Destination guides > Australia > Queensland > Cairns
Cairns
Cairns is perfectly set up for the hordes of backpackers who descend on the city every year. It has a massive hostel infrastructure and lots of cheap places to eat making it an economical place to spend some time. Although the city does not have a substantial amount of attractions in itself, it does act as the most popular jumping off point to the Great Barrier Reef – an attraction that beats them all, and one which backpackers come here for and take full advantage of. Many travellers set aside several days or weeks to attain their dive certification here, although you can take any of the numerous day trips to the reef and join an introductory dive, which is just as awe-inspiring.
The city has a relaxed ambience, but at night the young and restless backpacker crowd converges on the city centre, and there is no shortage of partying and debauchery well into the morning. Pubs, bars and nightclubs, however casual, still inspire a rowdy scene. It is a good idea to spend a few nights in one of the hostels known for its social aspect, but move to one of the more low-key places if you are planning a trip in the morning and need a good night’s sleep. The vast range of hostels makes this easy to do. A good place to refresh in the daytime is the huge swimming lagoon just off the Esplanade.
Practical information
INFORMATION CENTRES
Cairns Visitor Centre
51 The Esplanade, Cairns
Tel (07) 4051 3588
Website www.tropicalaustralia.com.au
Open 8.30am-6.30pm daily
Queensland Parks & Wildlife Centre
10 McLeod Street, Cairns
Tel (07) 4046 6600
Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm
INTERNET ACCESS
Global Gossip – Abbott Street
125 Abbott Street, Cairns
Tel (07) 4031 6411
Website www.globalgossip.com
Open 8.30am-11pm daily
Global Gossip – Shields Street
Shop 9, 7 Shields Street, Cairns
Tel (07) 4051 8485
Website www.globalgossip.com
If you're planning on working in Cairns or otherwise staying here for longer than a month, then a shared house may be a better option for you than staying in a hostel.
Cairns Sharehouse (tel (07) 4041 1875) is an accommodation service that manages several shared houses and flats in Cairns. In many ways staying here is like staying in a hostel, although it is different enough that we don't include it in our hostel listings. Basically you're staying in shared house or flat with common areas like a hostel, but with private rooms and many of the characteristics of a shared flat. There's a minimum one month stay.
Sleeping with the Enemy (tel 1300 309 468) is a similar, Sydney-based, service that also manages shared houses and flats in Cairns.
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