A Review of all accommodations in Australia

A simple review of every hostel, hotel, caravan park and park bench during my year in Australia

Brought to you by All Ways Australia.com

Having just finished a rather negative review of a Backpackers Inn in Fremantle, I decided I ought give proper exposure to the places that have provided me with a good value for my money. This list is still growing as I am still traveling and will be completed in February 2012.

One problem with using the Lonely Planet is when their info is incorrect and we found this to be the case all over the country. Even though I put a price down, expect to be different from you will be charged, but it will offer an idea of what they offer compared to other establishments.

New South Wales

Sydney
790 on George - Bed in 4 share dorm for $28. Beds offered bed bugs. Lockers and power outlets. Bathrooms were typical for a backpacker place. The Windows didn't open though, and that made for certain "man smells" to get out of hand. Nothing was free, except said bed bugs.

Narooma
Narooma YHA - This place was great. Management was friendly and they had this wonderful great Dane which made me feel welcome. Walking distance to town and the beaches. The owners also lived there and they were incredibly helpful offering advice on what to do around town. It isn't a huge town, but was worth the stopover, thanks to this YHA.

Victoria

Melbourne
Hotel Enterprize - The only reason we stayed at such a nice place in Melbourne was because every backpackers and hostel was full for the night. Lesson learned: Book in advance. The hotel was everything I could have asked in a hotel accommodation. Yes it was expensive, but worth it, costing $100 per night. Inside was TV, fridge, bathroom, great bed and pillows you could eat. I chose not to eat the pillows.

Tasmania

Devonport
Molly Malone's - The city is a hole, but if you have to stay somewhere, Molly's isn't bad. Its above an Irish bar, so booze is never far. Some would call the building old, I call it charming... and old. The rate for a twin was only $55, so it was well worth the price tag.

Launceston
The Hub - The Hub in Launceston is terrible, so even if it did have a website, I probably still wouldn't post it. It's above a bar and the music was going until bar close. As well, the door didn't lock properly and the window didn't lock at all, so your possessions are in the room and you're away, you'd better hope others don't know. Worth the price? Sure, if you don't travel with anything expensive and if you don't mind bar music rocking you to bed.

Batman and Faukner Inn - This is the better of choices to stay at in Launceston. It also has historical significance as the place where they decided that Australia's capital would be in Canberra. Location is perfect, right in the middle of town. Nothing special about the rooms though, just dorms. It did come with free internet too.

Hobart
Hobart Hostel - This hostel is fine. The owners are very involved in making sure that things run smoothly. I am not a fan of dorm rooms that don't have lockers for each person inside. Even still, my personal effects weren't taken, so no harm done. The value for money is on par.

Port Arthur
Comfort Inn - It was either staying in the Comfort in or the bunks down the road, and the bunks were a bit of a walk from where the bus drops you off. As well, this was a proper hotel and included an actual breakfast of tea, coffee, toast, cereal and fruit. The location can't be beat, it borders Port Arthur penal colony.

Cygnet
Balfes Hill - This is a place you can stay when trying for fruit picking work in Tassie. Looking back, the place was cheap and you get what you pay for. $120 each per week for a twin room. This was a lower rate because we were only picking strawberries, not the money fruits, so usually it's more expensive. They don't have free internet or power outlets in the rooms. It's is a real shame that Balfes Hill doesn't offer anything more than the very basics as she must be raking it in. I mean, really, she even charges a fee for "paperwork". Other places don't charge for this or transportation and they offer a better farm work finding service than her, so I did feel like I was being nickel and dimed at Balfes Hill in Cygnet.

South Australia

Adelaide
Hostel 109 - The only place you need to know about in Adelaide. The people who run this place had a direct effect on my 12 months in Australia by offering a recommendation for employment. I have nothing but love and respect for Hostel 109. As well, they offer free coffee and tea, a friendly atmosphere and comfortable beds. Located right on Carrington St., you are never far from town, but still far enough for a good nights sleep. Loved Hostel 109. Sleep there.

Coober Pedy
Radeka Down Under - Yes, the budget tourist place that everyone goes to in Coober Pedy, but it is great. It's priced similar to the other hostels and offers good value and you sleep underground. It's in the middle of town, but they still pick you up when arriving on the bus. That's huge considering the bus arrives at 5am. Be careful in Coober Pedy. And if you have a look at the guy on the website with the Aussie hat and beard, that's Martin and he is awesome too.

Copley
Copley Caravan Park - There isn't much in Copley, so if you find yourself there, you will likely be passing through. Either way, the Copley caravan park is a bit pricey for those on a budget at $100 per night for a self contained van. Compared to other caravan sites, Copley's on site vans are the nicest we have seen.

Luxton
The Harvest Trail - A great place for working if you're going for farm work in South Australia. The weekly rates are competitive and it's an easy bus ride into Luxton. The owners also take the money made on recycling empty beer bottles to have a free BBQ for the guests. That is awesome! Why don't more places care about their customers like this? Also, they help you find farm work and even drive you and arrange rides into the farm. This is a great service as many places charge for the same thing. The double room had a fridge and a TV, making a relaxing night possible. The Harvest Trail in Luxton is worth staying at.

Northern Territory

Alice Springs
Desert Rose Inn - This is a good place that is in a safe area in town and quiet. Double rooms are en suite and internet is free. The place costs as much as a double room at any other hostel and it comes with extras that make a place worth staying at. They also store luggage there for free, a great service for when you go on a tour of the Rock, and smell what he's cooking.

Darwin
Banyan View Lodge - This is a place that doesn't feel like a backpackers. I saw people of all ages entering and exiting. The prices were standard and the location is close enough to town to make a very short walk to town. I like the double rooms because they had a TV and a fridge, two luxuries for any backpacker.

Western Australia

Kununurra
Kununurra Backpackers - What can I say about it? It is a backpackers. The long stayers eye up anyone who they don't know. The people weren't friendly to newbies either, but then again, I wouldn't be if I was spending my valuable WHV time in Kununurra. I also hasten to add that the guy who picked us up from the Greyhound bus stop gave a terrible introduction to Kununurra. Another example of terrible customer service and because of that I suggest you go somewhere else, like Kimberley Croc Backpackers.

Broome
Roebuck Bay Caravan Park - This is the place that converted me to preferring on-site camper van over double rooms in hostels. For about $70 per night two of us got a private camper van complete with gas stove, TV, couch, 3 beds and a kitchen table. Combined with the fact that the location was excellent, this caravan park is a must stay in WA and in Australia. Roebuck Bay Caravan Park is perfect. We stayed there 8 nights and loved each one.

Exmouth
Potshots - The main place in town for drinking and sleeping, so it is no wonder most people find themselves staying here. We go a double room for a reasonable $65 per night, which included a TV and fridge They also help you get around to the sights if you don't have your own transportation. The bar inside the complex is quite popular with locals and travelers as well.

Coral Bay
Ningaloo Club - The accommodation is fine, actually it is what I would expect for a dorm room. The building has a bar attached as well, and offers things like live music and burger night.

Kalbarri
Anchorage Caravan Park - I love caravan parks and Anchorage is another reason why. It is close to town and reasonably priced. I can't compare it to Roebuck Bay Caravan Park because Roebuck Bay is perfect. I can say however, that this one was a tad cramped, but still comfortable for two of us.

Cervanetes
Pinnacles Caravan Park - Pinnacles is funny in that they claim to be the closest accommodation to the Pinnacles, however I would say technically, it is one of the closest. As for an accommodation, it is a bit cozy, but still holds up against the rest. And even still, you really stay here just to go to the Pinnacles, then you leave anyway.

Geraldton
Foreshore Backpackers - Do to my love for old renovated buildings, I loved this place. To find any buildings in Australia that are 100 years old or more is impressive in itself, but to actually be able to stay in one is plenty of fun too. The location is right across from the beach and you can walk to most anywhere in town. The owners are really doing it up nice, so spend a night or two in Geraldton, I think you'll be glad you did.

Perth
Old Swan Barracks - Again, I will admit, I am a sucker for old buildings that have been renovated. The Old Swan is comfortable and big, very big. It has a huge bar area, with an internet section, and a big screen TV area with FoxTel. The also claim to be Perth's Best Value Hostel. Perhaps they claim this because they offer free "breakfast". And when I say "breakfast" I mean a they put a few loaves of bread, jam, tea and instant coffee on the counter top in the kitchen. Wow, if only I could invite these people to the USA and show them what a real breakfast consists of when a place says it offers "free breakfast".

Bambu Backpackers - This "boutique" backpackers is not boutique, it is just another backpackers. Nothing special about it, really. They pretend to be better than the rest, but they are just fooling themselves. For one, they say they offer internet for $10 per week. That's BS. Its actually the owner selling the password for the web for $10 each week, and everyone shares the bandwidth. Thus, when you get 10 backpackers updating their lame status updates and Facebook photos, no one else can get to it. I found that I had less access to the internet at Bambu than other places where I had to pay for it. Now, I will say the en suite double room was nice, except for the fact that the bathroom door handle locks on the wrong side. So if you accidentally shut the door and get locked in. It's quite embarrassing when you have to pound on the walls to get the staff to let you out.

Fremantle
Backpackers Inn Freo - I believe I have said a thing or two about this place. I think I wrote it when I was there, so it was rather negative, but seriously, no power points in the rooms? What, is it 1914 or something?

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