Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront vs Oaks Cairns Hotel
Both are in Cairns, 180 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.
HostelCairns City
Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront
- Guest rating
- 8.2 Very good
- Location score
- 8.2
- Score by category
- 0 of 3
Hotel★★★★Cairns City
Oaks Cairns Hotel
- Guest rating
- 9.1 Excellent
- Location score
- 8.4
- Score by category
- 2 of 3
The short answer
Pick Oaks Cairns Hotel
It leads in 2 of 3 categories. 180 m apart.
Choose Oaks Cairns Hotel if you want
- the more consistently praised stay (9.1 / 8.2)
Why is Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront better than Oaks Cairns Hotel?
No clear advantages in our data.
Why is Oaks Cairns Hotel better than Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront?
- 1Higher guest rating (9.1 vs 8.2)+0.9
- 2More guest reviews (830 vs 100), so the rating is more reliable×8.3
All compared facts
Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.
| Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront vs Oaks Cairns Hotel: which hotel is better? | Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront | Oaks Cairns Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Score by category | ||
| Guest rating | 8.2 | 9.1 +0.9 |
| Location | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Public transport | 8.4 | 9.3 +0.9 |
| Ratings & reviews | ||
| StayVersus score | 8.2 | 9.1 +0.8 |
| Guest rating | 8.2 | 9.1 +0.9 |
| Number of reviews | 100 | 830 +730 |
| Google rating | 4.5/5 +0.3 | 4.2/5 |
| Google reviews | 483 +82 | 401 |
| Rank in Cairns | bottom 35% | top 8% +57% |
| Location | ||
| Location score | 8.2 | 8.4 +0.2 |
| Distance to Cairns City centre | 550 m | 530 m |
| To public transport | 450 m | 280 m −170 m |
| To the airport | 5.3 km | 5.5 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 |
| To the nearest food shop | 40 m −150 m | 200 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 10 | 13 +3 |
| Sights within 1 km | 12 | 12 |
| Rooms & building | ||
| Star rating | – | ★★★★ |
| Rooms | – | 75 |
| Listed amenities | 11 | 11 |
| Policies | ||
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities | ||
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parking | ✓ | – |
| Shuttle | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smoke-free | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kitchen | ✓ | – |
| Restaurant | – | ✓ |
| Minibar | – | ✓ |
| In-room safe | – | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | – | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you | ||
| Couples | – | ✓ |
| 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
180 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.
Oaks Cairns Hotel: city centre: 1.9 km, nearest station Stoney Creek Railway Station: 280 m, Cairns International Airport (CNS): 5.5 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 12 sights within 1 km.
Weather in Cairns
Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront or Oaks Cairns Hotel: common questions
Which is better, Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront or Oaks Cairns Hotel?
Oaks Cairns Hotel leads in 2 of 3 categories, including guest rating, public transport.
Which is cheaper, Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront or Oaks Cairns Hotel?
Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.
How far apart are Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront and Oaks Cairns Hotel?
The two hotels are 180 m apart in a straight line.
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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