Need somewhere to live in Cairns for a few weeks or a few months? Hides Hotel offers long stays right in the Cairns CBD, at 87 Lake Street. You can choose a room with a private ensuite or one of our long-term budget heritage rooms with shared bathrooms (minimum stay four weeks), with free Wi-Fi, air-con and a guest laundry in the building, and Rusty’s Markets across the road.
Here’s what a longer stay with us actually looks like, so you can decide if it suits you before you book.
Who books a long stay in the Cairns CBD?
Mostly people with a reason to be in town for a while: contractors and FIFO workers between rosters, students, people in Cairns for medical appointments or treatment, and anyone between homes while they sort out a rental. A hotel room in the city saves you signing a lease, buying furniture or connecting utilities. You turn up with a bag and you’re home.
The trade-off is space. A hotel room is a room, not a flat. If you need a full kitchen and a lounge for three months, a furnished apartment may suit you better. If you want a clean, central base where the Wi-Fi, power and linen are already sorted, read on.
Which rooms suit a long stay?
There are two ways to do it at Hides.
Rooms with a private ensuite
- Premium King: sleeps 2, one king bed (two singles on request), private ensuite.
- Premium King Plus: sleeps 3, a king plus a single, private ensuite.
- Family Room: sleeps 4, a king plus two singles, private ensuite.
- One Bedroom Apartment: sleeps 2, one queen bed, ensuite and a kitchen. The pick if you want to cook your own meals.
- Budget Queen (With Ensuite): sleeps 2, one queen bed, private ensuite.
Check dates and availability for these rooms on our booking page, or ask us.
Long-term budget rooms with shared bathrooms
For stays of four weeks or more, we have three heritage-style budget rooms in the original building: the Long Term Budget Double, the Long Term Budget Twin and the Long Term Budget Single. Each has air-con and free Wi-Fi, and shares bathroom facilities. They’re the most affordable way to live in the middle of the city.
What’s the minimum stay?
The long-term budget rooms have a minimum stay of four weeks. If you’d rather have your own ensuite, or your plans might change, look at the ensuite rooms above and check your dates with us.
How much does long stay accommodation in Cairns cost?
Our rates are dynamic. They change with the season, the room and how far ahead you book, so there’s no fixed weekly or monthly price list. The quickest way to get a real number is to tell us your dates and the room you’re after, and we’ll give you the current rate. You can also check ensuite room availability any time on our booking page.
When you compare options, remember what’s already included in a hotel stay: furniture, linen, electricity, air-con and Wi-Fi. A cheaper rental can cost more once you add bond, utilities and a lease you can’t walk away from.
Is housekeeping included on a long stay?
Here’s how it works, straight up. Rooms are serviced at the end of each stay. During your stay, housekeeping is by request, and you can ask for fresh towels whenever you need them. We do it this way for environmental reasons: less water, energy and chemicals. It applies to long stays too, so just ask reception when you’d like a clean.
How do laundry and meals work?
- Laundry: there’s a guest laundry in the building, so you don’t need a laundromat run every week.
- Breakfast: a continental breakfast runs daily from 6:30 to 9:00am. It’s an optional paid extra: pre-book before you arrive or arrange it at check-in.
- Cooking: the One Bedroom Apartment has a kitchen. In the other rooms, plan on eating out or buying ready-to-eat food, which is easy around Lake Street.
- Fresh food: Rusty’s Markets is across the road, with tropical fruit, veg and cheap eats. As of October 2026 it trades Friday to Sunday from early morning (check rustysmarkets.com.au for current hours).
What’s within walking distance for everyday life?
This is where a CBD base earns its keep. From our front door:
- Rusty’s Markets: across the road.
- The Esplanade and Lagoon: under five minutes’ walk, for a free swim or an evening walk after work.
- Cairns Central shopping centre and the railway station: a short walk.
- Reef Fleet Terminal: under 10 minutes on foot, if your days off are for the reef.
- Cairns Airport: about 7 km, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car, taxi or rideshare.
In town for medical appointments? Cairns Hospital is on the Esplanade at the northern edge of the city (165 The Esplanade, Cairns North, as of October 2026). Check the walk or ride on Google Maps for your appointment day.
See our neighbourhood guide for more on what’s nearby.
What other facilities help on a longer stay?
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building.
- Air-conditioning (you’ll want it from November).
- Lift access.
- Storage lockers, handy if you arrive before check-in or leave after check-out.
- Undercover paid parking on site. Spots are limited, so ask when you book.
- Reception and a tour desk for questions, local tips and booking trips on your days off.
Is the Cairns CBD noisy?
Honestly, it can be. Hides is a heritage-listed 1928 hotel in the middle of the action, with bars and restaurants nearby. That’s great when you want a night out, less great before an early shift. If you’re a light sleeper, pack earplugs and ask us for a quieter room when you book. Curious about the building itself? Read our history.
How do you book a long stay at Hides?
- Tell us your dates. Email res@hideshotel.com.au or call 07 4058 3700 with your arrival date, roughly how long you’ll stay and who’s coming.
- We’ll match you with a room and confirm the current rate.
- Check in from 2pm. Bring photo ID and a credit card for a $100 pre-authorisation. It isn’t a charge, and it’s released after check-out if the room is undamaged. Arriving late? Let us know before you travel and we’ll arrange your check-in.
Our cancellation policy is 24 hours, whichever way you book. More detail on what to expect is on our Long Stays page and in our guest guide.
Ready to settle in? Check your dates and book direct, or get in touch about a long-term room. A clean room in the middle of it all, for as long as you need it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum stay for long-term rooms at Hides Hotel?
Four weeks. The Long Term Budget Double, Twin and Single rooms share bathroom facilities and are for stays of four weeks or more. For a room with a private ensuite, check your dates on our booking page or ask us.
Do long-stay rooms get cleaned during the stay?
Rooms are serviced at the end of each stay. During your stay, housekeeping is by request and fresh towels are available on request. We do it this way for environmental reasons.
Is there a kitchen for long-stay guests?
The One Bedroom Apartment has its own kitchen. If you’re in another room, there’s an optional paid continental breakfast each morning and plenty of food nearby, including Rusty’s Markets across the road.
Is there parking for long-stay guests?
Yes, there’s undercover paid parking on site, but spots are limited. Ask about it when you book.
How far is Hides Hotel from Cairns Airport?
About 7 km, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car, taxi or rideshare.
