Citysider Cairns Holiday Apartments

This is an aparthotel for divers who prefer a proper base to a standard hotel room. Citysider Cairns Holiday Apartments gives you a self-contained apartment, a kitchen, a private balcony and enough living space to make a wet, sandy day feel manageable rather than chaotic.

The building has three storeys and 40 apartments, set around gardens and a large saltwater pool. Heinrich and Liying manage the property and look after guests during their stay. The atmosphere is practical and relaxed: make your own breakfast, sit outside for dinner, or head into Cairns when you want the town rather than another resort evening.

Families are welcome, and couples have the option of a one-bedroom apartment or a pool-view apartment. For a longer stay, the combination of kitchen, laundry and living area is the useful bit. Tropical décor may set the tone, but the dishwasher is what earns its keep.

You are in Cairns, Queensland, at 17a Upward Street, within walking distance of the parts of town that matter once the boat has returned. The centre of Cairns is about 15 minutes away on foot, Cairns Central Shopping Centre about 10 minutes, and the Esplanade roughly 10 minutes.

That puts shops, supermarkets and restaurants within an easy walk, without placing you directly in the busiest part of the centre. The Esplanade is close enough for an evening stroll, while Cairns Aquarium is about 0.8 miles away and Cairns Museum about 1 mile away.

For food and coffee, Goose Specialty Coffee and Dumpling Studio are each around 0.25 miles away. Sushi Rollking Sheridan is about 0.35 miles away, and several cafés are within roughly 0.5 to 0.7 miles. Cairns Airport is about 2.1 miles away by road, so the final transfer is short by regional travel standards.

The main choice is not about dressing up a room category; it is about how much space you want around your diving life. A one-bedroom apartment suits a couple who want a separate bedroom and a full living area. The pool-view option gives you the same general apartment format with the outlook doing a little more of the work.

If you are travelling as a family or simply dislike stepping over bags, wetsuits and everyone else's belongings, the two-bedroom apartment is the sensible choice. It accommodates up to five guests and gives you room to spread out rather than turning the sofa into a storage system.

Every apartment is self-contained, with a full kitchen, dining table, lounge area and private balcony with outdoor dining. The kitchen includes an oven, hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, toaster, kettle and kitchenware. There is also a washing machine and tumble dryer, which matter when the wardrobe has met several days of tropical weather.

Air conditioning and ceiling fans give you two ways to cool down at night. The apartments also have a private bathroom with bath or shower, a large flat-screen television with satellite channels and a streaming service, plus free WiFi throughout the property. Upper floors are reached by stairs only, so choose your apartment with that practical detail in mind.

The dining arrangement is self-catering rather than hotel-led. Your apartment kitchen is properly set up for it, with a dining area, cooking equipment, fridge, dishwasher and the basic kitchenware needed to deal with breakfast, packed lunches or a dinner assembled with more enthusiasm than skill.

There is an outdoor dining area and a BBQ beside the gardens, so you can eat outside when the Cairns evening feels more useful than sitting indoors. A grocery delivery service is also available, while the nearby supermarkets and restaurants give you an easy fallback when cooking is the last thing you want to do.

For a quick coffee or a meal out, the surrounding streets give you several walkable options, including Goose Specialty Coffee, Dumpling Studio and Sushi Rollking Sheridan. The Esplanade adds more choice at around a 10-minute walk. There is no need to build the evening around a formal hotel restaurant; you can keep it simple, eat in, or follow the smell of dinner into town.

The large outdoor saltwater pool is the natural centre of the property. Pool towels and sun loungers are available, and the surrounding garden, sun terrace and gazebo give you somewhere to sit while the day drains away. After several hours in a wetsuit, a quiet length of pool is often all the entertainment required.

The BBQ and outdoor seating make the property work well for couples and families who want an evening outside without another organised activity. If you are travelling with children, books, DVDs and music are available for them, while the pool gives adults a reason to stop moving for a while.

When you do want to leave the property, the tour desk can advise on local tours and arrange bookings. Walking tours and local culture tours are available, while cycling and hiking are options around Cairns. Further activities include snorkelling, fishing, horse riding and diving, all away from the property. Cairns Flecker Botanic Gardens are about 2 miles away, and Crystal Cascades is around 8 miles away for a change of scenery.

Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out is by 10:00. You need photo identification and a credit card on arrival, and the property needs your expected arrival time in advance. The minimum check-in age is 18, and cash is not accepted.

The reception office is open from 09:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 12:00 at weekends. Luggage storage and express check-in and check-out are available, which is useful when your flight and apartment timing do not line up neatly. A shuttle service from Cairns Airport can be arranged, and car hire is available.

Private parking is free on site, with one car space per apartment, and a parking garage is available. WiFi is free throughout the property. Apartments are serviced mid-stay for stays of eight days or more, with longer stays serviced weekly; daily room service and fresh towels are available separately.

Quiet hours run from 23:00 to 07:00. Smoking is not allowed, pets are not allowed, and a refundable damage deposit is collected by credit card on arrival. Children of all ages are welcome; cots and extra beds can be arranged depending on the apartment selected.