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
- Guest rating
- 7.4 Good
- Location score
- 7.1
- Score by category
- 0 of 3
HostelCairns City
Mad Monkey Backpackers Central
- Guest rating
- 7.7 Good
- Location score
- 8.3
- Score by category
- 2 of 3
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?
- 1More guest reviews (138 vs 67), so the rating is more reliable×2.1
Why is Mad Monkey Backpackers Central better than Cairns City Motel?
- 1Higher guest rating (7.7 vs 7.4)+0.3
- 2500 m closer to the area centre−500 m
- 3440 m closer to public transport−440 m
- 491 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m+91
- 5More walkable surroundings (walk grade 91 vs 76)+15
- 63 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 vs Mad Monkey Backpackers Central: which hotel is better? | 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 | – | ✓ |
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
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 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