--- title: "Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs Wanna Stay?: which hotel is better?" description: "Mad Monkey Backpackers Central or Wanna Stay? in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns-vs-wanna-stay-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-01 --- # Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs Wanna Stay? Both are in Cairns, 320 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. 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:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1809419/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Cairns City ## [Wanna Stay?](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/wanna-stay-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 7.8 · Good - **Location score:** 8.5 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2307648/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Neither hotel has a clear edge on the facts we have. Your priorities decide. 320 m apart. ### Why is Mad Monkey Backpackers Central better than Wanna Stay?? No clear advantages in our data. ### Why is Wanna Stay? better than Mad Monkey Backpackers Central? 1. More guest reviews (140 vs 67), so the rating is more reliable (×2.1) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Mad Monkey Backpackers Central | Wanna Stay? | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.7 | 7.8 | | Location | 8.3 | 8.5 | | Public transport | 8.6 | 9.5 (+0.9) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.9 | 7.9 | | Guest rating | 7.7 | 7.8 (+0.1) | | Number of reviews | 67 | 140 (+73) | | Google rating | – | 4.4/5 | | Google reviews | – | 121 | | Rank in Cairns | bottom 16% | bottom 16% | | Location | | Location score | 8.3 | 8.5 | | Distance to Cairns City centre | 120 m (−140 m) | 250 m | | To public transport | 410 m | 240 m (−170 m) | | To the airport | 5.4 km | 5.7 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 | | To the nearest food shop | 300 m | 150 m (−150 m) | | Shops within 500 m | 15 | 16 | | Sights within 1 km | 13 | 12 | | Rooms & building | | Rooms | – | 14 | | Floors | – | 2 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2023 | | Listed amenities | 11 | 10 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Parking | ✓ | – | | Airport transfer | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Bar | ✓ | ✓ | | Gym | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ | | In-room safe | ✓ | – | | Breakfast | – | ✓ | | Smoke-free | – | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Location 320 m apart 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. Wanna Stay?: city centre: 1.9 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 240 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.7 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Cairns [Cairns weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/queensland/cairns/weather) ## Mad Monkey Backpackers Central or Wanna Stay?: common questions ### Which is better, Mad Monkey Backpackers Central or Wanna Stay?? Wanna Stay? leads in 1 of 3 categories, including public transport. ### Which is cheaper, Mad Monkey Backpackers Central or Wanna Stay?? 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 250 m for Wanna Stay?. ### How far apart are Mad Monkey Backpackers Central and Wanna Stay?? The two hotels are 320 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs Bounce Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bounce-cairns-cairns-vs-mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns/) - [Mad Monkey Backpackers Central vs Mumma 's Hostel Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns-vs-mumma-s-hostel-cairns-cairns/) - [Wanna Stay? vs Gilligan’s Hotel & Resort](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gilligan-s-hotel-resort-cairns-vs-wanna-stay-cairns/) - [Wanna Stay? vs Bounce Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bounce-cairns-cairns-vs-wanna-stay-cairns/) - [Wanna Stay? vs YHA Cairns Central](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/wanna-stay-cairns-vs-yha-cairns-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/mad-monkey-backpackers-central-cairns-vs-wanna-stay-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/