The Best Hostels in
Australia

For Backpackers & Travelers

The lower half of Australia’s east coast has a load of choices which fit the beach vibe, so these are the best options for Australia’s biggest city and a couple other spots too.

I’ve picked 3 options which I think are the best for when you inevitably visit Sydney, starting with the Tequila Sunrise Hostel. It’s pretty well known and is just an all round good hostel near Chinatown with great rooms and a bunch of social events on most days. They also have not just free breakfast, but free dinners and food as well which is mental! Now, if you want to stay near Bondi, Wake Up! Bondi is for sure the best choice - it is literally right on the beach front and is well maintained with the classic Aussie feel. They have free yoga classes, a sauna, and an ice bath up on the rooftop overlooking the beach. And lastly for Sydney, you should try The Pacific House Hostel. They are a big clean hostel with a bunch of get togethers and events set around Sydney to connect the hostel. Plus, they do offer breakfast for free. If you do get outside Sydney to the Blue Mountains, I would stay in YHA Blue Mountains. It isn’t anything crazy, but it is spacious with a very large kitchen and an old fashioned vibe. It is just a solid option for your temporary stay really so I thought I’d include it. The next most popular place in NSW is definitely Byron Bay, so I have picked the 2 top ones for you to decide between. The Surf House is an incredible hostel just a few minutes from the beach, the rooms are great, and the kitchen is very good. They even have a sauna for guests so the whole thing feels like a little beach hut, would recommend. Your other option is Wake Up!, a chain of the one in Sydney (and all over Aus). The rooms are a little bit bare, but the facilities are good and they have FREE surfboard hire plus a pool and sauna on site as well. Surfboard hire is usually pricey so this is a major bonus. It gets really social at night too.

Wake Up!
Byron Bay
Hostelworld

YHA Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains
Hostelworld

The Surf House
Byron Bay
Hostelworld

2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster

Quick Search:

NSW

1) Tequila Sunrise, Sydney

Wake Up! Bondi
Sydney
Hostelworld

Tequila Sunrise
Sydney
Hostelworld

The Pacific House
Sydney
Hostelworld

I’ve picked 3 options which I think are the best for when you inevitably visit Sydney, starting with the Tequila Sunrise Hostel. It’s pretty well known and is just an all round good hostel near Chinatown with great rooms and a bunch of social events on most days. They also have not just free breakfast, but free dinners and food as well which is mental!
Hostel Link

2) Wake Up! Bondi, Sydney

Now, if you want to stay near Bondi, Wake Up! Bondi is for sure the best choice - it is literally right on the beach front and is well maintained with the classic Aussie feel. They have free yoga classes, a sauna, and an ice bath up on the rooftop overlooking the beach.
Hostel Link

3) The Pacific House, Sydney

And lastly for Sydney, you should try The Pacific House Hostel. They are a big clean hostel with a bunch of get togethers and events set around Sydney to connect the hostel. Plus, they do offer breakfast for free.
Hostel Link

4) YHA, Blue Mountains

If you do get outside Sydney to the Blue Mountains, I would stay in YHA Blue Mountains. It isn’t anything crazy, but it is spacious with a very large kitchen and an old fashioned vibe. It is just a solid option for your temporary stay really so I thought I’d include it.
Hostel Link

5) Surf House, Byron Bay

The next most popular place in NSW is definitely Byron Bay, so I have picked the 2 top ones for you to decide between. The Surf House is an incredible hostel just a few minutes from the beach, the rooms are great, and the kitchen is very good. They even have a sauna for guests so the whole thing feels like a little beach hut, would recommend.
Hostel Link

6) Wake Up!, Byron Bay

Your other option is Wake Up!, a chain of the one in Sydney (and all over Aus). The rooms are a little bit bare, but the facilities are good and they have FREE surfboard hire plus a pool and sauna on site as well. Surfboard hire is usually pricey so this is a major bonus. It gets really social at night too.
Hostel Link

Queensland also has some decent hostel choices depending on where you go, obviously the Gold Coast is the most popular but I think Cairns is underrated too.

Starting with the Gold Coast though, there is another Tequila Sunrise hostel here, however I think the podstel version is better (make sure you check if you have the right one). Tequila Sunrise Podstel has free breakfast and dinner, is super social with karaoke and more fun stuff all the time, and has good beds. Now the twist is that the rooms have over 100 people in them, which is either crazy or fun depending on how you look at it. The layout is still nice and organized though. If you want a second option, Surf Inn Boutique Backpackers has much smaller room sizes of around 10-14, and is very organized with their events and layout. It is a lovely hostel with lovely friendly staff. Brisbane also has a Tequila Sunrise Podstel, and it’s much the same vibe as the one in the Gold Coast with massive rooms and fun events. It is in the heart of the CBD so the locations great. Now for the most energetic and social hostel on this list; Gilligan’s in Cairns. It’s more of a resort than a hostel, and you can tell when you walk in. The downstairs is massive, and if you want a good nights sleep I would probably pick somewhere else because it truly becomes a social party hostel in the bar area. If that isn’t your vibe, then Little Drifter is much much more peaceful and cozy with comfortable rooms and a social vibe but not over the top. Lastly, if you make it to the sunshine coast then check out Noosa Flashpackers, it is 100% the pick for this whole area. You’ll be at the beach all the time and they have free surfboard and bodyboard hire plus breakfast, transport and yoga. They bring their guests together so well with the social events so you can definitely make new friends here too. I think it is an awesome place especially in summer.

Noosa Flashpackers
Noosa
Hostelworld

Gilligan’s
Cairns
Hostelworld

Little Drifter
Cairns
Hostelworld

2) Stone City Hostel - Gjirokaster

Quick Search:

Queensland

Surf Inn
Gold Coast
Hostelworld

1) Tequila Sunrise Podstel,
Gold Coast

Starting with the Gold Coast though, Tequila Sunrise Podstel has free breakfast and dinner, is super social with karaoke and more fun stuff all the time, and has good beds. Now the twist is that the rooms have over 100 people in them, which is either crazy or fun depending on how you look at it. The layout is still nice and organized though.
Hostel Link

Tequila Sunrise Podstel
Gold Coast
Hostelworld

Tequila Sunrise Podstel
Brisbane
Hostelworld

2) Surf Inn, Gold Coast

If you want a second option, Surf Inn Boutique Backpackers has much smaller room sizes of around 10-14, and is very organized with their events and layout. It is a lovely hostel with lovely friendly staff.
Hostel Link

3) Tequila Sunrise Podstel,
Brisbane

Brisbane also has a Tequila Sunrise Podstel, and it’s much the same vibe as the one in the Gold Coast with massive rooms and fun events. It is in the heart of the CBD so the locations great.
Hostel Link

4) Gilligan’s, Cairns

Now for the most energetic and social hostel on this list; Gilligan’s in Cairns. It’s more of a resort than a hostel, and you can tell when you walk in. The downstairs is massive, and if you want a good nights sleep I would probably pick somewhere else because it truly becomes a social party hostel in the bar area.
Hostel Link

5) Little Drifter, Cairns

If Gilligan’s isn’t your vibe, then Little Drifter is much much more peaceful and cozy with comfortable rooms and a social vibe but not over the top.
Hostel Link

6) Noosa Flashpackers, Noosa

Lastly, if you make it to the sunshine coast then check out Noosa Flashpackers, it is 100% the pick for this whole area. You’ll be at the beach all the time and they have free surfboard and bodyboard hire plus breakfast, transport and yoga. They bring their guests together so well with the social events so you can definitely make new friends here too. I think it is an awesome place especially in summer.
Hostel Link

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