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The Reef Motel

Property class: 2

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Photo gallery for The Reef Motel

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, a ceiling fan, a window with curtains, and a painting on the wall. - The Reef Motel (Cairns)
A hotel room with two beds, a TV, a dining table with chairs, a small kitchen area, and a bathroom. - The Reef Motel (Cairns)
A kitchen with a sink, a dining area with chairs, a window with a view, and a sliding glass door leading to an outdoor area. - The Reef Motel (Cairns)
A swimming pool with a hot tub, surrounded by white lounge chairs and a tiled deck. - The Reef Motel (Cairns)
A bathroom with a toilet, shower, sink, and a mirror. - The Reef Motel (Cairns)
A short walk from Cairns Esplanade, The Reef Motel has plenty to offer. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

4.8 out of 10

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Off-peak, on budget: 30% or more off select hotels in our fall sale

Skip the crowds, keep the savings. AARP members save more after Labor Day. Book by Oct 7, 2026.

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 3 of 3 rooms

View all photos for Queen Room

A hotel room with a bed, a desk, a chair, a ceiling fan, a window with curtains, and a painting on the wall.

Queen Room

  • 28 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Twin Room

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, a ceiling fan, a window with curtains, and a painting on the wall.

Twin Room

  • 28 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Family Room

A hotel room with two beds, a dining table, chairs, a TV, and a sliding glass door leading to a balcony with a view of the outdoors.

Family Room

  • 28 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Cairns North, a neighborhood in Cairns, is home to The Reef Motel. Cairns Marlin Marina and Reef Fleet Terminal are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Cairns Esplanade and Palm Cove Beach. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Barlow Park or Cazalys Stadium. Visit our Cairns travel guide
View more Motels in Cairns
Map
228 Lake Street, Cairns, QLD, 4870

What's nearby

  • A beach with a lifeguard tower, palm trees, and a swimming pool.
    Cairns Esplanade
    1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • A train carriage with red seats and windows.
    Cairns Central Shopping Centre
    4 min drive - 1.3 miles
  • A swimming pool with wind sculptures, a covered pavilion, palm trees, and a sunset sky.
    Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
    5 min drive - 1.8 miles
  • A marina with numerous boats docked, a large cruise ship, and a cityscape with buildings and mountains in the background.
    Cairns Marlin Marina
    5 min drive - 1.8 miles
  • Cairns Esplanade Charles Street Parkland
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles

Getting around

  • Cairns Station
    8 min drive
  • Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)
    6 min drive

Restaurants

  • Muddy's Cafe
    13 min walk
  • Atrium
    19 min walk
  • Paper Crane
    16 min walk
  • Smith Street Cafe
    11 min walk
  • Guyala Cafe
    9 min walk

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  • Parking included
  • Air conditioning
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 25+ Mbps

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site

Things to do

  • Outdoor pool

Family friendly

  • Outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Iron/ironing board

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 4:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

MastercardVisa

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Breakage deposit: AUD 100 per stay

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash

Frequently asked questions

Does The Reef Motel have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is The Reef Motel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The Reef Motel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at The Reef Motel?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Reef Motel located?

Located in Cairns North, this motel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Cairns Mudflats, Cairns Esplanade, and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Icon Cancer Centre Cairns (Liz Plummer) and Cairns Esplanade Charles Street Parkland are also within 10 minutes.

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Reviews

The Reef Motel Reviews

4.8

5.8

Cleanliness

5.0

Amenities

7.0

Staff & service

4.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 28 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 28 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 28 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 28 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 11 out of 28 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Rohan

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a great location
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Greg

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The room was clean, the bed comfortable and the staff friendly and helpful. The room is dated and generally a bit shabby. Renovations are in progress. I would recommend the motel and will stay there again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Dianne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The cost of the night was $110. For this the motel exceeded expectations. You pay for what you get. It was old, but clean. Water was hot, beds were clean and comfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
THE PROPERTY IS BEING COMPLETLY RENOVATED AND WILL BE A LOT BETTER IN THE FUTURE. THE STAFF WERE VERY FRIEDLY AND OBLIGING FOR A FEW ITEMS I REQUIRED.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Tony

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
AVOID staying here at least until the hotel is finished being renovated, they are currently offering the shabby outside rooms which LOOSLY dictate the rooms advertised. The window next to the door had 3 of the required 10 vertical blinds to cover thewondow, they had to find a board to cover the window, the a/C is the old in wall type sealed up with masking tape, tv didn’t work, bed was 2 singles pushed together with only a mattress topper holding them together and the linen, bedding was clean tho. Typically i “had the last room” so they couldn’t move me yet there was only 2 cars in the car park (one was mine) and one other unit with lights on and a blanket covering the entry window…. The manager was very nice, apologetic and sorted the winfow issue with a board, i guess fir $128 in Cairns this is what you get, i would be avoiding for a long time yet AVOID
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Cat

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Golly, where do I start.... I booked this placed as the listing said it had recently been remodeled - as in past tense. However, upon arrival, it is still very much in the throws of a very large renovation. And thank goodness. The room I stayed in was probably the original décor, circa late 70's or early 80's. Very dated bathroom, the TV was hit and miss whether it worked or not and I had to go and ask if the air con / ceiling fan were working because I couldn't find the switches to get them to work. Turns out it was on a console in the middle of the beds with faded writing. The staff at "Reception" were very helpful: they hung onto my bag until it was time to check in as I'd arrived quite early in the AM, the maintenance chap was very quick to assist and the lady I tracked down to get some soap for bathroom was also very friendly. I didn't mind that it's a solid 20 minute walk from the popular end of the waterfront. It's a really pretty stroll along the promenade to all the cafes/restaurants - it's well lit and plenty of people around. I felt completely safe wandering back to motel at night by myself. The pros: comfy bed, black out curtains and phenomenal hot water & pressure. Only a 10 minute drive from airport by uber. The cons: in the middle of a very large reno, and very much organised chaos. If you can get past the decor (you're only in there to sleep and shower) it's cheap and I'm sure once the reno is completed, this will be a lovely place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The location
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The staff were wonderful, particularly the manager that was on duty when I checked in. The location is picture perfect!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Petal

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Cancelled this booking on the 15th Sept as stayed on the 1st Sept and it was so bad we didn't want to stay here again!! This motel should not be in business. Plus the photo they have of the room is not correct.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Simon

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Dirty, dated, nothing like the photos of the room. Drapes were torn and at least 50 years old, bathroom was horrid. Maintenance crew had ladders banging against our windows and buckets etc rattling around right outside our room at 6.45am!!! Site location was the only thing good about the place as was right opposite the waterfront promenade. Never again...
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Steven William

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Property is currently under renovation so is a few minor problems but for package price more than reflected this. Staff were helpful
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to the esplanade
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Shyamal Silva

Disliked: Staff & service
We were travelling from Papua New Guinea to expend our break for 9 nights in the hotel. They kick us off at the last minute stating that they have water leak in the room. The staff are so arrogant and irresponsible. We were stranded with two kids, luckily my friend gave us accommodation until we find a new hotel.
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Lynn

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
the advertisement was not anything like the rooms .
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Hollie

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
No privacy as front verticle blinds were partially missing, had to take a sheet of bed to makeshift a privacy screen When we arrived air con was set to 22 degrees, its winter and freezing cold , so the room stayed like an ice box We had to ask for a doona as the room didn't have any ,only a super thin throw blanket ,which won't suffice in winter. Only 1 pillow each, what the woke up with a sore neck and the mattress was dismal, like foam only, no support.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Gwen

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
DO NOT BOOK! This accomodation does not EXIST! Arrived at the building and it's an abandoned building, there were workers there that said it hads been closed down for a long time. We tried calling them several times throughout the day - no answer. We have contacted lastminute and are in the process of getting this listing deleted.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Petal

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This motel sis should not be open for business. Photos taken of the unit were not the correct ones. They were photos taken of the Oceanfront Resort. Very misleading. Motel unit was dirty and very run down.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2026
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Stephen

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Just purely disappointing, no wifi as advertised, a tv that didn't work, couldn't recommend the place.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Jeffrey

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It is a very old resort undergoing renovation but the room I had was offensive. Trouble getting ac started, tv control was not fully functional, no hot water in the shower, trade materials lying around everywhere, no community facilities were operational. Danger do not go there
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Louise

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Pete

Stayed 1 night in May 2026