Holiday rental in Cairns linked to extensive black mould; guest falls ill

A Cairns holiday rental drew scrutiny after a guest alleged extensive black mould covered the ceiling and other surfaces of the apartment he rented for a week, raising health concerns and questions about refunds.

Ethan Thomas, a hair salon operator from The Entrance on New South Wales' Central Coast, booked a seven-night stay at 181 The Esplanade Cairns through Booking.com for $1,700. He arrived to find no one at the reception desk and a note directing him to call a number. A staff member then appeared, handed him a key, and Mr. Thomas said the initial impression of the unit was “fine and great.” However, his outlook soured almost immediately when he entered the bathroom and smelled mold. “I went to go to the toilet. As soon as I opened the door, all I could smell was mould,” he said, noting the odor persisted beyond the bathroom.

Mr. Thomas shared pictures showing what he described as black mould covering the ceiling of the bathroom and extending into the bedrooms, with mould even visible on a lamp shade in the living room. He said vents throughout the apartment appeared never to have been cleaned and that mould spread from the ceiling areas in the bedrooms to other spaces. He also said he could not find an alternative place to stay locally because accommodation was fully booked for a festival.

When he returned home, Mr. Thomas said he fell ill and visited a doctor, who diagnosed a sinus infection. He said he was prescribed antibiotics for five days to a week. He had sought redress from the property owner and Booking.com, arguing that the mould rendered the space unsafe for a paying guest.

A spokesman for 181 The Esplanade Cairns told Daily Mail they were made aware of Mr. Thomas’s concerns after he checked out and that they were addressing the matter promptly following the complaint. Mr. Thomas, however, said he had yet to hear from the property, and he had contacted Booking.com’s customer service to investigate. He said the platform asked him to upload documentation and photos and that a response was expected within about 48 hours, though he remained skeptical about a timely resolution since he had not received a reply from the property.

Booking.com lists 181 The Esplanade Cairns as a “very good” property, with an overall rating of eight out of ten from about 716 guest reviews. Social media reaction to Mr. Thomas’s account was divided: some users urged a refund and condemned the mould problem, while others defended the property, noting that Cairns’s humidity can foster mould and suggesting individual apartments may vary in cleanliness.

Experts say mould exposure can irritate the respiratory system and provoke sinus discomfort in some individuals, especially in humid climates. Mr. Thomas’s experience underscores the health concerns that can accompany mould in rental properties, particularly when guests rely on third-party platforms for accommodation and refunds.

The case illustrates ongoing tensions between guest expectations, property-management accountability, and the protections offered by booking platforms. As of this writing, no final resolution has been publicly announced, and both the guest and the property are awaiting further contact from Booking.com and the owner.