181 The Esplanade Resort vs The Oceanfront
Both are in Cairns, 290 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.
Resort★★★★½Cairns North
181 The Esplanade Resort
- Guest rating
- 8.1 Very good
- Location score
- 4.9
- Score by category
- 3 of 3
Hotel★★★★Cairns North
The Oceanfront
- Guest rating
- 7.1 Good
- Location score
- 4.5
- Score by category
- 0 of 3
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?
- 1Higher guest rating (8.1 vs 7.1)+1.0
- 2Higher star rating (4.5★ vs 4★)+0.5★
- 3More guest reviews (172 vs 69), so the rating is more reliable×2.5
- 4A smaller, more intimate hotel (30 vs 133 rooms)−103
Why is The Oceanfront better than 181 The Esplanade Resort?
- 1A 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 vs The Oceanfront: which hotel is better? | 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 | ✓ | – |
Price for your dates
Prices come from booking partners and can change. The final price is shown before you book.
Live prices around both hotels
Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.
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
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.
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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