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Travellers Oasis

Cairns (Parramatta Park)

1 of 42
Address
8 Scott Street, Cairns (Parramatta Park), Queensland, Australia   Map
Price
Dorm beds from US$22.15. Private rooms from US$26.14/person. Price may vary by season - Check Current Prices by Date Here
Location/Contact
Details
Travellers Oasis Online Booking
Arrival Date:   Nights:  People: 
Their Description
 
The Hostelz.com Review
For backpackers seeking sanctuary from the party-hard east coast of Australia, Travellers Oasis won't disappoint. A short walk from downtown and the busy Esplanade, the hostel is situated on a quiet residential road off Bunda Street, across from the Cairns railway station. Travellers Oasis is comprised of three low-rise, colourful buildings grouped around a lush green jungle of a courtyard with a swimming pool in the centre. Wooden benches and tables, as well as lounge chairs on the sun deck offer plenty of space to enjoy the hostel's peaceful, tropical atmosphere.

The hostel's buildings as well as the rooms are quite clean and cheerfully decorated with painted flowers and rain forest-motif art. There are no bunk beds in the dorms, which are small and boast no more than four beds per room. There are air conditioners in each room, but they are coin-operated and will cost you extra -- though the fans in each room make for an easy sleep anyway. Purple sheets and fluffy towels are provided for free, a welcome change from the sterile-feeling hospital whites of many hostels. The bathrooms are clean and private but scattered -- if the one down your own hallway is occupied, sometimes it can be hard to find the next closest one (which can mean heading out to the next building, so bring your umbrella if it's the rainy season!).

There are several kitchens, which are extremely well-equipped with decent cooking tools -- dishes, pots, pans, utensils, and loads of mugs to sip the free coffee and tea provided. Common areas are furnished with colourful couches and futons, and the library shelves are well-stocked with books and magazines for the reading and trading. And well in tune with the bohemian vibe, the owners look out for the environment with eco-friendly dish soap and recycle bins around the premises.

Other perks include free airport pick-up if you're staying two nights or more, but be prepared for a bit of a sales pitch upon arrival at the in-house tour desk. With that said, Cairns is a fabulous place to book snorkeling and diving trips to the Great Barrier Reef, along with rain forest tours and all sorts of other activities. On Monday nights, the staff shuttles guests over to the owners' other Cairns hostel for an Aussie barbecue of kangaroo and crocodile for a per-person price. There's also vouchers for discounted meals at a few local hangouts. But really, there's no real pressure to do anything at all if you're feeling a little lazy and would rather indulge in a delightful, tropical detox instead.

Review by Dayle Parker

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
May 2007

How is Travellers Oasis rated on other websites? (NEW)
Hostelworld
 Overall: 90% 
 Cleanliness: 90% 
 Staff: 96% 
 Location: 83% 
 Fun: 89% 
 Atmosphere: 97% 
 Security: 86% 
Hostels.com
 Overall: 94% 
 Cleanliness: 93% 
 Staff: 96% 
 Location: 90% 
 Fun: 96% 
 Atmosphere: 96% 
 Security: 90% 
HostelBookers
 Overall: 91% 
 Cleanliness: 89% 
 Staff: 95% 
 Location: 88% 
 Fun: 90% 
 Atmosphere: 95% 
 Security: 91% 
Hostelsclub
Not listed on Hostelsclub.

Ratings & Comments

4.5 Average from 14 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site — so take what you read here with a grain of salt.
Comment by Sonia, Denmark
February 2009
5 A fantastic place
This hostel was probably the best one I stayed at during my many months of traveling around Australia. The place is clean, calm, and cosy (you feel like being home) and the staff is extremely helpful and friendly. I actually came back there a couple of times and I was never disappointed. I would recommend this hostel anytime. It's also a place where you meet other people easily when you're traveling alone.
Comment by Maree
February 2009
5 Best hostel in Australia
This hostel is the most friendly and accommodating hostel you are likely to find, certainly in Cairns, if not Australia. The staff are always smiling and more than happy to help, the hostel is kept clean and relaxed, there is a pool to dip in, and plenty information available to book tours so it is easy to organise your whole trip! There is no reason not to stay in this hostel, good time guaranteed!
Comment by ala737, USA
October 2007
5 The perfect hostel if you're not a partier
The only hostel I stayed at in Australia that made up my bed before I arrived and provided a towel. Very clean and comfortable, good layout. Several kitchens, so they are never crowded. Across the street from The Green Ant, a great Mexican restaurant. A quiet hostel that attracts more mature travelers -- perfect if you are not into the usual East Coast drinking scene. The only drawback here is the bathrooms are not dorm-style, they are home-style, so you may have to wait to take a shower (as I had to). Staff is very helpful and informed, definitely listen to them when deciding which dive boat to take!
Comment by Dawn, English
October 2007
5 It makes you feel at home!
Travellers Oasis makes you feel like you're back at home! It's a small hostel so you get to know people quickly. The staff are really friendly and very helpful. The place is always clean and the colourful decor really does make you relax. Definitely not a party hostel -- it's for those who want to chill out!
Comment by Olaf & Mireille
March 2007
5 We stayed here for about a week in January, a very good place to stay! Clean and comfort rooms, a nice swimming pool, and a friendly staff with very good advice about tours. If we come back, we would book here again!
Comment by Lu & Si
January 2007
4 One of the best Hostels in Oz. We would have stayed longer but it was fully booked. Very friendly atmosphere and nice clean rooms. Haven't a bad thing to say about this place. It was very good.
Comment by Bianca Miledi Battistello
November 2006
5 I traveled by myself all around Oz for a whole month and I stayed at Travellers Oasis in Cairns for the first six days of Nov 06. I really did appreciate the friendly atmosphere. John and the whole staff where very nice to me and I had a super time there. The rooms were nice and clean and the two kitchens too. Nice, quiet position, right behind Cairns Central, therefore easy to go shopping or see a film if one wants to. Lovely pool too. I loved my stay there and advise it to anyone going to Cairns.
Comment by louise and martin
August 2006
4 Originally the plan was to stay in travellers a few nights tops, but we ended up stayin three weeks. We flew into cairns from ireland and i can honestly say this hostel was a home away from home! The last two months have been spent travelling down the east coast and nothing has compared to travellers, they supply duvet and ovens which are a rarity in any other hostel and the staff were really nice,very helpful! Have to say everything was clean which is really important. we'd really recommend this to anybody who loves meeting other people as other hostels can be really formal and huge.
Comment by Linda and Stephen
July 2006
4 We stayed here in May 2006. Great atmosphere, very friendly, and very clean hostel. The owners, Gabe and Cathy, who also own the Travellers Oasis in Cairns are very experienced in helping travellers, having done a lot themselves. Very good at judging what type of tour would suit you. Double rooms at the back with private balcony are nice and intimate. If you're unlucky however you might get a night owl cooking in the kitchen located at the other end of the hallway. It doesn't have a door on it so you could be kept awake. Would stay there again. Best hostel we stayed in Australia!
Comment by Gareth Chambers
March 2006
5 Just back to the U.K. from Oz. Whilst on a flying visit (four weeks) I landed in Cairns and made my way to Travellers Oasis. Original plan to stay one night and then move on. But with the excellent advise from the owners Gabe and Cathy (and not forgetting wondeful accommodation) I used this hostel as a base for exploring the rainforest and barrier reef. Hence was at this hostel for five nights. It is certainly one of the best and most friendly hostels you can stay at. Cathy and Gabe are there to help/answer any questions or provide travel advice when you need them. They also have big plans to make this hostel even better -- renovating all rooms, etc.
Comment by Christine
November 2005
4 I visited this hostel last year in October and it was really nice. Clean rooms, nice staff and really nice guests. Everyone helps you if you don't know in which direction you should travel the next time. I really enjoyed my time in this hostel! Thanks for everything!!
Comment by Scott
June 2005
4 Centrally located, and consistently providing friendly service, Travellers Oasis is both relaxing and relatively close to Cairns' best attractions. I found the staff to be very friendly and helpful and honest about the many attractions that Cairns has to offer, not forgetting the lovely people and guests you meet on the way. I was there in December 2004, and I shall return in the near future.
Comment by Jo and Steve
August 2004
3 Laid back atmosphere. The room was a bit small though and the kitchen wasn't that nice. Air-conditioning was free and so was the internet, if you win a coin toss with the owner!
Comment by Johan
February 2004
5 My girlfriend and I stayed there last year and really enjoyed our time. Clean rooms and very friendly staff and guests.
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The Hostelz.com
Total Combined Rating
for Travellers Oasis
90%
This score is a weighted average calculated from reviews on Hostelz.com combined with ratings on the other major hostel websites (see rating details below).
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