Hi Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on good hotels for Cairns near the Esplanade or City. I have been looking online and seem to find it very difficult to find accomodation for 4. Two kids 7 & 9 and 2 adults. In North America most hotels have two Queen beds and don't charge extra for kids under 17.
If you have any ideas of some good places to stay let me know. Thanks

Sorry, can't answer the question but have you thought about a 2BR apartment? You could check www.wotif.com to see if there's anything suitable.

It is not near the Esplanade but have you considered The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa. You can pick up a 2 or 3 BR apartment there and the swimming pools are fantastic. Your kids would love them. I was really impressed with it a couple of years ago.

However, because of its location you would probably need a car. If you are not booking at a peak time, you can pick up excellent rates on www.wotif.com.

You took the words right out of my mouth, shandy. I live too close to Cairns to need to stay in a hotel, but everytime I drive past the Lakes there's always families enjoying the pools. Pretty sure they have a shuttle service into town and all tours pick up there.

Personally, I think Cairns is awful and developing rather like a small version of Queensland's Gold Coast.

I only fly in there, and then rapidly take a hire car and drive 45 minutes north to Port Douglas, which is far nicer, more beautiful and the best departure point for the Great Barrier Reef. It also puts you closer to the Daintree Rain Forest and Cape Tribulation....

I apologise to any Cairns residents...but that's simply my view....

People who know very little about Cairns often say its awful. The Lakes resort isn't in Cairns city, its in nearby Edge Hill and a short walk to the Flecker Botanical Gardens, probably the best example of tropical gardens in the country. 5kms out of town, recently spotted an echidna there amongst all the other wildlife with gathers in Centenary Park just opposite the gardens.

Palm Cove is another suburb of Cairns, and many find it preferable to Port Douglas these days. Another is Crystal Cascades - Mossman Gorge without the tour buses. Cairns has Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest on its doorstep: www.cairnswildernesswalks.com www.wooroonooran-safaris.com.au
www.wildernessecosafaris.com
www.cairnsdiscoverytours.com
www.cairnshabitatcruises.com.au

Due to southern migration Cairns is now the fastest growing city in Queensland, there are some medium rise buildings in the city but nothing like the high rise of Gold Coast. Outside the city itself the same building height regulations apply as to Port Douglas, and the Lakes Resort is such an example.

I agree about Palm Cove. Good midway choice.

Last month we stayed at Quality Inn Southside, its on the way into the city, definetely need a car but prices are good for people looking for a clean place and on an budget. My husband and daughter have liked the pool, its nothing flash, not very big but has a dinosaur slide. They do have family suites.

Also we took a drive from Cairns up to Port Douglas, stopped at Trinity Beach and Palm Cove on the way. After seeing Palm Cove and Port Douglas hubby and I both agreed that if we were planning a family beach holiday we would choose Palm Cove over Port Douglas. Port Douglas is nice but very touristy. We were there on a Monday and couldn't get a parking spot along the main street with all the shops. But the view from the lookout is nice!

I agree with Shandy & Pat, The Lakes would suit your requirements vansisters.
And Mitch04, apology aside, having lived in Adelaide for 30 years and now living in Cairns for the last 18 years I know where I would prefer to be!
Cairns is a great place & is the perfect base from where to explore ALL of the attractions available in the Tropical North. The Daintree isn't the only rain forest in the region as there are some spectacular areas to the south & southwest of Cairns that are less visited but just as diverse as those on offer to the north. Cairns is also much closer to the scenic Atherton Tablelands and it's many lakes & waterfalls.
Any day on the Great Barrier Reef is a great day whether departing from Port Douglas or Cairns, I couldn't say one was better than the other.
Cairns is a beautiful regional tropical city with a population of 130K and due to it's world wide popularity with tourists has the best facilities of any regional city in Australia, which includes it's hotels, resorts, restaurants, touring options and many others.
No doubt these are some of the reasons
so many Australians from other states & parts of Queensland are moving north en-masse.
Enjoy your time in Cairns vansisters!