It is permissable to sunbake topless on the Cairns Esplanade (within a designated area) and backpacker girls and guys alike flock to the area.
If you are planning to go backpacking in Cairns, enquire at your hostel's tour desk for special deals on Great Barrier Reef tours and diving trips, as many will have access to discounts unavailable to the general tourist public.
The best backpacker focussed learn to dive course we've found is Fitzroy Island Dive. Their courses are land-based, which means you don't bob around on the boat and get seasick, and you stay on Fitzroy Island, which is the ULTIMATE backpacker party island. The dive courses are exceptional value, and well worth checking out if you're interested in learning to dive.
Bel Air By The Sea - 155 Esplanade, Cairns
Ideal spot on the waterfront, Bel Air is both a backpackers hostel and
a backpackers resort. Air-conditioned and ceiling fan dorms available
with single, double and twin rooms. Fun atmosphere and good facilities;
pool, spa, kitchens and pool tables with a cafe and tour desk.
Bohemia Resort - 231 McLeod St, North Cairns
A new and purpose built property, this backpackers resort on the north
side of the city offers premium quality accommodation for those on a budget.
Boasting no bunk beds and spacious air conditioned rooms with private
balconies and daily cleaning, this budget resort certainly has a lot to
offer. Nightly movies on the BIG screen.
Dreamtime Travellers Rest - 4 Terminus St, Cairns
A small and intimate backpacker hostel, Dreamtime makes no excuses for
its cosy atmosphere, and remains one of Cairns' cleanest backpacker hostels.
Friendly staff maintain comfortable and essential facilities, the pool
and spa! Most of the social action happens here.
PK's Jungle Village - Cape Tribulation Rd, Cape Tribulation
At the legendary Cape Tribulation, just north of the Daintree, this party
accommodation is a must stay for anyone travelling through the area. Offers
cabin and dorm accommodation all with air conditioning. The jungle theme
carries throughout, with a jungle bar and jungle pool. (Where the Jane's
find their Tarzan!)
Serpent Hostel - 341 Lake St, North Cairns
A new backpackers hostel on the north side of Cairns, a street back from
the Esplanade and secluded enough to make a little noise. With air-conditioned
rooms and a huge pool, Serpent Hostel is a funky place to stay. Cheap
internet cafe and plenty of nightly action aronud the pool.
Tropic Days Backpackers - 26 Bunting St, Cairns
Two filly restored Queenslanders (old style accommodation in Queensland
- usually a house with wide verandahs ideal for tropical living) which
make for a clean and special family operated backpackers accommodation.
The owners are well travelled, and look after their backpackers well.
Unlike many other backpacker hostels in Cairns, all rooms here are air
conditioned, with a variety of accommodation options: twin, double, three
and four bedroom dorms.
Utopia Backpackers - 702 Bruce Hwy, South Cairns
All rooms at Utopia Backpackers Resort are air conditioned, have an ensuite
(private bathroom) and fridges. This resort shows you can have a touch
of luxury while you're on a budget, and maintains a fun and funky internal
social scene. Much of the action happens about the pool, cafe and bar.
A backpackers delight!
Cairns
has a major party website, CANZ.com.au
which captures pictures from clubs around Cairns, and posts them on the
website. Many backpackers send these pictures back home to show the family
they're having a great time. The CANZ photographers frequent regular backpacker
haunts such as The Woolshed, Inbox Cafe, and The Ultimate Party.
Is a Cairns Backpackers Hostel not really the accommodation style suited to your next Cairns vacation? Browse our extensive selection of accommodation in Cairns under the general categories below to see if you can find something suitable:
Can't find what you're after? Drop us an email, and we'll hand pick something just for you.