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

Q: What are the best motels in Cairns?

Heritage Cairns : Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Enjoy access to the free WiFi and parking, as well as room amenities like air conditioning. Cairns Queens Court : 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 Reef Fleet Terminal. The Reef Motel : Enjoy access to the outdoor pool, and freebies including WiFi and parking. Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Cairns Southgate Hotel : It's located within a 10-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Free WiFi and free parking are available during your stay, along with room amenities like a Smart TV. Lake Central : Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Enjoy access to the laundry facilities and outdoor pool, as well as room amenities like a kitchenette.

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

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Our top choices for Cairns motels

1. Heritage Cairns

Cairns Central Business District

Cindy

₩168,719 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 17 - Sep 18

2. Cairns Queens Court

Cairns North

Samantha Jayne

₩100,930 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 9 - Sep 10

3. Aspect Central

Cairns North

Raymond

₩111,573 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 6 - Sep 7

Desk, laptop workspace, iron/ironing board, cribs (free)

4. Nightcap at Balaclava Hotel

Earlville

Tammara

₩135,590 total

includes taxes & fees

Aug 30 - Aug 31

5. Cairns Southgate Hotel

Earlville

Rachel

₩153,051 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 13 - Sep 14

6. Reef Palms Motel

Cairns North

Pagalavan

₩173,981 total

includes taxes & fees

Aug 23 - Aug 24

Queen Ensuite Room | Desk, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board (on request), WiFi (free)

7. Cairns City Motel

Cairns Central Business District

Lan

₩154,863 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 3 - Sep 4

Apartment, 1 Bedroom | Blackout drapes, bed sheets

8. Lake Central

Cairns Central Business District

Cath

₩154,040 total

includes taxes & fees

Sep 14 - Sep 15

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Top Cairns Hotel Reviews

Hilton Cairns

10/10 Excellent

"We absolutely loved our stay at the Hilton Cairns. Perfect location. We stayed on the 8th floor we water views, which gave us access to a seperate room offering a small Buffet breakfast every morning and canapés, beer and wine in the evening. Absolutely loved this option as the dinning room downstairs is full and the food, drinks and a Harpist on the Saturday was a lovely touch. Comfy bed was a big bonus too."

Mantra Esplanade

10/10 Excellent

"The bathrooms could be modernised however in saying that the rooms were wonderful and clean, well equipped. The staff were always friendly and helpful throughout our stay. We had a clean and refresh of towels and cleaning products like laundry powder and dishwashing liquid midway through our stay (despite only staying 6 days) which was extremely helpful and nice. The hotel itself is situated in a great location; walking distance to the pier, night markets, lagoon, casino, countless restaurants and shops."

Cairns Harbourside Hotel

8/10 Good

"Hotel and staff were nice. Location was about 30 mins walking from the pier and 8 min drive from airport. This meant it was a relatively quiet area (sometimes planes overhead). Pluses: a shuttle runs to the center 4 times a day, (unheated) pool on site, and free parking lot off street Negatives: only one outlet in the entire room (under a table). Mattress was a little lumpy and bathrooms a little dated - but not terrible."

Find out more about Cairns

Cairns Motels information

Number of reviews	2,480
Accommodation	15 Motels
Lowest Price	₩100,930
Highest Price	₩238,307

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 1370 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?

Heritage Cairns: Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Enjoy access to the free WiFi and parking, as well as room amenities like air conditioning. Cairns Queens Court: 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 Reef Fleet Terminal. The Reef Motel: Enjoy access to the outdoor pool, and freebies including WiFi and parking. Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Cairns Southgate Hotel: It's located within a 10-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Free WiFi and free parking are available during your stay, along with room amenities like a Smart TV. Lake Central: Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Enjoy access to the laundry facilities and outdoor pool, as well as room amenities like a kitchenette.

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 beautiful coral reefs and lush rainforest 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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