We took our first trip to Australia in our 60s, and Cairns was our first stop.
For our stay, we chose
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns.
Since it was our first time in both Australia and Cairns, one thing mattered a lot when choosing a hotel:
we wanted somewhere comfortable and, above all, easy for sightseeing.
Once we arrived, we realized just how convenient the location was.
The Reef Fleet Terminal for trips to Green Island, Fitzroy Island and the Great Barrier Reef is very close to the hotel, and we also found it easy to use Uber.
The location was probably the biggest reason we thought, “We’re glad we chose this hotel!”
There was another thing we really liked too:
the breakfast.
There was plenty of variety, including bread, smoked salmon, congee and made-to-order omelets, so breakfast stayed enjoyable even during a longer stay.
In this review, I’ll share our actual experience from 2024, including our Deluxe Room, breakfast buffet, location and a few things we noticed during our stay.
Please note: Room facilities and hotel services mentioned in this article are based on our 2024 stay. Check the hotel or booking website for the latest information before booking.
Why We Chose Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns is located beside the marina in central Cairns.
According to the hotel’s current information, Cairns Airport is around a 15-minute drive away.
More importantly for us,
the Reef Fleet Terminal is right nearby.
This is where many boats leave for the Great Barrier Reef.
For our first visit to Cairns, the location had several big advantages:
- easy access to sightseeing
- very convenient for Green Island
- central Cairns is walkable
- easy to use Uber and taxis
If you are choosing a hotel purely for luxury, there are other options in Cairns too.
But for us,
“We want to visit Green Island” and “We want to make getting around as easy as possible”
were important priorities.
For that kind of trip, this hotel worked very well.
Check-In and Language During Our Stay
During our 2024 stay, our interactions at the front desk were mainly in English.
The staff we met were friendly and helpful, and we had no major problems checking in or leaving our luggage.
For international travelers, this was a straightforward hotel experience.
Our Deluxe Room
We stayed in a Deluxe Room.
The hotel currently lists the Deluxe Room at around 32.5 square meters.
Our room had two queen beds.
It did not feel enormous, but even with three people staying together, we never felt that the room was uncomfortably small.
And one thing we really appreciated was this:
the beds and pillows were very comfortable.
Hotel pillows do not always suit me when traveling overseas, but I slept very well here.
There was one small downside.
Our room was quite a walk from the front desk.
After spending the whole day sightseeing, walking even farther through the hotel was sometimes a little tiring.
If minimizing walking is important to you, it may be worth requesting a room closer to the lobby when booking.
The Sofa Was Surprisingly Useful
There was also a sofa in the room.
It may sound like a small detail, but we used it quite a lot.
We could eat snacks or food we had bought from the supermarket, sit down for a short break, or simply relax after sightseeing.
When traveling overseas, we do not always want to eat every meal at a restaurant.
On evenings when we thought,
“Let’s just eat something simple in the room tonight,”
the sofa was very useful.
Our Room Had a Parking Lot View
Unfortunately, our room faced the parking area rather than the marina.
But Cairns was quite cloudy during part of our stay, so in the end we thought,
“Maybe we didn’t really need an ocean-view room this time.”
If enjoying the view from your hotel room is important to you, however, it would be worth checking the marina-view room categories.
TV and Coffee Machine
There was a television in the room.
We did not use it much during our stay, but there was an audio channel where we could play jazz.
It became nice background music while relaxing in the room.
Sometimes those little details end up being surprisingly memorable.
There was also a coffee machine.
Because our booking included breakfast, we hardly used it.
Bottled water was provided as well.
One day we ran out of water and requested more through the hotel app.
It was delivered to our room, which made things very easy.
Bathroom, Toilet and Shower
The vanity area was fairly spacious and easy to use.
Our Deluxe Room did not have an electronic bidet toilet seat.
If this is an important feature for you, I recommend checking the facilities for your exact room type before booking.
Our Deluxe Room Had a Shower but No Bathtub
Our Deluxe Room did not have a bathtub.
It was shower only.
To be honest, this was one of the things I hesitated about when choosing the hotel.
I kept thinking,
“Hmm… no bathtub?”
After walking around all day, I really do enjoy soaking in a bath.
The shower pressure itself was fine.
Some higher room categories currently include bathtubs, so
if you are a bath person like me, check the room facilities carefully before booking.
Amenities
These were the amenities provided during our stay.
The shampoo suited my hair well, and I found my hair easy to manage after drying it.
The toothpaste was a miniature Colgate.
The soaps also had a pleasant hotel-style fragrance.
It reminded me a little of the scent we noticed near the hotel entrance.
It is funny how a fragrance can suddenly remind you of a trip long after you return home.
Please note that amenity brands and products may change.
Easy to Use Uber for Sightseeing
We used both Uber and DiDi during our stay.
When we requested a car near the hotel, it often arrived quite quickly.
A few times, the wait was only a few minutes.
That made getting around very easy.
We also used rideshare services when traveling toward the Kuranda area.
Being able to leave directly from the hotel was convenient, especially on days when we did not want transportation itself to become tiring.
A Great Location for Green Island and Fitzroy Island
The moment when I most strongly thought,
“I’m so glad we stayed here!”
was the morning we went to Green Island.
The Reef Fleet Terminal, where boats depart for Green Island, Fitzroy Island and other Great Barrier Reef trips, is very close to the hotel.
We did not have to start the morning with a long bus or taxi journey.
That made such a difference.
Sometimes on a trip, the journey to the attraction is more tiring than the attraction itself.
Here, we could get ready at a relaxed pace and simply walk toward the terminal.
If the Great Barrier Reef is one of the main reasons you are visiting Cairns, this location is a real advantage.
The Breakfast Buffet Was Delicious — I’m Glad We Added It
Our booking included breakfast.
And in the end,
I’m really glad we added it.
There was no need to search for a café first thing in the morning, and we could choose a little of whatever we felt like eating.
But most importantly,
the breakfast was simply good.
We usually ate a proper breakfast, kept lunch fairly light, and then enjoyed dinner later in the day.
For us, that rhythm worked well during an overseas trip with lots of eating out.
The hotel currently lists breakfast at The Backyard from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Plenty of Hot Dishes
During our stay, there were several hot dishes, including mushrooms.
I especially liked the mushrooms.
They became one of those unexpectedly memorable foods from the trip.
Some dishes changed from day to day, so even after several breakfasts, it did not feel completely repetitive.
Salads, Fruit and Chia Pudding
There were salads, fruit and cheese,
as well as chia pudding made with chia seeds and coconut.
Some of the breakfast items were different from what we usually see at hotels in Japan.
Those little differences make me think,
“Yes, we’re really traveling overseas.”
Lots of Bread — and It Was Good
There was a wide selection of bread too,
including bagels, sliced bread and gluten-free options.
Alongside honey and blueberry jam,
there was of course something very Australian:
Vegemite.
The croissants and pastries were small, which made it easy to try several.
We ended up really liking the bread we ate during our Australia trip.
My favorites here were
the banana bread and coconut bread.
I would happily eat those again.
There Was Congee and Rice Too
After several days of bread while traveling,
sometimes you suddenly want rice again.
During our stay, there were days when both congee and white rice were available.
There were several toppings for the congee too.
Miso soup was also available, although we found the flavor a little light.
But
the congee itself was delicious.
There is something comforting about eating rice again when you have been traveling for a while.
We Also Enjoyed the Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon was also available during breakfast.
It was rich and very tasty.
Eating out in Cairns can add up quickly, so being able to enjoy a generous breakfast buffet was something we appreciated.
Made-to-Order Omelets and French Toast
Omelets and French toast could be prepared fresh.
The omelets were slightly different depending on who cooked them.
Some were a little more firmly cooked,
while others were softer.
Even that became part of the fun of staying for several days.
During our stay, one of the chefs spoke a little Japanese and shared some local Cairns information with us.
It became a nice memory from the trip.
Juice, Coffee and Tea
During our stay, drinks included:
- apple juice
- pineapple juice
- orange juice
- iced tea
Coffee and tea were available too.
On our final morning, we took a coffee with us and went for a slow walk around the hotel.
Those quiet moments are part of traveling too.
Breakfast with Marina Views
Another thing I liked about breakfast was
the marina view.
You can eat while looking out toward the boats and water.
Sometimes birds came surprisingly close too.
Very cute!
Because we stayed for several days, we deliberately changed seats from morning to morning.
That gave us a slightly different view each day.
The core breakfast selection stayed fairly consistent, while some dishes changed.
We chose slightly different things each morning,
so we never became bored with it.
Our Overall Thoughts on Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
After actually staying here,
I think the biggest strength of this hotel is still the location.
There were a few things we noticed.
Our room was a fair walk from the lobby,
and our Deluxe Room did not have a bathtub.
But we really appreciated that:
- Green Island and Fitzroy Island departures were easy to reach
- central Cairns was convenient to explore on foot
- Uber and taxis were easy to use
- the breakfast buffet was genuinely enjoyable
For travelers who are thinking,
“I want to visit Green Island,” “Sightseeing is my priority,” or “I don’t want transportation to exhaust me,”
the location works particularly well.
And then there is the breakfast.
I really liked it.
If I stayed here again,
I would choose a breakfast-included rate again.
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns: Practical Information
| Hotel | Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns |
|---|---|
| Address | Pierpoint Road, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia |
| From Cairns Airport | About 15 minutes by car |
| Reef Fleet Terminal | Very close to the hotel |
| Check-in | From 2:00 p.m. |
| Check-out | 11:00 a.m. |
| Deluxe Room | Approx. 32.5 m² |
| Bathtub | Depends on room type; check before booking |
| Breakfast | The Backyard / 6:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. based on current hotel information |
| Hotel Website | Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns Official Website |
Who Might Particularly Like This Hotel?
A Good Choice If You...
- plan to visit Green Island or Fitzroy Island
- want a central Cairns location
- enjoy a substantial hotel breakfast
- plan to use Uber or taxis
- want to walk around the marina and central Cairns
Things to Check Before Booking
- check your exact room category if you want a bathtub
- request a room closer to the lobby if walking distance matters to you
- choose your view carefully if a marina or ocean view is important
For anyone planning to explore Green Island, Fitzroy Island or the Great Barrier Reef,
the location really was one of the best parts of our stay.
Good location.
Good breakfast.
And very convenient for sightseeing.
For a first trip to Cairns, I think Shangri-La The Marina is well worth considering.
