About
You simply can't beat our location – we're directly on the vibrant Cairns Esplanade, with the stunning Cairns Lagoon just across the street! Pop down for a refreshing dip or spend the afternoon sunbathing anytime you fancy. We're also just a stone's throw away from the bustling Night Markets, perfect for grabbing a bite or a unique souvenir. Welcome to Mad Monkey Waterfront, where unbeatable location meets a true "home away from home" vibe in the heart of Cairns! As a proud part of the Mad Monkey Backpackers Group, our smaller, intimate property makes it incredibly easy to meet people, build lasting friendships, and truly become part of our extended Mad Monkey Family as you explore the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Our cozy common room is the heart of our social scene, perfect for unwinding after a day out: challenge new friends to board games, join a Nintendo Switch tournament, or settle in for a film night on Netflix. Our fully equipped modern kitchen is always ready for you to cook up a meal, truly making you feel at home. Here's what you'll enjoy with every stay: - Ultrafast WiFi - Fully Equipped Kitchen - Fully Air-Conditioned Rooms with Ensuites - Spacious Rooms with Power Point & Bed Light at Each Bed - Free Events & Nightly Entertainment (including pub crawls to top backpacker bars!) You'll enjoy a comfortable stay in our spacious and clean rooms, all featuring air-conditioning to keep you cool in the tropical climate. Choose from Mixed Dorms Ensuite, Female Dorms Ensuite, or Private Double Rooms. All our dorms come with a private private bathroom, high-quality mattresses, pillows, and linen. Plus, every bunk bed is equipped with a personal USB port and power socket to keep your devices charged. Private rooms include personal towels; dorm guests can easily hire one from reception if needed. Stay connected with ultra-fast Free Wi-Fi throughout the property, ensuring you won't miss a beat. Important Info for Your Stay: - Reception is open 8 am - 8 pm. If you plan to check in after 8pm, please inform us in advance, as our night manager will assist you. - Check-out is before 10 am / Check-in is after 2 pm. - We are a strictly 18+ property. While all adults are welcome, dorm rooms are recommended for guests aged 18 to 35. - A valid physical passport is required for check-in. Photocopies will not be accepted. - Your card will be charged 1 day prior to your arrival. Please ensure there are sufficient funds to avoid cancelation. - Group Bookings: Bookings of 4 or more guests are subject to different terms and conditions, and we cannot guarantee placing all members of a group booking in the same room. - No E-Bike batteries are allowed on the premises. We look forward to welcoming you to the Mad Monkey Family so you can experience Cairns in style!
241 Reviews
What Guests Say
- “This hostel was in the perfect location right downtown and across the street from the waterfront. The space was clean and had a lot of…”
- “V good location and central”
Room Options
Our Best Price. GUARANTEED.
Exclusively for Priceline members Details
1/4Double Room with Shared Bathroom
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Carpeting
- Earplugs
1/4Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Bathroom
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Carpeting
- Hair dryer
1/4Bed in 8-Bed Female Dormitory Room with Bathroom
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Carpeting
- Hair dryer
1/4Bed in 14-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Bathroom
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Carpeting
- Hair dryer
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What Guests Loved
Based on 241 reviews
Pros +
- This hostel was in the perfect location right downtown and across the street from the waterfront. The space was clean and had a lot of different amenities, I especially enjoyed watching TV in the lounge room/kitchen. Shut out to the housekeepers, they were extremely detailed and friendly.
- V good location and central
- The location can’t be beat and the rooms were so clean!
Cons -
- I found the bed a bit uncomfortable and the AC unit pretty finicky (it was either too hot or cold in the room).
- It is definitely a smaller, more homey vibe. Perfect for a laidback stay.
- For the private rooms - they are a bit like a prison with no light and personally feel like these should be cheaper for what you are getting compared to other places we have stayed. Also it is in an alleyway and every night at 4 or 5am there was such loud banging with the outside gates
I found the bed a bit uncomfortable and the AC unit pretty finicky (it was either too hot or cold in the room).
This hostel was in the perfect location right downtown and across the street from the waterfront. The space was clean and had a lot of different amenities, I especially enjoyed watching TV in the lounge room/kitchen. Shut out to the housekeepers, they were extremely detailed and friendly.
It is definitely a smaller, more homey vibe. Perfect for a laidback stay.
V good location and central
For the private rooms - they are a bit like a prison with no light and personally feel like these should be cheaper for what you are getting compared to other places we have stayed. Also it is in an alleyway and every night at 4 or 5am there was such loud banging with the outside gates
The location can’t be beat and the rooms were so clean!
Not great atmosphere and staff were okay but not overly friendly
The room was clean, and the kitchen was also clean and comfortable, and the location is really convenient, just besides the night market and esplanade!The staffs are friendly and willing to help :))Such a good place to stay!
Avoid at all cost
It resembles a prison from the colonial time. Extremely noisy and smells disgusting
Pretty quiet place for a backpackers and I loved how central the location is.
The bathroom shower floor can be quite slippery after people use it, and a bit of a hazard if i wasn't careful.
I worked for accommodation at Mad Monkey Waterfront and loved my experience! Everyone that lives and works there are SO nice! I couldn't have asked for a better place to live. Waterfront is definitely more chill than other Mad Monkeys in Cairns but that is what I like about it. Everyone is nice and chatty but will let you do your own thing if you want! I would definitely recommend!
Loved everything. Everything was in order and safe. Best part was the location, right at the waterfront and almost in the middle of the town, so everything was close by.
Would have appreciated lockers for precious items.
Comfortable beds, clean bathrooms, decently social, free social bbq dinner available on Sunday. The travel group downstairs offers a $20 AUD discount for hostel guests. If you're looking to go clubbing, this is a good place to meet people and head out to local nightlife.
No individual storage lockers, everyone's stuff was just kind of lying around. About 7-8 years ago I would have loved this place, but as a late-20s traveller, the college party hostel vibe is not really my scene anymore. Definitely recommend this for younger travellers or people into nightlife, but it wasn't for me.
Great hostel, had a nice kitchen/tv area to hang out in. Was so close to so many restaurants and the lagoon, location couldn’t be better!
The rooms, bathrooms, and kitchen were very clean and nice. I loved the social atmosphere. Perfect location with access to many restaurants and the public lagoon. Will definitely stay again.
Nothing! Everything was great :)
I had an amazing stay here! The hostel has a great atmosphere, and the social events they organize make it so easy to meet other travelers. There was always something fun going on. The staff are super friendly and really make you feel at home. Plus, everything was always very clean and well-maintained, which made the stay even more comfortable. Perfect place if you're traveling solo or just want to make new friends. Highly recommend!
If you are looking for a quiet place to stay near by everything you need, I hardly recommend Mad Monkey Waterfront. A very nice staff, quiet rooms, lovely people. I’ve been staying there for 4 months now and I won’t change hostel for any reason. The hostel is not a party hostel which makes it quiet especially if you need to rest or if you are working, the staff is here to help you with anything, the other people are lovely, met a lot of very good friends, plus the hostel is close to everything you need right on the esplanade. I hardly recommend it !
Nothing, everything was very good
Early check inLocationLovely and supportive staffBathroom inside the room
If you can add hair and body shower gel inside rooms it would be great and disinfectant for toilets please
The location of this hostel couldn't be better, it's very quiet and relaxed, everyone's nice and the rooms are clean!
The location is why I first picked Mad Monkey Waterfront. It is right on the Esplanade, so you can easily walk to everything like bars, restaurants, activities, the lagoon and more. The prices are great and the staff are super friendly and helpful.They have weekly events that are a fun way to meet people. The rooms are super clean, have ensuites and the beds are really comfortable. The kitchen is nice with air conditioning and a big tv and a hang out area. Highly recommend.
Overall, this was a clean hostel which was relatively quiet and very clean! Difficult with big luggage to get up the stairs to reception but this is the only issue that we had
I really liked this hostel, very clean, friendly people and good accommodation. I recommend!
Bed was comfortable, but quite expensive for the room type, otherwise it was just a work travel and was desperate for accommodation during severe weather conditions in the region currently
Noise from the music that were played outside the bedrooms. Otherwise, it was just a work travel and was desperate for accommodation during severe weather conditions in the region currently
Amenities & Policies
Amenities
Food & Drinks
- Kitchen/Kitchenette
- Shared kitchen
Media & Technology
- Free Internet Access
Health & Safety
- Health Services
- Daily disinfection
General
- Adult Only
- No Smoking Rooms/Facilities
Guest policies
| Check-in | After 2:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Check-out | Before 10:00 AM |
| Internet | Free Wi-Fi is available. |
| Children & Extra Beds | Children are not allowed. |
| Pets | Pets are not allowed. |
| Room Rates | All rates displayed are for two guests unless otherwise noted. |
Important info
Please note that all guests need to show a valid physical passport upon arrival. The property cannot accept guests under the age of 18 years. All guests must sign the property's Terms of Stay. Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. Please note that there is a 1% charge when you pay with a credit card.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Location
93a Esplanade, Cairns
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