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The Espy Hostel

2.0 star property

Photo gallery for The Espy Hostel

Free WiFi, bed sheets
Exterior
Towels
Exterior
Free WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Laundry room
  • Kitchen
The current price is NZ$143
includes taxes & fees
7 June - 8 June

Explore the area

View map
83 Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, 4870
  • Place, Cairns Esplanade
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Cairns Night Markets
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Esplanade Lagoon
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Airport, Cairns, QLD (CNS-Cairns Intl.)
    ‪10 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for 1 Bed in Female 4 Bed Dorm (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

1 Bed in Female 4 Bed Dorm (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Single Private Share Bathroom (International & interstate guests only)

Single Private Share Bathroom (International & interstate guests only)

Single Private Share Bathroom (International & interstate guests only)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(5 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for 1 Bed in Mix 4 Bed Dorm (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

1 Bed in Mix 4 Bed Dorm (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for 1 Bed Mix 6 Bed Dorm with Ensuite (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

1 Bed Mix 6 Bed Dorm with Ensuite (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Double Room

Double Room

Double Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Basic Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Basic Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Large Single Bunk Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Shared Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Shared Dormitory

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

About the area

Cairns

The Espy Hostel puts you in the heart of Cairns, steps from Cairns Esplanade and within a 10-minute stroll of Reef Fleet Terminal. Highlights at this hostel include an outdoor swimming pool and in-room free WiFi. .This hostel offers free WiFi in public areas, a terrace and tour/ticket assistance. Additionally, you'll find laundry facilities, a microwave in a common area and a fridge in a common area. .In proximity to this Cairns Central Business District hostel you'll find Palm Cove Beach.
View more Hostels in CairnsOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Cairns Esplanade - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Cairns Night Markets - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Esplanade Lagoon - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Cairns Marlin Marina - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Cairns Central Shopping Centre - 8 min walk - 0.7 km

Getting around

  • Cairns Station - 13 min walk
  • Cairns, QLD (CNS-Cairns Intl.) - 11 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Villa Romana - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪La Pizza - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Rattle n Hum Cairns - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Boardwalk Social by Crystalbrook - ‬1 min walk

About this property

The Espy Hostel

As a guest of The Espy Hostel, you'll find an outdoor pool, a terrace, and a vending machine. WiFi is free in public spaces. The Espy Hostel also features tour/ticket assistance, laundry facilities, and a television in common area.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Cairns hostel.

  • 17 guestrooms or units
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Terrace
  • Television in lobby
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Microwave in a common area
  • Fridge in a common area
The Espy Hostel offers 17 air-conditioned accommodations, with shared/communal kitchens. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)). Guests can make use of the in-room fridges and microwaves. Housekeeping is provided once per stay.

Similar properties

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YHA Cairns Central
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  • Pool
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Breakfast available
4.2 out of 5, Very good, 223 reviews
The price is NZ$109
includes taxes & fees
8 June - 9 June
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available

Things to do

  • Outdoor pool
  • TV in common areas

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Shared microwave
  • Shared refrigerator
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (once per stay)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Shared kitchen access
  • Toaster

More

  • Air conditioning

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 2:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
Guests are required to download the property's Goki mobile app before check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours), smart lock

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children 17 and younger are not allowed at this property. All guests older than 17 are welcome.

Payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and a first aid kit
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. No on-site parking is available. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB International, Union Pay and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and a first aid kit in all accommodation.

We should mention

  • Children 17 years old and younger aren't allowed at this property.
  • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).

Property is also known as

The Espy Hostel Cairns
Cairns Waterfront Haven
The Espy Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
The Espy Hostel Hostel/Backpacker accommodation Cairns

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at The Espy Hostel?

The Espy Hostel offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

How much does it cost to stay at The Espy Hostel?

As of 3 Jun 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Espy Hostel on 7 Jun 2026 start from NZ$143, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Are there any beaches close to The Espy Hostel?

The closest beach to The Espy Hostel is Palm Cove Beach (21.3 km).

Does The Espy Hostel have a pool?

The Espy Hostel has an outdoor pool.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at The Espy Hostel?

No, The Espy Hostel does not offer an airport shuttle service.

What time are check-in & check-out at The Espy Hostel?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM. Check-out time is 10:00 AM.

Are pets allowed at The Espy Hostel?

No, pets are not allowed.

The Espy Hostel Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 36 out of 87 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 87 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 12 out of 87 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 11 out of 87 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 87 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

7.6/10

Staff & service

7.0/10

Amenities

7.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Harinath

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location, good vibes.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jason

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A hostel with everything I needed, a great location and a friendly staff.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

THECKLA

Liked: Amenities
I loved the spacious kitchen and clean bathrooms facilities. The location was perfect! Just next to the lagoon, shopping malls, bus stop and the beach front.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Drew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was great, in the centre of town, cheap, good kitchen with everything you need and a pool!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Central location, easy walk to absolutely everything,clean facilities and lovely staff.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Timothy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Food flair and flavors

Peaceful and easy with the added bonus of international aromas
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hostal
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Yuki

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a quiet and comfortable environment
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness

Best location

Difficult to check in but friendly staff, not tidy rooms but best location in cairns!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Hans

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Right in the middle of town Enough hostel eating area
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Jurdy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Location excellent

Greatest location. Right on the esplanade. Small private room. Simple, clean, safe, affordable.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jackson

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Awesome staff and great location! Thanks Monica!
Stayed 1 night in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Charity

Bang for the buck 👍
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

HIKARU

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Nice wall painting, kind staff. Long term travelers are also kind.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Valerie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very easy to find hostel. Convenient in and out. Room and facilities were clean. Bed was comfortable. Shower was hot. Good value for money.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Ruveen

Liked: Staff & service
Covenient location. Close to everything. Nice and quiet.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gaku

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Clifmond

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I was so impressed at the quality for a low budget place. The guests were very respectful, friendly. The kitchen facilities were good. I would stay again. I did notice someone was sleeping kitchen when I woke up at 5am. Not sure if he was guest in the hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Hugh

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location and comfortably room and bed Bit dingy with no windows to outside and very noisy until at least midnight
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

tomoko

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
You can enjoy a free life. The staff cleans it every day, and you can make friends with other users.
Verified

8/10 Good

Laura

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities

Top position in the city center

The room was really big with a lot of space, the problem was humidity, there was mold in the walls and got worse during the days we stayed. The kitchen is well equipped and has also an airfryer. The best was location really near everything supermarket , port and lagoon pool.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

4/10 Poor

Vaia

Disliked: Staff & service
We paid for a room to be on the Esplanade. It was a Hostel, not a Hotel so the expectation wasn’t high. The room and amenities were clean and tidy. The cleanliness m
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katielynn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect Hidden Gem

As much as i want to keep this hostel a hidden gem, they deserve all the business possible. A simple yet welcoming environment, this place completely changed my prospective on hostels. It's not a party place and everyone respects one another, a very relaxed place. Location is centeral to everything in town on the waterfront, but the sounds of outside arent heard. I cannot recommend this place enough and cannot wait to return.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

4/10 Poor

Fiona

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights – central location, budget accommodation. Check-in via email code worked well. You get what you pay for – affordable stay, but basic standards. Some bathrooms out of order, and the rest could use maintenance. Kitchen okay but messy inconsiderate guests (my food was left outside fridge overnight). Very noisy overall – AC had to run constantly in the room and was extremely loud. Staff were friendly and helpful. 40+ solo traveler on a budget, two nights would’ve been enough.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Evan

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location on the boardwalk

Excellent location right on the waterfront. Self check-in did not work for me either time staying here but they have a number you can call 24 hours to check in. Rooms are pretty sparse but decently comfortable. No comforter on the bed (only a bed sheet) but it's warm enough that you don't really need it. A/C units are also pretty strong. Not loud at night.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023