When you are planning your journey up or down the east coast of Australia you can spend a lot of time searching for what type of hostel and where you would like to stay in each destination.

There is nothing worse than wandering around the streets with your backpack on and not being able to find a good hostel or having to settle for a less than ideal accommodation, bad staff and average location.

We are going to make it easy for you and let you in on a few of our favourite hostels and the reasons why we recommend them.

At One Stop Adventures we are happy to listen to your needs and wants and ensure to match you up with the right hostel that’s going to suit that vibe you are after, whether it be a party hostel, chilled hostel, hippy hostel or small independent hostel.

We travel the east coast regularly and make sure the hostels we send our guests to are of great quality and have friendly staff to make your stay as comfortable, fun and relaxed as possible, plus we also constantly ask our travellers for feedback to ensure each hostel is providing the experience we are wanting for our travellers.

So here we go, below is a list of our favourites!

Melbourne

Urban Central

Jason and the team at Urban central have been looking after travellers for over 10 years now and it is literally one of the cleanest hostels you will find in Australia. Located in Southbank close to the cbd and public transport.

Urban Central is in a perfect position should you wish to visit the city and nearby beach side suburbs such as St Kilda which is a short 10 minute tram ride away. The dorm rooms available are a maximum of 4 people per room and they have a fully licensed bar on site with free rice, pasta and breakfast daily. Their staff are locals and really know their stuff when it comes to Melbourne so we definitely recommend you to stay here when you visit.

Urban Central, 334 City Road, Southbank, Melbourne.

Home at the Mansion

Home at the mansion is located on the north side of the cbd very close to the trendy Fitzroy, Brunswick St and Smith Street restaurant, retail and hipster bar area in Melbourne.

This hostel used to be the old salvation army building and has been transformed into a boutique style backpacker accommodation with an even cooler outdoor beer garden/café called Victoria’s Secret.

This hostel is for those travellers looking for a smaller hostel with that friendly atmosphere. Rich and the team at Home at the mansion have been wowing travellers for years now and definitely can tell you the secret spots to go in Melbourne.

Home at the Mansion, 80 Victoria Street, East Melbourne

Urban Central is in the perfect position for visiting the city as well as the popular beach side suburb of St Kilda

Urban Central Reception

Sydney

Wake up Sydney

Wake Up is located right across the road from Central Station so it is a great location to start your trip in Sydney. The guys at Wake Up really stepped it up when creating an awesome backpacker experience by having regular guided local walks, a coffee shop, and Side Bar which is a lively backpacker bar downstairs with super cheap drinks, live music, djs and meal deals on 7 days a week.

If you want to party and still get a good nights sleep this place is for you:

Wake Up Sydney Central, 509 Pitt Street, Sydney Australia

Bounce Sydney

Bounce Sydney, also located across the road from central station and is really one of the nicest hostels you can stay in Australia with a massive rooftop balcony with a fantastic view of Sydney, the team at Bounce are really friendly and this hostel is very eco friendly, chilled atmosphere with really high end bunk beds and facilities you will not be disappointed!

Say hi to Mark and the gang at Bounce for us!

Bounce Sydney, 28 Chalmers Street, Sydney

Big Hostel Sydney 

Big Hostel in Sydney is also located across the road from central station though compared to Wake up and Bounce it’s a small intimate hostel that provides great sized rooms and fantastic customer service.

Helen and her team really look out for their guests and make sure they have a great stay! Big Hostel has an inclusive and homely feel.

Little hint, don’t miss out on their rooftop garden as well! Great spot to read a book or plan your next move.

Big Hostel 212 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills NSW

Say Hi to Helen and the crew for us!

The Wake up team have really stepped it up when creating an awesome backpacker experience.

Sydney Wake up Hostel

Byron Bay

Backpackers Inn

Backpackers Inn is the only hostel in Byron Bay run by a local legend called Gunny, this cool hostel has direct beach access, swimming pool, outdoor inflatable cinema, beach volleyball court, fire shows at night and much more.

It has a super chilled vibe with BYO alcohol allowed up until 11pm and then the party usually heads into Jonson Street to Cheeky Monkeys where the party continues! Byron Bay Surf Camp is based inside Backpackers inn and Jayme and the crew will have you standing up and hanging ten in no time!!! Really recommend this place!

Backpackers inn, 29 Shirley Street, Byron Bay

Surfers Paradise

Bunk Surfers Paradise 

Bunk is Surfers Paradise’s newest hostel based right next to the transit centre, it features a brand new formation of stylishly designed rooms across 5 levels of dorms and double rooms. The location is awesome and around 2 minutes walk to everything, the beach and nightclubs plus public transport is right next door to get you to and from all those awesome theme parks like Movie World, Wet n Wild and Dream World.

Bunks’ staff are known for their friendliness and charm so you’ll be sure to make the most of the Gold Coast!  Say hi to Stacey and her awesome crew for us!

Bunk Surfers Paradise, 6 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Brisbane

Bunk Brisbane

Bunk Brisbane is located 2 minutes walk from the popular nightlife district Fortitude Valley and not to worry that’s it not right next to the bus station in Brisbane as they provide transfers for both Premier and Greyhound bus arrivals and departures.  This hostel has fantastic staff, good entertainment plus a newly renovated pool to work off that frozen chip tan.

Say hi to Tommy and the gang at Bunk from us!

Good fun hostel!

Bunk Brisbane, 11 Gipps Street, Fortitude Valley

Bunk won best hostel in Australia at the Golden Backpacks in 2016 and it’s easy to see why.

freiendly staff bunk brisbane

Noosa

Halse Lodge

Halse Lodge is a super chilled beautiful Queenslander building which used to be a nunnery years ago. It’s now been transformed into an awesome backpackers hostel with a restaurant and bar downstairs, The staff are again super friendly and it is nestled right next the Noosa national park and sometimes you can see Koalas in the trees while you having a cold drink outside. It has wrap around balconies with couches so you can kick back after a hard day out at the beach or exploring!

Love this place!

Say hi to Jess, Sarah, Stacey and the gang for us!

Rainbow Beach

Pippies Beach House

Pippies is a cosy little backpackers right in the heart of Rainbow Beach and they run a really great Tag along Safari trip to Fraser Island.  There are many backpackers and trips to Fraser Island from Rainbow Beach though we consistently get the best feedback that Pippies is the best option for your stay while visiting the area. Say G’day to Kristy and the gang from the One Stop Crew!

1770 / Agnes Waters

Cool Bananas

Cool Bananas is a funky little backpackers located 200m from the beach and is surrounded by shady trees and Greg and his staff are super friendly and have cheap meal deals as well as awesome knowledge of the local area and surf spots. They can organise some of the cheapest surf lessons in Australia for only $20!

Southern Cross Backpackers

Southern Cross backpackers is located around 3 km from the beach, in saying that they pick up from the Greyhound and Premier Arrivals and departures and also provide a shuttle to town every hour during the days. This hostel has a really cool vibe and a huge swimming pool, it has been built from the ground up by owners Chris and Lisa.  They have bonfires at night time plus have a fully licensed bar, plus they also own the famous Scooteroo Tour!!

This place is all about the chilled friendly laid back vibe of 1770/ Agnes Waters!

Halse Lodge is nestled right next the Noosa national park

backpackers Halse Lodge Noosa

Airlie Beach

Magnums

Located smack bang in the middle of Shute Harbour road offering live music, DJs and a great atmosphere for travellers before and after their tours around the Whitsunday Islands.  They offer free luggage storage while you are on your sailing trip plus free Wi-Fi as well. The cabin surroundings are very nice with trees and natural feel!

Base Airlie Beach

Base Airlie Beach Resort is a converted family resort so all of the rooms have a self contained kitchen and are very spacious, there’s a huge shower and tub, plus a massive pool with sun chairs to sunbake on. They have the Down Under Bar just as you walk in which is a popular haunt for locals and backpackers alike with theme nights, DJs, live music and super cheap meal deals.

Magnetic Island

Base Magnetic Island 

Base Magnetic Island is a really unique backpackers located right on the beach with a swimming pool and cool bungalow style dorm rooms and double rooms.

Tom and the crew have made this backpackers into a really fun place to stay with as little or as much as you would like to do available.

Usually people book cheap deal 1 when staying here which includes 2 nights’ dorm accommodation, return ferry transfers, 1 Dinner, 1 Breakfast and free snorkel hire.

Another drawcard for this awesome hostel in the Full Moon Party Magnetic Island which is held once a month between April and November.

Bungalow Bay Magnetic Island

Bungalow Bay is a super chilled wildlife focused hostel with their own wildlife park on site.  They have daily wildlife presentations where you can hug a koala, hold a baby crocodile and a snake. The bungalow dorms and double rooms are really clean and are set on a beautiful piece of land surrounded by gum trees and even a cheeky rock wallaby will come up to you and say G’day!

Get some friends together and split the cost of a Pink Barbie convertible rental car to explore the island.  It costs around $89 per vehicle for the day and you can go all over the island, Fantastic experience!!

Tom and the crew have made Base Magnetic island into a really fun place to stay with as little or as much as you would like to do available.

Base MAgnetic

Mission Beach

Scotty’s YHA

Scotty’s has been an institution for backpackers for years now in Mission Beach and was originally a working hostel though new owners have now taken over and it will be looking after backpackers who a travelling through town and are wanting to skydive the beach or go Tully rafting.

Scotty’s has a family feel about it and an awesome 18m pool for those stinky hot Queensland days and nights!

Absolute Backpackers

Absolute has been on the scene for a few years now and have got a really friendly crew who look after each and every one of their guests. The building is fairly modern and around 300m from the bus stop in Mission Beach and the rooms are clean and the team are super passionate about the local area and are sure to give you the insider’s knowledge of the local area.

Cairns

Gilligan’s 

Gilligan’s is famous for being party central on Grafton street which is right in the middle of Cairns.  The facilities at this hostel are fantastic with a huge big screen to watch movies and sports from poolside while having a cold beverage from their wrap around bar.  There is something on 7 nights a week at Gilligan’s and they have free meals for guests who purchase a drink and a nightclub to dance the night away with your new friends that you’ve made on your east coast trip!

Calypso

Calypso backpackers has been a favourite of locals for years with a laid back vibe of Zanzibar and grill with free nightly entertainment. It is located around 10 minutes walk from Cairns cbd and they also offer frequent bus transfers to and from the city centre.

They have a large pool surrounded by palm trees with a pool table close by and plenty of couches to hang out and share stories of your travels.

Dave and the staff at Calypso Backpackers are legends and will make your stay in Cairns a memorable one.

Cape Tribulation

Cape Trib Beach House Resort

Cape Trib Beach House is so cool! It is located in the middle of the Daintree rainforest.  Matt and the team from the beach house are definitely front runners when it comes to providing excellent customer service and booking local activities like Ocean Safari, Jungle Surfing and night walks, Paddle trek kayaking and horse rides on the beach. All these activities and more are unique to the area and you will not get experiences like this anywhere else in Australia.  Every room is air conditioned and you are literally sleeping in the middle of the jungle!

They have a fully licensed poolside bar, plenty of free walks and activities available while you enjoy the peaceful surrounds of the Daintree Rainforest.

Cape Trib Beach house have great staff and it’s the only property with beach front rooms. They hold a nightly bon fire on the beach under the stars where you will be sure to make new friends and enjoy what is one of the most awe inspiring locations on your travel in Australia.

In Cairns you’ve got Gilligan’s if you want to party and Calypso if you want a bit more of a chilled out stay.

Related article: Australia’s Top Surf Spots

Explore the East Coast Tours