What makes it 81% Solo-Friendly: Dorm or private rooms at budget rates, free Wi-Fi, lockers, tour desk and CCTV suit independent travelers; Cairns Central Station 250 m and Esplanade 700 m aid easy solo exploring, but front desk closes 22:00.
Cairns Central Station: 250m (3 min walk)
Board scenic trains to Kuranda and other inland destinations.
Cairns Airport: 6.8 km (14 min drive)
Use the hostel shuttle or taxis for a 14-minute transfer.
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon: 780m (10 min walk)
Public saltwater lagoon with scenic boardwalk along the waterfront.
Tip: Swim early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Cairns Central Shopping Centre: 200m (3 min walk)
Large mall with shops, a food court and essentials.
Tip: Pick up reef-trip snacks and supplies here.
Cairns Night Markets: 580m (8 min walk)
Open-air market stalls offering souvenirs and street food.
Tip: Visit after sunset for live music and snack specials.
Outdoor swimming pool:
Cool off in the shared outdoor pool open daily.
Free Wi-Fi:
Complimentary wireless Internet throughout public areas and rooms.
Shared kitchen:
Prepare meals and mingle with other travelers in the communal kitchen.
Barbecue grills:
Use the free BBQ area in the garden for a cookout.
Game room:
Play billiards and board games in the on-site games room.
Airport shuttle:
Roundtrip transfers to Cairns Airport available for a surcharge.
Private parking:
On-site parking is available for an additional fee.
Laundry service:
On-site laundry is available at an additional charge.

Hannah Williams
Room was as it said on the box, a bed a towel and and air con unit. It was a very small room that smelt a bit damp and dirt around the windows. Location was amazing. Nice pool. Bathrooms were a good size and clean, never had to wait. Staff were fab. On site parking was secure but recommend booking in advance to make sure you get a spot
Niamh Sutton
Had such an amazing time here. I stayed for 1 weeks and it was great. The rooms were clean the facilities like the kitchen and toilets were all great. I stayed in an all female 8 bed room with was lovely. The only things that could be problems for some people include that they did not have curtains shielding the beds and some of the beds did not have plugs near them. I was able to book all my acti...
Brian Wolfe
Its not hard to say why Cairns YHA doesn't stand out. The bbq and some clothes dryers needed work and the one remaining room locker door hung sadly on a hinge. Surely it wouldn't have been too hard to have at least one stool or chair in our room? The kitchen was fine though, as were the food storage lockers. Arriving after hours left me in the street due to faulty key card storage module(s) but t...
Shruti Yadav
Great experience. Very chill and kind staff. You can download the room key on your google wallet which makes everything convenient. 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 and fantastic location. Right next to Cairns Central and all the great restaurants and Night mar...
Fiona Hsiao
Location is perfect. Very close to everywhere especially to Cairns central, the mall’s got everything. I stayed in a 6 bed shared room. It is basically hostel but there is no curtain around the bed, so definitely is kind disturbing sometimes. Facility is kinda old, but they did the best to maintain. Kitchen is pretty messy mostly. But I mean you can’t expect much out of hostel. Co-working space i...
Address: 20-26 McLeod St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Map will load when you scroll here
Scroll down to view the interactive map
Book the hostel’s roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge) from Cairns Airport; journey takes about 14 minutes.
Content Notice: This content combines editorial expertise with AI assistance to ensure comprehensive and up-to-date information. Our team regularly curates and reviews all content for accuracy and relevance. Help Us Improve
Looking for other Hotels besides YHA Cairns Central (Great Barrier Reef Area)?
Explore These Activities
Check-in & Check-out
Website
Official WebsitePhone Number
+61 7 4051 0772How You Can Support Us
If our website helps you, please support us by booking your travel needs through this link: Book Flights, Hotels, Activities on Trip.com - New App User Promo up to 10% OFF. We may earn a small affiliate commission - at no extra cost to you!
It's a simple way to help us keep the site running and improving for everyone. Thanks for your support!