YHA Cairns Central

Really nice stay, the girl checking us in was so lovely she had curly hair and was American. We cut our stay early because our car rental ending up getting approved a day early and we couldn’t get a refund which is fine, but she was lovely and offered us a coffee. Pool was nice, showers were good, rooms were clean, maybe a bit small but I’d come again for sure

Had such an amazing time here. I stayed for 1 weeks and it was great. The rooms were clean the facilities like the kitchen and toilets were all great. I stayed in an all female 8 bed room with was lovely. The only things that could be problems for some people include that they did not have curtains shielding the beds and some of the beds did not have plugs near them. I was able to book all my activities at the hostel which made things so easy. The location was perfect with it being only a 15 to 20 minute walk to the sea front and the lagoon. It is also right opposite shops making it easy to grab food. 100% recommend staying here.

Room was as it said on the box, a bed a towel and and air con unit. It was a very small room that smelt a bit damp and dirt around the windows. Location was amazing. Nice pool. Bathrooms were a good size and clean, never had to wait. Staff were fab. On site parking was secure but recommend booking in advance to make sure you get a spot

Great experience. Very chill and kind staff. You can download the room key on your google wallet which makes everything convenient. The common areas were all usually clean, except in the evening when the toilets would get a dirty as people used it. But generally, everyone was very respectful. Very safe and fantastic location. Right next to Cairns Central and all the great restaurants and Night market. I enjoyed my stay there.

Excellent location and super clean! Kitchen was really fantastic, and was one of the highlights. Also there are two supermarkets literally across the street. Our only complaint was that the rooms kind of felt like prison cells- cinder block walls, almost nowhere to hang anything, and no art, or color or anything to make the rooms feel “warm”. That said, I would stay here again.

Forgot something at the hostel and called to let them know I was on the way to grab it only to be transferred and put on voicemail. While I grabbed my item, I also checked through my entire belongings beforehand to see if my airpods were there and if the were maybe somewhere on the floor when I went back to get my other item when they were not, although I was sure that I left it in my bag right next to me as I slept, making me think it was stolen from me. Also mixed dormitory allocation was poor as I was put as the only woman in a room where the first night the room was shared with only one other guy and the second night the room was full with solely all men half of which were 50+ (for context, I am a solo 20 year old female traveller). No encouragement of social activities to foster a friendly environment at the hostel and pillow was flat and offered no head support. Although my room had an ensuite bathroom which was nice, the light system was incredibly confusing and there were no outlets near the stands next to the beds at all as well as poor ventilation.

I arrived outside of check-in hours, which I called in advance about. They give you a key via a lock, unfortunately the key did not work for my room. It was after midnight so I could not reach anyone via e-mail or phone. Eventuelly another guest helped me and directed me to the call for after hours help outside the gate. Then, they re-activated my key. It was resolved, but very stressful and annoying to a female solo traveller. Also no apologies or anything. I specifically called in advance to make sure check-in would still be possible and still this happens. The directions to my specific room were also a bit unclear. There was a sign for room Numbers 100-200 but the sign for 300-400 was more hidden. I booked a private room. Room was clean enough for a hostel and there is AC. Bed not great, bit lumpy, but fine for a hostel. Glad I only stayed one night (or half a night realistically).Shower was okay. Just arrive during check-in hours and you should be fine. It seems like a decent, clean hostel in a good central location. I am assuming that I just got unlucky with the key.

Location is perfect. Very close to everywhere especially to Cairns central, the mall’s got everything. I stayed in a 6 bed shared room. It is basically hostel but there is no curtain around the bed, so definitely is kind disturbing sometimes. Facility is kinda old, but they did the best to maintain. Kitchen is pretty messy mostly. But I mean you can’t expect much out of hostel. Co-working space is nice and clean if you need to work. I would say co-working space is definitely the cleanest place in here…lol

Location - this hostel is just around the corner from Shield street on McLeod street. Opposite the shopping centre too so a very short walk to a supermarket or cinema or any type of shop really. The lagoon and esplanade is less then 15 min walk away as are a number of pubs and clubs for the night owls. Plenty of restaurants and cafés within easy walking distance. Now if you are one for doing your own cooking whilst away then the kitchen set up is one of the best I have seen in the many hostels I have stayed in. The fridges are well labelled about what day of the week they will be cleaned out and the central cook tops and bench make it a very social kitchen. Seating indoor or outside. I'm not sure if it is every morning but they did put on pancakes for those up early enough. Yum. There is a small pool in the centre of the hostel and the rooms are around the outside in a U shape on two floors. There is a pool table and BBQ facilities too. The hostel is very much set up to help tourists with booking reef and rainforest tours or on going accommodation or activities down the east coast. Airport shuttle can be organised too. Very helpful staff. The bathrooms are big enough, multiple toilets, showers and sinks. I found the facilities clean and well maintained. The room I stayed in had both a fan and air con and well ventilated windows (able to open further then an inch) allowing for a nice evening breeze to pass through the room. Six beds yet the room did not feel swamped by bags as there were good sized lockers in the rooms, quite easily fit my backpack inside without any trouble. Would defiantly consider staying here again if I pass thru cairns again. Just remember its a YHA not the ritz.

Thee most boring hostel ever. I've been to 10 hostels thus far and this is the quietest. No one talks to each other, it's a bit eerie. The facilities are great however. The bathrooms are the nicest I've seen complete with bowl porcelain sinks and blow dryers! Ahhh the luxury of a blow dryer when I've been slumming it for weeks. The kitchen is also set up nicely. My travel agent booked me 4 nights in Gilligan's then 3 nights at YHA for a quieter hostel, but it's honestly too quiet. Would rather go back to Gilligan's.

Very satisfied with my stay here! While there wasn't much to it, for $29 a night I wasn't expecting much more than a shower and a clean, safe place to lay my head - And that's exactly what was provided for me! Added bonus (and a nice surprise for me, as this was my first hostel experience): Community events each night so guests from all over the world could mingle and get to know each other. Will definitely stay here again on my next trip through!