Does Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

What time is check-in at Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 5:30 AM.

Does Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's a shuttle from the airport to the hotel that runs 8:00 AM–8:00 PM on request. A fee of AUD 15 per person applies.

Where is Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel located?

Located in Cairns Central Business District, this hostel is steps from Michaelmas Cay and Cairns Esplanade. Reef Fleet Terminal and Cairns Central Shopping Centre are also within 15 minutes. Cairns Station is 13 minutes by foot.

Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

About the neighborhood

Located in Cairns Central Business District, a neighborhood in Cairns, Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel is near a train station. JUTE Theatre Company and Center of Contemporary Arts are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Muddy's Playground and Reef Teach. Esplanade Lagoon and Cairns Botanic Gardens are also worth visiting.

Visit our Cairns travel guide

View more Hostels in Cairns

2/10 Terrible

D, Melbourne

Mar 9, 2020

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

Filthy. Bed had sand on it. Floors had weird stains. Air con locked out during peak heat times. Noisy. No lock on bathroom door leading directly from kitchen.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2020

6/10 Okay

Melker

Feb 2, 2020

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Litet och ofräscht

Vi bodde i ett dubbelrum, extremt litet samt ofräscha sängar. Air condition var endast på från 5pm - 8am, extremt varmt på rummet de andra timmarna.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

6/10 Okay

Siegfried

Dec 29, 2019

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

8/10 Good

Amanda

Dec 10, 2019

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2019

4/10 Poor

.

Nov 25, 2019

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities

The room doesn't have enough outlets. Unclean and old hotel.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Jing-Yuan

Oct 22, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Jing-Yuan

Oct 9, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Jul 13, 2019

Liked: Staff & service

まあまあよかったと思いますもう少し清潔感があればなお良いですが、価格に対するクオリティは充分です

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Matt

Jun 23, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Go for it

Great location. Chill spot to enjoy cairns.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Jun 22, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

The showers are crap. And the toilets aren’t really clean. But for a few nights only and for that price it’s completely alright to stay there and the nightmarket is underneath the hostel. It’s not noisy in there and the fridges have small lockers for every person, so no one can steal food from you. It’s not too bad, but nothing I would like to stay in for a month

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Matt

Jun 22, 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Solo backpacker

Quiet place. Thursday nights are the best time to come.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Mar 20, 2019

Liked: Staff & service

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Rico

Jan 8, 2019

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

It is located close to public swiming pool and harbor

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Nov 3, 2018

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Shady place wouldn’t stay again

This place had a funky smell very small. No towels. Shared washroom was very hot a not clean. The toilet paper was the cheapest kind. This is my first and last time in this hostel.

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2018

4/10 Poor

Tara, QLD Australua

Oct 11, 2018

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service

I asked to leave small suitcase before chack in, but there was no stuff and everytime when I require assistance, he wasnt really friendly. But tour desk stuffs were always friendly and nice.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Sep 25, 2018

Liked: Staff & service

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location but pretty shoddy conditions

It was a hostel so was never going to be amazing. The staff were friendly but the hygiene was poor. Pretty dirty.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018

2/10 Terrible

bastide

Sep 23, 2018

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Don t go there

During my period in this hostel rats, cockroach. The swimming pool is really really dirty. Construction site just above is pretty noisy. The wifi is good but depend where you are in the hostel. And if you call them to ask if you can work for accomadation they say yes to make you come and after they found escuses to not let you work

Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2018

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Jul 29, 2018

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

The hostel is right next to a major construction site. It is dark and drab.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Jan 21, 2018

Liked: Staff & service

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

No air conditionings shared toilet didn't have toilet paper

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018

6/10 Okay

Dimiter

Dec 29, 2017

Liked: Staff & service

Basic

A usual cheap hostel with central location. The common areas can use some cleaning and polishing. Fortunately there was aircon and wifi in the room. Staff is mostly cooperative.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2017

2/10 Terrible

baily

Dec 12, 2017

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Don’t stay here

I had prepaid for two nights and wished I didn’t. The place was filthy, the staff was never around, the free breakfast was really weak when it was actually there, no lots on the door, people weren’t friendly, no safe or lockers, and the toilet and taps were broken. I moved to travellers oasis after my paid for nights and was so so so much happier!

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017

4/10 Poor

yuppy, tokyo

Oct 10, 2017

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

寝るだけのホテル

バックパッカー用なので、寝るだけならWi-Fiが使えるから問題はないかな？英語が話せれば、どうにかなる。シャワー付きトイレが一階にしかない。階段のみなので、ヘビーなトランクは持ち運ぶのが大変。

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2017

4/10 Poor

Tina, mareeba

May 22, 2017

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

ラグーンに近いホテル

立地いいと思います、安いのでまた利用するかもしれないです。またラグーンやお店も近いので暇になってもすぐに出掛けれるから寝るだけで考えたらコスパも悪くない。

2/10 Terrible

ruei jin

Feb 20, 2017

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

這家旅舍會盜刷盜用客人的信用卡，大家要小心，他們趁要押房卡金過卡時，再度偷刷，是不良不道德的旅舍。

這家旅舍會盜刷盜用客人的信用卡，大家要小心，他們趁要押房卡金過卡時，再度偷刷，是不良不道德的旅舍。房間太髒亂，有怪味，衛生間很噁心，家具破舊不堪，床單也有破洞。旅舍住客喝酒大聲宣譁到凌晨3點，缺乏管理與制度，我訂的是女性用6床房，但是櫃台執意給男女混住房也，夜裡叫春聲不斷，太不安全，也不規範。廚房碗盤破裂鍋盆凹凸不平已不堪使用。

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Feb 7, 2017

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

Ok for the price, bathrooms lacking

The room was clean and comfortable and the aircon worked ok. The 3 bathrooms on the upper floors were not maintained. They were clean enough but only one had toilet paper, one with a shower was out of order and the other one with a shower the door didn't shut or lock. We only stayed one night but are a bit confused as to where we were supposed to shower. The kitchen was lacking on mugs/cups and plates or bowls. We tried to have coffee and had to scrounge for dishes. Decent price for the location though and front desk staff and information guy Phil was great

Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Waterfront Backpackers - Hostel

Reviews

Popular amenities

Room options

Check availability for these dates

View all photos for Double Room (Shared Bathroom Facilities)

Double Room (Shared Bathroom Facilities)

Highlights

View all photos for Shared Dormitory (6 bed with ensuite)

Shared Dormitory (6 bed with ensuite)

Highlights

View all photos for Shared Dormitory, Women only (6 bed with shared bathroom)

Shared Dormitory, Women only (6 bed with shared bathroom)

Highlights

View all photos for Shared Dormitory (6 bed with shared bathroom)

Shared Dormitory (6 bed with shared bathroom)

Highlights

Twin Room (Shared bathroom)

Highlights

Shared Dormitory (2 bed with shared bathroom)

Highlights

About the neighborhood

What's nearby

Getting around

Restaurants

About this property