Name: YHA Cairns Central
Address: 20-26 McLeod Street, Cairns, AU

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2026

Andrew

A

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jun 2026

Danny

I arrived late and had to punch in a code the lighting was poorly so I had my daughter punch it in for me, to my amazement the place looked very up market and the room was just the right size, only problem I had was lugging my luggage up the stairs to the room, highly recommend YHA :)

Self

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2026

Jessica

Room was basic but clean. Yha sydney is a lot nicer. I had a twin ensuite which had towels and body wash included. There are no lifts so I had to carry luggage up the stairs. There's not enough staff so it takes a while to check in and check out

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 Apr 2026

Ryoichi

Friendly staff esp. Christina’s an amazing receptionist!

Self

4/10

Poor

28 Mar 2026

Crystal

Nice clean room, beds were comfy, but we where waiting 15min to be served to check-in and it was not busy we where the only ones waiting 2 staff ignored us the other lady was making someone a coffee, i expessed that we where in a hurry to get to a cruise, that didn't change anything. So all was good except the frount counter.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

16 Jan 2026

Paul

Great staff. Decent amenities. Location is a ten min walk to lagoon

6/10

Pleasant

21 Dec 2025

david

Fine

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

08 Dec 2025

Matias

Really good place to be a hostel. The staff is very friendly and nice, the kitchen that’s fine. In the outside of the hostel to many homeless around the place

Business_and_leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2025

Ryoichi

Had a great stay, thanks!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Oct 2025

KYLE

This was my first stay at a hostel. It was great. The folks at the front desk were very friendly and helpful. The kitchen facilities were great. The pool looked nice just didn’t get a chance to use it. All of the people staying there were friendly.
Only complaint was there was only one dryer operational in the laundry room. I would highly recommend staying here if you are traveling to Cairns.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

01 Oct 2025

Noelene

Room was clean and comfortable we had ensuited room. Kitchen was messy unwashed cookware and utensils etc . we washed cutlery before using and when finished. Shops all around was great. Staff always helpful. Near to train station which was a priority for us as needed an overnight stay close to the station.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Sep 2025

Samuel

Good

6/10

Pleasant

06 Sep 2025

Owal

Functional room for my stay, rather basic but suited me fine. Small car park was also used, nearly full on arrival but managed to secure a spot.

Noise from other guests speaking loudly in common outside areas by the pool in the early morning having breakfast and in the evening having dinner (surprisingly quiet during the day). Noise from a neighbouring bar when I stayed which stopped at 11pm.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Aug 2025

Shruti

Great experience. Very chill and kind staff. You can download key on your google wallet which is such great help. 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. I enjoyed my stay there.

2/10

Poor

15 Aug 2025

Elizah

Alright

8/10

Excellent

07 Aug 2025

Barbara

Everything in rooms clean.& in good condition. Amazing kitchen ! Toilet and shower block new and clean. Pool clean and inviting .
Cairns mall just across the street with huge food court plus many shops.
Room mates were lovely considerate Asian girls.
All in all a wonderful stay

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2025

Brian

As a first time backpacker, I couldn't fault this establishment. It was impeccably clean, staff were friendly, bedding and beds impeccably clean and comfortable. Sheets even had iron marks on them. I would go there again.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2025

Ed

Very friendly and comfortable!

Business_and_leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

16 Mar 2025

Verified traveler

Good for a short stay

The Hostel it’s self seemed well taken care of with a pretty decent standard of cleanliness, all though many hostel mates didn’t properly clean up after themselves in the kitchen and I found myself re-washing dishes before I could actually use them.
The room I stayed in (a 4 bed) was quite spacious and the lockers were big enough for my travel backpack, but the beds themselves were pretty lack luster and I found myself having a hard time getting a comfortable sleep. It does in a pinch, but I probably stayed a day too long for the sake of my back.

Self

8/10

Excellent

28 Jan 2025

Hieu

Friendly staff, very convenient location, all (bed linen, towel, ...) very clean, 50m from Cairns big shopping centre with major supermarkets, department store. The communal kitchen is very well organised, clean. Secure car parking for $5 a day. Negative things are the free wifi is only up to 5Mbps during off-peak but very slow and just enough to check email at night (peak-hours), power points should be close to the bed or the floor or the very small table in the room, if your phone charging cables are short then you have to use the power point in the ensuite (if your room has ensuite). In general I would highly recommend this place if you don't expect all the bells and whistle of a 3-4 star hotel.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Oct 2024

Emily

This was a great place to stay in Cairns! 10-15 minutes walk to the wharf and great shopping and dining. Large kitchen and shared area in the hostel and I loved that they advertised local events and activities happening.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Oct 2024

Steven

Cairns Dive trip

Great facilities, great staff and a great experience all round. Will definately recommend and use again

Self

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2024

Andrew

.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Sep 2024

Sarah

Great property would recommend

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

09 Sep 2024

HERMANN

easy to get to places

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2024

Susan

Staff lovely, areas clean, quiet.

6/10

Pleasant

29 Aug 2024

Rhiannon

Was great to meet some lovely ladies during my 2 night stay. Staff was excellent and accommodating.
The bed was uncomfortable.
Convenient location.

8/10

Excellent

02 Aug 2024

owen

Easy for when in transit

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2024

Robbie

Standard hostel.

Over all was good, the bathrooms were a little dirty. The kitchen was good, though other uses left it untidy.

Business

6/10

Pleasant

02 Jul 2024

Sok

It’s ok for the price. Stayed in the 10-bed room, which felt quite packed when full. Hardly any privacy. Made a mistake of getting the breakfast, better to just walk across the street to Cairns central for a better proper coffee and breakfast for the same price. Location is excellent and very convenient, although a bit dodgy area.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

02 Jul 2024

HIKARU

Great kitchen

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

23 Jun 2024

Marcelle

I always stay at the YHA Cairns Central because the location is so convenient, right opposite a large, air conditioned shopping centre, buses right outside the door and friendly service but I did find my room hugely over priced, (I stayed in a queen sized room with an ensuite)...$150 a night!! Great facilities, and service but found the price very disappointing; for that price I thought at least a hair dryer, little shampoos, etc and coffee and tea making facilities would have been included

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

13 Jun 2024

Jordan

Good experience all around.

4/10

Poor

10 May 2024

Brook

Pool and gardens are very nice. Room was extremely basic and not good value for money. Most staff are friendly but there are some which are very inviting and shouldn't be working in the hospitality industry.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jan 2024

Matt

Nice hostel, quiet area, easy street parking

Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2023

Verified traveler

Comfortable and good value

Nice hostel with friendly and helpful staff. Private room is very comfortable and good value for money. Hostel itself is quite social through the events they put on every night but relaxed in the day which makes a good mix.

Self

8/10

Excellent

09 Sep 2023

Asher

Good, cheap accommodation in central Cairns

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

15 Aug 2023

Sudhir

Very nice and helpful staff. Rooms are quiet, compact and good but private bathroom is not split into shower, toilet and sink like in some other YHAs (e.g. Sydney Harbor). So our family of 4 took longer to get ready in the morning though we did use the common bathrooms also to speed things up.

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2023

Rosie

Loved the landscaping around the property..tropical and attractive. Room was a bit small, but l slept well. Hanging hooks provided. Thanks. Would stay again

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jan 2023

Janford

Would definitely choose and recommend YHA to a friend the next time. 👍

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

25 Nov 2022

Tanusarn

Very well

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

09 Aug 2022

Verified traveler

Cheap place to stay in central Cairns

Pros: prime location (right in the city centre), nice pool, big kitchen, aircon in dorms works very well, parking available on site (paid).

Cons: reception isn't 24h, which means you won't be able to leave your luggage at the hostel if you checkout early in the morning to go to the boat tours. Toilets ran out of paper, bunk bed is very squeaky, no individual light, no individual power point by the bed, lots of older people (over 50) staying long term (which breaks the youth hostel atmosphere in my view)

6/10

Pleasant

19 May 2022

Tambelina

It was good

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2022

Alice

Cruizy YHA HOSTEL CAIRNS

Fantastic 2 weeks stay @ YHA.
I rate 10/10.
Very clean the room and shared toilets and bathroom.
Large showerheads in bathroom, nice and clean, and convienant.
Awesome to stay, closer to facilities - shopping centres and sunbus transport, so close by to access.
Staff are professional, friendly and welcoming. Travellers it's a 👍💃🌻🌹🌺☘️

Self

8/10

Excellent

07 Jun 2021

Ian

Hostel is very central to everything, parking in the centre of the street is free for 3 hrs/overnight

Self

8/10

Excellent

13 Apr 2021

Verified traveler

The pool and tub it's not a hot tub but it was good

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

23 Feb 2021

Therese

Aaxing lication

Very convenient location - central cairns- great for shops, meals, movies and sirport

Partner

8/10

Excellent

23 Aug 2020

Robbo

The room was fresh and clean. And the location perfect.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

09 Aug 2020

Alicia

The hostel is cleaner than YHA Brisbane for example, here they do clean the rooms and more importantly the toilet (at least that I could see) the kitchen could improve with shaper knifes and give maintenance to utensils, old pots need the handles screw and there are blender bases but not the glass to actually use it. The lockers should be check for people that have already left a d their plates and food still there, they should also be clean. Nice staff and nice vibe too.
Is good there is a free food and stuff area and also in the fridge.
Fridges need a good clean up too

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Aug 2020

Verified traveler

We arrived early in the morning and Sam at reception was very helpful and gave us a room right away. Staff is great!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

Beds need to be replaced, overall good stay.

Hostel location is good. Lots of food and places to be social nearby. Easy access to train, bus, and ferry terminal. Beds themselves are not so great comfort wise. I stayed in a 4 bed mixed room. It was fine, until someone would open the door. It always slammed and woke everyone up. The kitchen is clean, laundry was good, didn’t try the pool but you see it every time you walk outside your room. Bathrooms could be cleaner, but it’s really up to other guests. Nice hot water always available at any hour. Kitchen has everything you need, but the fridge space is limited.

Self

4/10

Poor

31 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Bathroom area very dirty with blocked toilet, toilet paper bits throughout and one whole shower block not working.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

YHA Cairns was great. My room was clean and neat and everything worked. The blonde was wonderful

8/10

Excellent

20 Nov 2018

John

It was good, close to everythinh and nice staff.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

19 Aug 2018

liza

Amazing!

Best YHA in Australia!
Loved the people, the staff, the bathroom was Amazing.
They even had free movie nights with popcorn, free wine and cheese nights.
Very helpful with any trips you have booked and you need help with where to go or whatever.
Great hostel!!!

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2018

KUNIHIRO

Good stay

Staying here is always comfort and nice, I like this location.

6/10

Pleasant

17 Sep 2017

Sylvain

Hotel in Cairns

Very well located hotel, close to everything.
Noisy but we stayed on a Saturday night!

8/10

Excellent

01 May 2017

CHO Tak Pius

Happy Camper

One of the nicest hostels I have stayed in.

8/10

Excellent

25 Feb 2017

Verified traveler

Nice hostel close to mall

Overnight stay in a family room. Nice room size, ensuite bathroom.

10/10

Exceptional

14 Feb 2017

Thiago

Amazing hostel in central cairns

YHA Central is an amazing hostel! It has a swimming pool in the center and the rooms around. Nice bathrooms, full equipped kitchen, barbecue and a very nice staff

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Feb 2017

Kyle

Nice, clean, friendly, quiet.

Good backpackers. Room was clean, proper bed linen, a/c worked, lockers for your bags and free pancakes in the morning. Only complaint is the bathroom/shower is a fair distance from the room.

8/10

Excellent

23 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Budget hotel for backpackers

Straightforward backpacker hotel near the center of town and walking distance to all the party areas. Straightforward check in / check out. Basic amenities.

8/10

Excellent

11 Jan 2017

vanessa

Too loud when you have a room near pool/kitchen

Overall Thai hostel is good. My room 112 ws roo close to the pool/kitchen/common area and I had constant noise around me. Not from people yelling or partying, they were just talking or walking by bit I still could hear everything. I was not able to sleep with our earplugs but I'm a very light sleeper. Location is good, right across a big shipping center and away from the party scene. Free airport pickup a plus

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Nice hostel

Nice and comfortable hostel, which was clean and the staff very helpful. Large kitchen area. Internet connection worked only near the reception. We bought an additional Wi-Fi-connection to room, but I wouldn't recommend it for the others - it didn't work properly. Esplanade and all the restaurants within 10min walk and supermarket on the other side of the road. Good location.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

24 Sep 2016

susie

YHA is for the young

It was uncomfortable for us. The YHA is for young people.
There is no elevator so it was a real chore to carry our 3 suitcases up two floors. Lucky that my husband is strong. The curtain is thin so early morning sun woke us or people noise in the hall woke us...
For a YHA it is very nice setting with an outdoor pool. Kitchen looked very organized.
Staff and volunteers very good and nice.
Some of the other customers are undesired. Loud rude crude sexist...

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

\n

we were in Cairns for a conference,
It was easy to find parking space, Cairns Centre is across the road, the rooms were clean en well designed.
We were surprised we had to give proof of identity, though.

4/10

Poor

14 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

Bed bugs ahoy!

Room 211 had bed bugs. I'm covered in bites. The property is nice otherwise. There is a pool.

Family

4/10

Poor

01 Aug 2016

Verified traveler

櫃台可以幫忙處理去大堡礁玩的行程非常的方便

還算可以的旅館櫃台可以幫忙處理去大堡礁玩的行程非常的方便設施還算全但乾淨程度就一般一般地理位置不錯離市區港口都是走路可以到的距離

Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Jul 2016

christopher

Nice place, ask for a quiet room

Lovely place to stay, only one negative was next to our room (102) was the smoking area. It smelt of smoke and could be very noisey at times (smokers are social able people). Not the most relaxing time.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jul 2016

Melissa

Delighted with our stay

We were warmly welcomed, and the staff helped us book the best tours for our stay. We originally only booked one night, but extended our stay to four nights. The shared bathrooms were very clean at all times of the day. The hostel provided evening activities for guests and a pancake breakfast each morning. We enjoyed our stay here much more than our stay in one of the Cairns beach front hotels. As a first time hostel traveler, I was pleasantly surprised with this wonderful experience!

6/10

Pleasant

27 Apr 2016

Pradeep

Nice Stay

It was a nice stay with no issues and problems.Met some new friends.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Apr 2016

Gemma

Great hostel

Free wine and cheese on trivia night (wed) and free pancakes every morning!

8/10

Excellent

29 Nov 2015

Isabel

Walking distance to town and wharf for the conference I was attending. Good kitchen and facilities. Free pancakes at breakfast time for hostel guests :-)

10/10

Exceptional

03 Sep 2015

Jeong Eun, Kim

Nice location

It's too quiet location, but not too far to city centre. Deep swimming pool, but it's too small..............

8/10

Excellent

25 Aug 2015

Mrs Lucy

Ok, clean bathroom and room. Kitchen wasn't nice. Staff friendly.