--- title: "Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront vs Mumma 's Hostel Cairns" description: "Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront or Mumma 's Hostel Cairns in Cairns? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-waterfront-cairns-vs-mumma-s-hostel-cairns-cairns/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-09 --- # Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront vs Mumma 's Hostel Cairns Both are in Cairns, 370 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · Cairns City ## [Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mad-monkey-backpackers-waterfront-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 8.2 · Very good - **Location score:** 8.2 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1809422/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Cairns City ## [Mumma 's Hostel Cairns](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mumma-s-hostel-cairns-cairns/) - **Guest rating:** 9.3 · Exceptional - **Location score:** 8.1 - **Score by category:** 1 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1873160/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Too close to call Each hotel leads in 1 category. Your priorities decide. 370 m apart. ### Choose Mumma 's Hostel Cairns if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.3 / 8.2) ### Why is Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront better than Mumma 's Hostel Cairns? No clear advantages in our data. ### Why is Mumma 's Hostel Cairns better than Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront? 1. Higher guest rating (9.3 vs 8.2) (+1.1) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront | Mumma 's Hostel Cairns | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.2 | 9.3 (+1.1) | | Location | 8.2 | 8.1 | | Public transport | 8.4 (+0.9) | 7.5 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.2 | 9.1 (+0.9) | | Guest rating | 8.2 | 9.3 (+1.1) | | Number of reviews | 100 | 123 (+23) | | Google rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | | Google reviews | 483 (+4) | 479 | | Rank in Cairns | bottom 35% | top 4% (+61%) | | Location | | Location score | 8.2 | 8.1 | | Distance to Cairns City centre | 550 m | 340 m (−210 m) | | To public transport | 450 m (−160 m) | 610 m | | To the airport | 5.3 km | 5.2 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 | | To the nearest food shop | 40 m (−310 m) | 350 m | | Shops within 500 m | 10 (+4) | 6 | | Sights within 1 km | 12 | 13 | | Rooms & building | | Rooms | – | 99 | | Listed amenities | 11 (+5) | 6 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Shuttle | ✓ | – | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | – | | Bar | ✓ | – | | Smoke-free | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | – | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | Free parking | – | ✓ | | Free breakfast | – | ✓ | | Swimming pool | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. [Mumma 's Hostel Cairns prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/mumma-s-hostel-cairns-cairns/prices/) ## Location 370 m apart Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront: city centre: 1.7 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 450 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.3 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km. Mumma 's Hostel Cairns: city centre: 1.5 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 610 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.2 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) ## Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront or Mumma 's Hostel Cairns: common questions ### Which is better, Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront or Mumma 's Hostel Cairns? They are evenly matched. Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront is stronger in public transport; Mumma 's Hostel Cairns is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront or Mumma 's Hostel Cairns? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Mumma 's Hostel Cairns is closer: 340 m from the centre, against 550 m for Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront. ### How far apart are Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront and Mumma 's Hostel Cairns? The two hotels are 370 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/mad-monkey-backpackers-waterfront-cairns-vs-mumma-s-hostel-cairns-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/