juless

Does anyone have hotel recommendations for Cairns? We are travelling in September. We will only be there 3 nights, so we want to be as centrally located as possible. There are several island locations that sound interesting, but a bit remote for such a short stay. We want to take an all day reef excursion and then explore the train/tram on the following day. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

pat_woolford

juless, you don't have to be right in Cairns CBD for access to reef and Skyrail/train. For what its worth the new Sea Temple Resort at Palm Cove, a northern beach suburb of Cairns just took out a top gong for being the best new hotel in Australia, NZ and South Pacific. It has an absolute beachfront, not just esplanade front, like many who call themselves "beachfront". Reef trips pick up at northern beaches and Palm Cove is about the same distance to Skyrail as from Cairns city. However, there is more variety and choices of venues in Cairns city if you're after nightlife.

Tassietwister

Agree with Pat

If you want loads of shops, bars, restaurants as in centrally located then Cairns CBD or do you still want a tropical Island feeling? then you have to travel to the northern reaches of Cairns suburbs like Palm Cove.

cairns maybe 50 kilometres north to south (very skinny city ) I think anyways, Pat can correct. So either choose beach or city.

myaustralia

Hi
I agree with Pat that you might be better off in Palm Cove or even Port Douglas. Cairns is not that exciting that you have to spend 3 days there. They don't have a natural beach there too. My personal preference is Port Douglas as you have all the shops, tours, facilities right there and you are right on the beautiful 4-mile beach.
But - hey- that is my personal preference. I don't think you can do anything wrong by staying in either place. Everything is within short driving distance. Palm Cove is the more quiet place.

Hope this will help!

jbstrig

We just got back from a month in AU and spent 6 days in Pt. Douglas and loved it. Went snorkeling on the GBR, rented a car for Mossman and Daintree and toured to Kuranda, the scenic train and skyrail and Tjapukai. Stayed at the Archipelago Studio Apts, (www.archipelago.com.au) for $l55.00 AU per nite roughly$125 US, overlooked the 4 mi. beach, had a kitchenette, meticulously clean and quite large. Most of all the friendly owners, very accomodating and will set up all tours (free of charge). We used "Wavelength" for the GBR and was more than happy.Within walking distance to everything, a wonderful town.

pat_woolford

juless - sorry, no-one's answered your original question. There's plenty of hotels/apartments in Cairns city for all budgets, so let us know your price range and will be happy to help. BTW, there's a vast range of restaurant choices in Cairns city, more than Port Douglas and Palm Cove put together. Japanese, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Korean, Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, French, Swiss etc etc as well as modern Australian. Red Ochre in Cairns is famous for its use of "bush tucker" ingredients, red claw is a delicious speciality. Everything in Cairns from fish 'n' chips to fine dining.

dotty

Hi juless,
We have stayed at the Hotel Cairns, corner of Florence and Abbot Streets, for a week the last two years. We found it to be a great spot for someone without a car - about 10 minutes walk out of the city, one block back from the great promenade, and very quiet. The only internet address I can find is an email address - [email protected]
Dot

dotty

hi juless,
that should read - for a week in each of the last two years!
Dot

endlessvacation

Does anybody knmow anthing anbout the Lake Cairns resort as we will be staying there in August.
Thanks Karen

pat_woolford

Karen, its a lovely resort, only a few years old, in tropical gardens with great swimming pools. Not right in town, its about 3-4km north, near Flecker botanical gardens and Centenary Lakes, with rainforest background at Edge Hill. Haven't tried its restaurant but locals say its very good, and there's a couple of nice restaurants in Edge Hill. About 4km north is Stratford, here you'll find 3 of the best restaurants in Cairns area, Garden Room, Lemongrass and Seviche - well patronised by locals. Garden Room is our favourite, the best Asian food true to its country of origin, Thai, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, Indonesian - not fusion food.

JUICYJUJU

We will be staying in Cairns one night prior to a cruise that leaves from Cairns. Is the downtown area close to the port and the airport? We won't have a car so we want to be centrally located.

AndrewDavid

juless, We spent 3 lovely nights at Lilybank B&B in green Statford at the N end of Cairns. WE really enjoyed the Inn and the advice and welcome we received fromPat and Mike. And you are practically next door to Phoebe's fabulous Garden Room our best dining in 5 weeks down under

Andrew David

Jayneann

Karen, we stayed at the Lakes in Cairns last November. The resort is beautiful, clean and well maintained, but I do recommend you request a pool view. The areas around the pools are so pretty! We thought we were poolside but instead we had a suite that overlooked the train tracks. Disappointing although looking back, it didn't matter much since we weren't there much of the time anyway. We took a bus into town and a taxi back which cost about the same since there were 4 of us.
Very close to the airport which was a plus. You'll have a great time!!!!