The Espy Hostel

2.0 star property
Spend your days lounging by the pool or exploring Cairns' treasures with expert ticket assistance.

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Photo gallery for The Espy Hostel

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

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 10 of 10 rooms

King Private with Ensuite (International & interstate guests only)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Private bathroom
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

1 Bed Mix 3 Bed Dorm with Ensuite (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Private bathroom
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 3 Twin Beds

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

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
5 bathrooms
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

1 Bed in Mix 2 Bed Dorm (International & interstate guests only)(18-35 Age Only)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
5 bathrooms
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

Double Private with Ensuite (International & interstate guests only)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Private bathroom
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Single Private Share Bathroom (International & interstate guests only)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
5 bathrooms
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Double Private Share Bathroom (International & interstate guests only)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
5 bathrooms
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
5 bathrooms
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

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

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
5 bathrooms
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

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

Highlights

Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Private bathroom
Microwave
Kitchen island
Cookware/dishes/utensils
Stovetop
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Map
83 Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, 4870

What's nearby

  • Cairns Esplanade - 1 min walk
  • Reef Hotel Casino - 6 min walk
  • Cairns Marlin Marina - 7 min walk
  • Reef Fleet Terminal - 7 min walk
  • Cairns Central Shopping Centre - 12 min walk

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Rattle N Hum - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Flynn's Italian by Crystalbrook - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Crepe - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪La Pizza Trattoria - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Imm Thai Cafe - ‬4 min walk

About this property

The Espy Hostel

Hostel near Cairns Esplanade
Close to Cairns Marlin Marina and Reef Fleet Terminal, The Espy Hostel provides a terrace, laundry facilities, and more. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
Other perks at this hostel include:
  • An outdoor pool
  • A TV in the lobby and tour/ticket assistance
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at The Espy Hostel have perks such as air conditioning, as well as amenities like free WiFi and kitchen islands.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Communal kitchens with refrigerators, microwaves, and toasters
  • Stovetops, cookware/dishes/utensils, and kitchen islands

Languages

English

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 transportation

  • No onsite parking available

Things to do

  • Outdoor pool

Guest services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Housekeeping (once per stay)
  • Laundry facilities
  • Tour/ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • This property does not have elevators

More

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Shared microwave
  • Shared refrigerator
  • TV in lobby

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Air conditioning
  • Bed sheets

Bathroom

  • Towels

Food and drink

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Shared kitchen access
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

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

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours), smart lock

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

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

Property 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 security system, and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Children 17 years old and younger are not permitted 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

Does The Espy Hostel have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is The Espy Hostel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Espy Hostel?

This property doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at The Espy Hostel?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Espy Hostel?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Espy Hostel located?

Located in Cairns Central Business District, this hostel is steps from Michaelmas Cay and Cairns Esplanade. Cairns Marlin Marina and Reef Fleet Terminal are also within 10 minutes. Cairns Station is 13 minutes by foot.

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The Espy Hostel Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 29 out of 73 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 73 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 73 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 73 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 73 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

7.4/10

Staff & service

6.8/10

Amenities

6.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

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

10/10 Excellent

Charity

Bang for the buck 👍
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gaku

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Maria

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

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

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

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

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

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

2/10 Terrible

VALERIE

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A fuir absolument
Extremely noisy air conditioning, dilapidated bathroom with elastic closing system, hot water 1 out of 2 times. Very basic room equipment. Uncomfortable bedding
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Ruveen

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

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great property in a great location. Clean and no bugs. Great shower pressure!! Staff was friendly and helpful. Had a tour company on site to help with bookings, which was amazing. Kitchen was helpful to have for making our own morning coffee or tea before heading out for the day. Didn’t use the pool as had been out each day all day on boats to the reef, and this location is directly across the street from the lagoon. At first we were worried as I hadn’t realized I’d booked a hostel and not a hotel room. This hostel was quiet at night. I would recommend this location for anyone travelling to the area. It was absolutely what we needed and right near everything we wanted to see or do. All the restaurant choices you could imagine and at least 10 ice cream shops in a one block radius. The bonus of the night market next door was great for nik nacks and things we’d left at home.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

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

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

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 -12 nights in Jan 2023

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.

6/10 Okay

Richard

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
It’s a hostel - so not super clean or modern, as could be expected. But the Bed and Mattress were horrible, sure wouldn’t hurt to change Mattresses from time to time!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

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

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

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

4/10 Poor

david

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
The pictures on Expedia made us believe that we were staying at an apartment Turn out it was a hostile we were extremely disappointed but the management was excellent and promised a full refund after we found and moved to an apartment
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

2/10 Terrible

Sergey

Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort
Terrible experience, do not waste your money!
Extremely appalling experience staying at the Espy hostel. Staff unwelcoming and discriminatory towards people over 35 years of age. I was forcefully made to leave this place even though it has been prepaid in full and I did not do anything wrong or cause any disturbance. Just my age over 35 was not good enough for me to stay at this property and staff threatened me by calling security and demanding that I leave immediately without providing their names or offering any compensation or even a refund. DO NOT STAY HERE.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Jordan

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
This is hostel and not a hotel. It was a nicer hostel, but I wish I had known that it was a hostel before booking. The bedrooms are nice with minimal furniture - no TV. The bathroom was not nice and bare bones. When thinking this is a motel/hotel - it is not good. For a hostel, it would be one of the nicer hostels.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

4/10 Poor

Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good location. Friendly, polite manager. Room very basic-no coffee/tea making, fridge or tv. Insufficient sealing off of door into adjacent room meant noisy and light pollution and felt intrusive. Very overpriced for so called deluxe king room
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022