--- title: "Cairns City Motel vs Mad Monkey Backpackers Central: which hotel is better?" description: "Cairns City Motel or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cairns-city-motel-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-15 --- # Cairns City Motel vs Mad Monkey Backpackers Central Both are in Cairns, 500 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Motel · ★★★ · Cairns City ## [Cairns City Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/cairns-city-motel-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.4 · Good - **Location score:** 7.1 - **Score by category:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1238047/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Cairns City ## [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.7 · Good - **Location score:** 8.3 - **Score by category:** 2 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1809419/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Mad Monkey Backpackers Central It leads in 2 of 3 categories. 500 m apart. ### Choose Mad Monkey Backpackers Central if you want - the more consistently praised stay (7.7 / 7.4) - more restaurants on the doorstep (150 / 59) ### Why is Cairns City Motel better than Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? 1. More guest reviews (138 vs 67), so the rating is more reliable (×2.1) ### Why is Mad Monkey Backpackers Central better than Cairns City Motel? 1. Higher guest rating (7.7 vs 7.4) (+0.3) 2. 500 m closer to the area centre (−500 m) 3. 440 m closer to public transport (−440 m) 4. 91 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+91) 5. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 91 vs 76) (+15) 6. 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 Motel | Mad Monkey Backpackers Central | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.4 | 7.7 | | Location | 7.1 | 8.3 (+1.2) | | Public transport | 6.2 | 8.6 (+2.4) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.6 | 7.9 (+0.3) | | Guest rating | 7.4 | 7.7 (+0.3) | | Number of reviews | 138 (+71) | 67 | | Google rating | 3.7/5 | – | | Google reviews | 207 | – | | Rank in Cairns | bottom 7% | bottom 16% (+9%) | | Location | | Location score | 7.1 | 8.3 (+1.2) | | Distance to Cairns City centre | 610 m | 120 m (−500 m) | | To public transport | 850 m | 410 m (−440 m) | | To the airport | 4.9 km | 5.4 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 59 | 150 (+91) | | To the nearest food shop | 460 m | 300 m (−150 m) | | Shops within 500 m | 4 | 15 (+11) | | Sights within 1 km | 10 | 13 (+3) | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★ | – | | Rooms | 19 | – | | Floors | 2 | – | | Listed amenities | 11 | 11 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Free parking | ✓ | – | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Swimming pool | ✓ | – | | Terrace | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Balcony | ✓ | – | | Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | – | | Blackout curtains | ✓ | – | | Airport transfer | – | ✓ | | Laundry | – | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Gym | – | ✓ | | Kitchen | – | ✓ | | In-room safe | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | | Business trips | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Location 500 m apart Cairns City Motel: city centre: 1.3 km, nearest station Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns: 850 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 4.9 km, 59 places to eat within 500 m, 10 sights within 1 km. Mad Monkey Backpackers Central: city centre: 1.6 km, nearest station Cairns railway station: 410 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.4 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 13 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Cairns [Cairns weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/queensland/cairns/weather) ## Cairns City Motel or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central: common questions ### Which is better, Cairns City Motel or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? Mad Monkey Backpackers Central leads in 2 of 3 categories, including location, public transport. ### Which is cheaper, Cairns City Motel or Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Mad Monkey Backpackers Central is closer: 120 m from the centre, against 610 m for Cairns City Motel. ### How far apart are Cairns City Motel and Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? The two hotels are 500 m apart in a straight line. ## 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-motel-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-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/