THE ABBOTT in Cairns - Hotel Review with Photos

SD › Cairns Hotels › Abbott Boutique Hotel Review
Updated: January 4, 2022
By Santorini Dave

Essentials
• Location: Abbott Street, in the center of downtown Cairns, close to the esplanade.
• Hotel website: theabbott.com.au
• Hotel phone: +61 (0)7 4220 9961
• Check prices for Abbott Boutique Hotel

Review of The Abbott Boutique Hotel in Cairns.

The Deluxe Rooms at Abbott Boutique Hotel are spacious and comfortable.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – Historic, charming, and convenient, it’s the city’s finest boutique hotel.

Easy to miss along a downtown street, guests at this lovely 100-year-old hotel have included Queen Elizabeth II and former US President Jimmy Carter. It’s very cozy and inviting and ideal for budget-conscious travelers not seeking a resort. Standard rooms to the side have virtually no views, but those facing the street are particularly spacious and colorful. Most importantly, The Abbott is very handy to so many facilities and attractions, including the markets, casino, and terminal for boat trips. What’s more, it’s terrific value, especially considering guests have access to the pool and other amenities at the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, just a few minutes away. Also, a continental breakfast is included and served in the colonial-style guest lounge.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – The Location

Address: 69-73 Abbott Street. Note: reception hours are limited to 10am to 6pm daily. At other times, contact the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, 200m down Spence Street towards the water. The telephone number listed below redirects to the Pacific Cairns hotel after hours.
Area: Along a city street squeezed between a Chinese restaurant and the Orchid Plaza shopping center. In the center of downtown and less than 5 minutes on foot from the Esplanade.
How to Get There: The only option to/from the Cairns Airport (7km) is by Cairns Taxis. See “Local Transport” below for information about local buses and trains.
Handy to: Casino. Bus station for northern beaches. Boat terminal for trips around the Great Barrier Reef.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – The Basics

Guests: Mostly couples seeking an inner-city location without resort-style amenities and rates.
Pets: Not allowed.
Views: The better rooms to the front face the street (and are soundproofed), but most others face an internal corridor meters from another window.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected – or provided – at this sort of boutique hotel.
Parking: Only along the streets outside where hourly fees are payable most times. Otherwise, contact the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, about parking there.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +61 (0)7 4220 9961
Email: reservations@theabbott.com.au
Website: theabbott.com.au

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – Amenities

Pool, Spa, & Fitness Center: Not expected or provided.
Other: Guest lounge. Grocery shopping. Tours arranged.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – Food and Drink

Restaurants & Bars: As it’s a small boutique hotel, a café and bar are not provided – or expected. Guests can enjoy the facilities at the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, or the numerous options along the nearby streets.
Breakfast: Continental breakfast is included and served in the guest lounge. Or for an extra cost, enjoy a substantial buffet at the Pacific Hotel Cairns.
Room Service: Not available.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – Rooms

Room Types: Superior Room • Deluxe Room • List of all rooms
Smoking Rooms: No smoking allowed anywhere on the premises.
Best Room: The Deluxe Rooms are about 50% larger that the Superior Rooms. Those facing the front street are particularly appealing and colorful, and windows are nicely soundproofed.
For Families: Not set up for families. No extra beds possible in the rooms and none have connecting doors. Far better to stay at the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – Local Transport

Walking & Cycling: Cairns is so compact and wonderful for walking. Cycling is also popular along a path that extends about 3km alongside the water. Bikes can be rented at Cairns Electric Bikes, between the Hilton hotel and casino, 350m away.
Buses: Services operated by Sunbus head to the lovely tropical beaches less than an hour away. The most convenient bus station is on Lake Street (500m). Greyhound Australia offers buses all over Queensland and the rest of Australia from a stop (300m) near the Reef Fleet Terminal.
Trains: Running between Cairns and Brisbane 5 times a week, the Spirit of Queensland is one of Australia’s most spectacular train services. Just as amazing – and far shorter – are the daily trips on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. All trains use the terminal (1km) attached to the Cairns Central shopping center (see below).
Taxis & Ride-shares: Best to book ahead for Cairns Taxis. Uber also operates as far as Port Douglas.
Car Rental: Most internationally-known agencies (and several locally-run ones) offer rentals, including Avis and Hertz.
Boats: All sorts of boats for sightseeing, diving, fishing, and sailing depart from the Reef Fleet Terminal, just 350m away. Book online, at any travel agency in downtown, or at the official booking office opposite the terminal.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – What’s Nearby?

Almost every restaurant and café in Cairns is licensed to serve alcohol.

Best Nearby Restaurants

Miss Chief Bar & Eatery – fab position on the second floor of an old building with a wide balcony. Contemporary cuisine and ‘clever cocktail list’. One block behind the hotel.
Perrotta’s – attached to the (free) Cairns Art Gallery for casual, outdoor dining. Especially popular for coffee and breakfasts. Just down Abbott Street (200m).
Ochre Restaurant – divine waterfront setting 400m from the hotel. Award-winning Australian cuisine with an ever-changing menu and focus on sustainability.
Dundee’s Restaurant on the Waterfront – alongside Ochre. Waterside tables and top-class service for seafood, steaks, pastas, and salads. Another outlet attached to the Cairns Aquarium (see below) has a wall alongside a tank of marine life.
Bushfire Flame Grill – award-winning Brazilian-inspired restaurant where waiters slice off as much meat as wanted from giant skewers. In the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, 200m towards the water.

Best Nearby Bars

P.J. O’Brien’s – huge, popular, and in a shady setting along a pedestrian street. Hearty meals, live music, and other nightly events. One block behind the hotel.
Rattle ‘N Hum Cairns – as popular with locals as tourists for its esplanade setting, garden seating, and daily specials (especially pizzas). About 400m away.

Nearby Shops

Less than 100m along Abbott Street is the major Woolworths supermarket; even closer is the small Orchid Plaza Shopping Centre. About 300m along Abbott Street are the Cairns Night Markets. Open every day, with souvenir stalls (from 5pm) and cafés (from 10am), they are a bit of a tourist trap. More vibrant is the Asian-style Rusty’s Markets (open from early, Friday to Sunday), two blocks behind the hotel. Mostly fresh produce, but also souvenirs, live music, and food court. The massive Cairns Central shopping center is 4 blocks back from the hotel.

Nearby Attractions & Things to Do

Boat trips – from the Reef Fleet Terminal (350m), all sorts of organized trips are available – whether diving/snorkeling, fishing, sailing, water-sports, or whale-watching among the most extraordinary coral reefs on the planet. Others just swim, snorkel, hike, or dine at Fitzroy Island or Green Island – both only 45 minutes one-way by boat.
Casino – smaller than some, but no less popular and vibrant. All sorts of gambling available, as well as live music and inexpensive bars and bistros for all. Easy to spot, 300m away.
Lagoon – in lieu of any beaches in the city, this massive open-air swimming pool is 400m away, alongside the Esplanade. Surrounded by shady lawns with free barbecue facilities. Open from about 6am to 9pm daily. Free entry.
Cairns Aquarium – the city’s newest attraction (open daily) is home to 15,000 marine creatures, including giant sawfish, hammerhead sharks, and turtles, as well as crocs, frogs, and snakes unique to the region. 700m further down Abbott Street.
Beaches – some will be disappointed that the coastline within Cairns is swampy and muddy. Thankfully, perfect tropical beaches – Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, and Palm Cove – all with plenty of places to eat, drink, shop, and stay can be found within an hour north by local bus. Note the warning signs about stingers (jellyfish) and even crocodiles.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel – The Hotel

The boutique hotel is located on Abbott street.

The charming Abbott Boutique Hotel is easy to miss along a city street with the same name.

The hotel was earlier known as the Great Northern Hotel.

During the 1950s, it was known as the Great Northern Hotel and even hosted the Queen of England.

The reception desk is only open from 10am to 6pm daily. At other times, all enquiries should be directed to the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, only 200m away.

On an upper floor at The Abbott is the inviting guest lounge.

A simple breakfast is served in the guest lounge.

A simple continental breakfast is included for all guests and served in the delightful guest lounge.

Most rooms are colorful and all feature attractive, dark wooden furniture.

Particularly appealing are the Deluxe Rooms which face the front street.

The spacious Deluxe Rooms at The Abbott have comfortable modern furnishings.

Superior Rooms are better for the budget conscious.

The Superior Rooms are smaller and ideal for budget-minded travelers.

Guests can use all facilities at Pacific Cairns hotel close by.

Guests at The Abbott can use all the facilities, including the pool, at the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, 200m away.

Only a few minutes’ walk from the hotel, the Ochre Restaurant is one of several along a boardwalk facing the harbor.

Dundee’s Restaurant on the Waterfront is next to Ochre.

Next to the Ochre is the famous Dundee’s Restaurant on the Waterfront.

Bushfire Flame Grill is a meat lovers' heaven.

The Bushfire Flame Grill is the perfect place for meat lovers.

Attached to the Cairns Art Gallery, Perrotta’s is popular among locals for its coffee and casual setting.

Miss Chief Bar & Eatery is in an old building.

One block from the hotel, the Miss Chief Bar & Eatery is in a lovely old building.

P.J. O’Brien’s is located on Shields Street.

Along the vehicle-free Shields Street, P.J. O’Brien’s offers all sorts of drinks, meals, and events each night.

Rattle ‘N Hum bar & grill is very popular.

Also popular among locals is the Rattle ‘N Hum bar and grill along the esplanade.

Cairns is beautifully located by the water.

Cairns is beautifully positioned along an inlet which is part of a substantial harbor.

There are no beaches within Cairns, so the massive saltwater Lagoon swimming pool is available free for all.

A 3km-long walking and cycling path stretches by the water.

A path for walking and cycling extends for about 3km along the water.

An agency not far from the hotel rents out bicycles, including electric ones.

Boat trips to the Great Barrier Reef depart from the Reef Fleet Terminal.

All sorts of boat trips around the Great Barrier Reef depart from the Reef Fleet Terminal only a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.

There is a booking office opposite the terminal.

Tickets for boat trips can be booked online, at travel agencies around Cairns, or at the booking office opposite the terminal.

The Abbott is barely 300m from the casino.

Orchid Plaza Shopping Centre has several cheap eateries.

Only 2 doors from the hotel is the Orchid Plaza Shopping Centre, home to several cheap and cheerful eateries serving Asian food.

Cairns Central shopping center is nearby.

About 10 minutes on foot from the hotel is the massive Cairns Central shopping center.

Cairns Night Markets has several souvenir stalls.

Popular among tourists are the souvenir stalls at the Cairns Night Markets.

Rusty’s Markets is vibrant and Asian-style.

The Asian-style Rusty’s Markets are held 3 days a week.

Shields Street is an attractive vehicle-free street.

Cairns is easy to get around, and the vehicle-free Shields Street is particularly attractive.

About an hour by public bus from Cairns is the adorable beach at Palm Cove.

Palm Cove offers the quintessential tropical beach not found in the city.

Packed with the sort of marine creatures found all over the Great Barrier Reef, the Cairns Aquarium is conveniently within walking distance of the hotel.

Guests can use all the facilities at Pacific Cairns hotel.

Guests can enjoy the facilities at the sister hotel, Pacific Cairns, about 200m away. Check rates and availability: The Abbott Boutique Hotel

All Cairns Hotel Reviews

About Santorini Dave

I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece, offering recommendations for top hotels, neighborhoods, and family-friendly hotels worldwide. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.

The Abbott Boutique Hotel in Cairns, Australia

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