Blue Galah Backpackers Hostel

I was here for more than a month and had no trouble with the staff. They were all lovely. The kitchen stayed clean, which surprised me, and the rooms were always very cold, in a good way. Having a bar on site is a real plus, especially with discounted beers for hostel guests. The place could do with an update, but I liked it and really have no complaints. Thanks!

We booked a whole week but left after just one day, and there were absolutely no refunds. The place felt like a hospital for homeless people, with a urine smell at the main entrance, no windows in the room, and no lights after 10. The shower was awful and the atmosphere depressing. The washing machine and dryer cost $5.

The rooms are on the small side and don’t have en-suites, but I had a great three-night stay here. The hostel is right in the city centre, and you can catch a tram to the beach just outside. For the price, free wifi, breakfast and rice to cook every day were a lot. The balcony bar could be a plus or a minus, depending on what you like. Staff were friendly and helpful. The building’s a bit old, though they work hard to keep it clean, with cleaners on different shifts. The kitchen is small but clean too.

The location is great, but we paid $64 for one night for me and my boyfriend, and the rest was poor. Our bedroom door wouldn’t lock properly, and staff didn’t interact with guests. There’s no bathroom on the top floor, so you have to take a dark staircase down to reach one. At checkout, at 9:30am, a staff member had just mopped the floor and we had to walk down wet stairs to leave. I wouldn’t recommend it.