A CAIRNS backpacker hostel's cheeky gimmick for visitors to flash their bare bums en masse has backfired with nearby neighbours shocked by the lewd antics. 

Asylum Backpackers is no stranger to controversy, with police often called to the Grafton St property over noise complaints and late-night partying.

In the latest incident, publicised on Facebook, 11 guests and staff dropped their pants beside the road in peak-hour traffic on Wednesday afternoon.

Late last year, the business was in the national spotlight after television footage of
late-night drunken and nude romps at the premises.

Neighbour Bruce Passfield said Asylum had again crossed the line.

"If you’re going to do that type of thing don’t do it there," he said.

"Opposite me is a Freemasons Hall and kids have dance lessons there at that time.

"All the mums and kids were pulling in at that time for class. There were kids around, six or seven years old."

Asylum spokesperson Ray Tan said the kerbside "moon" – with picture posted to Facebook social media – was just a bit of fun and has vowed to have another attempt at it, albeit with a bigger team of willing exhibitionists.

"I checked the decency laws and as long as it’s not full frontal it’s fine," he said. "It’s not meant to be offensive to anybody, it’s just a bit of fun."

Divisional councillor Richie Bates he had received "a lot" of complaints about the hostel from local residents.

"Residents in the area are concerned about the conduct and behaviour from people at the Asylum," he said.

"I think there are more productive ways to raise money for charity."

Cairns City Police Beat Sen-Sgt Gary Hunter said the mooning act was a possible public nuisance offence.

The hostel had often been the subject of complaints to police, he said.

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