Motel Cairns - Find the Best Motels for 2026

Q: What are the best motels in Cairns?

Cairns Queens Court : Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the snack bar/deli, and freebies including WiFi and self-parking. The Reef Motel : Free WiFi and free parking are available during your stay, along with room amenities such as air conditioning. You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Motel Nomad Cairns : Enjoy access to the conference centre, and freebies including WiFi and self-parking. Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Lake Central : You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Laundry facilities and an outdoor pool are available during your stay, along with room amenities such as a kitchenette. Cairns Southgate Hotel : Stay within a quick 5-minute drive of Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the computer station, and freebies including WiFi and self-parking.

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

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Our top choices for Cairns motels

A spacious hotel lobby with a high ceiling, a central seating area with sofas and a coffee table, a staircase leading to an upper level, and a reception desk.

1. Cairns Queens Court

Cairns North

Peter

includes taxes & fees

5 Oct - 6 Oct

A balcony with a table and chairs, a bed with a pillow, and a view of buildings and mountains.

2. Heritage Cairns

Cairns Central Business District

Jan

includes taxes & fees

27 Sept - 28 Sept

A swimming pool with a stone border, a metal fence, and a staircase leading to a blue building.

3. Aspect Central

Cairns North

Raymond

includes taxes & fees

26 Oct - 27 Oct

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, and a chair. There is a door leading to a balcony with a view of greenery.

4. Nightcap at Balaclava Hotel

Earlville

Tammara

includes taxes & fees

9 Oct - 10 Oct

A modern hotel with self-contained apartments, a swimming pool, and a BBQ area.

5. Cairns City Palms

Cairns North

Hannah

includes taxes & fees

19 Oct - 20 Oct

A swimming pool with clear water, surrounded by lounge chairs and a rock formation.

6. Reef Palms Motel

Cairns North

Pagalavan

includes taxes & fees

13 Oct - 14 Oct

A modern two-story house with a covered patio, a driveway, and landscaped garden with palm trees.

7. Cairns Southgate Hotel

Earlville

Rachel

includes taxes & fees

14 Oct - 15 Oct

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, a ceiling fan, a window with curtains, and a painting on the wall.

8. The Reef Motel

Cairns North

Rohan

includes taxes & fees

26 Oct - 27 Oct

A pool area with a swan sculpture, outdoor seating, and palm trees.

9. Motel Nomad Cairns

Westcourt

Kristelle

includes taxes & fees

26 Oct - 27 Oct

A hotel room with two beds, a nightstand, and a lamp.

10. Lake Central

Cairns Central Business District

Steven

includes taxes & fees

19 Oct - 20 Oct

A hotel room with a bed, a window, a nightstand, and a chair.

11. Cairns City Motel

Cairns Central Business District

Shane

includes taxes & fees

24 Oct - 25 Oct

A hotel room with a bed, a green sofa, a yellow table, and a ceiling fan.

12. Port Douglas Motel

Port Douglas

Rob

includes taxes & fees

25 Oct - 26 Oct

A pool surrounded by rocks and palm trees.

13. Lazy Lizard Motor Inn

Port Douglas

Molly

includes taxes & fees

19 Oct - 20 Oct

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Top Cairns Hotel Reviews

Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns

10/10 Excellent

"Quite clean and spacious. I disliked the bed having wheels. You couldn’t sit up on the bed and lean on the wall. The beds kept rolling away."

Cairns Plaza Hotel

8/10 Good

"Excellent room with a beautiful view, great location to walk everywhere. The only issue which was constant that the wifi was not working properly in our room, we constantly were kicked off of it and no fix was offered, even though I identified this issue right away, it’s a shame as otherwise this is a perfect hotel."

The Oceanfront Cairns

8/10 Good

"Limited parking in exposed front park lot, otherwise it was street parking. One lift operating which took a while during peak time close to checkout. Bit of construction work going on. Otherwise spacious great room (just unfortunate that there is a small step into the bathroom which is a toe catcher, and shower glass doesn’t cover enough whereby the floor outside gets very wet)."

Ramada By Wyndham Cairns City Centre

8/10 Good

"Great location. Dated but functional , large clean ,rooms. No block out blinds so room is very lit up from carpark lighting at night and early morning sun through the plantation shutters common to this area. If you need darkness to sleep , bring a mask If you want fresh air ,have to jam the front door open as not opening front windows. ( room has excellent ceiling fan and good A/c )"

Find out more about Cairns

Cairns Motels information

Number of reviews	5,552
Accommodation	15 Motels
Lowest Price	NZ$136
Highest Price	NZ$234

Frequently asked questions

What can I expect from a motel trip to Cairns?

If you're having trouble locating 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 1387 hotels and other lodging options. Just use our search tools to filter by nightly room rate or money-saving amenities such as free parking and free breakfast.

What's it like to stay in a motel?

Motels often have free parking, and many have outdoor pools. Often one or two storeys high, motels usually have outdoor access to guestrooms from the car park. Starting in the early 1950s, colourful neon signs were used as beacons for tired families on road trips, and examples can still be seen today along historic US Route 66.

What are the best motels in Cairns?

Cairns Queens Court: Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the snack bar/deli, and freebies including WiFi and self-parking. The Reef Motel: Free WiFi and free parking are available during your stay, along with room amenities such as air conditioning. You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Motel Nomad Cairns: Enjoy access to the conference centre, and freebies including WiFi and self-parking. Stay within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Reef Fleet Terminal. Lake Central: You'll be located within a 5-minute drive of Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Laundry facilities and an outdoor pool are available during your stay, along with room amenities such as a kitchenette. Cairns Southgate Hotel: Stay within a quick 5-minute drive of Cairns Central Shopping Centre. Enjoy access to the computer station, and freebies including WiFi and self-parking.

How many motels are there in Cairns?

Expedia has 15 low-priced motels in Cairns.

What things can I to do in Cairns?

Enjoy the lush rainforest and beautiful coral reefs 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 road trip, 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 temperature of 27°C, while the coldest months are August and July, with an average of 21°C. The rainiest months in Cairns are January, February, March and December, with each month seeing an average of 281 mm of rainfall.

What are my options for getting around Cairns while staying in a motel?

We've gathered some information about local transportation options in Cairns to help you navigate your stay: Fly into Cairns, QLD (CNS-Cairns Intl.), which is located 3.5 mi (5.6 km) away. If you'd like to explore more of the area, take a train from Cairns Station, Freshwater Station or Redlynch Station. You can find out about water transport options at the marina.

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