Cairns Accommodation | 5 Star Best Accommodation Cairns

Cairns is a coastal city in North Queensland, Australia. The city is quite popular because of its reputation as the gateway to Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef. In addition to being a bustling city full of ecological biodiversity, it’s also rich with culture and heritage. The Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park is popular as it hosts performance art pieces that communicate the story of the indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In addition to the biodiversity and culture, you can also explore several bars and restaurants in the Cairns Esplanade. With so many great sights to see, and so much to do, you should really find an accommodation that’s strategically located to offer you all you need. So these are the top 15 accommodations in Cairns.

# 1

Reef Encounter

Reef Encounter is pitched as a “boutique floating hotel”. It provides live board tours from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef. It’s ideal for people who enjoy water activities such as snorkeling and diving, and it’s suited for people of all experience levels. The boat accommodation is spacious and luxurious. The interiors are centrally air conditioned and there’s a lot of deck space, and amenities such as a spa on the front deck. The boat accommodation takes you through several reef sites, and across a period of 2 days, you can dive in as many as 6 spots. The boat can be found docked at Cairns’ Marlin Marina. You’re offered a complementary breakfast of bacons and egg rolls which you can enjoy either inside or on the outer sun deck. The entire boat has 21 accommodations, and they’re a combination of double bed private rooms, twin sharing, or trip sharing rooms. All the cabins come with ensuite bathrooms. There are 3 decks in the whole boat. Instructions are given out in the bottom deck, and the snorkeling and diving equipment are handed out in the sun deck along with storage baskets. In case you can’t do without your nicotine fix, there’s a private smoking area in the second deck as well. They have set timings for snorkeling, diving, etc, at different times of the day, for people across different experience levels. The lunch comprises a buffet of burritos either with beef or lamb filling. The crew in the boat is also brilliant and they always go out of their way to address all your needs and make sure you’re comfortable.

# 2

Pullman Reef Hotel Casino

The Pullman Reef Hotel Casino is home to two of Cairns’ most popular attractions — the Cairns Wildlife Dome, and the Reef Casino. This accommodation is located smack right in the middle of the city center, and as such you have easy access to everything. If you simply step out of the hotel you can go to any number of bars, restaurants, etc. Public transport is easily available, and you’re even close to the Reef Fleet Terminal, from which you can take day trips to the Grand Barrier Reef. The hotel can be easily identified based on the glass dome on the roof, which is a distinguishing feature. The interior of the hotel is decorated with a number of floral arrangements, the shutters are all designed in the Plantations style, and the walls feature colorful murals. As one of Cairns’ best hotels, they have impeccable service. Even the check-in period is luxurious and comfortable as you can sit on their comfortable couches while the formalities are taken care of. The fourth floor of the hotel is full of stunning amenities. It features an outdoor pool, a health club, a tanning salon, and a sauna. The rooms in the hotel come with their private balconies and glass walls that allow plenty of natural light to flood the room, and the furnishings are made of dark hardwood. There are four restaurants and four bars in the hotel, however the best one is Tamarind. A luxurious seven-course dégustation dinner would cost you $110, and you’d find Asian-themed dishes. You can also go to Café China if you’re in the mood for some casual Chinese cuisine.

# 3

Pullman Cairns International

Pullman Cairns International is located in the very center of the city, and as such it’s not just luxurious but also very well connected. There’s plenty of public transportation available in the streets, and the fleet terminal is close by, making the hotel a great place from which to go for day trips to the Grand Barrier Reef. The Cairns international airport is just 8 kms from the hotel. The hotel has been decked up in the stylings reminiscent of the city’s colonial past, with rich tapestries and European architectural designs. One of the best restaurants in the hotel is Coco’s Restaurant and it offers brilliant local seafood. They have several different categories of rooms based on the view and luxury they offer. The City Mountain View Room are spacious rooms with private balconies, built-in wardrobe, and large Italian marble clad bathrooms with separate soaking tubs and rain showers. As the name suggests, these rooms look out at the tropical mountains beyond the city. The Harbour View Rooms offer sweeping panoramic views of the Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet. You can sit on the balcony and watch the boats making their way up and down the turquoise blue seas. After a whole day’s activity, you can come back to the hotel and relax at their Vie Spa which offers a number of different therapeutic massages inspired by different regions and techniques. As such, Pullman Cairns International is truly the best hotel for luxury, convenience, and tranquility.

# 4

Sanctuary Palm Cove

Sanctuary Palm Cove is located right next to the beach, and a short 50 meters walk will bring you to the lane lined with restaurants, bars, etc. As such, this is the perfect location to enjoy some peace and tranquility, excursions, water sports, and still be connected to the life of the city. There are several activities you can book through the hotel. You can go on a rainforest walk, or take some boats out to the Great Barrier Reef, or you can even go on hot air balloon rides. The hotel itself is designed in a really classy and luxurious style. They have an outdoors salt water pool for kids and toddlers, located right next to a charming lily pond. The pool also comes with a barbecue that one can use, and the area attracts a lot of colorful birds in the early hours of the day. The suites and rooms are well equipped with countertops, marble clad bathrooms, and plenty of kitchen appliances in the kitchenette. There’s an 8-seater eating space available next to the villa, and this is perfect for large groups of friends or large families, and right next to the patio, you can also rent out a studio apartment if you so choose.

# 5

Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore

Alamanda Palm Cove is located on the Strip, a few minutes from the Palm Cove Beach. One of the closest attractions to this hotel is the Clifton Village Shopping Centre. The other prime attractions in the vicinity of the hotel are the Clifton Beach and the Half Moon Bay Golf Course. There are 26 rooms in the hotel, all of them luxuriously decorated, complete withe modern amenities such as a plasma screen, refrigerator, etc. The rooms also come with private balconies, and private bathrooms with luxury toiletries and hair dryers. The rooftop terrace of the hotel offers one of the best panoramic views of the city. If you’d like to relax, you can also lounge by the outdoors pool. The area shuttle can very easily take you to the city attractions for an additional charge. The hotel also features its own restaurant and bar where you can stay till late at nights. The breakfast is always complementary in the hotel, during specific times. In addition to these, the hotel also comes with a business center where you can hold meetings, a laundry service, and a room to store luggage in.

# 6

Sea Change Beachfront Apartments

The Sea Change Beachfront Apartments are located along the Trinity Beach, just a 15 minutes drive from Cairns. These accommodations are popular because they give you a breathtaking uninterrupted view of the Coral Sea from the balconies. Every apartment in these accommodations comes with a spa bath and a fully-equipped kitchenette. They also feature separate dining areas along with a living room. As such, these are the ideal luxury accommodations for people who want to stay there for a long period. The outdoor pool is a great place to lounge around for the day, surrounded by dense green foliage all around. You can even take tours of the Great Barrier Reef, or go exploring the Daintree Rainforest, amongst many other activities.

# 7

Kewarra Beach Resort Cairns

Kewarra Beach Resort is located a short 2 minute walk from the beach, and it’s ideally suited to go exploring the Great Barrier Reefs or go for excursions in the Daintree rainforests. The accommodation is located 20 minutes from the airport, and they are designed in a subtle yet classy manner. The balconies are perfectly located to give you a view of the surrounding flora and fauna, a good spot from which to bird watch. You must also dine out at the Paperbark Restaurant with its selection of delicious local seafood. At night you must also go to the Nautilus seasonal beach shack for some woodfire pizzas.

# 8

The Reef House - MGallery by Sofitel

The Reef House is located a short 1 minute walk from the beach in Palm Cove, and it’s extremely luxurious with 3 swimming pools, dense lush gardens, and the presence of 2 relaxing spas. You can dine out at the Reef House Restaurant where you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding seas, and be served delicious Mediterranean or Asian cuisine. Depending on the private accommodation you choose, you can be looking out at the gardens, or the pool, or the beach. Furthermore, you’re ideally located to engage in water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, etc, and you can even go trekking in the rainforests.

# 9

Seapoint on Trinity Beach

Seapoint is located on Trinity Beach. It’s set up smack right on the beach and as such you can simply walk out of your hotel and into the beach. The accommodations in the hotel come with a full kitchenette and a laundry service. Furthermore, the hotel is surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens complete with a saltwater pool, and a spa. You can also book a tour of the Great Barrier Reef from the hotel desk, or take a day trip to Cape Tribulation. Within the city, you can also drive over to Kuranda Skyrail.

# 10

Peppers Beach Club & Spa

Peppers Beach Club & Spa is located in Palm Cove, a short 2 minute walk from the beach. The beach club is really a luxurious resort with some of the most elegant and modern rooms in Cairns. Their amenities includes a spa pool set amidst a tropical garden. They also have an in-doors cinema where guests may avail of the latest releases. All the rooms in the resort are luxurious, however the suites come with their own living rooms, kitchenettes, and balconies with a view of the garden, pool, or the ocean. If you’re looking for some in-hotel activities, you can go to the tennis court, or the gym, or lounge by one of three pools.

# 11

Shangri La Hotel The Marina Cairns

The Shangri La Hotel is very conveniently located a short 10 minute drive from the Cairns Airport. It’s the ideal place from which to take a tour of the Great Barrier Reef as the Reef Departure Terminal is a short 3 minute walk away. The hotel is located on the Cairns Marlin Marina and the rooms enjoy a stunning view of the sea. If you’re looking to do some shopping, you can simply walk over to the Pier Shopping Centre. As for dining, you can go to the North Bar & Kitchen which offers some amazing Australian cuisine set to the backdrop of the ocean or the mountains.

# 12

181 The Esplanade

181 The Esplanade is situated on the Cairns Esplanade, a short w minute walk from the beach. The accommodations in the hotel are all modern and contemporary and the balconies in the rooms face towards the esplanade, and you enjoy a sweeping view of the Trinity Bay. It’s ideally located for you to enjoy the wafting of the sea breeze through open windows. If you’d like to go to explore the Great Barrier Reef, you need to go to the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal which is a short 5 minute drive from the hotel. The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a 15 minute drive away. As such, the hotel is perfectly located for some excursions and activities.

# 13

Oasis at Palm Cove

The Oasis accommodations are located in Palm Cove, a short 2 minute walk to the Palm Cove Esplanade. If you’d like to go for excursions in the rainforests, you’ll have to drive 10 minutes to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. The accommodations in the hotel are designed in an island style and they come with a lounge area and a separate kitchenette. The hotel also comes with a lagoon style pool and a spa. If you enjoy sports, you can also avail of their tennis court.

# 14

Hilton Cairns

Hilton Cairns is located on the Cairns Esplanade, and as such it’s ideally located to explore both the Great Barrier Reef, and to go for hikes on the surrounding rainforests. The Reef Terminal is a short 2 minute walk from the hotel. The hotel can also arrange trips to Cape Tribulation. There are 2 restaurants in the hotel, both of them featuring a stunning water view. Mondo on the Waterfront is particularly noteworthy as it’s located on the edge of the water and it offers a unique dining experience.

# 15

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa is located on Palm Cove, a short 3 minute walk from the beach. The resort offers luxury 5-star accommodations complete with spa baths, private balconies, and a swimming pool. The Vie Spa is one of Cairns’ best spas, and it offers a range of treatments that are therapeutic in nature. You must dine out at the Lagoon Bar which is surrounded by water features and lagoons, and it offers a large number of beverages.

Cairns Boutique Luxury Hotel Map

More Guides

Cairns Accommodation
Cape Town Accommodation
Hobart Accommodation
Melbourne Accommodation
Perth Accommodation
Vancouver Accommodation
Sydney Accommodation
Auckland Accommodation
Ubud Accommodation
Marrakech Accommodation
Zermatt Accommodation
Brisbane Accommodation


Inspirational Guides
Cairns Accommodations Direct Accommodation Cairns Hotels	Cape Town Accommodations Direct Accommodation Cape Town Hotels	Hobart Accommodations Direct Accommodation Hobart Hotels
Melbourne Accommodations Direct Accommodation Melbourne Hotels	Perth Accommodations Direct Accommodation Perth Hotels	Vancouver Accommodations Direct Accommodation Vancouver Hotels
Sydney Accommodations Direct Accommodation Sydney Hotels	Auckland Accommodations Direct Accommodation Auckland Hotels	Ubud Accommodations Direct Accommodation Ubud Hotels
Marrakech Accommodations Direct Accommodation Marrakech Hotels	Zermatt Accommodations Direct Accommodation Zermatt Hotels	Brisbane Accommodations Direct Accommodation Brisbane Hotels