Vacation Rentals in Cairns, Australia
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Choose from 2,044 vacation rentals located in Cairns, Queensland. Top filters in Cairns include Air conditioner, Kitchen or Kitchenette, and Internet / Wifi. Prices range from $70 to $4,802 per night. Our most popular vacation rental types near Cairns are Apartment and Hotel.
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Casa Bella Vista - Luxury Beachfront Home near Great Barrier Reef
House
in Holloways Beach12 guests · 6 bedrooms · 3 baths
Garden · Pool · Kitchen or Kitchenette
Soak up the beauty of Cairns in our House, Casa Bella Vista - Luxury Beachfront Home near Great Barrier Reef. With a range of amenities such as Air conditioner, Dishwasher and Internet / Wifi, you'll feel right at home.
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Bedrock - Relax & Recharge with spectacular views
House
in Palm Cove10 guests · 4 bedrooms · 3 baths
Garden · Pool · Pets allowed
Experience the best of Cairns with this House available for $553. This property is equipped with amenities including Air conditioner, Dishwasher and Internet / Wifi, and more.
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Vision Apartments
Apartment hotel
in Cairns1 queen bed, 2 single beds
Garden · Pool · Kitchen or Kitchenette
Looking for a Apartment hotel in Cairns, this Apartment hotel for $147 per night for your business stay, family stay, couples stay, getaway vacation, on your next trip.
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Beachfront
Drift Palm Cove
Resort
in Palm Cove1 queen bed
Garden · Pool · Kitchen or Kitchenette
This attractive Resort in Cairns, $285 per night for your (business stay, family stay, couples stay, getaway vacation, etc.)
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On the Beach at Peppers Beach Club 3427
Apartment
in Palm Cove5 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths
Pool · Kitchen or Kitchenette · Air conditioner
Looking for the perfect place to call home during your trip to Cairns? This Apartment offers a comfort and style with top-notch amenities, including Air conditioner, Dishwasher and Internet / Wifi, and more.
$$$$
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Palm Cove Penthouse Ocean Front
Apartment
in Palm Cove2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bath
Pool · Kitchen or Kitchenette · Air conditioner
When traveling to Cairns, if you are looking for (business stays, family stays, couples stay, getaway vacation, etc.) this is the perfect place at $259 per night.
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Waters Edge Apartment Cairns
Apartment hotel
in Cairns1 king bed, 1 queen bed, 2 single beds
Pool · Kitchen or Kitchenette · Air conditioner
This Apartment hotel for $152 in Cairns, is perfect for your next (business stay, family stay, couples stay, getaway vacation, etc.)
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Mantra Trilogy
Hotel
in Cairns4star
1 king bed
Garden · Pool · Kitchen or Kitchenette
Business stays, family stays, couples stay, getaway vacation, and rental in Cairns at Mantra Trilogy for $152 for your next trip.
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Cairns
Cairns travel guide
Let us help you plan your perfect Cairns vacation. Our travel guide highlights things to do, places to see, favorite vacation rental amenities in Cairns, and more.
Frequently asked questions
Where Is Cairns Located in Australia?
Cairns is a small city in the far northeast end of Queensland that’s geographically closer to Papua New Guinea than Brisbane. The Cairns Airport, with both domestic and international terminals, is within city limits. Brisbane is a two-hour flight and 1,000 miles south down the coast, while further south is Sydney in a three-hour flight. Darwin is nearly 1,500 miles west and two and a half hours by air. The city’s downtown is walkable and there are public busses and rental cars available for further distances.
What Is Cairns, Australia Known For?
In addition to being commonly known as “the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” Cairns is also well-loved for its tropical climate and rainforests. The landscape is known to be the only place where one World Heritage Area meets another — from the Wet Tropics Rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef. The area’s economy is strongly dependent on tourism, especially adventure sports, though agriculture comes in second with crops such as sugar cane, tea, coffee, bananas, and the world’s first tropical wine region. Many visitors come to the region for one type of adventure and discover so much more in the area surrounding the city. The most popular outdoor adventures include skydiving, scuba diving, hot air balloon rides, and rainforest walks. Hang gliding, golf, snorkeling, and white water rafting are also available options. There are many tour operators in town, especially near The Esplanade. Beaches north and south of the city offer swimming and surfing, as there is no beach in town. Most visitors use the city as a launchpad for adventures around the area.
Where to Go in Cairns, Queensland?
- Esplanade & Lagoon: The main feature of the promenade by the pier is the large, but shallow lagoon-style pool in the middle of the city facing the ocean. It is free and open to the public. The promenade is lined with barbecues and picnic tables for a casual, low-cost outdoor experience.
- Cairns Botanical Gardens: A lush and lovely botanical park located in Edge Hill, Cairns Botanical Gardens is known for its tropical collections that may be the best in Australia. The park, which can be found near the north end of the Esplanade, is divided into five gardens, a rainforest boardwalk, and includes both a freshwater lake and a saltwater lake. It is free to enter the park, plus free guided and self-guided audio tours are also available. There you’ll find a shop, a restaurant, and a cafe.
- Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome: A wildlife and adventure park built inside of a dome, Cairns ZOOM & Wildlife Dome also contains a man-made rainforest on top of The Reef Hotel Casino, at the southern edge of the Esplanade. The park offers ropes courses, a power jump, dome climb, and wildlife experiences. Climb the outside of the dome, freefall jump from the top, and then cuddle a koala or kiss a crocodile when you’re done! There is a gift shop that sells snacks and the casino contains three restaurants on the floors below.
Popular Destinations Near Cairns
- Kuranda: The world’s oldest tropical rainforest is accessible by car or bus. You can also take the Kuranda Scenic Railway in about two hours, which includes a scenic stop at the Barron Gorge. Kuranda Village is a charming rainforest village offering plenty of scenic walks, heritage markets, galleries, restaurants, and entertainment such as Koala Gardens and Birdworld. The SkyRail Rainforest Cableway glides above the rainforest canopy, creating unbelievable views of the prehistoric landscape, including Barron Falls. For the most unique experience, take the train one way and the cableway the other for roundtrip travel between Cairns and Kuranda.
- Great Barrier Reef: The famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral formation in the world and offers incomparable scuba diving sights. The reef is made up of groups of islands with varying biodiversity, along most of the Queensland coast. Different groups of islands tend to be better for different corals and marine life; they are not all the same. Tours offering a range of amenities are available in most coastal towns, but Cairns is the largest town closest to the reef.
- Port Douglas: A former fishing village turned tourist hub an hour north of Cairns, Port Douglas is filled with boutiques, restaurants, resorts, tour operators, and Four Mile Beach. Daintree National Park is an hour northwest of town and is the oldest surviving rainforest in Australia.
Best Neighborhoods in Cairns
- Esplanade: Esplanade stretches just over a mile from Cairns Zoom & Wildlife Dome to Lily Street. This neighborhood features all needs for tourists — from restaurants, bars, and cafes to tour operators, small boutiques, and galleries. The upmarket restaurants on The Esplanade often offer early-bird dinner specials for patrons dining and departing by 7:00 pm.
- Central Business District: Much of the Central Business District is centered along Bruce Highway as it winds through the city. Services such as grocery chains, post offices, banks, and money changers are located near the highway in addition to all other locals’ needs. Accommodations not on the Esplanade are situated just a few blocks inland and in most cases near Sheridan Street or Bunda Street.
What is the price range for rentals in Cairns?
Vacation rentals in Cairns have a price range between $70-$4,802. The average price for rentals in Cairns is $184 per night.
What are the most popular vacation rental amenities in Cairns?
- Air conditioner
- Kitchen or Kitchenette
- Internet / Wifi