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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.
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)
The
Mantra Esplanade Hotel
not only has easy access by foot to the lagoon, this hotel also has its own pool if you are short on time and don't feel like crossing the road for a swim. It also has free parking on site, which can be important
on busy weekends, particularly if there is an event on the foreshore.
Above: The free barbecue facilities at the lagoon, which you can use if your hotel room does not have cooking facilities and you want to self-cater(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.
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 street parking
available, and has a pool.
Above: The main pool at the Colonial Club Resort in Cairns(Order this image)
It actually 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.
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.
