The Best Hostels on Australia’s East Coast for Backpackers
- Margaux
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Every backpacker stays at hostels along Australia’s east coast. I spent a month travelling the east coast of Australia and not only got to experience some of these, but spoke to countless people about other hostels in each town and city. This blog post will tell you the best hostels to stay at on Australia’s east coast, and which ones to avoid.
If you’re looking for a complete itinerary guide to backpacking Australia’s east coast, check out my post here.
Contents
Summary: The Best Hostels on Australia’s East Coast
Cairns: Bounce or Mad Monkey Waterfront
Airlie Beach: Nomads
Rainbow Beach: Pippies
Noosa: Bounce
Brisbane: Bunk
Byron Bay: Aquarius
Sydney: Wake Up
The Best Hostel in Cairns
I stayed at Gilligan’s in Cairns, and I honestly would not recommend it. It is the biggest party hostel in Australia, and so is very loud, dirty, and chaotic. The events are also heavily sexist and I did not feel comfortable there at all. Moreover, if you are starting your East Coast adventure in Cairns, you won’t know as many people in Gilligan’s, where so many people are ending their trip with a huge group of friends. It makes it hard to find a good group to go out with. I would recommend staying somewhere else and then heading to Gilligan’s bar and club if you want a night out. I have friends who stayed at Bounce and some of the Mad Monkey hostels (specifically Mad Monkey Waterfront), and had a much better experience.
The Best Hostel in Airlie Beach
Most people stay at Nomads in Airlie Beach. This is not the nicest hostel in the world, but it is functional and very social because everyone is there. It has a pool and lots of outdoor social space. It is also right next to the places that host all the afterparties and nights out.
The Best Hostel in Rainbow Beach
There are two hostels in Rainbow Beach, and, having stayed at both, I recommend staying at Pippies Hostel, even if you aren’t doing the K’Gari (Fraser Island) tour with them. Freedom Hostel is next door and it’s not as nice. A lot of the dorms don’t have air conditioning and it’s not as clean. They do have a good happy hour and social area, so head over for the social side of it - it’s right next door.
The Best Hostel in Noosa
Bounce Noosa is easily one of the nicest hostels I have ever stayed in. The place looks like a hotel. It is spotlessly clean, has a pool (with glass walls), modern facilities, bar and kitchen, and such nice rooms. I cannot recommend it enough. It is on the pricier side so look at Noosa Flashpackers if you want something cheaper. But Bounce is honestly worth the splash (especially if you’ve just come off K’Gari)!
The Best Hostel in Brisbane
Bunk Hostel is the place to stay in Brisbane. It is very central and has good facilities. It’s not the most social, but I find that is always the case with big city hostels. Needless to say, almost everyone you meet on the East Coast will be staying there!
The Best Hostel in Byron Bay
Most backpackers stay at Aquarius Hostel in Byron Bay, which makes it very social. It has a bar and pool and is in a pretty good location. The YHA isn’t far from it, and I’ve also heard good things about that hostel.
The Best Hostel in Sydney
Stay at Wake Up hostel in Sydney. Again, this is one of the most popular hostels in Sydney, so almost everyone you’ve met along the East Coast will be there. You definitely want to do this for the social aspect, as I find city hostels are notoriously difficult to meet people in!
How far in advance do you need to book hostels in Australia?
I would recommend booking hostels in Australia at least 2 months in advance, especially during the peak season (November to March). This ensures you get your first choice of accommodation. Unfortunately this doesn’t allow for much flexibility.
How much do hostels cost on Australia’s East Coast?
Hostel prices vary in Australia, but expect to pay £25–£50 per night depending on the location and season. Bounce was the most expensive (£53 per night).
Advice for Staying in Hostels
If you’ve never stayed in hostels before or are just looking to learn more, I’ve got a hostel survival guide post here. It tells you everything you need to know about staying in hostels, including essentials to pack, unwritten rules and hostel etiquette, what to look for when booking, hostel red flags, and some of my best advice, plus a list of all my favourite hostels around the world. I’ve stayed in over 100 hostels in my life, so it’s worth a read!
I hope this helps you plan your trip to Australia. Don’t forget to check out my Australia East Coast itinerary, my Australia budget breakdown, and my guide to getting around Australia’s east coast using the Greyhound bus network. As always, remember to look after the places you visit and only leave your footprints behind :)
Comments