Updated: 03/03/20 | March 3rd, 2020
I love Australia. It’s one of my favorite countries in the world. I’ve been going there for over a decade and have crossed the country more times than I’ve crisscrossed my own country. I’ve stayed in countless hostels throughout Australia. Some of them were great, some of them were terrible, some of them were just OK.
I’ve been visiting Australia for a decade and have stayed in dozens upon dozens of hostels around the country. There are a lot of things to consider when selecting a hostel. The top four when picking the best hostel in Australia are:
- Location – Cities here are big and they can take some time to get around. Pick a place that is central to the sites and nightlife you want to see. All the hostels listed here are in central locations.
- Price – In Australia, you really get what you pay for, so if you go with a really cheap one, you’re probably going to get a hostel that is small, cramped, and doesn’t offer great service.
- Amenities – Pretty much every hostel in the country offers free Wi-Fi, and most have a free breakfast, but if you want more than that, be sure to do your research to find the hostel that best meets your needs!
- Staff – All the hostels listed here have amazing staff! They are super friendly and knowledgeable. Even if you don’t end up staying at one of the places listed below, be sure to look up reviews to ensure you end up somewhere where the staff is helpful and friendly! They can make or break a hostel!
To help you plan your trip, here is my list of the hostels in Australia that I like the most. If you don’t want to read the longer list below, the following hostels are the best in each category:
Best Hostel for Budget Travelers: Gilligan’s or Aquarius Backpackers
Best Hostel for Solo Female Travelers: Wake Up!
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads: Kimberly Travelers Lodge
Best Hostel for Partying: Gilligan’s
Best Overall Hostel: Base St. Kilda
Want the specifics of each hostel? Here’s my comprehensive list of the best hostels in Australia:
Price Legend (per night)
- $ = Under $20 USD
- $$ = $20-30 USD
- $$$ = Over $30 USD
1. Base St. Kilda (Melbourne)
Base is like the McDonald’s of hostels. You get full but you’re not really satisfied. Yet they outdid themselves with their Melbourne hostel. It’s my favorite hostel in Australia. The bar is lively every night, and there are BBQs and events during the week. Moreover, the rooms and bathrooms look really nice and are clean. The bar is open 7 nights a week and they offer free breakfast from 8am-10am.
They also have a travel desk, recruitment and jobs desk, and free daily activities. Since people come here to party, everyone is very social and looking to interact. Within moments of my arrival, I had a group of friends to spend time with. I went there during my first trip to Australia and went back this year to see if it was still good. It did my memories justice.
Base St. Kilda at a Glance:
- $$
- Lively bar for hanging out and mingling
- Organizes lots of events and activities
- Great place for meeting people
Beds from 40 AUD ($27 USD), privates from 169 AUD ($114 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Base St. Kilda!
2. Wake Up! (Sydney)
Wake Up! is, in many ways like a backpacker hotel. With its eight floors, hyper-trendy and clean look, and small common areas, you might think it would be hard to meet people. The large size does make it sort of hard to meet people outside the common areas or your room, but the big bar downstairs (biggest night is Monday) lets you meet all the people you see coming and going. I really liked my time there and I especially enjoyed the high water pressure in the showers and uncreaky beds.
The hostel is located just next to the Central Station so it’s easy to get to and from the airport. The only downside is that it’s more expensive than the cheaper options in King’s Cross so you might want to “splash” out for this one because it’s not cheap!
Wake Up! at a Glance:
- $$
- Great bar for socializing and meeting people
- Convenient location near central station
- Discounts for booking direct
Beds from 42 AUD ($28 USD), privates from 119 AUD ($80 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Wake Up! Sydney!
3. Surf N Sun Hostel (Surfer’s Paradise, Gold Coast)
Located in the Gold Coast, you’ll get both surf and sun at this place. A converted motel, this hostel has really friendly staff, a pool, a central location, and is right across from the beach. All good things. Plus they offer a free pick up from the bus station. The owners are these old backpackers who hang out in the hostel once in awhile and are really friendly.
Another plus: at the time I was there, it was the only hostel in Surfer’s Paradise that didn’t have bed bugs. They often have free drinks and BBQs for guest too. I ended up staying an extra week there simply because I was having such a good time.
Surf N Sun at a Glance:
- $
- Awesome location right near the beach
- Great place to meet people
- Free shuttle service from the bus station
Beds from 28 AUD ($19 USD), privates from 70 AUD ($47 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Surf n Sun Hostel!
4. Bunk Brisbane (Brisbane, Queensland)
Bunk has awesome facilities. They have a pool, hot tub, late night bar, and an awesome travel desk. They can also help you find work too. Their kitchen is spacious, their beds are comfy, and the dorm rooms are cleaned daily and have electronic key access. It’s the best place in Brisbane (especially since Base took over Tinbillys!)
Bunk Brisbane at a Glance:
- $
- Pool, hot tub, and bar on-site
- Organizes tours and events
- Great place to meet other travelers
Beds from 20 AUD ($13 USD), privates from 76 AUD ($51 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Bunk Brisbane!
5. Kimberley Travellers Lodge (Broome)
This hostel is amazing. They have an enormous pool, a huge outdoor area, a gigantic kitchen, a great location close to the beach, and a small, cozy bar that you can order great meals from. Moreover, when the heat of Broome really gets to you, there are hammocks to lie on. They offer shuttle service to famous Cable Beach for free, and the hostel is a close walk to town.
What I really love is the huge kitchen. Even during peak time cooking time, you have plenty of room to move around. I hate cooking dinner in hostels because there’s never space and you’re always bumping into other people cooking. Not here. I wish all hostel kitchens were this big. Rates include a continental breakfast daily and they will even arrange complimentary airport transfers!
Kimberley Travellers Lodge at a Glance:
- $$
- Huge pool and outdoor common area for relaxing
- Bar and restaurant on-site makes it easy to meet people
- Free shuttle service to the beach
Beds from 15 AUD ($27 USD), privates from 81 AUD ($54 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Kimberly Travelers Lodge!
6. Witch’s Hat (Perth)
The Witch’s Hat is located near the main party area in Perth, Northbridge, as well as near many good restaurants. The staff is really friendly and can really help you with any travel bookings or related questions. There’s a great kitchen and common room here, plus an outdoor BBQ area, comfortable dorms, and a very social atmosphere. They also organize barbecues and events every so often.
Witch’s Hat Lodge at a Glance:
- $
- Great place to meet people
- Organizes lots of activities (like BBQs)
- Lots of great bars and nightclubs nearby
Beds from 26 AUD ($17 USD), privates from 70 AUD ($47 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Witch’s Hat!
7. Aquarius Backpackers (Byron Bay)
I stayed at this place over Christmas and fell in love with it. They do such a good job at getting people to talk to each and create a really friendly atmosphere. There’s a free meal every night (small meal) and they organize a huge BBQ lunch on Sundays. It’s close to the beach and the center of town, and there’s free Wi-Fi by the pool. The dorms are cleaned often but the beds won’t win any major awards.
Aquarius Backpackers at a Glance:
- $
- Fun, social atmosphere
- Organizes of activities (communal meals, BBQs)
- Pool for hanging out and relaxing
Beds from 22 AUD ($15 USD), privates from 130 AUD ($87 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Aquarius Backpackers!
8. Gilligan’s Backpacker Hostel and Resort (Cairns)
This giant hotel/hostel is where you go if you want to party. The rooms are OK. They have aircon and the beds are comfy but I was less than impressed. But what I did love was the many state of the art kitchens, free airport pick up, wifi, and swimming pool with an open deck bar and massive outdoor pub screens!
I had a lot of fun here. Maybe too much. Hard to remember! This probably the best party hostel in Australia.
Gilligan’s Backpacker Hostel and Resort at a Glance:
- $
- Party vibe makes it easy to have fun and meet people
- Free airport pickup
- Pool and huge outdoor terrace for hanging out
Beds from 15 AUD ($10 USD), privates from 137 AUD ($92 USD).
—-> Book your stay at Gilligan’s!
9. Nomads Noosa (Noosa)
A cool little hostel that is only 900 meters from the beech. All rooms are spacious and come with their own bathroom. There’s a nice tropical garden, communal kitchen, bar, swimming pool, and even a volleyball court! It’s one of the chillest, laidback places I stayed in and the staff was very helpful and friendly!
Nomads Noosa at a Glance:
- $$
- Amazing location right near the beach
- Bar, pool, and volleyball court on-site
- Laid-back atmosphere so it’s easy to relax and meet people
Beds from 30 AUD ($20 USD), privates from 104 AUD ($70 USD).
When you visit Australia, I highly recommend you stay at these incredible hostels. For me, a good hostel has all about the amenities, staff, environment, and comfortable beds. These hostels meet all those requirements (which is why they are usually all full so book in advance!) so consider booking one on your next trip to the land down under!
Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Want More Information on Australia?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!
Akila
We loved Wake Up, too! It was super clean and the beds were comfortable. Our favorite Aussie hostel though was the YHA on Magnetic Island. You can see the pictures on our site here but basically, they provided you with an A-frame bungalow that you either had for yourself or shared with others dorm-style. The property is located on an animal preserve so you get to see lorikeets fed in the afternoon and hang out with koalas during the day if you do their tour. The only negative is that the internet really stinks at that hostel — but that’s a problem with Oz, in general.
John
Hey Matt,
Cheers for the Wake Up! shoutout – loving the photo too… that good looking guy to the right behind reception is a (younger) me.
Hope to see you back here again soon!
Cheers, John @ Wake Up!
NomadicMatt
Thanks John! I did enjoy myself there! Nice to see someone from wake up came across my little site!
nikki
Wow – I had the exact opposite experience at the Base in Melbs. Might’ve partially been my dorm-mates, 6 Irish guys who were loud all night (even after I partied til pretty late myself) and then slept all day, but even besides that, I did not have a great experience. The bathrooms were DISGUSTING in the common areas, the promotional events, tho good ways to meet people, were pretty disappointing, and I found the hostel to be so big that I never really made a connection with any other travelers, just tipsy, shouted, half-remembered conversations in the bar. True, I tend to prefer smaller, locally owned hostels, but I would definitely not recommend Base unless people were looking to party & hook up & nothing else.
NomadicMatt
It’s amazing how people can affect an experience at a place!
Ed
What? Nothing from Perth?
NomadicMatt
I never stayed at a hostel there!
Eli
Interesting.
Never been to Australia but will make a note to checkout these hostels once I’m there.
Peter
This year some our clients visited Australia and they had a good time in Surf N Sun. Surf N Sun – is the best.
Bill
Cheers for the info. How do you choose these hostels? are they recommended by people or do they let you try them out in exchange for write-ups? Also are these reasonably priced hostels? what are the dorms like? did you meet people there? can I have a bit more info, I’m about to head to Oz.
Ant
The bar at Base, Melbourne is the most vial and disgusting gin joint I’ve ever come across. It was full of the type of drunks you see back in high school. The floor was so sticky I actually lost my flip-flops in there as they got stuck to the floor!
I didn’t stayed there — I only visited the bar to meet a friend — so I can’t comment on the rooms, but if the majority of the punters in the bar were likely candidates for room-mates, I’d stay well clear!
Caroline
I’m with Ant. I stayed there in February because I was impressed by all the stuff they have to offer, like all girl rooms, internet, bar and huge kitchen, but I didn’t get to enjoy any of it. The night we got there there was a flood that covered the car park (where the generator was located, causing the power to go out), kitchen and common room were. They told us this had never happened before so they didn’t know what to do, but a neighbor told us this happens all the time. Peoples cars were ruined, no warm showers, no internet, no lights, no breakfast except cereal. We got a refund for the nights we wouldn’t be staying after we finally decided to leave. The main problem was that they put handicapped guests on higher floors with no way to get them to their rooms once the elevators were shut down (strangers had to carry them) and they kept the bar open during the entire fiasco, so you had loud, drunk backpackers with nothing to do but run around the hallways. I hope they’ve got their shit together now.
Ben
Another vote for Surfs N Up! Surfers paradise is home to A LOT of shitty hostels. One of the places I really regretted not booking upon arrival. Surfs N Up has great location and an awesome pool!
Ashley
I actually just got back from Australia about a week ago – I kind of went on a whim, Down Under Answers was offering some great deals on plane flights so I thought what the heck, booked my ticket! but then I had to find a place to stay…
and boy I wish I’d read your article beforehand! I ended up staying at a Travelodge which was nice, but I was thinking of staying in a hostel and decided I wasn’t comfortable enough to.
Now I have a list of where to stay for next time I go!! Thanks Matt!
Flemming Bo Jensen
I must admit to absolutely hating Wake Up in Sydney with a passion, the worst hostel I have stayed in during my 10 visits to Australia. I prefer small cosy boutique style hostels in general, Wake Up is not a hostel, it is more like a prison with the most tiny uncomfortable rooms and the tiniest kitchen ever.
Traveller’s Oasis in Cairns and Beaches of Broome in Broome are my two favourites, Kimberley Klub in Broome is also really nice.
NomadicMatt
Well, I enjoyed it. But I agree with you on the hostels in Broome. Both are amazing. I prefer Beaches to Kimberley Klub but both are good.
Shaz
There used to be a great place called the Witches Hat in Northbridge in Perth which I used to stay, but that was some years ago!
jenny methew
Thanks Matt for posting the list about Australian hotels.
Jay Kane
Would you ever think of staying in a vacation home with a group of friends instead of staying in a hostel? I use sites like HereStay and HomeAway to find rentals, but am thinking of traveling in groups to cut down on costs…thoughts?
Ryan Biddulph
Good stuff Matt. Witch’s Hat is my fave by far, for the name 🙂 We hopped into a tiny room in a hostel in Sydney I believe, a few years ago. Basic, simple, covered all bases. As for now, plenty of house sitting for us. Which would work beautifully in Oz with all those Aussie travelers.
Ryan
Carina
Would love to visit Australia someday, but it’s so far away from Europe… Thank you for the reccomendations, I’ll keep them in mind!!!
William Chase Denton
When in Cairns, stay at Travellers Oasis and go party at Gilligans. Trust me.
Anne
Oh, I’d love to visit Australia someday..
If I do, I may follow your lead and choose one of these hostels, thanks for the great impressions! However my only option would be to travel by air.. And I might be a little afraid of flights!
Lynn
Absolutely a necessity to be read for anyone serious about travelling to Australia. I hope to do a post like this in my own blog one day! It can be found at bigworldsmallfeet.blogspot.com.
Nate
I loved WakeUP Sydney too! What a really cool, clean, and modern hostel (though not cheap when I was there!). But I think one of my favorite hostels in the world was Montacute in Hobart, Tasmania. It’s set in an adorable house, has a great community vibe, and is steps from the city center.
Sebastian Bach
I didn’t stayed there — I only visited the bar to meet a friend — so I can’t comment on the rooms, but if the majority of the punters in the bar were likely candidates for room-mates, I’d stay well clear!
Jesse
Can I ask what makes the Jolly Swagman so bad? I just booked my flight to Australia and have been looking at where to stay for when I am in Sydney and hostelworld has really good reviews on this hostel.
Abdul Nafey
Hi Matt, Thanks for sharing.
I wanted to know how you manage finances? is it cash or Credit card ( in Remote areas ),