Backpacker Hostels in Cairns, Australia

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Get to know Cairns (no more "I wish I knew this before")

This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Cairns.

 Get to know Cairns (no more

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 local enthusiast for Cairns hostels

Written by local enthusiast for Cairns hostels Miika

FAQ about Cairns Hostels

We've collected the most common questions for hostels in Cairns. The more you know, the better you can plan with confidence and ease, right?

A hostel in Cairns costs $25 for a dorm. A private room in a hostel in Cairns costs $85. (based on Hostelz.com price comparison)
The only website listing all 23 Hostels in Cairns is Hostelz.com. We are a specialized hostel price comparison.
Hostelz.com compares prices for 23 hostels in Cairns, Australia. We list for you other cheap places to stay in Cairns such as
  • 10 hotels
  • 1 guesthouse
  • 3 apartments

This makes Hostelz.com the best place to find cheap accommodation in Cairns.

Summer House Backpackers is the best hostel for partying in Cairns.

It offers: Bar, Nightclub.

Cairns Hostel Cheatsheet

Above we list every single hostel there is in the city. Let us take a broader look at what you can expect - and what not. We created this cheatsheet for you to get a more complete picture of the hostel quality in Cairns, average prices and types of hostels to choose from.
23 Total number of hostels
$25 Average dorm price
$85 Average private room price
$18 Cheapest hostel in Cairns
6 Party hostels in Cairns
Why Not Backpackers is the best rated
Most Cairns hostels are located in
Cairns North, Cairns CBD, Parramatta Park
8.1 Average rating of all hostels

Other Nearby Cities

Palm Cove (22 Km / 14 mi.)
Yungaburra (43 Km / 27 mi.)
Atherton (49 Km / 31 mi.)
Port Douglas (58 Km / 36 mi.)
Innisfail (72 Km / 45 mi.)
Cape Tribulation (99 Km / 61 mi.)
Mission Beach (111 Km / 69 mi.)

Travel Tips for Cairns - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Cairns. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Cairns. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

Cairns comments only. Don't discuss the hostels here, post a review on the hostel's page instead.

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