--- title: "Cairns City Backpackers vs Dreamtime Hostel: which hotel is better?" description: "Pick Dreamtime Hostel. It leads in 3 of 3 categories. Cairns City Backpackers or Dreamtime Hostel in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-dreamtime-hostel-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- # Cairns City Backpackers vs Dreamtime Hostel Both are in Cairns, 330 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · Parramatta Park ## [Cairns City Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.1 · Good - **Location score:** 6.4 - **Score by category:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1238046/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Cairns City ## [Dreamtime Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/dreamtime-hostel-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 9.1 · Excellent - **Location score:** 8.2 - **Score by category:** 3 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1367786/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Dreamtime Hostel It leads in 3 of 3 categories. 330 m apart. ### Choose Cairns City Backpackers if you want - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 20 / 1) ### Choose Dreamtime Hostel if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.1 / 7.1) - more restaurants on the doorstep (84 / 18) - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 1 / 20) ### Why is Cairns City Backpackers better than Dreamtime Hostel? 1. More guest reviews (136 vs 13), so the rating is more reliable (×10) 2. Earlier check-in (11:00 vs 12:00) (−1h) ### Why is Dreamtime Hostel better than Cairns City Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (9.1 vs 7.1) (+2.0) 2. 320 m closer to public transport (−320 m) 3. 66 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+66) 4. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 79 vs 54) (+25) 5. 3 more sights within 1 km (+3) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Cairns City Backpackers | Dreamtime Hostel | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 9.1 (+2.0) | | Location | 6.4 | 8.2 (+1.8) | | Public transport | 8.4 | 10.0 (+1.6) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.3 | 8.5 (+1.2) | | Guest rating | 7.1 | 9.1 (+2.0) | | Number of reviews | 136 (+123) | 13 | | Google rating | 3.9/5 | 4.6/5 (+0.7) | | Google reviews | 267 | 340 (+73) | | Rank in Cairns | top 98% | top 35% (+63%) | | Location | | Location score | 6.4 | 8.2 (+1.8) | | Distance to the centre | 1.4 km (−230 m) | 1.6 km | | To public transport | 450 m | 130 m (−320 m) | | To the airport | 5.4 km | 5.6 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 18 | 84 (+66) | | Sights within 1 km | 4 | 7 (+3) | | Rooms & building | | Rooms | 20 | 1 | | Listed amenities | 9 (+3) | 6 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 11:00 (−1h) | 12:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | ✓ | – | | Swimming pool | ✓ | ✓ | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | Which hotel suits you | | Families with children | – | ✓ | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | | Business trips | – | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ | ## Location 330 m apart Cairns City Backpackers: city centre: 1.4 km, nearest station Kuranda Scenic Railway: 450 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.4 km, 18 places to eat within 500 m, 4 sights within 1 km. Dreamtime Hostel: city centre: 1.6 km, nearest station Kuranda Scenic Railway: 130 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.6 km, 84 places to eat within 500 m, 7 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Cairns [Cairns weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/queensland/cairns/weather) ## Cairns City Backpackers or Dreamtime Hostel: common questions ### Which is better, Cairns City Backpackers or Dreamtime Hostel? Dreamtime Hostel leads in 3 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location, public transport. ### Which is cheaper, Cairns City Backpackers or Dreamtime Hostel? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Cairns City Backpackers is closer: 1.4 km from the centre, against 1.6 km for Dreamtime Hostel. ### How far apart are Cairns City Backpackers and Dreamtime Hostel? The two hotels are 330 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Cairns City Backpackers vs Mad Monkey Backpackers Central](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/) - [Cairns City Backpackers vs Bounce Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bounce-cairns-cairns-vs-cairns-city-backpackers-cairns/) - [Cairns City Backpackers vs Mumma 's Hostel Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-mumma-s-hostel-cairns-cairns/) - [Dreamtime Hostel vs Travellers Paradise Heritage Historical](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/dreamtime-hostel-cairns-vs-travellers-paradise-heritage-historical-cairns/) - [Dreamtime Hostel vs YHA Cairns Central](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/dreamtime-hostel-cairns-vs-yha-cairns-central-cairns/) - [Dreamtime Hostel vs Mad Monkey Backpackers Central](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/dreamtime-hostel-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-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/cairns-city-backpackers-cairns-vs-dreamtime-hostel-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/