{"id":1310410,"date":"2026-10-23T04:09:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T04:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1310410"},"modified":"2026-10-23T09:11:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T09:11:07","slug":"cairns","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/oceania\/australia\/cairns\/","title":{"rendered":"Cairns"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1310389,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-city","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_country_stats":"","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"","hw_hub_country_facts":"","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"","hw_hub_country_cities":"","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"","hw_hub_country_do_title":"","hw_hub_country_do_body":"","hw_hub_country_do_points":"","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"","hw_hub_country_do_more":"","hw_hub_country_food_title":"","hw_hub_country_food_body":"","hw_hub_country_food_points":"","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"","hw_hub_country_food_more":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"","hw_hub_country_money_title":"","hw_hub_country_money_body":"","hw_hub_country_money_points":"","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"","hw_hub_country_money_more":"","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"","hw_hub_country_season_title":"","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"","hw_hub_country_season_note":"","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_country_events_title":"","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"","hw_hub_country_events_source":"","hw_hub_country_events_country":"","hw_hub_country_events_count":"","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_events":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_team_title":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city guide","hw_hub_city_hero_h1":"Cairns Travel Guide","hw_hub_city_hero_intro":"Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest, two World Heritage sites on the same doorstep. The town itself is small and built for backpackers: a free swimming lagoon on the Esplanade, cheap hostel dinners and boats leaving for the reef every morning.","hw_hub_city_hero_image":"1310523","hw_hub_city_hero_overlay":"light","hw_hub_city_hero_cta":"Where to stay | #areas\r\nWhat it costs | #budget","hw_hub_city_live_stats":"1","hw_hub_city_stats":"2 | World Heritage sites on the doorstep\r\nFrom AU$15 | Dorm beds on Hostelworld\r\nJun\u2013Oct | Dry season, no stingers","hw_hub_city_intro_title":"Cairns at a glance","hw_hub_city_intro_body":"Cairns is a small tropical city in far north Queensland, at the top of the east coast backpacker route. Most travellers end or start their east coast trip here, and come for one reason: the Great Barrier Reef.\r\n\r\nThe town is compact. The Esplanade runs along the waterfront, with a free swimming lagoon, a boardwalk and the marina where reef boats leave every morning. The streets behind are packed with hostels, tour shops, bars and cheap restaurants. There's no beach in the centre, just mudflats at low tide, but the Esplanade Lagoon makes up for it.\r\n\r\nFrom here, day boats head to the outer reef for snorkelling and diving, and liveaboards stay out for days. Green Island and Fitzroy Island are closer reef islands.\r\n\r\nNorth of Cairns, the Daintree is the oldest tropical rainforest on earth, meeting the reef at Cape Tribulation. Inland, the Atherton Tablelands have waterfalls, crater lakes and the village of Kuranda, reached by a scenic railway and a cableway over the rainforest.\r\n\r\nFrom about November to May, box jellyfish and irukandji make sea swimming dangerous, and the wet season brings heat, humidity and heavy rain.\r\n\r\nFour to six days covers the reef, the Daintree and Kuranda.","hw_hub_city_facts":"Airport transfer | About 7 km; shuttle or taxi\r\nGetting around | Walk; tours pick up\r\nTransport app | Ride-hailing works\r\nCurrency | Australian dollar\r\nTap water | Safe to drink\r\nTipping | Not expected\r\nLanguage | English\r\nHow long to stay | Four to six days\r\nBest area to stay | The centre, near the Esplanade\r\nStingers | About November to May","hw_hub_city_areas_title":"Where to stay in Cairns","hw_hub_city_areas_intro":"Stay in the centre, near the Esplanade, for hostels, the lagoon and reef boat pick-ups. The northern beaches, like Palm Cove, are quieter but far from the action.","hw_hub_city_areas_map":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_zoom":"10","hw_hub_city_hostels_pins":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_live":"1","hw_hub_city_areas":"City centre and Esplanade | Hostels and reef boats | Hostels, bars, the lagoon and the marina. | -16.9186 | 145.7781 |  | \nNorth Cairns | Quieter stays | Residential area along the Esplanade, a short walk north. | -16.9 | 145.76 |  | \nPalm Cove | Beach base | Northern beach village with stinger nets, about 30 minutes away. | -16.745 | 145.67 |  | \nKuranda | Rainforest village | Village in the rainforest above Cairns. | -16.818 | 145.638 |  | ","hw_hub_city_itin_title":"Cairns itineraries","hw_hub_city_itin_intro":"Three days covers a reef trip, the Esplanade and Kuranda. With five or six, add the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, or a liveaboard.","hw_hub_city_itin":"","hw_hub_city_do_title":"The reef, the rainforest and Kuranda","hw_hub_city_do_body":"The Great Barrier Reef is the reason to come. Day boats leave the marina every morning for the outer reef, where the coral and visibility are best, with snorkelling included and introductory dives or certified dives as extras. Liveaboards stay out for two or three days and are the best way to dive more. Choose operators with good environmental credentials: the reef has suffered repeated bleaching, and the better operators are open about it.\r\n\r\nGreen Island and Fitzroy Island, closer to Cairns, are easier and cheaper, with beaches and snorkelling straight from the shore.\r\n\r\nThe PADI Open Water course is popular here, often combined with a liveaboard.\r\n\r\nKuranda, in the rainforest above Cairns, is reached by the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail cableway over the treetops. Many people go up one way and down the other.\r\n\r\nThe Daintree and Cape Tribulation, about two and a half hours north, are where the rainforest meets the reef. Join a tour or hire a car, and take a river cruise to look for crocodiles.\r\n\r\nThe Atherton Tablelands have waterfalls, crater lakes and swimming holes.\r\n\r\nIn town, swim at the free Esplanade Lagoon and walk the boardwalk at sunset.","hw_hub_city_do_points":"Outer reef day trip | Snorkelling and diving\r\nGreen and Fitzroy islands | Closer, cheaper reef islands\r\nLiveaboard | Best for divers\r\nKuranda | Scenic Railway and Skyrail\r\nDaintree and Cape Tribulation | Rainforest meets reef\r\nEsplanade Lagoon | Free swimming","hw_hub_city_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_city_do_more":"All things to do in Cairns","hw_hub_city_free_title":"Cairns for free (or nearly)","hw_hub_city_free_body":"The Esplanade Lagoon is a big, free saltwater pool on the waterfront, with lifeguards and lawns.\r\n\r\nWalk the Esplanade boardwalk at sunset and look for pelicans and other birds on the mudflats.\r\n\r\nThe Cairns Botanic Gardens and the Mount Whitfield trails are free.\r\n\r\nFree outdoor fitness classes run on the Esplanade.\r\n\r\nMany hostels include free or cheap dinners, and some run free events and pool parties.\r\n\r\nThe Night Markets are free to browse.","hw_hub_city_free_points":"Esplanade Lagoon | Free saltwater pool\r\nBoardwalk | Sunset and birds\r\nBotanic Gardens | Free\r\nFitness classes | On the Esplanade\r\nNight Markets | Free to browse","hw_hub_city_free_tag":"free-things-to-do","hw_hub_city_free_more":"All free things to do in Cairns","hw_hub_city_food_title":"Hostel dinners, night markets and tropical fruit","hw_hub_city_food_body":"Cairns is one of the cheapest places to eat on the east coast, thanks to the hostels. Many include free or cheap dinners or meal vouchers for local bars.\r\n\r\nThe Night Markets have a food court with cheap Asian dishes.\r\n\r\nRusty's Markets, on weekends, sell tropical fruit, vegetables and street food.\r\n\r\nSeafood, especially barramundi and prawns, is good, and pubs serve cheap meals.\r\n\r\nSelf-catering in the hostel kitchen keeps costs down.\r\n\r\nA beer is AU$8 to AU$12 at backpacker bars. Tap water is safe to drink.","hw_hub_city_food_points":"Hostel dinners | Often free or cheap\r\nNight Markets | Cheap Asian food\r\nRusty's Markets | Tropical fruit at weekends\r\nBarramundi | Local fish\r\nBeer | AU$8\u201312 at backpacker bars","hw_hub_city_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_city_food_more":"All food guides for Cairns","hw_hub_city_nightlife_title":"Backpacker bars and pool parties","hw_hub_city_nightlife_body":"Cairns has a lively backpacker nightlife for a small town. Bars on the Esplanade and around the centre host cheap drinks, themed nights and live music.\r\n\r\nGilligan's and other large hostels have their own bars and clubs.\r\n\r\nPub crawls run most nights.\r\n\r\nEverything is walkable. Watch your drinks, stick with friends and don't swim in the sea at night.","hw_hub_city_nightlife_points":"Backpacker bars | Cheap drinks and themed nights\r\nHostel clubs | Gilligan's and others\r\nPub crawls | Most nights\r\nAt night | No swimming in the sea","hw_hub_city_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_city_nightlife_more":"All nightlife in Cairns","hw_hub_city_transport_title":"Getting to and around Cairns","hw_hub_city_transport_body":"Cairns Airport is about 7 km north of the centre, with flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and international routes. Shuttles and taxis run to town.\r\n\r\nGreyhound and other coaches come up the east coast from Brisbane and Airlie Beach.\r\n\r\nIn town, everything is walkable, and reef boats pick up from the marina or hostels.\r\n\r\nLocal Sunbus services run to the northern beaches.\r\n\r\nFor the Daintree, Cape Tribulation and the Tablelands, join a tour or hire a car. Many travellers buy or sell camper vans here at the end of their trip.\r\n\r\nThe Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail go to Kuranda.","hw_hub_city_transport_points":"Airport | About 7 km north\r\nGreyhound | Up the coast from Brisbane\r\nReef boats | From the marina\r\nDaintree | Tour or hire car\r\nCamper vans | Bought and sold here","hw_hub_city_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_city_transport_more":"All transport guides for Cairns","hw_hub_city_money_title":"What Cairns costs","hw_hub_city_money_body":"Cairns is one of the cheaper places on the east coast for beds and food. Hostelworld lists dorm beds from about AU$15 at Mumma's Hostel and AU$35 to AU$45 at the top-rated hostels.\r\n\r\nMany hostels include cheap or free dinners, and the night markets have cheap food.\r\n\r\nReef trips are the big cost. Day boats to the outer reef cost much more than trips to Green or Fitzroy Island, and dive courses and liveaboards more again.\r\n\r\nThe Esplanade Lagoon and boardwalk are free.\r\n\r\nWithout the reef, allow around AU$80 to AU$120 a day.","hw_hub_city_money_points":"Dorm bed | From about AU$15 on Hostelworld\r\nHostel dinners | Often included\r\nReef trips | The big cost\r\nBeer | AU$8\u201312\r\nA day, all in | AU$80\u2013120 before the reef","hw_hub_city_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_city_money_more":"All budget guides for Cairns","hw_hub_city_safety_title":"Staying safe in Cairns","hw_hub_city_safety_body":"Cairns is safe, but the environment needs respect.\r\n\r\nFrom about November to May, box jellyfish and irukandji are present in the sea. Swim in the Esplanade Lagoon, in stinger nets at patrolled beaches, or wear a stinger suit on reef trips.\r\n\r\nSaltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries and some beaches. Obey warning signs absolutely and don't swim where crocodiles may be present.\r\n\r\nThe sun is extreme, so wear sunscreen and a hat.\r\n\r\nOn reef trips, follow the crew's instructions and check your insurance covers diving.\r\n\r\nThe wet season, from about December to April, brings heavy rain, flooding and occasional cyclones.","hw_hub_city_safety_points":"Stingers | November to May; use nets or suits\r\nCrocodiles | Obey the signs\r\nSun | Extreme UV\r\nReef trips | Follow crew instructions\r\nWet season | Floods and cyclones","hw_hub_city_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_city_safety_more":"All safety guides for Cairns","hw_hub_city_trips_title":"Day trips from Cairns","hw_hub_city_trips_intro":"Cairns is the base for the reef, the islands, Kuranda and the Daintree.","hw_hub_city_trips":"Outer Great Barrier Reef | Full day | Day boat from the marina | Snorkelling and diving on the outer reef. |  | 1313901\nKuranda | About 2 hours by train | Scenic Railway or Skyrail | Rainforest village with markets and wildlife. |  | 1310505\nDaintree and Cape Tribulation | About 2.5 hours | Tour or hire car | Ancient rainforest, river cruises and beaches. |  | 1310504","hw_hub_city_trips_tag":"day-trips","hw_hub_city_trips_more":"All day trips from Cairns","hw_hub_city_season_title":"When to go to Cairns","hw_hub_city_season_intro":"Cairns is hot all year, with highs from 25\u00b0C in June and July to 31\u00b0C in summer. June to October is the dry season and the best time to visit, with calm seas and no stingers. November to May is hot, humid and wet, with stinger season and cyclone risk.","hw_hub_city_season_note":"Average daily highs from weather2travel's Cairns climate data. Crowd levels are our rough guide.","hw_hub_city_season_rows":"January | 31 | 3 | Wet; stingers; cyclone risk\r\nFebruary | 31 | 2 | Wettest; stingers\r\nMarch | 30 | 2 | Wet; stingers\r\nApril | 29 | 3 | Rains easing\r\nMay | 27 | 4 | Dry season begins\r\nJune | 25 | 5 | Dry; no stingers\r\nJuly | 25 | 5 | Peak season; Indigenous Art Fair\r\nAugust | 26 | 5 | Peak season; Cairns Festival\r\nSeptember | 27 | 5 | Dry and calm\r\nOctober | 29 | 4 | Warming up\r\nNovember | 30 | 3 | Stingers return; coral spawning\r\nDecember | 31 | 3 | Wet season begins","hw_hub_city_events_title":"What's on in Cairns","hw_hub_city_events_intro":"Cairns's calendar includes the Indigenous Art Fair, the Cairns Festival and the reef's coral spawning.","hw_hub_city_events_source":"api","hw_hub_city_events_count":"8","hw_hub_city_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_city_events_cta_label":"All events in Cairns","hw_hub_city_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/oceania\/australia\/cairns\/","hw_hub_city_events":"Cairns Indigenous Art Fair | Usually July | Cairns | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, performance and fashion. |  | \nCairns Festival | Usually late August to early September | Cairns | Music, food and art around the Esplanade. |  | \nCoral spawning | Usually November or December | Great Barrier Reef | The reef's mass spawning, a few nights after a full moon. |  | \nStinger season | About November to May | Coast | Swim in nets or the lagoon. |  | ","hw_hub_city_budget_title":"How much does Cairns cost per day?","hw_hub_city_budget_intro":"Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total. Per day, for one person, in Australian dollars.","hw_hub_city_budget_note":"Estimates. Beds are based on Hostelworld prices in October 2026, converted from US dollars. Reef trips and dive courses sit outside these figures.","hw_hub_city_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 25 | 20 | 5 | 10\r\nMiddle of the road | 45 | 40 | 10 | 30\r\nComfortable | 90 | 80 | 20 | 60","hw_hub_city_budget_currency":"AU$","hw_hub_city_hostels_title":"Hostels in Cairns","hw_hub_city_hostels_intro":"Cairns has around 23 hostels on Hostelworld, most within walking distance of the Esplanade, many with pools and cheap dinners.","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Cairns","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/oceania\/australia\/cairns\/","hw_hub_city_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_city_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_city_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_city_picks":"Best rated | Travellers Oasis | Rated 9.8 from 3,768 reviews, a quiet hostel with a pool, about 550 m from the centre. Dorms from about AU$46. | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/p\/31298\/travellers-oasis\/\nSocial and central | Global Backpackers Cairns | Rated 9.8 from 774 reviews, close to the Esplanade, with dorms from about AU$39. | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/p\/34696\/global-backpackers-cairns\/\nCheapest dorms | Mumma's Hostel Cairns | Rated 9.2 from 554 reviews, with dorms from about AU$15, under 1 km from the centre. | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/p\/302281\/mumma-s-hostel-cairns\/","hw_hub_city_hostels":"","hw_hub_city_team_title":"","hw_hub_city_team_intro":"","hw_hub_city_team":"","hw_hub_city_faq_title":"Cairns FAQs","hw_hub_city_faq_note":"Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.","hw_hub_city_faqs":"How do I visit the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns? | On a day boat to the outer reef, a trip to Green or Fitzroy Island, or a liveaboard for divers. Boats leave the marina every morning.\r\nWhen is stinger season in Cairns? | About November to May. Swim in the Esplanade Lagoon or stinger nets, and wear a stinger suit on reef trips.\r\nIs there a beach in Cairns? | Not in the centre, where there are mudflats. The free Esplanade Lagoon is the place to swim; the northern beaches have sand.\r\nHow do I get to the Daintree from Cairns? | Join a tour or hire a car. Cape Tribulation is about two and a half hours north.\r\nWhen is the best time to visit Cairns? | June to October, the dry season, with calm seas and no stingers.\r\nHow many days do you need in Cairns? | Four to six days for the reef, the Daintree and Kuranda.","hw_hub_city_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_city_cta_body":"Compare Cairns hostels: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_city_cta_buttons":"Find a hostel in Cairns | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/oceania\/australia\/cairns\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_city_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_city_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. 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