--- title: "181 The Esplanade Resort vs The Oceanfront: which hotel is better?" description: "181 The Esplanade Resort or The Oceanfront in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/181-the-esplanade-resort-cairns-vs-the-oceanfront-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-25 --- # 181 The Esplanade Resort vs The Oceanfront Both are in Cairns, 290 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Resort · ★★★★½ · Cairns North ## [181 The Esplanade Resort](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/181-the-esplanade-resort-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 8.1 · Very good - **Location score:** 4.9 - **Score by category:** 3 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1070332/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★★ · Cairns North ## [The Oceanfront](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-oceanfront-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.1 · Good - **Location score:** 4.5 - **Score by category:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2209428/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick 181 The Esplanade Resort It leads in 3 of 3 categories. 290 m apart. ### Choose 181 The Esplanade Resort if you want - the more consistently praised stay (8.1 / 7.1) - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 30 / 133) ### Choose The Oceanfront if you want - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 133 / 30) ### Why is 181 The Esplanade Resort better than The Oceanfront? 1. Higher guest rating (8.1 vs 7.1) (+1.0) 2. Higher star rating (4.5★ vs 4★) (+0.5★) 3. More guest reviews (172 vs 69), so the rating is more reliable (×2.5) 4. A smaller, more intimate hotel (30 vs 133 rooms) (−103) ### Why is The Oceanfront better than 181 The Esplanade Resort? 1. A larger hotel with more facilities (133 vs 30 rooms) (×4.4) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | 181 The Esplanade Resort | The Oceanfront | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.1 (+1.0) | 7.1 | | Location | 4.9 (+0.4) | 4.5 | | Facilities | 7.5 | – | | Spa & wellness | 9.0 | – | | Public transport | 6.4 (+0.8) | 5.6 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.1 (+0.7) | 7.5 | | Guest rating | 8.1 (+1.0) | 7.1 | | Number of reviews | 172 (+103) | 69 | | Google rating | 4.1/5 | – | | Google reviews | 159 | – | | Rank in Cairns | bottom 30% (+26%) | bottom 4% | | Location | | Location score | 4.9 (+0.4) | 4.5 | | Distance to Cairns North centre | 1.2 km | 910 m (−270 m) | | To public transport | 820 m (−140 m) | 960 m | | To the airport | 4.0 km | 3.7 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 23 (+5) | 18 | | To the nearest food shop | 390 m | 390 m | | Shops within 500 m | 2 | 2 | | Sights within 1 km | 0 | 0 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★½ (+0.5★) | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 30 | 133 | | Floors | 8 | 9 | | Newest building or renovation | 2009 | – | | Listed amenities | 20 | – | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – | | Free parking | ✓ | – | | Car hire | ✓ | – | | Concierge | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | – | | Luggage storage | ✓ | – | | Bar | ✓ | – | | Swimming pool | ✓ | – | | Spa | ✓ | – | | Sauna | ✓ | – | | Steam room | ✓ | – | | Hot tub | ✓ | – | | Massage | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | – | | Balcony | ✓ | – | | In-room safe | ✓ | – | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | – | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | ✓ | – | | Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – | | Business trips | ✓ | – | | Spa & relaxation | ✓ | – | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. [The Oceanfront prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-oceanfront-cairns/prices/) ## Location 290 m apart 181 The Esplanade Resort: city centre: 710 m, nearest station Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns: 820 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 4.0 km, 23 places to eat within 500 m. The Oceanfront: city centre: 660 m, nearest station Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns: 960 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 3.7 km, 18 places to eat within 500 m. ## Weather in Cairns [Cairns weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/queensland/cairns/weather) ## 181 The Esplanade Resort or The Oceanfront: common questions ### Which is better, 181 The Esplanade Resort or The Oceanfront? 181 The Esplanade Resort leads in 3 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location, public transport. ### Which is cheaper, 181 The Esplanade Resort or The Oceanfront? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? The Oceanfront is closer: 910 m from the centre, against 1.2 km for 181 The Esplanade Resort. ### How far apart are 181 The Esplanade Resort and The Oceanfront? The two hotels are 290 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [181 The Esplanade Resort vs Cairns Harbourside Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/181-the-esplanade-resort-cairns-vs-cairns-harbourside-hotel-cairns/) - [181 The Esplanade Resort vs Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/181-the-esplanade-resort-cairns-vs-rydges-esplanade-resort-cairns-cairns/) - [181 The Esplanade Resort vs Cairns Queens Court](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/181-the-esplanade-resort-cairns-vs-cairns-queens-court-cairns/) - [The Oceanfront vs The Reef Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-oceanfront-cairns-vs-the-reef-motel-cairns/) - [The Oceanfront vs Cairns Harbourside Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-harbourside-hotel-cairns-vs-the-oceanfront-cairns/) - [The Oceanfront vs Bohemia Resort Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bohemia-resort-cairns-cairns-vs-the-oceanfront-cairns/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/181-the-esplanade-resort-cairns-vs-the-oceanfront-cairns/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/