Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort

2.0 star property
Hostel with 2 bars/lounges, near Cairns Esplanade

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Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort

Photo gallery for Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort

Outdoor pool, pool loungers
Front of property
In-room safe, free WiFi, bed sheets, wheelchair access
Shared kitchen
In-room safe, free WiFi, bed sheets, wheelchair access

Overview of Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort

7.8 out of 10 Good
7.8/10 Good

Property highlights

  • Pool
  • Parking available
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Free WiFi
  • Laundry facilities
Map
57-89 Grafton Street, Cairns, QLD, 04870
Main amenities
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Near the beach
  • Restaurants and 2 bars/lounges
  • Outdoor pool
  • Self parking
  • Pool bar
  • Terrace
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Air conditioning
  • Garden
  • Computer station
  • Front desk safe
Feel at home
  • Private bathroom
  • Television
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry facilities

Room options

4 Bed Mixed Dorm With En-Suite

  • 20 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Large Single Beds

8 Bed En-suite Female

  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Large Single Bunk Beds

4 Bed En-suite Deluxe Mixed

  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Large Single Beds

6 Bed Female Dorm With En-Suite

  • 20 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 3 Large Single Bunk Beds

6 Bed Mixed Dorm With En-Suite

  • 20 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 3 Large Single Bunk Beds

Hotel Deluxe Room

  • 20 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

4 Bed Female Dorm With En-Suite

  • 20 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Large Single Beds

Hotel Twin Room

  • 20 sq m
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Single Beds

10 Bed Mixed Dorm With En-Suite

  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 5 Large Single Bunk Beds

8 bed Mixed Dorm With En-Suite

  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Large Single Bunk Beds

Hotel King Room

  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds

About this area

What's nearby

  • In Cairns Central Business District
  • Cairns Esplanade - 8 min walk
  • Cairns Central Shopping Centre - 1 min drive
  • Reef Fleet Terminal - 2 min drive
  • Cairns Marlin Marina - 2 min drive
  • Palm Cove Beach - 26 min drive

Getting around

  • Cairns, QLD (CNS-Cairns Intl.) - 12 min drive
  • Cairns Station - 8 min walk
  • Freshwater Station - 15 min drive
  • Redlynch Station - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • Rusty's Markets - 4 min walk
  • Caffiend - 3 min walk
  • The Lillipad Cafe - 3 min walk
  • Silk Caffe - 3 min walk
  • Blackbird Espresso by Coffee NQ - 3 min walk

About this property

Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort

Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort puts you only 4.1 mi (6.5 km) from the airport, and a five-minute drive from Cairns Esplanade. You can splash around at the outdoor pool, visit the restaurant for a bite to eat or unwind with a drink at one of the 2 bars/lounges. Other highlights include a poolside bar, a terrace and a garden.

Languages

English

Cleaning and safety practices

Enhanced cleanliness measures

Disinfectant is used to clean the property
High-touch surfaces are cleaned and disinfected
The property is disinfected using an electrostatic spray
Sheets and towels are washed at 60°C or hotter
Follows the industry cleaning and disinfection practices of Ecolab (third-party expert - Global)

Social distancing

Cashless transactions are available for all charges at the property
Social distancing measures in place

Safety measures

Hand sanitiser provided
This information is provided by our partners.

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 120 rooms
  • Arranged over 4 floors

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in time from 2 PM until midnight
  • Late check-in subject to availability
  • Minimum check-in age – 18
  • Check-out time is 10 AM

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions

Special check-in instructions

  • Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required
  • Minimum check-in age is 18

Children

  • Children (18 years old and younger) are not allowed
  • No cots (infant beds)

Pets

  • Pets not allowed
  • Service animals welcome

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas
  • Free WiFi in rooms

Parking

  • Covered on-site self-parking (AUD 12 per day)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking on site

Other information

  • Designated smoking areas

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • 2 bars/lounges
  • Restaurant
  • Poolside bar

What to do

  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Pool table
  • Beach nearby
  • Bike rentals nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Golf lessons nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Scuba-diving nearby
  • Scooter/moped hire nearby
  • Skydiving nearby

Working away

  • Computer station

Services

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Multilingual staff
  • Pool loungers

Facilities

  • ATM/banking
  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Television in common areas
  • An outdoor pool

Accessibility

  • Lift
  • Accessible bathroom (selected rooms)
  • In-room accessibility (selected rooms)
  • Wheelchair-accessible
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Grab bar near toilet

Room amenities

Be entertained

  • 45-inch Smart TV
  • Digital TV channels

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning

Sleep well

  • Bed sheets provided

Freshen up

  • Private bathroom
  • Shower only
  • Hairdryer (on request)
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Free WiFi

Food and drink

  • Shared kitchen access

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe

Fees & policies

Optional extras

  • Credit card charges are subject to an extra charge

Parking

  • Covered self-parking costs AUD 12 per day

Hygiene & cleanliness

This property advises that enhanced cleaning and guest safety measures are currently in place.

The property is cleaned and disinfected with electrostatic spray; disinfectant is used to clean the property; commonly touched surfaces are cleaned with disinfectant between stays; bed sheets and towels are laundered at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F.

Social distancing measures are in place; guests are provided with hand sanitiser; cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

This property affirms that it adheres to the cleaning and disinfection practices of Ecolab (third-party expert - Global).

Policies

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Guests can rest easy knowing that there's a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and a first aid kit on site.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.

Also known as

Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel Resort Cairns
Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel Resort
Gilligan's Backpackers Cairns
Gilligan's Backpackers
Gilligans Backpackers Hotel And Resort
Gilligans Backpackers Hotel Cairns
Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort Cairns

Frequently asked questions

Does Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in, depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure that you check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
What are the cleanliness and hygiene measures currently in place at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort?
This property confirms that disinfectant is used to clean the property. Furthermore, guests are provided with hand sanitiser and social distancing measures are in place. Please note that this information has been provided by our partners.
Is there a pool at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort?
Yes, there's an outdoor pool.
Are pets allowed at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort?
Yes. Self-parking costs AUD 12 per day.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort?
You can check in from 2 PM - midnight. Check-out time is 10 AM.
Is there an on-site casino at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort?
No, this hostel doesn't have a casino, but Reef Hotel Casino (8-min walk) and Cazalys Cairns (5-min drive) are both nearby.
What is there to do at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort and nearby?
Have fun with activities such as cycling, boat tours and hiking, and practise your swing at the nearby golf course. Additional recreation on-site includes basketball and volleyball. Enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool or use the hostel's other amenities, which include 2 bars and a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort?
Yes, there's an on-site restaurant.
What's the area around Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort like?
Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort is in Cairns Central Business District, a short 8-minute walk from Cairns Station and 8 minutes' walk from Cairns Esplanade.

Reviews

7.8

Good

7.8/10

Cleanliness

7.6/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Good

Hostel is large, loud and out of date.
This hostel has potential both on the accommodation side and the nightclub side. The events they put on in the nightclub are about 15 years out of date, wet t shirt contest, jelly wrestling competition, pole dancing competition, it reminded me of Christina Agueleria vs Britney Spears, and predictably the nightclub was full of almost exclusively men, it's not the sort of events that attract any women at all. The hostel had good kitchen areas, and a TV area on every floor, it would be good if the hostel/nightclub put on some more relaxed social events, because the hostel didn't end up being very social, people were a bit overwhelmed by the sexual nature of all of the social activities. Some more neutral activities like drunk bingo or pub quiz, earlier in the evening would have helped the hostel to be more social. Every room had a balcony and an ensuite bathroom which was nice, but in the room there was no control for the air conditioning which was always far too cold, and so the sliding doors onto the balconies was left open to warm up the room, and that meant the air conditioning was often broken. There are no lockers in the rooms either which is not ideal for a party hostel. Bed linen was provided and the beds were comfortable. But they didn't have privacy curtains, or a personal light, which again is the norm nowadays. They did have a plug next to every bed though. Room cleaning starts before check out at 9am. This hostel has potential but it is just out of date.
1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

Pamela, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

2/10 Poor

Narayan, 4-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

4/10 Fair

Party hostel for teenagers
It's a party hostel... Get onboard with it! But apart from that the private rooms are way overpriced for what they offer and you will be constantly treated like an 18 year old, regardless of age. Very annoying. Go somewhere else and head to Gilligan's for the party...you will be better off.
3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Very lively party spot! Always activities happening at night, food from the kitchen was excellent, facilities kept reasonably clean, happy hours were a bonus, staff were friendly & helpful. I'd recommend trying to check into your room early since the process was a bit slow around 2pm.
Carly, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Wow
WOW! First impressions count and they really hit the nail on the head at gilligans, not only is it way bigger than i expected but it also comes with some incredible on site facilities! Met by friendly and professional staff at check in which made me feel very settled. Once i got to my room not only is it the biggest hostel room ive ever stayed in but also the best layed out, looked fresh and tidy and everything was clean! I was staying in a 4 bed female dorm, all single beds so no having to go up and down bunk beds cause lets face it theyre fun as kids but not great as adults. The room came with a good sized balcony with seating, a good sized wardrobe, enough room to store a big suitcase under the bed aswell as room around the bed, mini lockers and separate shower, sink and toilet so no having to wait to go to the toilet if someone is in the shower! Great A/C that keeps the room nice and cool! All the beds come with a light and 2 plugs as well as 2 usb sockets incase you forget your adapter. Ontop of all this each level has its own common area with comfortable seating and very spacious and then its own kitchen, also spacious and you actually have room to cook stuff unlike other hostels i have stayed in where you are having to share the same space. Just need to fix a few of the lights on the level as it made it a tad dark. Finally as i was only staying here for 5 days i spoke to the very friendly on site travel team who got me some great deals on my activities. On the whole i
Natasha, 4-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

Very lively spot! If you’re a backpacker in Cairns you have to stay here, it’s part of the experience! Everything is also super well run, easy check in, getting to the rooms, feels safe and clean! Personally stayed in a room for 4 people and it was nice that it wasn’t bunk beds, also the beds were very comfortable and larger then most other beds at hostels! I would definitely recommend staying here as it’s so convenient! Just be aware there’s lots going on and it will probably be a bit loud at night so we at plugs will help!
Jenna, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very good

Great beer prices great bar
Paul, 2-night trip
Verified Wotif guest review

8/10 Very good

They allow anyone in the pool area it’s not just for the people staying at the hostel. The homeless people are aggressive and demanding