Great hostel, quiet, super clean and tidy, and so well looked after by staff. Dorms and beds are very comfy, air cond works perfectly, plenty of space for storage and en suite bathroom in the room is perfect. Kitchen is so well equipped, can cook anything you want at any time. Loved the couch with Netflix on all the time. No noise and no parties going on, but staff do organize social events every day which are great if you'd like to socialise. One of the best hostels I've stayed and would 100% recommend to whoever wants to relax or hang out but in a quiet atmosphere. Great location also as right on the esplanade. More than anything, love the efforts that staff put into looking after the place. Well done!

Maybe in the big dorms, one bathroom is sometimes not enough, but there's other bathrooms around so they can always be accessible.

Very good location near the esplanade and in walking distance to the Terminal for the Boats to the Great Barrier Reef. Enduite Bathrooms in the shared dorms modern and pretty clean.

Airconditioning was a cold, so bring warm/longsleeve PJs! Staff was mostly friendly but some were a bit rude sometimes. Many long-term guests that leave the rooms in a mess. Not very social at all, lots of groups and barely any mingling between groups.

Great single room, very convenient right on the Esplanade, there is the happy tours tour booking right outside and literally dozens of restaurants right outside. Breakfast was very convenient and a comforting touch, pancakes were great and staff were very friendly and helpful even when I had silly questions.

Cairns is a rainforest, so it's constantly raining and almost always hot and humid. The Air conditioner is set to 23C/74F with instructions not to lower it due to condensation forming on the unit. As a result, even the rooms can get quite hot. Most of the building is outdoors, so it does feel very hot once you step out of the ACed areas.

Friendly staff. Big communal kitchen, very well equipped and clean overall with plenty of fridge space too. Big communal areas to sit. Free breakfast with nice pancakes. Free hot dogs on Sundays. Very good location in Cairns Esplanade near bars, restaurants etc.

The room was quite small, probably good enough for 1-2 nights but not for a week. Not enough bathrooms and toilets. The shower was not warm enough.

Firstly checking in was an absolute dream and the staff made sure to help me through the process and ensure i knew everything about the hostel. The place was always exceptionally clean, especially the bathrooms and kitchen. The location is amazing and everything you would want is directly on your doorstep, especially the lagoon! There was a good social vibe in the hostel, frequently chatting to and meeting new people from all over the world. Although very social, the hostel remained quiet after common areas closed which was valuable to me as i was working while staying here and definitely appreciated the good nights sleep! All the staff where friendly and helpful.

There was not a single thing i did not like about my stay.

This is a great hostel and I would totally recommend for anyone wanting to explore the beautiful cairns. The hostel is in a great location close to the lagoon and the marina for boat trips out to the reef as well as super close to shops and restaurants. The hostel was really clean and has a kitchen/ inside common area as well as a outside common area which gives a really social vibe. The staff are super friendly and helpful and there’s a travel desk downstairs where you can book trips. Free pancakes for breakfast was the cherry on top.

The staff has gone above and beyond to help me out with literally anything, from general information, to help me carry my luggage across the stairs (no lift available), with the luggage storage (free of charge, as far as you go back to the same hostel). I loved the fact that you can hire a towel for as little as $3 and even get a fresh one after a few days. The blanket and bedding are provided and already on the bed, you don't need to make the bed yourself. Comfy mattresses. You'll find the hairdryer already in the room. The bathroom is private for the dorm. The location is just amazing, although I must say that it's tough to sleep any earlier than 11 pm during the weekend because of all of the bars. The kitchen is well organised, the laundry as well, although the drying racks aren't enough unfortunately. Very clever key system through your phone. Cheap rates. I ended up prolonging my stay more than once. Good WiFi. Mad Monkeys Waterfront is DEFINITELY the way to go compared to the rude staff from Global Backpackers!!!

The showerhead in room 1 is broken and you have to hold it while using it. The top bunk beds aren't very easy to reach (my hips don't fit in the ladder). The aircon can be cold, but the blanket will keep you warm.

Such a great location, super close to the port which is perfect for anyone looking to do a reef trip. The rooms are really big and always clean. The common areas are super social and a great place to meet new friends! The staff are also super friendly. I was there for wine and cheese night and it was so much fun, plus free food! The free breakfast is also a huge bonus and the pancakes are delicious. Will definitely stay here again next time I am in Cairns!

The hostel is in a great location right in the center of everything. It’s is a very clean and comfortable place. The kitchen and bathroom areas are kept clean. The hostel hosts some events throughout the week, so during my stay I really enjoyed the free bbq night. It was a great way to meet new people and free food is always a bonus!

Mad monkey Waterfront was a super friendly hostel I met some great people here and the staff were very helpful. They have someone on call all the time, the night manager was also about until the early morning. The location was good and would recommend staying here to any backpackers as it’s close to bars and restaurants and a woolies.

Not much to say I have no complaints on this hostel. It’s nice and quiet so if you are looking for a party hostel it’s not that.