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HOTEL STYLE
Quirky Hotels
Budget
Languages Spoken
English, Italian
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Vending machine
Bicycle rental
Darts
Airport transportation
BBQ facilities
Parking
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Shuttle bus service
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
24-hour check-in
Express check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Separate dining area
Separate living room
Kitchenette
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
207 Sheridan St, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia
Castaways Backpackers
305 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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everything at Castaways was so nice and clean, didn´t imagine that a backpacker place can be so clean. I loved the kitchen because because you have everything that you need and even more. They have a free stuff shelve and fridge, Coffee and sugar is for free anyway and your own stuff you can keep in the fridge in your room so no one else can take it, like it happened in so many other hostels to me. You have shelves in the room, so if you stay longer you don´t have to life out of your backpack. I liked as well the lounge areas. The TV room and a big terrace give everyone enough space to chill alone or play or eat something together. The stuff makes the difference. They help you with everything and are also like friends if you stay a while. There are so friendly and everyone is going together to Whoolshed on Wednesday or has a big BBQ on Sundays. Also nice, they offer campervan places, one of the only places I know in Cairns. Just try it by your self, it´s a great stay!
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Date of stay: August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rooms and facilities are clean, friendly and welcoming staff. If you arrive between 12 and 4pm let them know before, the office is closed during these hours. It's a bit of a walk to the city, but they offer free shuttle busses every few hours.
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Date of stay: September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Affordable backpacker lodge, with tidy facilities. Staff were so helpful - every question was answered and they went out of their way to ensure we were looked after. This place is about a 20 minute walk to the centre of town so close enough to walk to dinner in the evening, but far enough away that the late night parties don't keep you awake. Good facilities for buying your basics (breakfast etc) in close proximity too. Curteous guests and neighbours make this place easy to get a full night sleep too. Would stay again :)
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Date of stay: August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booked in castaways for four nights in june, ended up staying almost two months! Cannot credit the staff enough, Nicky, Adam and Dorothee were incredible. Always up for rallying everyone to do group things whether it was nights out, waterfalls or bungee jumping. Very clean and tidy. Nice little pool for the sunny days. It was a little bit out of the town centre but my legs needed the work out! Would stay here again in a heart beat. The Mexican night was an absolute highlight. Missing it here already!
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Date of stay: June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fisrt the staff is just amazingly kind and helpfull, a free shutle is provide to reach the city center. Then the facilities are nice and clean. Our staying was really quiet and pleasant !
Awsome, wish all backpackers would be that great !
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Date of stay: May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Team, apologies for just now reviewing ya'll. Ok, our groups have stayed at a few places in Cairns and by far this is the best for the value and service. Our room was clean and compact...I would recommend a room on the top floor away from the noise of the kitchen if you can get it. The kitchen is well stocked and always clean as the staff to a fantastic job of up-keeping it. Has plenty of outdoor seating areas and doesn't have a party vibe, which was good for our educational group. Close enough to town that it makes it easy to walk. Was really handy to have the free rides to town and pickup for grocery shopping etc...please continue to offer this as it is a huge benefit. The coin operated AirConditioning is really clever! Thanks again Castaways.
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Date of stay: April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hostel is located a 20 minutes walk from town. There is a shuttle with a pre-defined timetable that will drop off / pick up you downtown if you are lazy enough no to walk the 20 minutes. The rooms are clean and simple, they each have a bar fridge inside where you can stock your food. There are no places in the kitchen for cold or dry food. They have rooms with bathrooms and eight shared bathrooms that are always kept immaculate. They clean the room everyday and change the sheets each three days. Although it is a backpackers there are no bunk beds in the dorms. And not more than 4 people in each room. Most rooms face the courtyard. The AC has to be paid but there is a fan. We never needed one or the other. The people at reception (Ashley, Sam, Charlie, Matt and the owner Lesley) are friendly, knowledgeable and super helpful and are able to book tours and reef trips which is handy. We had the best tips on the tours and no hassle. They are always putting up social gatherings and outings, each day they organised trips out to pubs for discounted meals or arranged in hotel BBQs but there are no parties and noisy gatherings after 10pm. The feeling of belonging to a group is wonderful.The place has TV room and DVD players, washers and driers, sinks, lines to dry your clothes and place to store your luggage. The kitchen has two stoves, two sinks but just one faucet and all the necessary cooking utensils. WiFi is free and very welcome. We planned one week but stayed for 15 nights in a double room with shared bathroom. We payed US$ 47 / 47 AUD
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Date of stay: June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You get to sleep in actual beds and not bunks which is amazing, hostel is very clean, staff are quite friendly, lots of activities you can book with them, but a very quiet hostel, good if you want sleep but not so much if you want a lively atmosphere. Free shuttle bus that takes you to town and free very basic meals ( that do not cost much at all to upgrade your meal) which is brilliant. Overall, enjoyed the stay a lot just wish it had more of a lively atmosphere.
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Date of stay: August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is the best hostel in Cairns to stay! I stay on this hostel with my girlfriend from May - July. We both was here on a Working Holiday Visa, and we was looking for a hostel that is quit and not like a party hostel. Which this hostel was perfect to stay on. All people is nice, friendly manager, staff and the hole hostel is beautiful and clean. Cleaning every day!
I would more call this Hostel for a Motel/Hotel or clean share house. I can't even complain at any single thing.
So if you going to stay in Cairns with a partner, friend or a single person, the only place I can recommend is Castaways Backpackers! You will not be disappointed =)
Thanks for giving us the best time in Cairns! Alexander
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Date of stay: May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staff were really welcoming when we stayed here are invited us to the big night out that they have. Drinking games and free pizza at a local bar. This was our first night in cairns and we enjoyed it. The rooms were very clean and we were given a free upgrade to a double room!!
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Date of stay: May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from CastawaysBP, Manager at Castaways Backpackers
Responded 13 June 2013
Hi Mehul and Pretti! Glad you guys enjoyed your stay with us! Thanks so much for the great review! Hope the rest of Australia worked out as you hoped and you have continued to enjoy your travels, if you're ever in Cairns again you know where to find us! San, Ash, Charlie and the team!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I believe it runs every hour from around 9 am-7pm, but when they aren't busy they'll take you at any time! And they will pick you up at a central location if you ask them too.
Hi There,
Our last shuttle run is at 6:45pm and reception closes at 7pm, You will receive an email explaining how to find your key when you arrive at the hostel and the free CBD shuttle service doesn't start until 8am. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to email or phone us. We are looking forward to meeting you. Thanks Kieran.
There are more places to choose from in the Cairns area.
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandCairns RegionCairns
NUMBER OF ROOMS
24
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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