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The Benson Hotel

4.0 star property
4-star Art Deco hotel near Cairns Esplanade

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Photo gallery for The Benson Hotel

Enjoy a panoramic city and sea view from the large window, relax in the seating area, and cook in the compact kitchenette.
Relax by the pool with a stunning city view.
Welcome to our lobby, featuring a reception desk with gold accents, a comfortable sofa, and lush greenery.
Two large beds with white linens, a desk, and a city view.
Relax on the outdoor patio surrounded by lush greenery and enjoy the serene atmosphere.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Bar
  • Housekeeping

Explore the area

Map
44-56 Grafton Street, Cairns, QLD, 4870
  • Cairns Esplanade
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Cairns Central Shopping Centre
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Reef Fleet Terminal
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Cairns, QLD (CNS-Cairns Intl.)
    ‪9 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Terrace

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Terrace | Terrace/patio

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Terrace

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)
  • 237 sq ft
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Superior Room, 2 Queen Beds

1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Superior Room, 2 Queen Beds

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(4 reviews)
  • City view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Suite

1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Suite

  • 431 sq ft
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)
  • 237 sq ft
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

  • 237 sq ft
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Superior Room, 1 King Bed

1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Superior Room, 1 King Bed

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

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(16 reviews)
  • 237 sq ft
  • River view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Benson Suite

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Superior King With View

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Superior Queen With View

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Standard Accessible Room

1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Standard Accessible Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Terrace Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard King Room

1 bedroom, premium bedding, pillowtop beds, laptop workspace

Standard King Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Queen Room

Bathroom | Shower, free toiletries, hair dryer, towels

Standard Queen Room

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

About the neighborhood

Cairns

Heart of Cairns.Within a 10-minute walk of this Cairns Central Business District hotel, you'll find Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Reef Teach and The Cairns Museum are also within half a mile (1 km).

What's nearby

  • Cairns Esplanade - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Cairns Central Shopping Centre - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Cairns Convention Centre - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Reef Fleet Terminal - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Esplanade Lagoon - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles

Getting around

  • Cairns Station - 9 min walk
  • Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Annee's CaPhe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Caffiend - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Gilligan's Travels - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪The Lillipad Cafe - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Indian brothers restaurant Cairns - ‬4 min walk

About this property

The Benson Hotel

4-star Art Deco hotel near Cairns Esplanade
There's a restaurant on site, as well as a snack bar/deli. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Business amenities include a business center and 2 meeting rooms.

WiFi is free in public spaces. Event space at this hotel measures 2885 square feet (268 square meters) and includes conference space. An outdoor pool, a terrace, and tour/ticket assistance are also featured at The Benson Hotel. Limited parking is available for a fee and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 4-star Cairns hotel.

  • 1 building
  • 101 guestrooms or units
  • 10 levels
  • 2885 sq ft of conference space
  • 268 sq m of conference space
  • Built in 1984
  • Deli
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Business facilities
  • Conference space
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Bellhop
  • Elevator
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
The Benson Hotel offers 101 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and complimentary weekday newspapers. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. 55-inch flat-screen televisions come with digital channels.

Bathrooms include showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. This Cairns hotel provides complimentary wired and wireless Internet access, with a WiFi speed of 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices). Housekeeping is offered daily and change of towels can be requested.

Languages

English, French, Indonesian, Spanish

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  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
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4.4 out of 5, Excellent, 1,007 reviews
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The price is $151
Aug 10 - Aug 11
Total includes taxes and fees
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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Fenced pool
  • In-room microwave
  • Laundry facilities
  • Mini-fridge
  • Outdoor pool
  • Pool gate
  • Snack bar/deli

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
  • In-room WiFi speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Height restrictions apply for onsite parking
  • Onsite parking available only on request
  • Secured, covered self parking on site (AUD 25 per night)
  • Limited onsite parking (max 1 space per unit)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily buffet breakfast available 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: AUD 32 for adults and AUD 22 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Bicycle storage
  • Bicycle tours
  • Outdoor pool

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 1 accessible parking space
  • Elevator (35 inch wide door)
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (24 inches high)
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • 55-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels
  • Streaming services

Bedroom

  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Champagne service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Mini-fridge
  • Tea bags/instant coffee

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk chair
  • Free weekday newspapers
  • Laptop workspace

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

The property charges 2 percent for credit card payments
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for AUD 35.0 per night.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Breakage deposit: AUD 100 per stay

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

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

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately AUD 32 for adults and AUD 22 for children
  • Covered self parking fee: AUD 25 per night
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: AUD 35.0 per night
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 2 percent

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 debit card 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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve onsite parking
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Commitment to Clean (Choice)
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A 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 has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation. Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve onsite parking. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB International, debit cards, and cash. This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
    For guests' safety, the property includes a smoke detector in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions. This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Commitment to Clean (Choice).

We should mention

  • Pool access available from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Property is also known as

The Benson Hotel Hotel
The Benson Hotel Cairns
The Benson Hotel Hotel Cairns

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Benson Hotel to the airport?

The Benson Hotel is 4.1 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 The Benson Hotel?

As of Jul 21, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Benson Hotel on Jul 30, 2025 start from $249.75, 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 The Benson Hotel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at The Benson Hotel.

How close is The Benson Hotel to the beach?

This hotel is 7.7 mi (18-min drive) from Holloways Beach and 10.6 mi (18-min drive) from Yorkeys Knob Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does The Benson Hotel offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t provided at The Benson Hotel, but buffet breakfast is offered for a fee of AUD 32 for adults and AUD 22 for children. It's available every day from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

Is there a casino at The Benson Hotel?

No, there is no casino at this hotel, but Reef Hotel Casino (7-min walk) and Cazalys Cairns (5-min drive) are nearby.

What time is check-in at The Benson Hotel?

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

Is there free parking at The Benson Hotel?

Free parking is not available at this hotel. Self parking is available for AUD 25 per night.

Does The Benson Hotel have a pool?

The Benson Hotel features an outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy pool access from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Does The Benson Hotel have a restaurant?

The Benson Hotel is home to Benson Bar & Restaurant, which features happy hour and light fare.

Does The Benson Hotel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this hotel.

How close is The Benson Hotel to downtown Cairns?

The Benson Hotel is 0.1 mi away from Cairns.

The Benson Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 221 out of 440 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 140 out of 440 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 55 out of 440 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 16 out of 440 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 440 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Rodney

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful location for a Cairns stay. Have been to Cairns several times and stayed at various hotels and found The Benson to be in the best location, easy to walk to dining options and to the marina or Cairns Central etc.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kyoichi

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Loved the facility. One lift was broken while there which made it a lengthy wait to go up and down from the room. The rest of the facility was great with good dining and activities walking distance! It was beautiful
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Krzysztof

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Friendly staff. Spacious, clean room. Breakfast was also good. Comfortable king size bed. Thank you flr an enjoyable stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Anthony

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, quiet, friendly! GREAT LOCATION!!! Room was spacious.. 2 queens! Highly recommend! Great coffee.. and the breakfast looked good!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

4/10 Poor

Blagoja, Alphington

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Strange smell in the coridors, rooms not serviced daily.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

maria

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Really enjoyed the proximity to restaurants and the Esplanade board walk.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Eamon, Innisfail

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The staff were friendly. The room was clean and the bed and pillow were great. However, I had a major issue with the air-conditioning, it was extremely noisy. The second point was,why dose the bean counters believe that cheap toilet paper is better when you use 10 times the amount than good quality paper? For $200.00 a night hotel I expect better
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff were friendly and helpful. The hotel is well situated. They could do with more washing machines and dryers. Only one of each for the guests. Parking was also a little pricey. $25 per day when there were places near by that only charged $8 for all day parking.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Pauline

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
We booked last minute. It was beautiful- nice and clean and spacious. Only issue - small one - girl at front desk was a bit cranky. Having a bad day, I suppose. No big deal. If we weren’t leaving the next morning, it would have been a perfect location.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Kim

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We liked the location as we could walk to all of our booked tours, such as The Great Barrier Reef. There were restaurants and shopping close by. View not great from our room. There is laundry and a nice pool area on the 4th floor. No shuttle to/or from the airport.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lauren

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good/clean property very closr to shopping areas. Parking at the hotel is an extra fee each day.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Natalie

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Great location and loved the roof top pool
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Angela

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Freshly renovated

An old Rydges hotel rebranded and fully renovated. Rooms clean comfortable and very modern
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine

Traveled with family
Liked: Amenities
Awesome breakfast.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Lee

Benson end of March 25

Hotel well located, breakfast good, disappointing bar only open limited days- receptionist were helpful - umbrellas and tow eg is provided- can be noisy with younger travellers
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Hong

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Every thing is good, I have no complaints. The only thing is that the room key card wasn’t working well for tapping at the lift so it took a bit more time than it supposed to be.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nadine

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful property great friendly staff, great buffet breakfast, awesome stay
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort

Mixed experience in Cairnes

Location excellent. Happy hour decent. Room and balcony a good size. They charge for water and there is no soap dish in the bathroom. We were on the 4 floor above the restaurant. Surprisingly quiet until some rude people moved in above us. There was nothing but noise from them which made it hard to sleep. Complained and an attendant came to our room and could hear the noise from above. She said she would take care of it and inform the night attendant as her shift was ending soon. Nothing changed, noise off and on all night long. Phoned the front desk but no one answered or the line was busy (4 AM in the morning?). Probably would not stay there again.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

John

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property is in a handy location. Staff were always friendly and helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved everything except having to pay an extra $25 to park my car for the night!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diana

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

10/10 Excellent

Odd

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
They could not provide ice for us
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2025