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Swim and Stay at Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Swimming Hole Heaven in Queensland


 
Where is the closest accommodation to Cairns Esplanade Swimming Lagoon in Cairns? Here are my nearby camping, homestay, and hotel suggestions and their distance to this swim, including where I stayed, plus some local tours available. All distances below are by foot or by road to the lagoon. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon accommodation Above: The view back towards the Mantra Esplanade Hotel (left) and Oaks Cairns Hotel (right) from the lagoon (Order this image)
Disclaimer: If you book services using this article, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. See my affiliate links policy for more.
Hotel accommodation across the road from the lagoon
The lagoon is located on Cairns Esplanade, which has a myriad of high rise hotels, all within easy walking distance of the lagoon. The two closest options are directly across the road from the lagoon, with some of the elevated rooms in both of these hotels having views of the lagoon from the balcony. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon accommodation Above: The metal fish sculptures in the lagoon, with the Mantra Esplanade Hotel (far left) and Oaks Cairns Hotel (second left) in the background (Order this image)

I have featured the Mantra Esplanade Hotel below because in addition to easy access by foot to the lagoon, this hotel also has its own pool, which is one of the features I look for when staying in hotels.
Mantra Esplanade
Accommodation type:Hotel rooms and apartments for up to 2-5 people
Distance to this swim:30 m
Does it have a pool?Yes, 20 m outdoor swimming pool plus shaded hot tub
Parking available?Yes, free parking on site
Click to book → Click to explore and book
Entire home accommodation in Cairns
Cairns Esplanade and the Cairns city centre are all about apartment living, but there are still some entire homes available further back in Cairns, particularly if you have a car and can drive to the Esplanade Lagoon.
The Red Sparrow 2 is one of the closest fully contained houses available for short-term rent. At just over 1 km from the lagoon, it is still within walking distance for those hoping to combine a long walk or a jog with a swim. If you are travelling with pets, then the Red Sparrow 2 has a fully fenced yard with an undercover deck where you can watch over your pooch. The home itself is fairly basic but highly rated by guests.
Red Sparrow 2
Accommodation type:2 bedroom house for up to 4 people
Distance to this swim:1 km
Does it have a pool?No
Parking available?Yes, free parking on site under a carport
Pet friendly?Yes, pets allowed
Click to book → Click to explore and book
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon accommodation Above: The free barbecue facilities at the lagoon (Order this image)
Caravan and camping accommodation
One of the closest caravan and camping facilities to the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon is the NRMA Cairns Holiday Park, located 4 km north west of the lagoon by road. The holiday park features an outdoor swimming pool with shade cloth, an undercover camp kitchen, and some pet-friendly caravan and camping sites.
NRMA Cairns Holiday Park
Accommodation type:Powered sites, unpowered sites, ensuite sites, lodges.
Distance to this swim:4 km
Does it have a pool?Yes, outdoor swimming pool
Parking available?Yes, free parking on site
Pet friendly?Yes, pet-friendly options available
Click to book → On booking.com (lodges only) or on the caravan park website
Where I stayed
When visiting Cairns, I most recently stayed at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort (as a paying guest). The main attraction for me was that it was very reasonably priced, with parking available, and has a pool. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon accommodation Above: The main pool at the Colonial Club Resort in Cairns (Order this image)

In fact it has two pools - a huge main pool and a smaller pool towards the back of the complex that has a swim-up bar. I stayed in a one bedroom motel unit that was small but quiet and comfortable. The complex itself is huge, with hundreds of guests and a 24 hour reception, and a whole heap of facilities and activities, including mini golf and a restaurant. On my visit it was also hosting a school camp. All of the walkways to the rooms are covered for when it rains. Parking is available out the front of the complex (i.e. not in front of your room), with a few spots along the circular driveway and plenty of spots on the street directly outside the reception.
Cairns Colonial Club Resort
Accommodation type:Motel rooms for up to 2-4 people
Distance to this swim:5 km
Does it have a pool?Yes, two outdoor pools with slides and a bar
Parking available?Yes, free parking on site and on the street
Click to book → Click to explore and book
Local swimming hole tours
Cairns is one of Australia's premier holiday destinations, with plenty of holiday activities on offer. Apart from visiting swimming holes and waterfalls, in my visits to Cairns I have taken snorkeling tours to the Great Barrier Reef, gone skydiving, and taken a day trip to do some white water rafting on the Tully River south of Cairns.
A trip up to Kuranda along the Kuranda railway is also hugely popular with tourists, which I have travelled on in the past to take a look at Barron Falls.

If you are looking for a local guide to help enjoy some freshwater swimming experiences around Cairns, here are some options. None of these are to Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, as anyone staying in Cairns should be able to find their own way to the lagoon pretty easily. I have been to all of these swimming locations around Cairns, but not on these tours, so make sure you read the tour descriptions and reviews carefully before booking:
Cairns freshwater swimming tours
Behana Gorge canyoning: Click to explore and book
Josephine Falls swimming: Click to explore and book
Behana Gorge tubing: Click to explore and book
Babinda Boulders swimming: Click to explore and book
More information about Cairns Esplanade Lagoon:
If you have arrived at this accommodation web page directly, you can find out more about swimming at the lagoon in my guide to Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. I hope you enjoy your stay here.

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