Since the pandemic hit and tourists dried up, a number of Cairns hotels have been going through revamps and getting ready to welcome back tourists. The first international arrivals touched down in Cairns last month aboard Singapore Airlines.
As visitors returned to the far north, they are seeing the results of these revamps, from modest strip outs and a lick of paint to the addition of extra floors at one CBD hotel, and a $20m revamp at a high-end bush retreat— these are some of the Far North properties that have undergone major refits recently.
- DUNWOODY’S HOTEL
Following a $2.5m will get a new beer garden that will include access to an indoor-outdoor bar and shaded outdoor dining zones that will cater to “social crowds and families”.
- SILKY OAKS LODGE
A $20m revamp has seen the new-look Silky Oaks quietly opened its doors late last year, with bold changes and additions such as the secluded Daintree Pavilion which is ideal for two couples and has its own infinity pool
- OAKS CAIRNS HOTEL
Three levels were added to the building on the corner of the Cairns Esplanade and Shields Street to complete a conversion into a new five-storey hotel.
- THE BENSON HOTEL
The dilapidated old hotel was stripped out before a total refurbishment of the site that reopened in 2021 as a 4/4.5-star boutique hotel, complete with a multimillion-dollar rooftop bar.
- RAMADA BY WYNDHAM
Positioned with three street frontages and 92 rooms on a prominent 4,075sq m site less than 100m from the Cairns Esplanade was rebranded as the Ramada by Wyndham following a major $11.5m overhaul.
- CENTRAL HOTEL
The hotel’s beer garden, and recreational areas underwent a total refit and the building’s iconic roof was redesigned.
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from cairns post 13.4.22
AS THE march of time catches up with dated city accommodation, hoteliers have taken advantage of Covid vacancy rates to splash out on renovating ahead of international visitor return.
From modest strip outs and a lick of paint to the addition of extra floors at one CBD hotel, and a $20m revamp at a high-end bush retreat— these are some of the Far North properties that have undergone major refits recently.
The first international arrivals in more than two years touched down in Cairns last month aboard Singapore Airlines.
As flights begin to arrive from Bali and New Zealand and the cooler weather down south, drives visitors to the tropics. These are some recently completed hotel renovations guests can enjoy.
DUNWOODY’S HOTEL
Dunwoody’s Cairns has begun a multimillion dollar refit of its Sheridan St sports bar. Picture: Peter Carruthers
A new-look Dunwoody’s Hotel is weeks away from reopening following a $2.5m revitalisation.
The bistro, sports bar and gaming room have undergone a total refresh.
The new bistro will seat 150, the deck 112 people and the beer garden 106.
Dunwoody’s Cairns duty manager Craig Shepard looks over plans for a multimillion dollar refit of the Sheridan St sports bar. Picture: Peter Carruthers
Operated by the Australian Venue Co the local’s pub on Sheridan St, Cairns North will get a new beer garden that will include access to an indoor-outdoor bar and shaded outdoor dining zones that will cater to “social crowds and families”.
The full renovation is expected to be unveiled in autumn following Covid-related construction delays.
SILKY OAKS LODGE
Ceilings have been raised by 3m at the Treehouse Restaurant at Silky Oaks Lodge. Picture: supplied.
Silky Oaks Lodge at Mossman was snapped up by James and Hayley Baillie of Baillie Lodges in 2019.
A $20m revamp was delayed by Covid but was finally finished in late 2021.
The new-look Silky Oaks quietly opened its doors late last year, with bold changes and additions such as the secluded Daintree Pavilion which is ideal for two couples and has its own infinity pool.
A stay in the stunning Daintree Pavilion at Silky Oaks Lodge is $2500 per person, per night. Picture: supplied.
There’s has been an emphasis on polished timber and glass walls to integrate the surrounding forest with interiors, and plenty of natural light.
Each room has state-of-the-art technology tucked discreetly within a colour palette that complements the peculiarly Australian colours of the rainforest.
Rooms start from $480 a person a night for the Rainforest Retreat to $2500 per person a night for the two-bedroom Daintree Pavilion.
OAKS CAIRNS HOTEL
The Oaks Cairns Hotel rooftop bar.
In 2020 three levels were added to the building on the corner of the Cairns Esplanade and Shields Street to complete a conversion into a new five-storey hotel.
The Oaks Cairns Hotel is a 76-room development by the local Esplanade Central group now operating as Oaks Hotels, Resorts and Suites.
A hotel deluxe room in The Oaks Cairns Hotel.
Cairns businessman Adam Adams and business partners Kim and Paul Kelly are behind the project that also included a total room refit and the inclusion of one of the city’s newest rooftop bars.
The hotel joined the existing Oaks Port Douglas Resort to form part of a 28 hotel chain across Queensland.
The new hotel development came in at a cost of $12m.
THE BENSON HOTEL
The spectacular final form of the Benson Hotel’s rooftop bar. Picture: Supplied
The former Rydges Plaza Hotel at the corner of Spence and Grafton streets was rebranded to Reef Plaza in February 2020.
Businessman Adam Adams bought the 101-room hotel in January 2021 and set about transforming it into a new and modern addition to the CBD accommodation sector that included a multimillion-dollar rooftop bar.
What the finished Benson Hotel looks like. PICTURE: SUPPLIED
The dilapidated old hotel was stripped out before a total refurbishment of the site that reopened in 2021 as a 4/4.5-star boutique hotel.
Described as a “boutique upscale brand that is known for its collection of hotels that are stylish, memorable and unique,” Choice Hotels Asia-Pacific welcomed the Benson into its Ascend Hotel portfolio.
The new hotel launched in July last year.
RAMADA BY WYNDHAM
The Ramada by Wyndham Cairns. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE
In 2019 the Giarn Family Trust bought the Cairns Hotel at the corner of Abbott and Florence streets for $11.5m with grand plans for a major refurbishment.
The hotel, positioned with three street frontages and 92 rooms on a prominent 4,075sq m site less than 100m from the Cairns Esplanade was rebranded as the Ramada by Wyndham following a major overhaul.
The Hotel Cairns has been rebranded as Ramada by Wyndham Cairns. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE
Family spokesman and the hotel’s new director Deep Singh said, at the time there would be a lot of work happening at the CBD property.
“It will be internal room refits more than anything,” he said.
At around $130 per night the hotel set in lush foliage within walking distance of the Cairns Night Markets along the Cairns Esplanade as well as the Cairns Aquarium.
CENTRAL HOTEL
An artist impression submitted by Hunt Design of the Central Hotel’s redesigned roof and beer garden.
The Central Hotel, Port Douglas was originally built in 1878 as the North Australian Hotel but was rebuilt in 1911 after a cyclone, and was named the Central Hotel in 1919.
And in 2019 the hotel’s beer garden, recreational areas underwent a total refit and the building’s iconic roof was redesigned.
Central Hotel manager Helen Colvin said at the time the pub was due for a makeover.
“It needs it,” she said.
An artist impression of the Central Hotel’s refurbished Beer Garden.
“The owner has taken good care of it for 12 years and I’m sure he’ll do a good job with the refurbishment.”
Artist impressions submitted by Hunt Design revealed plans to retain key design elements of the previously approved concepts in relation to the existing hotel.
