Backpacking Cairns, backpacker hostels, accommodation, tours and budget travel information

If you are planning to backpack Cairns, then this page provides information on what backpacker hostels and backpacker tours are available here. The page also provides a description of Cairns, information on how to get here and contact details of the local visitor information centre.

With a population of around 118,000, Cairns is the largest city in Far North Queensland. It is an extremely popular holiday destination for Australian and International visitors and as such, has a real cosmopolitan flavour to it.

Cairns Esplanade
Photographer: Paul Ewart
Courtesy Tourism Queensland

Palm Cove Beach north of Cairns
Photographer: Peter Lik
Courtesy Tourism Queensland

The city is also a major destination for backpackers, and as would be expected, has a large number of backpacker and budget accommodation places. The Bruce highway from Brisbane ends its run in Cairns, as does the rail link.

Cairns is a gateway to a great deal of places and activities. You will find many tour companies that depart from Cairns out to the Great Barrier Reef, where you can do some great diving and snorkelling. You can also find adventure tour companies that will take you white-water rafting, kayaking or canoeing in nearby rivers. You can also go bungy jumping, skydiving or ballooning.

You can take trips to explore the magnificent and spectacular rainforest and national parks nearby, or you can relax on some of the beautiful beaches just outside of Cairns. Cairns is a great base for backpackers, offering many great places to eat at and shop, and it also has a lively, fun nightlife and plenty of friendly locals.

JJ's Backpackers Hostel 13 Charles St Carins, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 7642	Cairns Beach House 239 Sheridan St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4041 4116
Cairns Girls Hostel 147 Lake St Cairns, QLD, 4870 Freecall 1800 011 950	Calypso Backpackers 5 Digger St Cairns North, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 0910
Inn The Tropics 141 Sheridan St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 1088	Serpent Hostel 341 Lake St Cairns, QLD, 4870 Phone (07) 4040 7777
Asylum Cairns Backpackers 149 Grafton St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 1474	Bay Village Tropical Retreat Lake St (cnr Gatton) Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone 1800 079 084
Cairns Gateway Resort 1/ 21 Anderson Rd Woree, QLD 4868 Phone (07) 4044 4777	Bohemia Resort Cairns 231 McLeod St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4041 2229
Captain Cook Backpackers Resort 204- 212 Sheridan St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 6811	Caravella Backpackers 149 The Esplanade Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 2431
Corona Backpackers 72 Grafton St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4041 5288	Gilligans Backpacker Hotel & Resort 57- 89 Grafton St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4041 6566
Rainforest Grove Holiday Resort 40 -42 Moody St Manunda, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4053 6366	Castaway's Backpackers 207 Sheridan St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone 1800 351 115
McLeod's Backpackers Hostel 77 McLeod St Carins, QLD 4870 Phone 1800 006 288	Bailey's Budget Accommodation 396 Draper St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone 0408 744 661
Dreamtime Travellers Rest 4 Terminus St Parramatta Park, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 6753	Y H A On The Esplanade Cairns 93 The Esplanade Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 1919
Gone Walkabout Hostel 274 Draper St Parramatta Park, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 6160	Cairns Central YHA 20- 24 McLeod St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 0772
Hostel 89 89 The Esplanade Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 7477	Travellers Oasis 8 Scott St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4052 1377
International Hostel 67 The Esplanade Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 1545	Gecko's Backpackers 187 Bunda St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 1344
Jimmy's On The Esplanade 83 The Esplanade Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 4411	Floriana Guest House 183 The Esplanade Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 7886
Rosie's Backpackers 136 Grafton St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4041 0249	Inn The City 141 Lake St Cairns, QLD, 4870 Phone (07) 4051 3633
Shenannigans Cnr Spence & Sheridan Sts Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 2490	Parkview Backpackers Hostel 174 Grafton St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 3700
Tropic Days 26-28 Bunting St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4041 1521	Ryan's Rest 18 Terminus St Parramatta Park, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 4734
Sunland Carapark Inn 49 Pease St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4053 6888	The Global Palace 86- 88 Lake St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 7921
U2 Retreat Cairns 77 McLeod St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 4077	Travellers Castle 209 Lake St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4031 2229
Utopia Backpackers 702 Bruce Hwy Woree, QLD, 4868 Phone (07) 4054 4444	Koala Beach Resort 137 Lake St Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone (07) 4051 4933

9 Day Cairns to Cape York With Billy Tea Bush Safaris	Reef Quest With Deep Sea Divers Den
4 day Budget Learn-to-Dive Course With Deep Sea Divers Den	1 day Snorkel Trip With Cairns Dive Centre
1 day Dive Trip With Cairns Dive Centre	5 Day Open Water Learn to Dive Course With Cairns Dive Centre
2 Day Liveaboard Dive Trip With Cairns Dive Centre	2 Day Liveaboard Snorkel Trip With Cairns Dive Centre
1 day snorkelling/dive trip With Deep Sea Divers Den	Budget Learn to Dive Course With Cairns Dive Centre
1 night 2 day Reef Encounter With Reef Encounter	1 night 2 day Reef Encounter With Compass Cruises
3 day 2 night Reef Encounter With Reef Encounter	5 Day Learn to Dive program With Deep Sea Divers Den
Skydive With Pauls Parachuting	Day Cruise With Compass Cruises