Best Family Accommodation in Cairns
Heading to Cairns? Here you can find the best family accommodation in Cairns for your family holiday.
Accommodation in Cairns for Families
With a tropical climate all year round and the Great Barrier Reef so close, it’s no wonder Cairns is such a popular holiday destination for families. Not only does it have the weather but it’s got the fun factor as well.
With tons of family friendly tours and activities, there are plenty of things to do in Cairns with kids to keep them entertained.
Finding a great family friendly hotel or resort really can make or break a family holiday though. It can seem like a massive chore to trawl through hundreds of reviews online, looking for the perfect accommodation.
To save you the hassle, we’ve put together this comprehensive list of the best family friendly accommodation in Cairns and we will let you know our personal favourites too!
First, read about the Cairns area and decide where might be the best spot for your family. Then take a look at the best kid friendly hotels in Cairns to decide where to spend your holiday.
Where to Stay in Cairns with Kids
When looking for family accommodation in Cairns, there’s a choice of two main areas to stay and where you choose depends on what kind of holiday you want to have.
Central Cairns
If you’re just taking a short break or want to do a lot of guided tours, it’s a great idea to stay within Cairns itself. There will be no need to hire a car as everything is right on your doorstep.
The centre of Cairns actually has some great hotels for families and you’ll be close to the esplanade with a free lagoon and play parks. There are tons of travel agents in the area, where you can book your excursions, as well as a huge choice of quality restaurants and shops.
Northern Beaches and Beyond
If a beach holiday is what you’re looking for, it would be a good idea to stay just north of Cairns on the Northern Beaches. The only thing is, you will definitely need a car if you plan on staying north as public transport isn’t always available.
There are some beautiful beaches north of Cairns and most have stinger nets that make them safe for swimming all year round. Palm Cove is a favourite with locals for its white sand beach and great weekend markets.
To make it easier we have broken this list up into the following:
- Best Family Resorts in Cairns
- Best Central Accommodation in Cairns for Families
- Best Family Accommodation in Cairns Northern Beaches
The Best Family Resort in Cairns
Cairns Coconut Resort
About a 10 minute drive outside of the city, on the way to the Gilis range, is the best resort in Cairns when you’re travelling with kids. Cairns Coconut is jam-packed with activities and fun for kids of all ages and you might find they don’t even want to leave the resort!
There is a range of different accommodation options and you’re sure to find something to suit your family. At the budget end of the scale, you can opt for a studio cabin that accommodates up to 4 people. If you prefer a bit more space or have a bigger family, opt for a two bed cabin that can sleep up to 6 people. All the cabins have air conditioning, well stocked kitchenettes, private bathrooms, free wifi and flat screen tvs.
The best thing about Cairns Coconut resort though is the sheer number of things there are for kids to do! Two giant jumping pillows, three swimming pools, water slides, a great play park, mini-golf and a splash park are just the beginning. You can also hire go karts to explore the park and older kids will love hanging out in the kids’ zone with the games consoles.
As well as the great facilities they also hold regular pancake breakfast mornings and movies under the stars nights. You’re sure to have a fun filled holiday at this great family friendly resort in Cairns!
Find the latest prices here
Best Accommodation in Cairns for Families
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
Our personal favourite accommodation in Cairns is the Novotel Oasis Resort, and we absolutely loved our stay here. It is popular mainly because of its large man-made beach style pool full of inflatables and lounge pillows.
The sandy shore and shallow water is great for young kids. There are also grassy areas to relax and a kids playground.
During the school holidays Novotel even put kid friendly activities on every day, such as face painting and snorkelling lessons.
Family rooms at the Novotel sleep up to four with two double beds and cots are available on request. The buffet breakfast is excellent and kids under 12 even eat free! The hotel is right next door to the aquarium and just one street back from the Esplanade so you’ll be right in the middle of the action.
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Cairns Colonial Club
The Colonial Club is only about a 5 minute drive from the esplanade but all major tour operators pick up from the hotel and there is a shuttle bus for guests, making it easy to get around.
The resort is set among beautiful tropical gardens and there are three lagoon style swimming pools! One of the pools even has a sandy beach and small jetty to jump from, so it’s perfect for kids who love the water. There is also an adventure playground and the on-site cafe is super toddler friendly!
Family rooms at the Colonial Club are very spacious, sleep up to 4 and some even have temporary dividing walls which can be slid into place so young kids aren’t disturbed if they fall asleep early.
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Riley Crystal Brook Collection
Riley Crystal Brook is one of the newer hotels in Cairns and it’s a great choice if you like a touch of luxury on your family holidays. It’s in a prime location, overlooking the esplanade, with some excellent restaurants on shops right outside the door.
The man-made beach and lagoon pool are perfect for little ones to cool off in the tropical heat and the cabanas give parents a place to lounge while watching the kids.
Family rooms at Riley are actually two interconnecting rooms with either king beds or king singles. Perfect if you want to have older kids and fancy a little of your own space once the kids have gone to bed. All rooms have smart tvs, complimentary movies and round the clock room service.
Find the latest prices here
Best Family Accommodation in Cairns Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches are a favourite with locals looking to escape the city for a day. Starting just north of the airport with Machans Beach and working up there are a string of beautiful ocean side villages, perfect for relaxing family holidays.
The Villas, Palm Cove
Perfect for families who want a bit more freedom than a hotel offers, The Villas at Palm Cove all come with full kitchen and laundry facilities. They are a great choice if you just want a relaxed family holiday.
Many of the villas have their own private pools and courtyards which are very private. Villas come with either 1,2, 3 or 4 bedrooms and can sleep a maximum of 8 people. The 4 bedroom villa and pool is perfect for two families travelling together to cut costs as it’s very spacious and the pool is big.
It’s rare to find accommodation options that can fit so many people so The Villas should definitely be on your radar if you have a large family!
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Paradise Palms Resort, Kewarra Beach
Set amongst beautifully landscaped gardens at the foot of huge green mountains, Paradise Palms makes for a very impressive sight! Kewarra Beach is a little closer to Cairns than Palm Cove but the beach and surrounds are no less impressive.
The resort has a mini golf course and adventure playground as well as live music on Sundays. The real draw for kids here is the huge man-made beach and swimming pool, probably the biggest in the area. The shallow toddler pool is also much larger than normal so little ones will be very happy.
The two bedroom villas sleep up to 5 guests so they’re perfect for slightly larger families and they all come with fully stocked kitchens, two balconies and air conditioning.
Find the latest prices here
Family Accommodation in Cairns
As you can see, there is plenty of family accommodation in Cairns whether you are looking for something in the city or on the beach. Hopefully these options for Cairns accommodation have given you an idea on where to stay in Cairns with your family.
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