First Light Mooloolaba, an Ascend Collection Hotel

We stayed at this property as a family and unfortunately our experience did not align with the listing or expectations for the price paid.
On arrival, the apartment appeared darker, more worn, and less maintained than the photos suggested. During our stay, a number of maintenance and cleanliness issues arose which required multiple follow-ups to resolve.
We also encountered a live cockroach inside the apartment, which was particularly concerning while travelling with children. While we appreciate that coastal environments can occasionally experience pests, this impacted our comfort and sense of cleanliness.
We also raised a loose cord for the roller blind as we travelled with small kids and I was worried they could get stuck in this.
We raised our concerns directly with the property during and after our stay. While a response was provided, we felt the overall issues raised were largely minimised, and some of our basic requests during the stay were characterised as excessive rather than being viewed in the context of the conditions we were experiencing.
Housekeeping did assist with linen changes when requested, however there were inconsistencies in servicing, including a missing mattress protector after bedding changes, which added to the inconvenience during our stay.
Overall, the property did not feel consistently maintained to the standard we expected based on the listing, and it affected our ability to comfortably remain for the full duration of our booking.

This is not a hotel. It is a collection of serviced apartments. We stayed for one night. Was pretty expensive for one night. Hotel location is ok, but beach access is still closed on esplanade (will be through to June/July) 2026). The most frustrating thing about this place is that they take 100% extra charge on your credit card, without telling you, as a 'bond' and for 'incidentals'. They did this a few hours after we had checked in in person. No mention at check in of pending charge, and room paid in full at check in. This is not a hotel, and there are no 'inciddentals' so the charge is a bond — for what? When we queried the charge at check out, they mentioned we approved it when we checked in online. I did not check in online, so it was an unauthorised transaction and they accessed the credit card on file. I let it go for 3 days, and then had to email to chase up when it was to be returned. They said they were too busy to process the return 'as they had a busy weekend'. So it took 5 days from check out before it was returned. They need to remove the word 'hotel' from their name. No beach towels in rooms, Sandpaper towels for showers. Nothing in room for coffee / tea. Lots of better places to stay.

(I should have read all the reviews before I booked it, ah well)
The location is amazing.
BUT the cleanliness of the room definitely needs improvement. We booked two separate two‑bedroom suites, and one of them had a very strong smell of urine when we first checked in. The odor was so overwhelming that it gave us headaches, and we struggled to sleep that night. We were so scared to sit on the lounge or put items on the carpet, so worried that there was urine on them. >< We just couldn't rest or did not want to stay in the room for long.
Later, we discovered mold in the washing machine. It was extremely unpleasant, even looking at it or taking a deep breath near it was unbearable. We reported the issue to a staff member, but were told that no cleaning staff were available due to the Easter holiday (a fully booked hotel with no cleaning services? )
At the end we just endured the smell, it was only two nights. Definitely not coming back again.

We booked three two-bedroom apartments for a group of 12 people. The rooms we selected were all on the upper floor and cost $60–80 more each than the other options. However, we were allocated two upper-floor apartments and one on the lower floor. That defeats the purpose of paying extra for each unit, especially since we requested upper-floor rooms immediately after booking.
It was quite inconvenient having to move between rooms with only one key per apartment. The lower-floor unit also didn’t match any of the photos shown on the booking website. The pool felt more like a joke than a real amenity, with very little usable space.
The staff were very accommodating, allowing us a slightly late checkout because we were traveling with young children.
While the location is convenient, with shops and restaurants nearby, the property is overpriced for what you actually get.
You may find better options than this nearby for similar price.

Be careful we got scammed $100 for using 1 x towel and sheets off the spare single bed in the spare room to keep us warm as the bed only had a sheet and light blanket on it. We booked a 1 x bedroom suite for $409 and they took a $300 hold off my card then charged me another $100 for use of extra room. We were not told we would be charged anything extra for using the other room or bathroom. They claim there was a sign on both doors saying not to use and if we did we had to see reception and there would be an extra charge. There were no signs. It’s now our word against the cleaners… also there is no such thing as a 1 x bedroom suite they all have 2 or 3 rooms so it is a scam. They must get so many people for $100. I could have went and bought a new blanket and towel for $100 and taken it home to keep if I knew that was the case. It’s ridiculous who would pay $100 to use a blanket and towel for that price. Also the rooms are tiny, the furniture was dirty and stained because the couch and bed head is a grey material hence they can’t clean properly. It felt like you had to be a dwarf to stay in it. The TV in the bedroom was about as big as a ruler could barely see it. Our car park was tiny and my partner had to park and climb out of the passenger seat to get out otherwise we were stuck in the car, and older person would not be able to do that. Never again would I stay here. I will not be returning or recommending it to family and friends.

The pictures look better than the actual place.
It is small and you only have a two seater couch for a family of four not even extra chairs to sit around the lounge area together. The pool is like a fish bowl so small and no tea place to sit pool side as you have to go up these stairs and straight in the pool. The place is clean but that’s the only positive. Staff are rude and not helpful. We left something behind which was a pair of pjs — very light and they wanted to post to us for $30 which is insane. Never staying here again.

Staff friendly and great location, but recent tripling in reward points required to book have made this one overpriced.
The room lacked any basics which you would expect in a short stay apartment with a full kitchen.
A unit that is meant for four people with one two seat lounge chair had people taking turns to sit in comfort rather than at the dining table.

Absolutely love love love this place! It has one of the best beach/ocean views I've ever seen! It's quiet but the kids loved it! They have a pool downstairs which we all loved and enjoyed to go in, the pool was very clean and it was such a great down-time activity for the whole family. The beds are clean, when you lay down on them it feels like you're about to drift off on a cloud and your body feels great in the morning. It has a proper kitchen for cooking, definitely great kitchen space! The bathroom was clean, neat and tidy, beautiful working water! The garage to park in has a privacy door/ a door to prevent people coming in who aren't staying there, it definitely felt safe while we stayed there! There are shops to eat and shop at very close to the hotel, and the beach is less than a 8 minute walk! I HIGHLY recommend this hotel!

Simply wonderful. Two bedroom and two bathroom with large balcony. Beautiful room and facilities. Beds super comfy. Dishwasher washing machine and dryer. Reception lady was extremely polite and helpful. Superb location only three minutes from beach and all the shops you could ever want. Will definitely be staying here again. Thanks.

We stayed in a 2-bedroom apartment for 3 nights and faced multiple issues in a short stay— a broken dryer, flooded bathroom from a blocked drain, power tripping with the microwave, and aircon in bedroom not working.
While maintenance problems can happen, the real disappointment was the rude and dismissive attitude of the Hotel Manager, Emma. Poor facilities are frustrating, but bad management is inexcusable. I would NOT recommend staying here.

Despite the name, this is not a hotel. I didn't see on-site staff, and we had to self-check in at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. There aren't even any parking spots for guests who are checking in. The room was pretty much as expected, but we paid premium rates during a busy period, and this didn't feel anywhere like a premium experience.

The apartment had a lovely view however there was only one, two seat couch for 4 people in the lounge room which was hard to all sit in the lounge as there wasn't enough lounge chair space. The parking was nothing short of a nightmare. We chose this hotel because we needed the 2.1m clearance, however, nowhere did we read that there was a restriction on the length of the vehicle. We have a Landcruiser, and were put in a park on a corner with a storage box. This meant we were blocking the car on the other corner. I asked for a different location and two spots were offered, one already had a car in it and the other also had a storage box which meant our car could not fit. There were no visitors car parks available the entire time and the same cars were parked in these for the duration. The receptionists then provided us with another spot which was great, until we my husband took our care out to pick me up from a 50km walk, when we returned a car had taken the spot. We ended up parking the car on the street. We will not stay at this location or recommend it to others due to the parking issues. We paid for one allocated parking spot, there was no information regarding a length restriction on the car, and we spent a significant amount of time trying to park our car.

Very pleased with the apartment. All the amenities that you need for a comfortable stay, although the clothes dryer was very noisy and the pool & BBQ area is very underwhelming. Reception staff were very pleasant and helpful. Excellent location in the heart of everything.

W stayed at First Light, and it was okay. The units are large and clean. We had a mountain view, which was great. The location is very convenient. But that's where the good stuff ends!
The building is located behind another high rise, so zero beach views. I was told there is a surcharge of $50 on Friday and Saturday nights. Apparently, they usually charge $100 per Friday and Saturday. And they take a $300 deposit, BUT you don't get that back for over 7 days?!?
When I questioned the above, I got attitude from the manager.
I will leave it up to the individual if they want to stay at First Light! I will NOT be going back.

We stayed at First Light in April as we were getting married on the beach at Mooloolaba. Our whole family stayed at the hotel. The rooms were great. Clean and stocked with everything you need. Beds are comfortable. We ended up getting married on the balcony of the penthouse due to rain and it was amazing :)

We have just stayed at First Light for the 3rd time. The location is perfect — just a short walk through one of the arcades to the beachfront, shops and restaurants/cafes. We stayed on a high floor with gorgeous ocean views. The apartments are very well fitted out, with everything you need. The apartments are clean and modern, with lovely balconies to sit and take in the views. The staff are all friendly and very helpful. There is secure car parking underneath if you have a car, but we decided just to take an Uber or a bus to nearby Maroochydore. The bus stop is just one street away. Coles is a very short walk, as is the Surf Club and all the restaurants. The beach is basically on the doorstep, and is lovely. We highly recommend First Light for a relaxing, quiet stay. Thank you, we'll be back!

This hotel is a coastal gem, perfectly situated just one block from the beach and esplanade, offering glimpses of the ocean while being close to all shops. It was a peaceful stay, free from the noise of the bustling beachfront, yet provides easy access to the beach and vibrant atmosphere. Very clean and supplied with all essentials for families. It has a kitchen which made it great for breakfast with kids whilst enjoying the sound of the waves crashing. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a memorable beach getaway.