The Best and Worst of Australian Hostels

**This post has been updated in May 2014 to reflect the places I stayed on my most recent trip. Some locations have since closed.**

I stayed in more hostels in Australia than I ever care to count. Some were great, some were disgusting and some weren’t really memorable. In this post I will break them all down with you, in complete honesty, for every hostel I stayed at, in every city I visited. 

There are a number of large hostel chains that operate hostels throughout Australia and New Zealand that you should know about. All hostel descriptions list prices in Australian dollars.

The YHA is your basic Hostelling International location with all the reliability that goes with it. Some, like the Coffs Harbour and Canberra YHAs, aren’t much to look at, but have all the necessities. A few, including the Magnetic Island and Newcastle locations, have their own distinct personalities based on the towns.

YHAs aren’t always the cheapest, but you always know what you’re going to get. YHA memberships give you discounts at the hostels, as well as restaurants, tours and activities throughout the country.

Base is the hip, new kid on the block, with hostels throughout Australia and New Zealand. They have locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island and two in Brisbane. Base also teams up with other hostels that are known as “Base mates,” who offer Base discounts.

Their hostels are known as the party spots, always with accompanying bars and their bucket drinks. The Magnetic Island location has a well-known full moon party once a month that brings in international DJs.

Nomads falls somewhere in between the two and also has locations throughout Australia and New Zealand. Like YHA, they have their Mad card that gives discounts to members. They also have bars attached to them.

In my experience, the smaller, family-run hostels were a better fit for me. They offered more amenities that bigger chains charged for, like WiFi or dishes. They also had more personality. I’ve basically listed the notes I jotted down for each hostel. For more information, you can click on my related posts or the hostel name to go to their websites.

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Best Hostels in Australia

Backpack Oz, Adelaide, South Australia

• Dorms have 4-12 beds in both mixed and female, in addition to singles and doubles
• Guest House next door is more like apartments
• Free breakfast
• Free WiFi, bar, common room, cheap meals
• Friendly staff
• Close to Victoria Square
• Price: $26-90

Ozzie Pozzie, Port Macquarie, New South Wales

• Friendly owner Richard accommodates late arrivals
• Free computers with internet
• Free tea, coffee, jam, toast, cereal
• Close to beach and bus stop
• Arranges tours, bbq, pizza night with goon
• 4-10 bed dorms
• Price: $25/night 6 bed dorm
• See post: Home Sweet Ozzie Pozzie

Banana Benders, Brisbane, Queensland

• Great location, near Caxton Street, park, bus station
• Courtyard with tv, kitchen
• WiFi secure, computers, phones
• Great playlist
• Cleaned daily
• Price: $22/night 4 bed dorm
• See post: Settling Into Brisbane

Scotty’s Beach House, Mission Beach, Queensland

• Bar/restaurant by the beach
• 4 bed “princess rooms” with air-conditioning, hair dryers, blankets
• Pool, laundry, kitchen, TV
• Hire cutlery, Global Gossip internet
• Recovering from Cyclone Yasi, family run
• Courtesy van hourly, short walk from bus stop and Woolworth’s
• Price: $29/night 4 bed dorm

Cool Bananas, Agnes Water, Queensland

• Licensed, but laid back about BYO alcohol
• Kitchen, great $6 meals nightly
• TV room, 3 computers, hammocks, no WiFi
• 8 bed dorm, outside bathrooms
• Near town and the beach
• Helpful staff
• Price: $25/night 8 bed dorm

Bungalow Bay, Magnetic Island, Queensland

• Near beach at Horseshoe Bay
• In-house wildlife park
• Licensed bar, clean
• Camp kitchen, nice beds, activities
• Not enough electrical plugs
• Bungalows ensuite, 6-8 bed, camping sites
• Rent cars and scooters
• Can work for accommodation
• Price: $30/6 share but you can book packages with koala park
• See Post: My Dear Maggie

Dingo’s, Rainbow Beach, Queensland

• Small rooms, ensuite
• Bar, pool
• Organizes Fraser Island self-drive tours
• Near town
• Small kitchen, nightly cheap $6 meals
• No fan or A/C
• Computers and free internet at PeterPans Travel Agency
• No WiFi
• Price: $24/7 bed mixed dorm

PK’s Jungle Village, Cape Tribulation, Queensland

• Bar, restaurant, pool
• In rainforest
• Frequented by locals
• No ensuite, outdoor bathrooms
• Camping available
• Global Gossip internet
• Camp kitchen, rent cutlery
• Popular with tour packages from Cairns
• Price: $25/7 share dorm
• See Post: Tropical Cape Tribulation

Space Hotel, Melbourne, Victoria

• Located near the tram stops
• Flashpacker style with lots of plugs and reading lights
• Large lockers for backpacks
• Comfortable beds cleaned daily
• Paid WiFi
• In-house bar
• Private rooms and dorms
• Gym and movie theater
• Large kitchen with plenty of storage
• Rooftop deck with hot tub
• Hallway bathrooms and showers
• Keycard entry
• Price: $30/6 bed female dorm

Sydney Central YHA, Sydney, New South Wales

• Centrally located near train station and free bus
• Large hostel with variety of rooms
• Popular with groups
• Two kitchens, movie theater and lounges
• Tour desk
• ScuBar, best backpacker bar in Sydney
• Keycard entry, security
• Hallway and ensuite bathrooms available
• Global Gossip Internet
• Nightly activities for free or cheap
• Price: $40/4 share dorm
• See post: Sleeping Like a Local at Sydney Central YHA

Worst Hostels in Australia

Adventurer’s, Townsville, Queensland

• Dirty, run down motel turned hostel
• Townies living there as well as backpackers
• Nice family runs it
• Far from the ferry and bus terminal
• Close to local bus stop
• Nearby bars, BYO
• Large kitchen, game room, common area
• Small rooms, terrible mattresses, cold showers
• Plans events like Halloween party
• Price: $24/night 6 bed

Haven, Alice Springs, Northern Territory

• Not close to town
• Good facilities, pool, van from airport
• Staff has bad attitude
• Computers, kitchen, free light breakfast
• Mostly people leaving for outback tours
• No atmosphere
• Ensuite dorms
• Price: $19/night 8 bed dorm

Base St. Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria

• Nice area, short tram from city
• Useless staff in emergency
• Computers with Global Gossip internet
• Red Eye bar
• Paid parking
• Ensuite dorms
• Sanctuary all-female dorm
• Price: $30/8 bed mixed dorm
• See post: Being a Refugee in Melbourne

Melaleuca on Mitchell, Darwin, Australia

• Not the worst hostel in town, but not the best
• Full of long term residents
• Dirty kitchen with moldy soap dispensers
• Rent cutlery
• Well located on Mitchell Street near bars and restaurants
• Tour office that books Kakadu tours
• Cost for WiFi and computer use
• WiFi doesn’t reach the rooms
• Pool and hot tub, rooftop bar
• Luggage storage cost
• Price: $32.50/4 bed ensuite
• See post: Wild and Weird Darwin

The Rest

Newcastle YHA, Newcastle, New South Wales

• Free stuff every night: trivia, bingo, meals
• Large common area with pool, ping pong, books, tv
• Internet, phone, WiFi, free with Greyhound mag
• Kitchen, laundry
• Hallway bathrooms, m/f 3 showers, 3 toilets
• Close to bus and train, near free city bus
• Can work for accommodation
• Price: $33/night
• See post: Photo Essay: Newcastle

Arts Factory, Byron Bay, New South Wales

• Not close to town, but hourly courtesy van
• Teepees, tents, dorms, camping
• Pay for blanket, pots, pans, internet (deposit)
• Café, bar, restaurant, pool, laundry, nature walks
• Next door to brewery and restaurant/movie theater
• Small, grimy rooms, lockers
• Cheap dinners
• Activities: yoga class, bush walks, digeridoo lessons
• Price: $37/6 share female
• See post: Being a Hippie in Byron Bay

Nomads Noosa, Noosa, Queensland

• Must rent plates and cutlery
• Kitchen, pool, KB’s bar, restaurant
• Near bus station, main street
• Bus pickup
• 8-16 bed mixed ensuite dorms
• Outdoor common area
• Price: $32/8 bed mixed dorm

Nomads Airlie Beach, Airlie Beach, Queensland

• Near all of Airlie, the lagoon
• Cash only at the moment
• Pool, bar
• Deposit for cutlery, lockers
• Dirty, ants in kitchen and rooms
• 8-10 bed bungalows, ensuite
• Campervan and tent sites
• Price: $28/6-8 bed mixed dorm

Canberra YHA, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

• Only hostel in Canberra
• Rude staff
• No oven in kitchen, large
• Pool, next to bar, internet café, rooftop deck with BBQ
• Air conditioned rooms
• Far from sights
• Price: $28.50/10 share mixed
• See post: Canberra: It’s Not Easy Being the ACT

Coffs Harbour YHA, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

• Clinical feeling
• Close to marina but not rest of Coffs Harbour
• Lots of families staying there
• Near grocery store, bottle shop, cafes
• Pool, courtyard, kitchen
• Global Gossip internet
• Activities, tour packages
• Helpful reception
• Price: $29/4 share female

Aquarius, Surfers Paradise, Queensland

• Not close to Surfers, in Southport
• Shuttle only goes until 6 pm
• Organizes Backpackers Night Out
• Blankets, DVDs, couches
• Small kitchen, licensed bar
• 1 hour free WiFi, but very slow
• Price: $30/night 4 bed dorm
• See post: Photo Essay: Surfers Paradise

Annie’s Place, Adelaide, South Australia

• Bar closes whenever staff decides
• Book exchange, kitchen, courtyard, WiFi
• Short walk from town
• Feels like an old house, good security
• Price: $23/night dorms, $75/night private
• See post: Adelaide: Melbourne’s Hipster Kid Sister

Apollo Bay Backpackers Lodge, Apollo Bay, Victoria

• Like a motor lodge, guests keep to themselves
• Kitchen, short walk from grocery store and town
• Price: $28/night 4 bed dorm

Warrnambool Beach Backpackers, Warrnambool, Victoria

• Right next to beach, long walk from town
• Rentals for bikes, surfboards
• Hallway bathrooms, kitchen, common area, bar
• Price: $80/night private room, $25/night dorm bed
• See post: Photo Essay: Great Ocean Road

Dingo Moon Lodge, Darwin, Northern Territory

• Pool and lounge chairs
• Quieter end of Mitchell Street but short walk to restaurants
• Free breakfast and laundry (certain hours), tea and coffee
• Separate bathrooms and showers
• Air conditioned rooms
• Friendly owner
• Internet room and paid WiFi
• Luggage storage
• Locked gate for added security
• Key deposit
• Price: $32.50/6 bed mixed dorm

I hope this has been helpful for anyone planning a trip to Australia!