10 Best Motels in Cairns: Find Cheap Motels in Cairns 2026

Q: What are the best motels in Cairns?

Cairns Queens Court : Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the snack bar/deli, and freebies including WiFi and parking. The Reef Motel : Free WiFi and free parking are available during your stay, along with room amenities like air conditioning. You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Motel Nomad Cairns : Enjoy access to the conference center, and freebies including WiFi and parking. Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Lake Central : You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Laundry facilities and an outdoor pool are available during your stay, along with room amenities like a kitchenette. Cairns Southgate Hotel : Stay within a quick 5-minute drive of Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the computer station, and freebies including WiFi and parking.

A coastal town with dense forest, a mountain, and a large body of water.

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Our top choices for Cairns motels

A spacious hotel lobby with a high ceiling, a central seating area with sofas and a coffee table, a staircase leading to an upper level, and a reception desk.

1. Cairns Queens Court

Cairns North

Peter

₩95,569 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 22 - Oct 23

A swimming pool with a stone border, a metal fence, and a staircase leading to a blue building.

2. Aspect Central

Cairns North

Raymond

₩101,211 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 15 - Oct 16

A modern two-story house with a covered patio, a driveway, and landscaped garden with palm trees.

3. Cairns Southgate Hotel

Earlville

Rachel

₩144,641 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 28 - Sep 29

A modern hotel with self-contained apartments, a swimming pool, and a BBQ area.

4. Cairns City Palms

Cairns North

Hannah

₩142,758 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 11 - Oct 12

A swimming pool with clear water, surrounded by lounge chairs and a rock formation.

5. Reef Palms Motel

Cairns North

Pagalavan

₩150,869 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 13 - Oct 14

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, and a chair. There is a door leading to a balcony with a view of greenery.

6. Nightcap at Balaclava Hotel

Earlville

Tammara

₩134,370 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 11 - Oct 12

A balcony with a table and chairs, a bed with a pillow, and a view of buildings and mountains.

7. Heritage Cairns

Cairns Central Business District

Jan

₩196,848 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 28 - Sep 29

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, a ceiling fan, a window with curtains, and a painting on the wall.

8. The Reef Motel

Cairns North

Rohan

₩123,416 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 29 - Sep 30

A hotel room with two beds, a nightstand, and a lamp.

9. Lake Central

Cairns Central Business District

Steven

₩160,138 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 19 - Oct 20

A pool area with a swan sculpture, outdoor seating, and palm trees.

10. Motel Nomad Cairns

Westcourt

Kristelle

₩115,494 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 4 - Oct 5

A hotel room with a bed, a window, a nightstand, and a chair.

11. Cairns City Motel

Cairns Central Business District

Shane

₩149,776 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 12 - Oct 13

A clear pool surrounded by rocks and a brick pathway.

12. A1 Inn the City

Cairns Central Business District

Bill

₩147,399 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 8 - Oct 9

A pool surrounded by rocks and palm trees.

13. Lazy Lizard Motor Inn

Port Douglas

Molly

₩179,731 total

includes taxes & fees

Oct 20 - Oct 21

A hotel room with a bed, a green sofa, a yellow table, and a ceiling fan.

14. Port Douglas Motel

Port Douglas

Rob

₩184,362 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 30 - Oct 1

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Top Cairns Hotel Reviews

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

8/10 Good

"Fantastic location, great amenities and very helpful staff. The rooms were serviced daily and items were replenished according to your preferences. Breakfast buffet had a good selection of food and drink and was good value for money. The hotel room was very clean. Only downside was that some elements of the hotel look a bit tired (eg the outside walls, some of the paintwork and soft furnishings) and could do with a refresh. Overall would recommend and would stay again."

Pullman Cairns International

10/10 Excellent

"We returned to this establishment as I wanted to and needed to examine the antique Melodeon that I inspected on a previous visit. I needed to take some photos and measurements as I had another unit of a client that was needing a full restoration and would have even offered to buy the unit in the hotel however some staff remembered seeing it in the main hall but no one was able to remember where it had gone or why. The securing marks were still on the wall where the Melodeon was placed but now it is gone somewhere???????? Very disappointed......."

The Oceanfront Cairns

8/10 Good

"Limited parking in exposed front park lot, otherwise it was street parking. One lift operating which took a while during peak time close to checkout. Bit of construction work going on. Otherwise spacious great room (just unfortunate that there is a small step into the bathroom which is a toe catcher, and shower glass doesn’t cover enough whereby the floor outside gets very wet)."

Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre

8/10 Good

"Great location. Dated but functional , large clean ,rooms. No block out blinds so room is very lit up from carpark lighting at night and early morning sun through the plantation shutters common to this area. If you need darkness to sleep , bring a mask If you want fresh air ,have to jam the front door open as not opening front windows. ( room has excellent ceiling fan and good A/c )"

Find out more about Cairns

Cairns Motels information

Number of reviews	5,712
Accommodation	15 Motels
Lowest Price	₩95,569
Highest Price	₩196,848

Frequently asked questions

What can I expect from a motel trip to Cairns?

If you're having difficulty finding a motel in Cairns, consider some of the motels we suggest around the area or let Expedia help you find a similar property from more than 1387 hotels and other lodging options. Simply use our search tools to filter by nightly room rate or cost-effective amenities such as free breakfast and free airport transportation.

What's it like to stay in a motel?

Motel properties often include free parking, and many also include an outdoor pool. Often one or two stories tall, motels usually have outdoor access to guestrooms from the parking lot. Beginning in the early 1950s, eye-catching neon signs enticed road-weary travelers, and you can see these today along the historic U.S. Route 66.

What are the best motels in Cairns?

Cairns Queens Court: Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the snack bar/deli, and freebies including WiFi and parking. The Reef Motel: Free WiFi and free parking are available during your stay, along with room amenities like air conditioning. You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Motel Nomad Cairns: Enjoy access to the conference center, and freebies including WiFi and parking. Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Lake Central: You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Laundry facilities and an outdoor pool are available during your stay, along with room amenities like a kitchenette. Cairns Southgate Hotel: Stay within a quick 5-minute drive of Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the computer station, and freebies including WiFi and parking.

How many motels should I expect to find in Cairns?

Expedia has 15 low-cost motels in Cairns.

What things can I to do in Cairns?

Enjoy the lush rainforest and beautiful coral reefs in this walkable area while you're sightseeing. People visiting Cairns love its marina. These are some of the parks and outdoorsy places: Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, Cairns Esplanade Charles Street Parkland, and Crystal Cascades. You'll find these family-friendly attractions: Muddy's Playground, Sugarworld Waterpark, and Reef Teach. During your trip, here are some other places to visit: Cairns Night Markets, Reef Hotel Casino, and Cairns Performing Arts Centre.

What's the seasonal weather like in Cairns?

Weather can make or break a roadtrip, so we've gathered some data about year-round temperatures in Cairns to help you plan yours. The hottest months are usually January and February with an average temp of 80°F, while the coldest months are August and July with an average of 70°F. The rainiest months in Cairns are January, February, March, and December, with each month seeing an average of 11 inches of rainfall.

What are my options for getting around Cairns when staying in a motel?

We've gathered some information about local transportation options in Cairns to help you navigate your stay: Fly into Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS), which is located 3.5 mi (5.6 km) from the city center. If you want to see more of the area, hop aboard a train from Cairns Station, Freshwater Station, or Redlynch Station. You can find out about water travel options at the marina.

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