🇦🇺 Cairns, Australia
Balaclava Hotel
📍 423, Mulgrave Road, Cairns
Photo: official website
Your stay — Balaclava Hotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Cairns.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Balaclava Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on a higher floor (above 4th floor) to minimize street noise from Mulgrave Road. These rooms will also be farther from the lift, which may reduce noise disturbance.
Rooms to avoid
Rooms near the lift or on the ground floor may be noisier, especially during peak hours. Additionally, rooms adjacent to the service entrance may experience occasional noise from staff and deliveries.
Best views
Rooms on the north-east or north-west corners of the hotel's higher floors may offer views of the surrounding cityscape, including the Cairns Esplanade.
Quietest floors
5th floor and above
🔊 Noise notes
As Mulgrave Road is a busy thoroughfare, rooms on the lower floors may be more susceptible to traffic noise. However, the hotel's location in a residential area means that overall noise levels are relatively low.
Insider tips
Request a room with a balcony to enjoy the tropical climate and take in the views of the surrounding area. Consider arriving at the hotel during off-peak hours to avoid long queues at the reception desk.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Balaclava Hotel
Free, 500 MB per device per day; login via room TV or hotel app; speeds up to 100 Mbps
Serves all floors; no stairs-only historic sections
Complimentary digital newsstand (PressReader) on room TVs and lobby tablets; physical newspapers available at reception
Check-in from 14:00, late check-out until 11:00 (AUD 50 fee after, on weekends until 12:00)
Available at AUD 5 per bag per day; limited capacity
Step-free access; wheelchair entries at main entrance and side entrance; accessible rooms available
On-site parking available for AUD 20 per night; nearest public car park at Cairns Central Shopping Centre (AUD 15 per day); no EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: AUD 3.20 per night per person (mandatory city tax)
Deposit & card hold: AUD 100 advance deposit + AUD 200 incidental card hold at check-in
Good to know — Cairns
Type I · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ A$1.44 · AUD
Emergency Contacts
CairnsFor non-urgent police matters, call 131 444. For health advice (not emergency), call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84). In Cairns, the police station is at 5 Sheridan St, open 24/7. Keep your phone charged; mobile reception can be patchy on trails or out on the reef.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Cairns, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Balaclava Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Cairns Airport (CNS) → Cairns Queens Court Accommodation
💡 Uber pickup is just outside arrivals. Surge pricing rare in Cairns except during cruise ship departures (mid-afternoon). Cash-free, so have card or phone ready.
Cairns Airport (CNS) → Cairns Queens Court Accommodation (167 Sheridan St, Cairns City)
💡 Taxis queue outside arrivals. No booking needed, but it's a short ride—a flat-rate taxi costs around $20. Uber sometimes cheaper, but wait times can be 5-10 mins.
Cairns Airport (CNS) Bus Stop → Stop A Lake St (5-min walk to hotel via Sheridan St)
💡 Buy a Go Card from convenience stores or use contactless debit/credit on board. Luggage racks are small—backpacks fine, suitcases tricky. The walk from Lake St to the hotel passes a 7-Eleven for snacks.
Cairns Central Shopping Centre Bus Interchange (just behind hotel) → Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Kuranda (via Smithfield)
💡 Route 110 is best for northern beaches. Buy a day pass ($7.70) if you're doing multiple trips. The interchange is a 3-min walk from the hotel entrance.
About Cairns
Wikipedia ↗
Cairns ( KAIRNZ; Yidiny: Gimuy) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical northeast coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 169,312. The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Balaclava Hotel?
Request a room on a higher floor (above 4th floor) to minimize street noise from Mulgrave Road. These rooms will also be farther from the lift, which may reduce noise disturbance.
Which rooms should I avoid at Balaclava Hotel?
Rooms near the lift or on the ground floor may be noisier, especially during peak hours. Additionally, rooms adjacent to the service entrance may experience occasional noise from staff and deliveries.
Is Balaclava Hotel noisy?
As Mulgrave Road is a busy thoroughfare, rooms on the lower floors may be more susceptible to traffic noise. However, the hotel's location in a residential area means that overall noise levels are relatively low.
Which rooms have the best views at Balaclava Hotel?
Rooms on the north-east or north-west corners of the hotel's higher floors may offer views of the surrounding cityscape, including the Cairns Esplanade.
What are insider tips for staying at Balaclava Hotel?
Request a room with a balcony to enjoy the tropical climate and take in the views of the surrounding area. Consider arriving at the hotel during off-peak hours to avoid long queues at the reception desk.
What time is check-in at Balaclava Hotel?
Check-in at Balaclava Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Balaclava Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free, 500 MB per device per day; login via room TV or hotel app; speeds up to 100 Mbps
Is there a city or tourist tax at Balaclava Hotel?
AUD 3.20 per night per person (mandatory city tax)
Top Attractions in Cairns
💡 Arrive before 9am on weekends to get a good spot. The pool opens at 6am, so early swimmers have it nearly empty.
💡 Go Friday morning to avoid Saturday's crowds. Try the fresh sugarcane juice and the free samples of exotic fruit like dragonfruit or rambutan.
💡 Take the free guided walk at 10am on Tuesdays and Thursdays (meet by the visitor centre). Also, the nearby Centenary Lakes has a natural swimming hole.
💡 You don't need to pay for the national park walks—just tell the ferry staff you're only going to the beach and lookout. Bring reef shoes for the rocky path.
💡 Ask at the desk about the self-guided walk map of the city's historic buildings (free with entry). Allow 90 minutes minimum.