How The Hotel Scene In Cairns Is Making Luxury Travel More Sustainable

Cairns is going beyond eco-friendly accommodation. Check out these luxury hotels that have done away with single-use plastics.

As conscious travellers, we try hard to choose sustainable alternatives when it comes exploring the world. While what we pack and what activities we choose to engage with are not too hard to control, choosing a responsible type of accommodation can often be a little more difficult. Downtown in Cairns, Australia, hotels have developed an eco-friendly approach to accommodation, banning the use of single-use plastics.

Riley Hotel utilities solar panels throughout all of its properties

Under the banner of “responsible luxury”, a group of hotels is trying something new in sustainable travel. Each is situated within striking distance of two World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest – and they are all committed to redefining what a sustainable hotel experience looks like. From swapping out plastic key cards for wooden ones, to removing plastic water bottles and straws, the hotels are dedicated to providing a more eco-conscious service. Refillable bottles deliver quality soaps and shampoos and coat hangers are made from recycled cardboard, while paper wastage has been eliminated by providing guests with iPads in each room in some instances.

The hotels even go as far as farming their own cattle station for the meat on their menus. Knowing how and where their cattle are being farmed ensures the highest level of animal welfare. Over 80 percent of produce served in their restaurants is sourced within a three-hour radius of the properties, which cuts back on carbon emissions and supports local growers in the process.

All the meat served at Riley Hotel is sourced sustainably from the hotel’s own cattle station

All of the properties support community-driven non-profit organisations such as Citizens of Great Barrier Reef, who educate people on how everyday actions impact the reef environment. Other partnered organisations include OzHarvest, a social enterprise which collects unused food to repurpose and distribute to communities in need.

Where to stay

The Bailey hotel gives guests credits in return for eco-friendly choices during their stay

At the Bailey hotel, guests are rewarded for opting out of having their room serviced, receiving credits to spend at the in-house restaurants and bars. Located just one block from the Esplanade, Bailey is known for its passion for art and gastronomy. The creative core of the hotel can be seen throughout; walls are decorated with artworks sourced from the local community. The hotel boasts 255 five-star rooms and suites and three restaurants and bars including CC’s Bar and Grill for steaks and seasonal fare, the Milk Bar and Pachamama, which fuses Latin flavours from around the world.

Cut back on your carbon footprint at the Riley Hotel

In the spirit of embracing environmental change, renewable energies are a high priority at Riley Hotel and solar panels are utilised throughout each property. Additionally, all the writing materials provided onsite are made from recycled or Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.

Next time you’re visiting Cairns and would like to cut back on your environmental footprint, consider booking into an eco-conscious hotel.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.