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.

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.

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 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!

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.

The thing I liked most about Mad Monkeys Backpackers Waterfront, was the bathrooms and the location. The bathrooms were very clean and smelled amazing!! Way better than the other hostels in Cairns. The location is also very nice, it's right on the Esplanade, so there are a lot of bars and restaurants around. Perfect to get a nice beer or some good food. The lagoon is also a 2 minute walk from the hostel, so if you want to go for a quick dive everyday this hostel is right by it! In the kitchen there is also enough room to store your food, in a fridge or in a basket. And all the staff and guests are also really nice, it's perfect if you want to have a nice chat or relax for a litlle while. I absolutely recommend staying here! It's a very good hostel!

There was only one thing that I didn't like as much, but it's definitely not a reason to not go here. Is that there are 2 washing machines and 2 dryers. Sometimes it is taken and you cant do a wash. But after an hour it's free so you just have to wait a bit. It's no problem. Overall still a excellent hostel!

Really enjoyed my stay at Mad Monkeys Waterfront, its located right on the Esplanade right in between all the bars and restaurants, and only a 3 minute walk to the lagoon. The Hostel has a very chilled vibe, there were a lot of long term guests there but they were all super friendly. The reception team were also super helpful, able to answer any questions I had and gave good advice for activities to do in Cairns. I also really enjoyed making use of the free gym access. Kitchen/communal areas were very clean and there is plenty of fridge space. We were also allowed to drink our own alcohol in the common area. Our room also had an en-suite bathroom which I found super handy.

Our room didn't have any lockers and there's no reading light by each bed.

Mad monkey waterfront is one of the nicer hostels I’ve stayed in. The rooms, bathrooms and kitchen are very clean. The kitchen is very well equipped with enough pots, pans, cooking utensils and even has a air fryer, rice cooker and panini maker. The hostel is in a good locations right along the esplanade, which has all your restaurants and bars. They also offer a free gym pass which has been great for saving money if you are a gym goer. The gym is a 20 minute walk away however the hostel also offer free bike rental so I’d quite often cycle to the gym and only takes me 5-10 minutes. Over all I really enjoyed the short but sweet time i called Mad Monkey Waterfront my home. Would definitely recommend this hostel !!

there wasn’t much to not like about this hostel !! the only downside was that it didn’t have its own bar like other hostels, but the hostel is so close to all bars and restaurants and also has a sister hostel only a few minutes walk away with its own beer garden so wasn’t really an issue.

I enjoyed this hostel as it was in a very good location and close to all amenities cairns has to offer! There is no pool in this hostel but the lagoon is very close and a great place to relax with new friends. I felt comfortable and relaxed in this hostel as there are always staff cleaning and on reception ready to help! The hostel has a good mix of quietness and a social side, however if you want more of a bar their sister hostel is a short 10 minute walk away which was nice to have both options as this hostel shuts noise down at 11pm which is great especially if you have early tours the next morning.

I struggled with where to keep my important possessions as there was no ledge or locker near my bed especially on the top bunks.

I absolutely loved staying at mad monkey waterfront, it was such a nice environment to stay in. Everyone was so friendly and it was so easy to make friends. The facilities were amazing in the kitchen and the communal areas and they have a massive tv which is a great add on for some chill nights in. The room was perfect too and very comfortable with aircon which is always needed. The location couldn’t be more perfect right on the esplanade and right next to the lagoon! There is a lovely little coffee shop just downstairs so perfect for any coffees lovers to pop down for there morning coffee. The staff were all amazing and weren’t above and beyond for anything you need or want! Would really recommend staying here if you are visiting cairns!

everything was perfect