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513 reviews

Mad Monkey Waterfront

Mad Monkey Waterfront

93a Esplanade, Cairns, 4870, Australia

Reservations:

+1-833-728-2041

Choose dates to view prices

Adults only

Free wifi

Air conditioning

Tour desk

Non-smoking rooms

Mad Monkey Waterfront

Welcome to Mad Monkey Waterfront, your new favorite hangout in the heart of sunny Cairns! Located just 0.7mi from the city center, this vibrant haven is perfect for adventurous spirits looking to explore the beauty of Queensland. Nestled at 93a Esplanade, we offer a slice of paradise where fun meets comfort, and relaxation is a must!

With prices starting from just $30, you can indulge in our cozy, air-conditioned rooms and take advantage of our complimentary WiFi to share your travel stories with friends (or brag about your beach day). Enjoy private parking for a small fee if you're road-tripping, and take a breather from the hustle and bustle of the world in our adults-only environment. Join your fellow travelers at the tour desk where unforgettable excursions await your wanderlust-filled soul.

But don’t just take our word for it—our 513 glowing reviews attest to our guests’ delightful experiences at Mad Monkey. Rave about the lively atmosphere, friendly staff, and clean, non-smoking rooms that make your stay as enjoyable as your adventures. Dive into the ultimate backpacker experience where every moment is infused with fun, camaraderie, and the unmatched charm of Cairns!

At Mad Monkey Waterfront, every day is an adventure waiting to happen! Gather with fellow travelers in our dynamic common areas where laughter and stories flow as freely as the tropical breeze. Whether you’re sharing tales over a cup of coffee or gearing up for your next excursion, you’ll soon feel like part of our vibrant community. And when the sun starts to set, don’t miss out on the chance to join our social events, from lively game nights to themed parties that will keep the energy high and the fun rolling into the evening.

As for days spent exploring, Cairns is your playground! Dive into the azure waters of the Great Barrier Reef, embark on a thrilling rainforest expedition, or simply bask in the sun on the beautiful beaches nearby. Our tour desk is stocked with a plethora of options that cater to every type of adventurer—from scuba diving thrills to relaxing sunset cruises. Our friendly staff is always on hand to provide insider tips and help you book your next big thrill, ensuring that every day in Cairns brings something new and exhilarating!

After an action-packed day, retire to one of our comfortable dormitory beds or cozy double rooms. Our non-smoking accommodation ensures a fresh environment, perfect for unwinding after your wild adventures. With options like our trendy 8-bed dorms tailored for vibrant women travelers, and mixed dorms where camaraderie reigns supreme, you’ll find the perfect space to recharge surrounded by like-minded friends. So come on down to Mad Monkey Waterfront and dive into a stay filled with laughter, exploration, and oh-so-much fun!

Closest airports

Cairns International Airport

2.7mi

Most popular amenities

Adults only

Free wifi

Air conditioning

Tour desk

Non-smoking rooms

Rooms

Bed in 8-Bed Female Dormitory Room with Bathroom (ages 18-35 years only) in Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront

Show 8 photos

Dormitory, 1 Twin Bed, Female Only

1 Twin Bed

170 sqft

Private Bathroom

Air conditioning

Shower

More details

Rest soundly in our cozy 8-bed female dormitory room with a private bathroom, a refreshing AC, and a comfortable twin bed, perfect for solo travelers aged 18-35.

Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room (ages 18-35 years only) in Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront

Show 7 photos

Dormitory, Bunk

1 Bunk Bed

195 sqft

Private Bathroom

Air conditioning

Shower

More details

Sleep in comfort and style in our cozy bunk bed dorm, exclusively for adults aged 18-35. Enjoy the luxury of air conditioning and a private bathroom in a 194 sqft space.

Double Room with Shared Bathroom in Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront

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Double Room, Shared Bathroom

1 Double Bed

85 sqft

Air conditioning

Shower

More details

Cozy double room with a shared bathroom, perfect for 2 adults. Enjoy a comfortable stay with air conditioning in the 86 sqft space.

Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Bathroom (ages 18-35 years only) in Mad Monkey Backpackers Waterfront

Show 11 photos

Dormitory, 8 Bed

1 Bunk Bed

170 sqft

Private Bathroom

Air conditioning

Shower

+

More details

Cozy up in our stylish 8-bed mixed dorm with private bathroom, perfect for guests aged 18-35 years. Enjoy a comfortable night's sleep in your own bunk bed with included air conditioning.

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Room - 1 Double, Shared Bathroom

85 sqft

+

More details

The double room offers air conditioning and a carpeted floor, as well as a shared bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 1 bed.

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Deluxe, Queen Size

1 Queen Size Bed

Flat-screen TV

+

More details

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Dormitory, 14 Bed

195 sqft

+

More details

This bed in dormitory has air conditioning.

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Dormitory, 8 Bed, Female Only

175 sqft

+

More details

This bed in dormitory has air conditioning.

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Dormitory Ensuite, 8 Bed, Single Use

Free wifi

+

More details

Show 6 photos

Dormitory Ensuite, 8 Bed, Single Use, Female Only

Free wifi

+

More details

Show 4 photos

Dormitory Ensuite, 14 Bed, Single Use

Free wifi

+

More details

Guest reviews

8

513 reviews

Categories of assessments

Cleanliness

Comfort

Location

Facilities

Staff

Value for money

WiFi quality

Featured reviews:

🇮🇪

Claudia

10

August 2024

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.

🇩🇪

Isabel

8.2

June 2024

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.

🇲🇦

Benjamin

10

April 2024

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.

🇬🇧

Ioannis

8.2

August 2024

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.

🇦🇺

George

10

November 2023

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.

🇬🇧

Thomas

10

January 2024

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.

🇩🇪

Efus

9.1

September 2023

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.

🇸🇪

Abby

10

June 2024

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!

🇬🇧

Bryant

10

November 2023

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.

🇳🇱

Otto

10

February 2023

The hostel has an amazing atmosphere, it's a bit on the smaller size but thats exactly what I love about it! The room I stayed in was kept very clean. The beds are also one of the best beds i've slept on since traveling around Australia. If you wanna chat with some other guest the kitchen and the commen area are very open and it's really easy to connect with everyone. There was also enough room for all your food and drinks that need to be cooled in the fridge. There are 4 fridges in the kitchen and in the commen area there's a huge fridge where you can walk into haha. Definitely recommend staying here it's a 10 out of 10 hostel. Best one i've been!

Kitchen can get a bit busy sometimes, but there are enough stoves to still cook your food!

Points of Interest Around Mad Monkey Waterfront

Attractions

Michaelmas Cay

0mi

Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

0.1mi

Cairns Aquarium

0.2mi

Great Barrier Reef

0.3mi

Green Island

0.3mi

Rusty's Markets

0.4mi

Cairns Botanic Gardens

2.1mi

Centenary Lakes

2.1mi

Barron Gorge National Park

11.3mi

Kuranda

11.6mi

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

11.7mi

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

14mi

Lake Barrine

24.3mi

Atherton Tablelands

24.3mi

Granite Gorge Nature Park

29.4mi

Amenities of Mad Monkey Waterfront

Adults only

Free wifi

Air conditioning

Tour desk

Non-smoking rooms

Stay rules - Mad Monkey Waterfront

  • Check-in / Check-out

  • Pets

  • Internet

  • Age restrictions

  • Curfew

  • Parking

  • Reservations

  • Children and beds

  • Cards accepted at this property