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YHA Cairns Central

2.0 star property
Hostel near Cairns Esplanade in Cairns

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Photo gallery for YHA Cairns Central

Outdoor pool
Property entrance
Boating
Reception
Garden

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Business services

Explore the area

View in a map
20-26 McLeod Street, Cairns, QLD, 4870
  • Place, Cairns Central Shopping Centre
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Cairns Night Markets
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Esplanade Lagoon
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Cairns, QLD (CNS-Cairns Intl.)
    ‪9 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Bed in 10 Share Mixed Dormitory

View from room

Bed in 10 Share Mixed Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 4 Share Mixed Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 4 Share Mixed Dormitory

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Double Room, Shared Bathroom | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Double Room, Shared Bathroom

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed
  • City view

View all photos for Queen Room with Ensuite

Queen Room with Ensuite | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Queen Room with Ensuite

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • City view

View all photos for Double Plus Two with Ensuite

Double Plus Two with Ensuite | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Double Plus Two with Ensuite

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds and 1 Double Bed
  • City view

View all photos for Bed in 10 Share Female Dormitory

View from room

Bed in 10 Share Female Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 6 Share Female Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 6 Share Female Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 6 Share Male Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 6 Share Male Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 6 Share Mixed Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 6 Share Mixed Dormitory

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 6 Share Female Dormitory with Ensuite

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 6 Share Female Dormitory with Ensuite

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 6 Share Mixed Dormitory with Ensuite

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 6 Share Mixed Dormitory with Ensuite

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Bed in 4 Share Female Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Bed in 4 Share Female Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Twin Room with Ensuite

Twin Room with Ensuite | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Twin Room with Ensuite

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Queen Plus Four with Ensuite

Queen Plus Four with Ensuite | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Queen Plus Four with Ensuite

  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Queen Bed and 4 Twin Bunk Beds

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Cairns Harbourside Hotel

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  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
4.4 out of 5, Excellent, 1,002 reviews
$105 nightly
The price is $116
Feb 8 - Feb 9
Total with taxes and fees
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About the neighborhood

Cairns

Cairns Central Business District stay.You'll be steps from Cairns Central Shopping Centre and within a 10-minute walk of Cairns Esplanade with a stay at this Cairns Central Business District hostel. The Cairns Museum and Cairns Historical Society Museum are also within half a mile (1 km).
View more Hostels in CairnsOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Cairns Central Shopping Centre - 1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Cairns Night Markets - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Cairns Esplanade - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Esplanade Lagoon - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Reef Fleet Terminal - 11 min walk - 0.6 miles

Getting around

  • Cairns Station - 4 min walk
  • Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪T2 Tea - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Gong Cha - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Grand Hotel - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪La Creperie - ‬4 min walk

About this property

YHA Cairns Central

Hostel near Cairns Esplanade in Cairns
Public spaces have free WiFi. A business center and a meeting room are available. An outdoor pool, barbecue grills, and a vending machine are also featured at YHA Cairns Central. Parking is available for a fee.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Cairns hostel.

  • 52 guestrooms or units
  • Business facilities
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Express check-in
  • Express check-out
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Pool or billiards table
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Water dispenser
  • 1 conference room
YHA Cairns Central offers 52 accommodations with air conditioning. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Guests can make use of the shared/communal kitchen.

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Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort
  • Pool
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
4.0 out of 5, Very Good, 437 reviews
$137 nightly
The price is $152
Feb 2 - Feb 3
Total with taxes and fees
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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Self parking on site (AUD 5 per day)

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: AUD 12 for adults and AUD 12 for children

Things to do

  • Billiards/pool table
  • Outdoor pool

Accessibility

  • No elevator

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Shared kitchen access

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Bulk dispensers for toiletries
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Recycling
  • Water-efficient showers
  • Water-efficient toilets

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 9:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours), lockbox

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for continental breakfast: approximately AUD 12 for adults and AUD 12 for children
  • Self parking fee: AUD 5 per day

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa and Mastercard. Cash is not accepted. This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

Property is also known as

Cairns Central YHA Hostel
Cairns Central YHA
Cairns Central Yha Backpackers Hotel Cairns
Cairns Central Yha Backpackers Hotel
YHA Cairns Central Cairns
Cairns Central YHA Hostel
YHA Cairns Central Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
YHA Cairns Central Hostel/Backpacker accommodation Cairns

Frequently asked questions

How close is YHA Cairns Central to the airport?

YHA Cairns Central is 4.3 mi (13-min drive) away from the Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at YHA Cairns Central?

As of Jan 25, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at YHA Cairns Central on Jan 26, 2026 start from $56.41, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does YHA Cairns Central have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at YHA Cairns Central.

How close is YHA Cairns Central to the beach?

This hostel is 7.9 mi (19-min drive) from Holloways Beach and 11.3 mi (24-min drive) from Yorkeys Knob Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does YHA Cairns Central offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at YHA Cairns Central, but continental breakfast is offered for a fee of AUD 12 for adults and AUD 12 for children. It's available every day from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Is there a casino at YHA Cairns Central?

No, there is no casino at this hostel, but Reef Hotel Casino (12-min walk) and Cazalys Cairns (5-min drive) are nearby.

What time is check-in at YHA Cairns Central?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM.

Is there free parking at YHA Cairns Central?

Free parking is not available at this hostel. Self parking is available for AUD 5 per day.

Does YHA Cairns Central have a pool?

YHA Cairns Central features an outdoor pool.

Does YHA Cairns Central have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hostel.

How close is YHA Cairns Central to downtown Cairns?

YHA Cairns Central is 0.4 mi away from Tropical North Waterfront.

YHA Cairns Central Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 82 out of 214 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 98 out of 214 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 23 out of 214 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 214 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 4 out of 214 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ryoichi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Had a great stay, thanks!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

KYLE, windsor

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was my first stay at a hostel. It was great. The folks at the front desk were very friendly and helpful. The kitchen facilities were great. The pool looked nice just didn’t get a chance to use it. All of the people staying there were friendly. Only complaint was there was only one dryer operational in the laundry room. I would highly recommend staying here if you are traveling to Cairns.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Mark

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Noelene

Traveled with family
Disliked: Amenities
Room was clean and comfortable we had ensuited room. Kitchen was messy unwashed cookware and utensils etc . we washed cutlery before using and when finished. Shops all around was great. Staff always helpful. Near to train station which was a priority for us as needed an overnight stay close to the station.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Georgina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Samuel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Owal

Liked: Staff & service
Functional room for my stay, rather basic but suited me fine. Small car park was also used, nearly full on arrival but managed to secure a spot. Noise from other guests speaking loudly in common outside areas by the pool in the early morning having breakfast and in the evening having dinner (surprisingly quiet during the day). Noise from a neighbouring bar when I stayed which stopped at 11pm.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Justin

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shruti

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great experience. Very chill and kind staff. You can download key on your google wallet which is such great help. The common areas were all usually clean, except in the evening when the toilets would get a dirty as people used it. But generally, everyone was very respectful. Very safe. I enjoyed my stay there.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Elizah

Alright
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Barbara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything in rooms clean.& in good condition. Amazing kitchen ! Toilet and shower block new and clean. Pool clean and inviting . Cairns mall just across the street with huge food court plus many shops. Room mates were lovely considerate Asian girls. All in all a wonderful stay
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
As a first time backpacker, I couldn't fault this establishment. It was impeccably clean, staff were friendly, bedding and beds impeccably clean and comfortable. Sheets even had iron marks on them. I would go there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ed

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly and comfortable!
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dayna

Stayed 6 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lais

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Good for a short stay

The Hostel it’s self seemed well taken care of with a pretty decent standard of cleanliness, all though many hostel mates didn’t properly clean up after themselves in the kitchen and I found myself re-washing dishes before I could actually use them. The room I stayed in (a 4 bed) was quite spacious and the lockers were big enough for my travel backpack, but the beds themselves were pretty lack luster and I found myself having a hard time getting a comfortable sleep. It does in a pinch, but I probably stayed a day too long for the sake of my back.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Hieu

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff, very convenient location, all (bed linen, towel, ...) very clean, 50m from Cairns big shopping centre with major supermarkets, department store. The communal kitchen is very well organised, clean. Secure car parking for $5 a day. Negative things are the free wifi is only up to 5Mbps during off-peak but very slow and just enough to check email at night (peak-hours), power points should be close to the bed or the floor or the very small table in the room, if your phone charging cables are short then you have to use the power point in the ensuite (if your room has ensuite). In general I would highly recommend this place if you don't expect all the bells and whistle of a 3-4 star hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Wenhai

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

melissa

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Axel

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Emily

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a great place to stay in Cairns! 10-15 minutes walk to the wharf and great shopping and dining. Large kitchen and shared area in the hostel and I loved that they advertised local events and activities happening.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Cairns Dive trip

Great facilities, great staff and a great experience all round. Will definately recommend and use again
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024