The Shangri-La is a great and convenient luxury hotel to explore the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns. The exterior of the building or the lobby will not win any beauty contest, but don’t let that fool you. The Shangri-La Cairns has just been fully renovated and still commands the absolute best location in Cairns. It sits directly across from the marina, offering an easy walk to the hundreds of tour boats departing for the Great Barrier Reef every single day.
Getting to the Shangri-La Cairns
The Shangri-La occupies the finest real estate in Cairns. It is located directly in the waterfront marina complex, granting guests beautiful views over the coral sea and the bustling marina docks.
Getting to the hotel from Cairns Airport (CNS) takes roughly 15 minutes by Uber or local taxi and costs around 20 Australian dollars.
Checking In
This is Luxury Travel checked into the property around 8 PM. The check-in process was exceptionally smooth, efficient, and welcoming. I was offered assistance to have my bags brought up to the room by the porter, but I chose to carry them up myself.
Review of the Room at the Shangri-La Cairns
This is Luxury Travel stayed in an Executive Marina View room, and I could not have made a better decision. The space opened up to refreshing and soothing panoramic views of Cairn’s Marlin Marina, backed by towering coastal mountain ranges. This gave me the perfect opportunity to catch epic sunrises and sunsets right from the comfort of my bed.
The room boasted a very open and well-lit environment, which made for a highly soothing atmosphere during my stay. The entire space looked as though it had just been completely renewed. Spanning about 35 square meters, it is not massive but is designed to be perfectly functional. The elegant flat-screen television came equipped with multiple premium in-house movie channels.
The long sliding glass window opens up into a private white balcony. This spot is perfect for gazing at the tour boats leaving for the reef when you want to enjoy a relaxed, laidback moment with a view.
The bathroom felt modern and came fully equipped with a walk-in shower and a separate deep soaking bathtub. The hotel housekeeping staff provided plenty of neat, plush towels alongside a comfortable bathrobe.
The signature Shangri-La toiletries were fantastic as well. I particularly liked the charming little amenities bag, which reminded me of the premium travel kits you receive in premium airline cabins.
Breakfast with a View at the Shangri-La Cairns
Breakfast is served buffet-style. It is incredibly filling and highly functional, though it leans more toward a solid corporate offering rather than a boutique five-star luxury resort experience. The food spread on the buffet was plentiful but relatively straightforward. There was an abundant supply of pre-made juices in several flavors, as well as automatic coffee machines. On the plus side, the artisanal breads, croissants, and pastries were delicious. There was such a massive variety to choose from that I could not try everything in one sitting.
What made breakfast truly enjoyable was the enchanting sight of the massive fleet of catamarans and boats leaving the harbor for the reef right in front of your table.
I did not get a chance to try any other lunches or dinners at the main Shangri-La restaurant due to my busy tour schedule, but it certainly appeared to be a major hotspot. Every single time I walked past, it was packed with locals and guests alike.
The Hotel Facilities at the Shangri-La Cairns
The swimming pool and gym facilities are highly appreciated by visiting travelers. There is a large outdoor swimming pool framed by comfortable sun lounge chairs. I absolutely enjoyed my morning lap swims while staying here—and the best part was that the pool area was almost completely empty in the early hours.
I also liked the fitness center a lot, as it houses all the modern cardio and strength equipment that a fitness enthusiast might require while traveling.
Top Things to Do in Cairns
Cairns serves as the primary global gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, so exploring the reef is an absolute must during your visit.
There are countless tour operators offering day trips for snorkeling and scuba diving across the outer reef ecosystems. For something unique, Coral Sea Dreaming is an interesting boutique company that operates a small sailing boat for overnight trips to the reef. The experience feels far less crowded because they strictly limit the ship capacity to a maximum of 12 people. You can either book an individual slot on a group trip or charter the entire vessel for private use.
Because the Shangri-La is the closest hotel to the Reef Fleet Terminal where these boats depart, the location is ultra-convenient.
While spending time in Cairns, do not forget to schedule a visit to the ancient tropical rainforests. I booked a small-group wildlife tour with Wait-a-While, and it was fantastic. We managed to spot wild platypuses, rare tree kangaroos, ringtail possums, and many other native animals. You can read more about my deep rainforest excursion here.
Conclusion and Final Verdict
In my opinion, the Shangri-La remains the overall best hotel choice in central Cairns. Their state-of-the-art renovated interiors and comforting amenities are highly impressive. The Executive Marina View Rooms are undoubtedly the best booking option, as they guarantee uninterrupted vistas over the lovely Marlin Marina. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone planning a luxury vacation to Cairns.
