The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Cairns

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Cairns

The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef

If it's your first trip to Cairns, Australia for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Cairns. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Cairns. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Cairns for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Cairns beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Cairns for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Pullman Reef Hotel Casino

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $200 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 35-41 Wharf Street, Pullman Reef Hotel Casino has great rooms from $200 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.90 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.6 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, parking, and rooms with kitchenettes at this relaxing hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


View hotels on the map:

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $208 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Cairns

A great place to stay is Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns which has nice rooms starting at $208. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Pierpoint Road Po Box 7170. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, snorkeling, a bar, parking, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.5 km from the city center. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Pullman Cairns International

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $166 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

We found Pullman Cairns International to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $166. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 17 Abbott Street. You'll also find scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, parking, and child care which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.6 km from the center of town. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Golden Sands Beachfront Resort

4-star Resort with prices starting at $134 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $134, Golden Sands Beachfront Resort, at 12-14 Deauville Close provides an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 9.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes. It's located just 12.5 km from the city center, too. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Crystalbrook Bailey

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $161 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Cairns
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Crystalbrook Bailey has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $161 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 163 Abbott Street. Furthermore, it also offers parking, rooms with kitchens, child care, laundry services, and city views, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Having a kitchen means that you'll be able to cook, which is very convenient when you're on the road.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Crystalbrook Riley

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $206 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Crystalbrook Riley is 8.60 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $206, and it's located at 131-141 Esplanade. We also love the parking, child care, laundry services, city views, and a hot tub which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.8 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Cairns Plaza Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $130 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Cairns
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Cairns Plaza Hotel because it has great rooms that start at $130. It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and city views, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 145 The Esplanade. Only 0.7 km from the city center, travelers will especially love free parking, laundry facilities, bicycle rental, family rooms, and a tour desk at this convenient hotel. We always love being able to prepare simple meals in a hotel room, and the kitchenette here was teriffic. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Hilton Cairns

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $177 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.

Hilton Cairns offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and snorkeling which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $177 (before taxes). It's located at 34 Esplanade and has earned a guest rating of 8.50/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, and laundry services which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.6 km from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $155 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Cairns
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 121-123 The Esplanade & Florence Street, DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns has great rooms from $155 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, parking, child care, and laundry services which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.8 km from the center of town. The pool bar here is a fun spot to relax while you unwind on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool


The Benson Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $153 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

A great place to stay is The Benson Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $153. Offering an outdoor pool, a casino, a restaurant, snorkeling, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 44-56 Grafton Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers parking, hiking, laundry services, city views, and evening entertainment. It's located just 1.3 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Bicycle rental
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove, and Mission Beach.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Cairns, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Cairns, Best Luxury Hotels in Cairns, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Cairns, Best Hotels for One Week in Cairns, Best Hotels for One Night in Cairns, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Cairns, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Cairns, Best Business Hotels in Cairns, or Best Party Hotels in Cairns.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Cairns?

Cairns Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$147

After analyzing 32 first time trip hotels in Cairns, Australia, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $147. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Cairns.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $179
  • 4-star hotels: $164
  • 3-star hotels: $95
  • 2-star hotels: $85


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