Dunsborough Beach Lodge

The location is great, close to both the beach and town, and there are some good facilities, including two large kitchens and a small balcony overlooking the street. The room was reasonably clean, but the furniture was old and chipped, and the balcony door was so hard to lock that we couldn’t use that way out to the balcony. The hallways were messy, and the place felt more like a big house than a backpackers for travellers. At $100 a night, it was disappointing.

I came for a week and ended up staying six months. It feels like one big family, and the owners, Cam and Julia, are brilliant, helpful, kind and interesting. The lodge is comfortable and clean, with nice rooms, and works well for either a short or long stay. Go without hesitation!

The outside area is great, with a big shaded lawn, pizza oven, BBQ, basketball pad and hoop, plus a hammock. The beach is beautiful, it’s close to town, and you can hire bikes very cheaply. Inside, the kitchen was messy, and there are only two women’s toilets and showers for the whole hostel, so bathroom access is a bit limited. The showers are hot, the laundry is easy to get to, and the managers are kind and friendly. There were clean sheets and towels, and kids are welcome. Long term residents make it feel homely, though it can be crowded. It gets too hot on hot days, so it’s better in cooler weather. Cheap, cheerful and super relaxed.

I paid for two nights but left after just one. The man at the front desk said there was usually noise, but everyone moved to the outside balcony by 10 pm. That didn’t happen. The toilets and showers smelled and looked like they hadn’t been cleaned properly in weeks. Parking was limited, and the permanent residents’ belongings seemed to be spilling from the lower levels into the parking area. It’s the cheapest place in town, so you get what you pay for.