Published:
July 20, 2024
About The Jack Hotel & Backpackers
Vibrant hostel offering 3 bars, a beer garden and live music, plus free evening meals. This bustling hostel is 5 minutes' walk from Cairns railway station, 9 minutes' walk from Cairns Night Markets and 8 minutes' walk from Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome. Basic mixed-gender or female-only dorms sleep up to 8 guests and feature bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Private rooms are also available. All offer free Wi-Fi, minifridges and lockers. Upgraded quarters add en suite facilities. Evening meals are complimentary. There's also a communal kitchen and a BBQ area. Other amenities include 3 bars, a beer garden and a restaurant, plus regular live music and a gaming room with slot machines and pool tables.
Dine in
Delivery
Service Options
Highlights
Bar games
Great cocktails
Live music
Live performances
Sports
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Dancing
Food
Food at bar
Happy hour drinks
Happy hour food
Hard liquor
Wine
Atmosphere
Casual
Planning
Accepts reservations
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Dining_options
Outside food allowed
Seating
Crowd
Groups
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Map
The Jack Hotel & Backpackers Reviews
We stayed in The Jack for three nights. The first 2 nights we had a private with ensuite and the second we had a private bunk bed with a shared bathroom. The staff were welcoming and helpful the entire time.
Private with ensuite:
The first 2 nights were loud due to the music from the bar. Conversations carried in the courtyard and we felt there was not much privacy. We were also greeted with a used and unflushed toilet. The room was outdated. A/C was on a timer and we had to get up multiple times throughout the night to turn it on as the room heated quickly.
Private bunk bed with shared bathroom:
We felt there was more privacy in the private bunk bed as we could not hear any music. The A/C was on a timer but cooled the room well as it was a smaller space. Room was updated and clean.
Restaurant:
We had 2 meals at the Jack. We had the spaghetti, fish and chips, burger, and nachos. We were disappointed in the quality of food.
Location:
Easy to get to the esplanade and all the features surrounding. Lots of food, markets, etc all around.
- Ian Zammit
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Very noisy. there's a damn open air club next to the rooms, impossibile to sleep until they stop the music around 2am. Beds very uncomfortable and my pillow was razor thin, slept on a pile of my clothes instead. We wanted to change hostels but arrived too late, was this or sleeping in a public park... Not sure which was better. There's also surcharges against booking.coms policy
- Sarah J
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Very basic. Beds are very shaky which is awkward when sharing with a stranger. Very outdated, reminded me of a prison documentary. Have to sign a waiver at check in that there will be loud noise until 2am but actually the bar closed at midnight. Bouncer at the bar was very rude.
- Arnau Moya
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
The experience we had was pretty good. The room is very good except for the walls that make you hear everything from outside and prevent you from sleeping.
- nourishingwithplants
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Terrible food. My friend ordered a pizza and I ordered the vegan schnitzel. The pizza was just slop, way too much sauce and all the toppings just slid off. The amount of bbq sauce on top was sickening. |I’m almost 100% certain I was given the chicken schnitzel instead of the vegan one. I’ve never eaten meat before but I’m familiar with vegan meats and the texture and taste weren’t anything like the vegan schnitzels you can buy. My chips were cold and the salad was dry without any dressing. I left most of what was on my plate. Absolute rip-off in price for what we got and as locals, we certainly won’t be eating here again. There are so many better food options in the city with much higher quality for a similar price, if not cheaper.
- Romi L
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Stayed just one night, best experience in Cairns so far. Most places I’ve stayed here were party hostels, filthy, disorganised and they put me with long termers. The Jack was quiet, big room, own bathroom and friendly receptionist. You can hear the music from the bar but that happens everywhere I’ve been, I put on headphones with chill music and had the good sleep I needed after long travel day.
- James Stoney
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Stayed at The Jack hostel for over a month, while i was working in Cairns, and really enjoyed my stay there. Had very helpful members of staff that were on hand to help you out with any issues. Particularly liked the pretty terraced area and TV room above the main bar. Met some really friendly people and overall had a great experience. On some nights of the week it does get a bit loud with the music and live entertainment, but in my opinion this contributes to the cool and social atmosphere of the place. Would recommend!
- Mathéo Double B
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
So stupid! After 10pm there is no place you can go in the whole hostel except for your room: the lounge room AND the balcony get closed. They say it's to reduce noise, but they don't care that the music of their own bar is CRAZY loud 4 nights a week (loud to the point you can't even sleep until midnight). So they treat you like a kid and they're hypocrites at the same time.
And if you're alone on the balcony making no noise and reading your book, they'll still kick you out anyway , it's insane. After 10pm, either you go out the hostel or you go to sleep, nice paying for that. Especially if you're in a room next to the bar and the loud music that prevents you from sleeping....
- Honest Reviews
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Rnb night was alright the songs could have been better and they played some twice which was annoying.
The security guards were all nice though and one was particularly helpful getting my mate water when she wasn't feeling too good. Other establishments have bully security guards and don't make u feel safe. But the security guards at the jack made sure people were safe, so thank u ! Handled removing people very well too 👌
Bar staff were all lovely. Thanks for a good night
- Aimee F
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Reviewing here as its not allowing you to on hostelworld
Rooms did have lockers which is a plus, but could hear the downstairs bar from all corners of the place all night
Decent sized kitchen and nice balcony with benches
But no social aspect whatsoever, majority of people are long term stayers. Dead vibes. Rooms are hot, not great smelling.
Unisex showers and toilets which aren’t dirty but still not ideal, you’ll hear it all.
- Leonie Pelz
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Please know when you book here that you have to listen to loud music or talking the whole day. There‘s a bar right next to it and it‘s not doable, it starts at 10AM (!) in the morning. It goes on until like 2am and it’s so hard to manage. I‘ve had the worst sleep ever here. Beds are uncomfy, kitchen has kind of nothing to cook with, there‘s always weird people infront of the hostel.
- Ste L
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
One of the best hostel I made in Australia, people are friendly, staff friendly, they try to keep the place nice and tidy, cleaning multiple time in a day. The only probleme is the loud musique, but that I was aware before booking. Thanks to all the staff ! :)
- Monica Wylie
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Now I know it was a week night, but I've never seen a place so quiet. I remember in the old days, this place used to rock.
We caught up with some friends for their T-bone Tuesday at only$17.50 each, that's a great price with chips and salad, u can't go wrong. The staff were friendly and accommodating. Lots of seating inside and out. Pool tables to have a game, and I'm sure on a Friday and Saturday and maybe even Sunday afternoon, they have live music. If I get down there in those days, depending on atmosphere the rating will go up.
- Natasha bryant
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Loved it here. I stay in the 4 bedroom with a fridge and private bathroom. Honestly I love how clean this hostel is and the people who work here are so friendly. Note it's little loud on one side bit it's only a few hours on the weekend. I would 100 recommend this place to anyone.
Thank you Harriet and Nikki stay amazing ❤️
- samsung galaxy
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
It was ok , had one of the dinner specials here the food was mediocre, lots of big screens with sports. The beer garden area is not too bad, no live music the night i attended.
- Tay
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
It was an okay hostel to stay in, but definitely needs some care and attention.
Firstly, when we arrived the reception wasn’t open (it was 7:30pm) which we found a bit strange, and we had to wait 20 minutes in the busy bar next door until we were seen to to check in. Not had an experience similar to this, and we’ve stayed in a lot of hostels - we did anticipate to be greeted immediately by staff.
The rooms were laid out okay, but the lack of curtains always lowers it for me personally, but most people are okay with this. It was a bit odd we had to put our own bedding on too (again, first time this has ever happened), and the air con wasn’t the best, and kept turning off in the middle of the night. The beds were comfy though. There was a fridge in our room, but good lord it was so unkempt and unorganised, plus it didn’t get cleaned on the day it said it would. There was barely any space to put stuff in either.
Bathrooms in general were clean, both showers and toilets. Showers were good and powerful.
The kitchen area…oh dear. We witnessed a lot of mopping in terms of cleaning, but other than that, the kitchen was frankly a mess. One of the days we got told to leave and come back in five minutes because one of the staff needed to mop, even though we’d nearly finished making a sandwich. Very bizarre, would’ve been a lot more polite to ask how long we’d be, rather than telling us to leave.
The hobs were not clean, pans were old and scratched, knives were so blunt they couldn’t cut butter, and the sponges were actually disgusting. We really hated making food in this kitchen, so much so we avoided it mainly and ended up spending more money on food out. We appreciated the care and attention on the floor being cleaned, but the rest of the kitchen needed a lot more attention.
The common areas were okay to be fair, there were a few rooms, including one that had a big tv and free Netflix, and there was a lot of outdoor covered seating upstairs on the balcony.
We also appreciated the discounts we got at the bar for both food and drinks. Plus, the bar to watch live sport is fantastic. This hostel is in a good location, close to bars, shops and the beach.
Also, the lady who checked us out was fantastic, and very very friendly so we thank her for that.
Overall, okay for a couple of nights, but not great for longer term stays. Probably wouldn’t go back personally.
- Nea Barabea
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
I really liked the big terrace outside, it's stretches out both ways and there is plenty of spaces to sit down and chill! The place is big, a bit like a maze with all the corridors. The pub is just downstairs and you get some discounts with your room key. The computers in the reception works super fast - if you need to do some stuff online, use those computers! The locks work funny. You have to try a bit before the door really opens.
- Jack Briggs
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
If I could give this hostel a higher rating, then I would. Everything about it was brilliant. First of all, the price is very reasonable, which is important as most hostels have become super expensive following the pandemic. Also, the location is brilliant, only a five minute walk from the center of Cairns and ten minutes from the lagoon and waterfront.
The facilities here are also great. Everything is kept clean and tidy by the housekeeping staff. Plenty of showers and toilet facilities for everyone. The kitchen features not only cooking hobs but also ovens (a rarity in hostels). Moreover, the hostel has a good sized social area and a TV lounge which are great to chill out in. All rooms are also equipped with a fridge and Air Con which, believe me, you will need in Cairns.
The hostel has its own onsite pub (also called the Jack) which hosts live bands on some nights. The hostel does warn you in advance about the potential noise this may create as the pub is open until late on Fridays and Saturdays, but we did not find it to be that loud and experienced no noise issues. Furthermore, the legendary nightclub Gilligan's is only a two minute walk away and with the more relaxing atmosphere you find at the Jack, you really do get the best of both worlds when it comes to partying or just relaxing and taking it easy.
By far my biggest compliments, however, go to the manager, Harriet and her team at reception, who are not only very friendly and always up for a chat, but really do go above and beyond to ensure the hostel is well run, and to help out with any problems or queries you may have and to make sure your stay is as comfortable as possible.
I cannot recommend this place enough. Easily one of my favourite hostels. Needless to say, when I find myself back in Cairns, I know where I'll be staying!
- Jo Soderquist
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Had an awesome feed at this hotel. Prices were great. The quality of the food was amazing. Best lasagna salad and chips I’ve had ever all over Qld. Others at my table had steak and parmis. All our meals were amazing. Nice quiet place to eat with quality amazing meals
- 丁文宇Dean
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Great value for money, provided me with temporary accommodation for the night when my landlord stood me up .
Excellent location close to various parts of the city. The staff, especially Tegan, was very friendly and welcoming. I would definitely consider revisiting in the future.
- Wayne Lavis
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Getting a bit run down these days, but still one of the best (and one of very few) places for live music in Cairns CBD
- Nicolé Taylor
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Delicious bruschetta pizza from @thejackcairns with @dairyfreedownunder_ cheese. It was really fresh and tasty, I’d order it again. 😋
- Suzanne W
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Chose Jacks to eat dinner with friends. I ordered the pepperoni 🍕 pizza and this pizza was the worst I have ever had in my life. Too much sauce that soaked into the base making the base too moist therefore the base became sloppy making each slice difficult to pick up to place into my mouth. Each time I picked up a slice it flopped down and the cheese began sliding off every slice. The other disappointment was the fact the each slice only had one piece of pepperoni on it. Very poor amount of topping. Unfortunately I was only able to consume a quarter of this pizza 🍕 ☹️. I can’t recall ever leaving 3/4 of any meal I’ve ordered at a restaurant uneaten. I left Jacks hungry. Additionally 3 out of 6 of my friends complained to me about their meal. All their salads came with no dressing and they couldn’t eat the coating on their fish. There is so much competition in Cairns - therefore Jacks needs to review their food ASAP to ensure they keep their restaurant part of this backpacker business running successfully to receive repeat customers for meals. Too many mistakes with 4 of the meals out of 7 served that night. I will not return to Jacks and neither will my friends.
- Gastón
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Cheap, comfortable, aircon in bedrooms (and fridge inside bedrooms too). Clean kitchen. Good prices for eating downstairs at the bar. Good location. Toilets and showers could be a little better. Good staff at reception too.
- Gary Sandow
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Booked a bed 3 weeks ahead of time. Went to check in and was told that I needed an international pin(???). Yet they had a room at 3× the price. Was informed by 2 locals that they often do this. My bed was sold to someone else at a higher price. Appalling. Definitely would not recommend.
- Guillaume Abela
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Best hostel I stayed in Australia so far! It is located just in the center of Cairns, close to the supermarkets and the Esplanade sea front.
There is the famous Rusty's market located just near the hostel, where you can buy fresh products straight from the farms around Cairns.
Downstairs of the backpacker there is a nice pub, great to relax and meet new people! They are hostings some events in the week, like poker tournament or beer pong, with big prizes to win.
The hostel itself is super clean, bathrooms, kitchen and common areas are always checked by the staff few times a day.
There is a big balcony where you can relax after a day on the reef, and then have a good sleep, as it is very quiet at night.
If you have any questions or requests, the team will always find the best options for you! Big thanks to Harriet, the general manager, and all the staff, who are doing a great job!
- Bethany Ha
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Be aware of travelling sound from the bar!! On weekends music went til 2am, and picked up again at 9am everyday. We found this incredibly hard to manage, choosing to spend time away from our private room. As the bar was open to the public, we also found it hard to socialise with other guests, given the lack of communal spaces for guests only.
The private room with a private bathroom itself was satisfactory. Note mould in bathrooms and cleanliness of shower was of concern. Website advertised a car park available with this room. Whilst parking was secure, we were constantly managing only 5 carparks between other guests with cars and daily staff. This was incredibly frustrating and resulted in paying for street parking.
Room was equiped with a bar fridge which was convenient. Air con was on a timer and would not cool the room well. This meant we felt the humidity and mugginess regularly.
Location was pretty good considering the proximity to walk to the esplanade was only a few blocks.
- Raphael Hameau
20 Sat 2024 at 06.16 pm
Awesome hostel clean, excellent rooms with fridge inside. The kitchens are very confort with all you need to cooking.
The crews are very nice and pleasant, special mention at Vicky and Arleta who welcomed with pleasure and kindness.
I recommend 100% :)
- Deanna Noel