Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Cairns

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Backpacker Hostels in Cairns, Australia

22 Hostels for Backpackers in Cairns. Prices start from AU$9 for a dorm bed.Sorted by quality, not payments.
AU$
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#1 Top Rated

Travellers Oasis

Parramatta Park
Older travelers (+50)Quiet RestSolo Traveller

"…Provided a bath towel for each bed too. Stay here if you can, I had booked one night and could not extend my stay because they had no vacancies, but they set me up in a room with their sister hostel

from AU$24.15
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CouplesFemale Solo Traveller

"…Inside, our thoughtfully redesigned rooms offer restful, wellness-focused stays with modern finishes and relaxed, social spaces. Drift from morning yoga to quiet reading corners, or simply take it

from AU$24.71
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CouplesFemale Solo TravellerOlder travelers (+50)Quiet Rest

"…Everything was very clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful. In my opinion one of the best places to stay. Pretty, relaxed place, nice staff - Dreamtime was exactly what we were looking

from AU$24.54
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Quiet RestSolo Traveller

"…Amazing - This hostel is wicked, you can take your own booze into the rooms unlike a lot of hostels around cairns where they have a no alcohol policy. The staff are very friendly and are always up

from AU$19.91
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Mumma's Hostel

Cairns CBD
Free Breakfast
Solo Traveller

"…Reception Hours are: 8 am until Midnight Check-in is after 2pm Check-out is before 10am Mumma’s Hostel Cairns | Where Mates Become Family ♥ Mumma's Cairns Facilities - Free Wifi Free

from AU$19.31
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Beach Lovers RetreatFamily-Friendly HostelSolo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…Overall excellent value for money and a very pleasant experience. The best hostel for your money! - I have stayed in many hostels in aus, so fare more than forty. This by far has been the best! Its

from AU$17.57
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Party HostelSolo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…- Spacious Rooms with Power Point & Bed Light at Each Bed - Free Events & Nightly Entertainment (including pub crawls to top backpacker bars!) You'll enjoy a comfortable stay in our spacious and

from AU$18.91
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Mad Monkey Jungle

Cairns CBD
Free Breakfast
Boutique HostelSolo Traveller

"…The setting of public area is very comfortable and free relax. Wifi connection is good and it is free!(although only accessible in public area). Nothing to complain! Great! Best hostel on the East

from AU$19.47
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Family-Friendly HostelGroups (10+ people)Solo Traveller

"…The reception was especially helpful in arranging tours, especially with Kakadu Dreams out of Darwin (our next major stop). I was only disappointed in that we didn't have enough time (and four days

from AU$21.11
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Global Backpackers

Cairns North
Female Solo TravellerSolo Traveller

"…Perfect location for access to town and the lagoon. Staff on the whole are very friendly, with the odd exception. Rooms are very basic and have loud air conditioning, but are clean. Not much of a

from AU$23.47
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Travellers Paradise

Parramatta Park
Digital NomadsFamily-Friendly HostelOlder travelers (+50)Quiet RestSolo Traveller

"…Clean, quite and now with new beds its even better. Nice place to crash. A very enjoyable stay -- most relaxing - Very clean and quiet hostel. Met some interesting fellow travelers and had a great

from AU$27.47
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Boutique HostelParty HostelSolo Traveller

"…- Check In: 2pm - Check out: 10am - Payment upon arrival by cash, debit and credit cards. This property may pre-authorise your card before arrival. - 1.9% surcharge on all card payments (No Amex

from AU$16.00
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Party HostelSolo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…- Spacious Rooms with Power Point at Each Bed - Free Events & Nightly Entertainment (including pub crawls to top backpacker bars!) Our prime central location puts you right in the heart of the

from AU$20.03
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Digital NomadsParty HostelSolo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…I LOVED Gilligans! Although i don't see it being as 'family' like as some hostels felt, it was great for my short stay! The air conditoning really works here! It felt super clean. They include

from AU$22.24
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Cheapest
Party HostelSolo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…Should the security bond be insufficient to cover the rent arrears, the guest may be liable for further payment or eviction. Visitation Policy: 6.1. No visitors are allowed inside the hostel

from AU$16.96
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Digital NomadsParty HostelSolo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…- Cairns Waterfront Backpackers is not really the best hostel in the area, but it is not a dry hostel, which means that you can bring your own alcohol -- which, again, makes it a little bit better.

from AU$18.05
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Party HostelSolo Traveller

"…And the tour staff were good too. This place is not bad for the price (it's far cheaper than other hostels). It's not the nicest of places but at least it has a lively bar and beer garden. Most of

from AU$16.89
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Bohemia Resort

Cairns North
Free Breakfast
CouplesFamily-Friendly Hostel

"…For such a low cost, this is one of the most lovely places we've stayed in during our time in Australia. It's well worth trekking a bit out of town for a clean, beautiful, budget resort, though it's

from AU$47.53
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Solo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…The staff couldn't do enough for us, helping us book trips and try to arrange out-of-the-way activities, and made our stay so much better. Thanks Erin & Laura!! Brilliant! - Quality hostel!!

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Tropic Days Boutique Hostel

Westcourt
Free Breakfast
Boutique HostelFemale Solo TravellerQuiet Rest

"…They provide an excellent service to the public! From the moment we walked in the door to check in it was laughter and it continued until we left. The best hostel i have ever had the pleasure of

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Reef Backpackers

Free Breakfast

140 Grafton Street

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Female Only HostelsFemale Solo Traveller

"…Immaculately clean and well maintained throughout. I enjoyed the atmosphere so much here, and all the mates that I made. We still keep in touch. Dawn is a good host and makes you want for nothing. I

Looking for a specific district?

Check out hostels near the following landmarks

Hotels in Cairns

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Solo Traveller

"Your stay at Inn Cairns will be an enjoyable experience worthy of reminiscing in years to come. Our staff are always on hands to make your tropical holiday as comfortable as possible in our Boutique

from AU$86.64
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Party HostelSolo Traveller

"…Like all Nightcap Hotels, we offer an on-site bistro, bar and bottle shop, free unlimited 24 hour Wi-Fi, with all rooms featuring a flat-screen TV, refrigerator, desk, heating, air-conditioning and

from AU$65.33
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Digital NomadsParty HostelSolo Traveller

"…The restaurant is open 7 days a week for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and offers a myriad of first class dining options from local fresh seafood choices to innovative local and international meals

from AU$45.13
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Beach Lovers RetreatParty Hostel

4 Pembroke Street

from AU$36.93
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Family-Friendly Hostel

"…Our facilities include an in-ground salt water swimming pool, WiFi, tour desk and on-site parking (limited availability), all for your convenience. If while you're here you are looking to

from AU$64.51
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Cairns Queens Court

Free Breakfast
Party HostelSolo Traveller

"…The hotel is ideally located as a base to explore Tropical North Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Accommodation ranges from budget style, to three and four star

from AU$55.64
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Hides Hotel

Free Breakfast

"…The local casino and recently opened Cairns Aquarium is also a short walking distance. Tours to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Port Douglas and

from AU$69.06
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Solo TravellerYouth Hostel

"…• No food, drinks or sleeping in the cinema room • Any negative talk, swearing, yelling or violence and aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated. Everyone is different so please respect each

Guest Houses in Cairns

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Party HostelSolo Traveller

"…It has new very clean facilities. It would be excellent but for the rooms which need a bit of uplifting, paint. (I visited in 1999). I did meet interesting travellers there." …"…It is 15 mins walk

from AU$111.17

Apartments in Cairns

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Beach Lovers RetreatParty HostelSolo Traveller

92 Martyn Street

from AU$38.46
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Female Solo TravellerParty HostelSolo TravellerYouth Hostel

18 - 26 Cannon Street

from AU$71.01
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Solo TravellerYouth Hostel

274 Draper Street

from AU$18.35

Explore Cairns

Discover the best hostels to suit every traveller type.

Where to stay in Cairns on a budget

Looking for budget stays in Cairns? This section is designed to save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. We've got insider tips to help you find affordable hostels and the cheapest places to stay in Cairns.

Where to stay in Cairns on a budget

Cairns is a city in the northeastern part of Australia (Far North Queensland), with a population of approximately 140,000 people. Cairns is known to be a very touristy city geared toward Japanese tourists (some shop signs are in both English and Japanese).

Cairns hostels are known to backpackers as there are many interesting things to do in the area. The budget traveler should expect to pay 20 dollars and upwards for a dorm room and the hostels are of good value. There are often deals for multiple days too. If you plan to stick around for longer, they can save you some money and are worth checking out. Many Cairns hostels also employ travelers temporarily, if you want to save money or gather some more cash if you still have more traveling to do, this may help you get you on your way.

The activities near Cairns hostels are abundant. There is an artificial lagoon that is a good place to spend a day just enjoying the sun (the days can be scorching hot in the summertime), and there is plenty of good shopping to do in the city.

Many travel agencies, which are often situated really close to the hostels, also offer extreme sport activities packages which you might find interesting. Skydiving is one of the things many people do in Cairns and the surrounding areas, especially on Mission Beach, where you can actually dive and land on the beach. The altitudes range from 9000ft upwards and the prices start at about 229AUD; check the travel agencies for more specific details.

All in all, Cairns hostels are a great way to visit this city which also serves as a good connecting point both for flights, and for some east coast buses, which are a good and reasonably priced way to travel around and make new friends.

Written by Travel Expert Cairns

Written by Travel Expert CairnsMiika

Affordable Hostel Prices in Cairns

Wondering about hostel prices in Cairns? Here's everything you need to know.

Prices for hostels in Cairns start at just $17 per night. Based on our latest data, Wanna Stay? is currently the most affordable hostel to stay in Cairns.

On average, hostels in Cairns cost around $8 per dorm bed and $58 per private room per night. Compare prices from every major booking site at once on Hostelz.com and always get the best deal. Whether you're a student, a backpacker, or looking for a budget-friendly private room, Cairns has options for every budget.

Want to compare hostels side-by-side? Use our Hostel Comparison Tool to check prices, amenities, and locations—so you can make the smartest choice.

What is the cheapest area to stay in Cairns? Many cheap hostels in Cairns are located in Cairns CBD, Cairns North, Parramatta Park, offering easy access to the city's top attractions and public transport.

Hostel Price Statistics & Key Numbers in Cairns

Total number of hostels 22
Typical dorm bed prices in Cairns $8
Private room costs in Cairns $58
Cheapest hostel in CairnsWanna Stay? for only $17
Popular Party Hostel in CairnsMad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront
(7 hostels for partying in total)
Where to stay in Cairns on a budget? Cairns CBD, Cairns North, Parramatta Park

For students and budget-conscious travelers, Cairns hostels provide great value. Many hostels include free breakfast, shared kitchens, and social spaces perfect for meeting other travelers — everything you need for a fun and easy stay.

Ready to go on an adventure in Cairns? Add your travel dates and start comparing prices, amenities, and availability. At Hostelz, we help you find all available hostels at the best prices.

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