Cairns Hostels

"The views are nice, and the facilities are ample, including free shared cutlery, kitchenware, a fridge, a swimming pool, and a yard. The only downside is there are quite a few mosquitoes. It's great for sunbathing during the day, and overall, it's pretty good for a hostel."

"I had a great stay at Gilligan’s! The room was spacious and clean, and I was even lucky enough to have the whole dorm to myself one night. I still managed to meet plenty of people, despite being a solo traveller, thanks to the social atmosphere and nightlife. It’s worth noting that the bar/club area didn’t really get busy until late in the evening (11:30pm onwards), and the hostel is pretty deserted during the day thanks to everyone being out on tours/experiences. My room was overlooking the pool/bar area, so did get noisy at night, but the hostel offers free earplugs at reception which did the trick. It was great to have an en-suite in the room, and the bathroom was in good condition. The location is ideal, right within the hub of Cairns City, however I didn’t feel particularly safe as a solo female traveller in the area at night, so it’s definitely important to be aware of that/travel in a group where possible. The on-site travel agency is helpful and approachable, and staying at the hostel means that you can get discounted drinks at the bar and free club entry before 11pm. I didn’t end up going to any of the weekday themed nights, but at the weekend the vibes downstairs were good. I would definitely recommend Gilligan’s to any young solo/group travellers who want to meet new people and experience Cairns’ party scene at a budget-friendly price!"

"Backpacker atmosphere"

"Great stay, easy access to the city. Hostel was clean and had nice facilities, especially the sunroom. Everything is done digitally (access to doorways or rooms on a QR code) which is not that convenient but you don’t risk losing a loose room key."

"Clean, organized hostel. AC worked amazing in the room and there were curtains in each bunk for privacy. Everyone in our 8 bed dorm kept the room organized, it was close to attractions in town and the free breakfast was perfect."

"It was a very cozy hostel. The mixed share rooms have individual beds instead of bunk beds, so you don't have to disturb someone else's sleep, which is a big plus! The owner is a very calm and kind person, and he starts by giving us a thorough tour of the surrounding area and the hostel. There is a garden and a pool, and the kitchen is equipped with salt, pepper, and oil, and we could drink tea and coffee freely. It was also nice that we didn't have to buy a few condiments just to cook for ourselves for a few nights. The people staying there were friendly, and it's been a while since I've come across such a cozy hostel. I'd like to use it again when I visit Cairns! I really recommend it to everyone!"

"Super hostel! It has everything you need: shower, kitchen, pool, storage room, etc. The special beds offer a lot of privacy, plus they come with a fan, light, and power outlet. I highly recommend it; the staff are very friendly."

"First of all, this is not a 5* Hotel and is not trying to be. This is a budget place to stay and with that in mind, I thought it was great. The rooms were large enough, had a table and chairs, kettle, fridge, microwave, cutlery, the most amenities so far in 4 months of travelling. On top of that, there is a modest pool and a large cooking area that has utensils which was really useful for us budget travellers. The location is as good as we could have got, 30 mind walk to the train station and harbour, an hour walk from the airport. The place also has parking. Although - it was a little dirty and rusty in places - there were lots of tiny roaches which comes with the territory, but still worth mentioning - there were 3 floors in our block, each with a toilet, our toilet was cleaned but no toilet paper replenished for the 3 days we were there"

"I’ve stayed in other backpackers before, and I’m really surprised by how clean and organized this place is. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely impressive. I stayed for 4 days, and for 3 of them everything was very clean. The kitchen has everything you need — I even used the mini oven to make homemade pizza. There’s also a pool, laundry, and tables and chairs outside where you can study or relax during summer. The 6-bed female room had its own fridge and a locker for each person. The room was very clean, and they provided a towel and a blanket. I was lucky to share the room with very tidy girls during my first three days, so it stayed just as clean as when we arrived. The staff were also really nice and calm. Overall, considering the price and that it’s a backpacker hostel, it’s excellent — 10/10!"