Airlie Beach Hostel Review

BASE HOSTEL 

Facilities 

Surprise surprise there was no free wifi! We didn't purchase it from Base either because Airlie Beach is packed full of travel agents who will let you use their wifi for free. 

The reception is open between 6:30 and 10 however if you arrive later or earlier than that, arrangements are made for you. It is quite easy to just wander in to the complex as we found on the first night as there were people who were staying in our room who only paid for a camper an space. This was rectified in the end but still a bit of a mess! There was also no lockers at the property which was just abit annoying if honest. 

There is a swimming pool and hammocks around the lodges which are great if you can't be bothered to walk to the lagoon etc. Plus every lodge has chairs outside it so you can chill.

There is a bar attached to the hostel called Down Under. Drinks are quite cheap especially in their happy hours. We didn't try the food here so wouldn't be able to comment on it but like the drinks you get 20% off at anytime. 

The kitchen is of an alright size. You will always need more hobs realistically in hostels. It was quite clean, probably the cleanest base kitchen we have seen. There is plenty of fridge space aswell. An added bonus is that you can use the kitchen even when you had checked out. However, it is locked after 10 so if you are a snacker remember this! 

Breakfast 

Breakfast is not included at this hostel. 

Showers and Toilets 

We stayed in an ensuite which was quite nice although the set up of this was quite odd. Furthermore, after someone has showered it took a long time for the bathroom to dry even with the windows open. Although, the bathroom in our second room was nicer overall.

Staff 

The staff here were really friendly and helpful. They showed us where places were on the map etc. Like many hostels there was a bit of a difference on rules between staff but nothing major! Also, big tip if you book travel activities with base regardless of which one you can get free luggage storage here for when you are on Whitsundays! Save yourself some money today!

However, when we came to check out I was informed that I had no more nights left on the base jumper card we had purchased. I knew this was incorrect however was made to feel that I was in the wrong. When a manager got involved she was rude and not helpful. The original girl who served us then tried to help after she found out we had a bus to catch imminently. It was sorted out in the end but I always think that if you have a hostel stay with no bumps in the road then you don't see the staff for what they are and see if they can actually help. 

Value for Money 

Again, we were using the base jumper card so accommodation was covered however it's not a particularly expensive hostel anyway! 

Dorms 

Instead of being in rooms, you were in a lodge which was outside and a little bit different from what we were used to. I really liked this change up though! We were in a dorm of 6 which was just the right size for the room. There weren't that many plugs in here but you win some you lose some! 

Location 

In relation to Airlie beach itself, the hostel was in a good position. However, in relation to the greyhound station it's quite a walk a way I am afraid. There is no pick up service until after 7 at night. Not ideal! 

OVERALL The hostel was nice and the facilities were good. A great place to get ready and recover from your Whitsundays tour!!

Love Imogen xoxo

Before our Fraser Island trip we stayed a few nights at Rainbow Beach. If I am completely honest there isn't a lot to do here. However, seeing as this is the pre and/or post destination for the Fraser trip it's not surprising!

The Beach

Another destination, another beach! Unfortunately the weather was a bit hit and miss but oh well. Don't get me wrong this is not the most beautiful beach in comparison to the ones we have seen BUT a beach is still a beach! 

Sunset Walk 

At Frasers on Rainbow, at 5 o'clock daily they walk to the sand dunes to watch the sunset, sandboard and view the sands that got the destination their infamous band; Rainbow Beach. 

This is really worth doing! It's about a 20 minute walk but the sunset is so peaceful and you can get some amazing pictures. If I am honest, there is not much to do so I would advise you to take the time to do this. 

There is not much to do here at all. It is a relaxation place before and after Fraser Island. Take advantage of this chill time but if you are going to do one thing here- don't miss out on the sunset walk! 

Love Imogen xoxo

Rainbow Beach Hostel Review

FRASERS ON RAINBOW

Facilities

So wifi is not free here and honestly if you really need it here just buy it because there are no wifi spots around if I am honest. Although you can try your luck at Pippa's backpacker hostel near dingos because they five free wifi vouchers out for their guests and normally the travel agents offer free wifi also. 

The main common areas apart from the outside bar area shut just after 10 and everywhere is locked- great for security but not for socialising. Although, Rainbow Beach is often treated as the calm before the storm or serious relaxation. 

Reception is not 24 hour but opens from 7-early enough to come and get breakfast before your Fraser Island tour. It shuts at 7 but if you do need assistance then there are staff around in the kitchen and the bar area. 

When we arrived we accidently stumbled in to the staff kitchen where food is prepared for bought meals and we thought we were in luck. Unfortunately, this tidiness was not the same in the communal kitchen. The fridges has not been cleared out for at least 10 days when we arrived. This meant that some fridges had an odour. Crockery and cutlery are provided free of charge although if not returned you have to pay $20. 

This was again by a dry hostel due to a bar on site.to makes matters worse it was just after the cyclone therefore there was not a great variety of drink around. 

Breakfast 

What was that? Breakfast is included! Free pancakes for all!! Although, these are only served from 7:00-7:45!

Staff 

Staff here are nice and helpful with directions etc. the girl who checked us in also checked that we had confirmed our tour etc which I thought was nice especially because we were not going on the tour they offered. 

I consequently found out that although helpful at the time, the woman who checked us in processed the room wrong and took not nights than I stayed...NOT IDEAL! 

Value for Money 

Again here we had our base jumper card so rooms were a bargain! So far so good with the card. I wouldn't always say that we always stay in the nicest accommodation but it's cheap and it's got everything you need! 

Dorms

We were in an 8 bed female ensuite dorm. The dorm itself was large with plenty of room to keep your bag and belongings without the place looking cluttered. 

Location

Again, this was right next to the greyhound station! I am talking across the road. If you find that you don't want to travel far to get to your hostel dingos and Pippa's is also on this road. Although, I think that a shuttle is provided to other hostels but don't quote me on that! 

OVERALL

Imogen xoxo

So we decided to do the Cool Dingos Fraser Island tour. Often, people will do self drive and camping tour. However, as much as he driving part of the experience did sound fun...I am not a camper. Before you think it- no I don't think I am a flashpacker BUT I knew I would not enjoy it especially in the mixed weather Australia has been experiencing at the minute! To be expected the tour was mostly girls but it made it feel like a girl power trip! The Spice Girls would have been proud, I mean look at the bus...

I chose to do the 3 day 2 night tour!

Day 1 

The first day of early starts- bus pick up is at 7:45, this is pretty standard across all the trips regardless of whether you are staying on Fraser or not. If you do decide to do the Cool Dingo and you are joining from Rainbow Beach you will not be looking for this Dingo bus but a Fraser Explorer bus. 

From here you go on the jetty over to Fraser for coffee and muffins before travelling on to Lake Mackenzie. 

Lake Mackenzie is phenomenal. The views are out of this world. The clear waters and white sands were just amazing. I mean look at the photos! We  had about 2 hours here. We were lucky to have more time than the Hervey Bay group as well just because or ferry was shorter. 

After relaxing in luxury, we headed back up the near where the spice bus was parked for lunch. This was a buffet style with salad, ham, chicken drumsticks, an assortment of sauces and more! I won't lie I went back for seconds although definitely regretted it later! 

After lunch we had the first of our two walks of the day. The first being 2.6km. We saw one of the many forested areas of Fraser Island until we finally ended the walk at Central station.

After a rest and a chance to fill up our water bottles we completed another walk, this time 1.8km. 

They also provided us with snacks throughout the day including breakfast bars, apples, oranges and cookies. 

After our walks we were then dropped off at our accommodation which were so nice. Nicer than I was expecting and most importantly more welcoming than a tent! We were given half an hour to move our luggage and shower etc before we were taken to the beach to watch the sunset. Of course, we rewarded ourselves after the day with a large glass of goon! The Kingfisher Bay resort also offers a shuttle service between the beach and the accommodation! 

-Girls on Tour

After arriving back at the accommodation, we went down to our unlimited buffet dinner at the dingos bar. I won't lie, I wasn't holding out much for the food because you just never know on trips like these, what to expect! However, I was pleasantly surprised as the food was really nice. We had a bolognese, two types of curry, a tomato vegetable dish, various carbs and salad. 

After dinner we stayed and had a few drinks. In happy hour drinks aren't too bad at $5.50 for a basic. (Basic=vodka mixer). Then after a few drinking games back in the lodges returned. The first night we were there, it was not that busy. Bar staff here can only be described as miserable if I am honest although they don't care when people bring their own drink. 

Day 2 

Again, another early start but oh well. Breakfast starts from 6 and includes toast, cereal, fruit, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and baked tomatoes. Again, this was unlimited.

We left the accommodation at 7:30 and zoomed off to the Mahona shipwreck. Our tour guide Gaz explained that it had previously been a luxury liner before being used as a hospital and then later by the navy to practice attacks. We were lucky enough to be the first group there so I managed to get some photos without any tourists in them...RESULT!

After the shipwreck we moved on to the Red Canyon. He also told us about the aboriginal mythology surrounding it. It was really beautiful look out plus as you can see made a great panoramic! 

From the Red Canyon we headed off to the Champagne Pools. No you don't receive champagne as you arrive! The pools were amazing though and the views on the way were phenomenal. As the tour went on it was clear why so many people rave about Fraser Island. If you are doing the east coast don't even think about missing it out! 

After our relaxation in the pools it was off for a picnic on the beach. We were all provided with a box of salad, chicken, a wrap and various sauces for a diy wrap. It was even better than the day before! Plus I managed to sneak in a nap before we headed off again. It was at this point that the cookies were whipped out once again! 

After lunch we headed over to walk up the Indian Head. I would advise shoes for this rather than flip flops. Even if you are tired, push yourself at this point to do the walk because it's really worth it! The views are out of this world and you manage to see some sea creatures as well! 

To finish of the day we headed up to Eli Creek, where Gaz provided us with rubber dinghys to go tubing. Furthermore, the creek itself is great to just chill around after the long day. 

When we got back it was off to the Dingo bar for dinner which was even better than the first night. A variety of roast meat was provided with rice, roast vegetables, roast potato and mashed potato with the usual salad etc. I was very satisfied and definitely went up for seconds! 

The night ended with yet more drinking games and a return to Dingos later in the evening! 

Day 3 

Another day, another early start. This time we were off to Lake Birrabeen for my first attempt at paddle boarding! It was really fun although at times difficult to steer. Lake Birrabeen is definitely at its nicest when less people are there as when other people started arriving it started to get a bit crowded. 

After becoming a paddle board national champ we returned to the Eurong Beach Resort for lunch. Again the food here was really good and there was so much. My personal favourite was the hake in a white sauce! 

After lunch we had the choice of staying at the resort and chilling by the pool or going to Lake Wabby. However, to get to Lake Wabby it was a 2.4km walk which put a lot of people off. We persevered through the walk and the result was worth it! Especially because due to the type of lake it is, in as little as 20 years it may no longer be there.

We even persuaded Gaz to let us have some time in the pool once we got back! So got the best of both worlds. 

One of the good things about this tour is that you can start and end in either Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay. So we started in Rainbow and ended in Hervey. If you end in Hervey you get the chance to shower although be warned there is only one shower so it's a quick one. Then off to the ferry. 

Gaz then drove us to collect our luggage and to wherever you needed to be in Hervey. We were off to the bus station so he dropped us off there before giving us some advice of where to eat etc. 

Overall I had the best time on Fraser and met some really nice people. I think  that if you don't do Fraser on the east coast you are mad so get it booked!!! 

Love Imogen xoxo

Due to Cyclone Marcia, our time in Noosa was significantly reduced so we did not have chance to really explore the national park or the beaches to the extent that I had wanted. 

However, we did take a long walk along the river which did look amazing. Noosa is definitely a place to chill out and basque in the beauty of Australia! Hopefully you have more time to explore than we did! 

Love Imogen xoxo

Noosa Hostel Review

NOOSA BACKPACKERS RESORT

We originally planned to stay at Nomads however it was booked up so we ended up staying here! 

Facilities 

Wait for this...wifi was free! Not only this it was good wifi AND it was for more than one device! It worked everywhere...what is going on!? 

There was a bar attached although it wasn't particularly busy. This made the hostel a dry hostel...if I am honest I  am fed up of dry hostels because it just takes the fun away from predrinking because you are having to hide it. Especially because you can hardly swagger on around with a box of goon unnoticed. 

Reception is not 24 hour and security levels really depend on where you are staying. We were staying in the dorms round the corner which were easily accessible by the street. There are lockers here but you have to pay for them. So all in all, not great security wise.

The kitchen here is of an alright size although unsurprisingly gets busy quickly. The hobs have been the best yet on this leg of the trip. There was also a good amount of fridge space- saves trying to fight for it! The kitchen is locked here at 9 so get all your food that you need if you are night time sleeper. You also don't need to put a deposit down for crockery and cutlery!

Breakfast 

Again, breakfast was not included although the bar/cafe next door did offer breakfast deals. 

Staff

Staff were friendly and helpful. We were greeted at the station by a hostel worker who made us feel welcome and answered our questions. Furthermore, before we arrived we had to cancel two nights due to being stuck in Brisbane and they were really understanding about it. 

Value for Money 

Annoyingly, this hostel has a deal for 3 nights; 3 nights at $75 so $25 per night. As we had to cancel a couple of nights this affected the price however don't be perturbed because it is still a decent price! 

Dorms

Dorms were okay. The aircon was nonexistent-there was two fans but they were poor. The dorms themselves were of a good size. The location as previously stated was round the back- not necessarily reassuring! 

Location

You are further away here from both the beach, national park and bus station. However, the hostel provides a pick up and drop off service from and to the bus station and the beach. Furthermore. If you are just looking to nosy around town- walk it, it takes about 40 minutes. 

OVERALL

The hostel was nice it was just a pity we didn't have more time to explore! 

Imogen xoxo 

Our trip to Brisbane ended up being extended due to Cyclone Marcia. Although, in hindsight there are much worse places to be stuck! Brisbane has all the facilities to hide and explore on a rainy day so we made the most of the cards we were dealt. 

Cinema 

So with rain and wind in the agenda we thought we would look at activites that were cheap and inside. Cinema tickets on a weekend were only $8 at the South Bank Cineplex. That's cheaper than home! So with some smuggled in snacks we settled down to watch the Imitation Game. Which if you haven't watched it yet, do it! It is such a good film and there is not one actor that I would fault in it. At the end if the day, you will no douvt have been to the cinema, I don't need to sell this to you but if you like us experience rain or maybe you can't handle the heat- get yourself down to Cineplex!

South Bank Parklands 

Once the weather started to peak up abit, we thought we better take a look at the infamous fake beach of Brisbane. I personally think it's a great idea, especially because Brisbane is quite far from the beach in comparison to previous places I have visited. It's so chilled out and we were lucky enough to be spoiled by live music from one of the eateries nearby creating a perfect Summer afternoon! 

Burger Urge 

So after lazying around at the Parkland we were very much in need of food! We spotted burger urge and thought it would be perfect to satisfy our cravings. Burger Urge is if you hadn't guessed it a burger restaurant. However they offer all sorts of favour combinations. I ordered the Hawaii Siz burger flatbread. This consisted of wasabi lime mayonnaise, pineapple, chicken, lettuce, tomato and instead if a burger bun a wrap. Served with both sweet potato and normal fries. It was amazing! The spiciness from the mayo and sweetness if the pineapple created a great flavour combination. I can only recommend! Although, they will charge you for sauces- ridiculous! 

Nightlife

On our first night in Brisbane, we decided to explore what Brisbabe had to offer! Nightlife here is really spread out here. We ended up making a visit to the Down Under bar which is next to Base Central. We only planned to go for a few but ended up staying the whole night. Vodka mixers or basics as Brisbabe calls them are only $4...not bad not bad! Don't get me wrong, this is not the ritz but you can dance and there's cheap drinks- what thirsty Thursday's are all about! 

Another bar worth checking out is the Guilty Rogue. Despite not bring as cheap as Down Under it is chilled out and perfect for casual drinks. Plus it was next door to our hostel- perfect location or what!  

There are loads of rooftop bars that are definitely worth a try in Brisbane-Soleil to name one however due to the cyclone we never got experience them! 

Love Imogen xoxo  

Brisbane Hostel Review

BASE UPTOWN

We have a base jumper are which means we get significantly discounted rates for base hostel and base hostel associates up the east coast. On evaluating, the three bases in Sydney, Uptown seemed to be the best plus it was across the road from the bus station- perfect! 

Facilities

Uptown has a bar attached like many of the Base hostels which is good because it's so convenient but it also means a lot of the hostels won't allow you to drink your own drink inside the hostel. This means if you want to predrink you are destined to the inside of your room only! 

Wifi isn't included and although I didn't purchase wifi I was told it was of good quality! If you don't want to purchase, there is a Wicked Travel down the road which lets you use their facilities for free. 

There is a 24 hour reception and you need your room card to get pretty much everywhere here so security wise pretty good. What lets them down is the lack of lockers especially in such a large hostel. 

The kitchen is small and the hobs are poor. There is also only one sink. So you can imagine how fun it is cooking at peak times! Again, keep your food labelled- almost a given when staying at hostels but just in case! You also need to pay a $10 deposit for crockery and cutlery. 

One great aspect of this hostel is that they give rice and pasta out for free! They give you generous portions aswell so it will keep you going for a while. Stock up!

Breakfast

Breakfast is not included although there are breakfast deals for next door. However, we have taken to having porridge or muesli and yogurt in the morning. It's healthy, cheap and isn't too much bother to carry around. 

Showers and Toilets 

Our room had an ensuite and for a hostel it was nice but because there was no window it would take a while to dry after people would shower and sometimes smelling of damp.  Plus, as expected in an ensuite sometimes you could be left waiting for the shower. The bathrooms are cleaned daily aswell. 

Staff 

Staff are helpful and friendly here. I would say overrall nicer than the ones in Base but I think they also benefitted by having more time to talk whereas Sydney was very much go go go. There was a guy on reception who was also really helpful when the cyclone came and we were pretty much on lockdown in Brisbane.  

Value for Money 

It's Australia so everywhere is a bit pricey to stay. This is the cheapest out of the popular hostels though. Furthermore, if you download the base app then you an get a 15% discount on travel not only for this base but also the accommodation across Australia and New Zealand. If you are considering travelling up the east coast they do offer a base card which gives you reduced accommodation prices- check it out to see if it's worth it! Plus they include a discount with the greyhound pass which is the easiest way to travel down the East Coast unless you are road tripping it.

Dorms 

The best dorm I stayed in was definitely the fourth floor. It was quite big, had good wifi reception and wooden floors. The washing facilities were also the best on this floor. The worst room was the first floor room we were in. There was no natural light. The third floor room was okay, although not exactly big for the ten people staying in there. There weren't loads of plugs in any of the rooms and if there were they would normally only be on one side which was very annoying. The rooms need to be cleaned and hoovered more!!

Location 

Perfect city location, right around the corner from Town Hall Station. Everything is in reasonable walking distance with the furthest being the fish market. Transport to both Bondi and Coogee beach is good from this spot aswell. 

As a hostel they also offer to pay $15 for your airport shuttle which is one of the reasons we booked with them in the first place! 

OVERALL

I enjoyed my time here at base, it's the cheapest of the bunch and for Sydney is not bad value for money at all. 

Imogen xoxo

Welcome to the Gold Coast- Surfers Paradise we have arrived. 

The Beach 

This is just a given! At the Gold Coast if you don't go to the beach you must be crazy! Although, after the state my body was in after my surfing lesson I didn't even go near the water. However due to the upcoming cyclone, beach patrols were not allowing anyone to enter the water.

Sand Sculptures 

We were told about this mini exhibition from the lady who ran our hostel. This was a free and sand sculpting event competition. The theme this year had been Disney characters and some of the sculptures produced were just something else! They put my sandcastles to shame! They are only presented on the beach front till the end of February so if you are in the area-check it out! 

Nightlife 

Although there isn't much to choose from there are a few bars and clubs dotted round although the more popular ones will charge you to get in!

Unfortunately we only got good weather for one of the days we were there do could not experience the beauty of Surfers for what it was. However I definitely enjoyed my time here! There is a market held every Saturday and Wednesday at 5 near the beach, we couldn't go because it was called off due to weather but I have only heard good things about it if you are in the area. 

Imogen xoxo 

Surfers Paradise Hostel Review

COUPLE O' DAYS HOSTEL

This is a really cheap hostel especially for Australia prices! 

Facilities 

When we first arrived to the hostel we got the impression that it was quite basic, which can probably explain why it is so cheap. However, the hostel provided decent wifi and the best thing about it-it's free. You only get it for one device but it's better than nothing! For the most part it's quite good, I could even skype! So you take the good with the bad!

The reception is not 24 hour but this was not an issue for us. Security wise it's not the greatest if I am honest, you could easily walk in and out of the hostel and there were no lockers inside the room. You could use their safety deposit box however due to the reception closing at 9 and not opening till the next day you have to be okay with not needing your belongings within those hours. 

There is a tv area which is good for predrinks and an outside area to chill. There is a pool but I don't think anybody used it whilst we were there because we were so close to the beach.

The kitchen isn't the largest but it is a small hostel so isn't too much hassle. You have to collect crockery and cutlery from reception however you don't have to pay for them. The kitchen dies close at 9 so remember to grab any water/goon/midnight snacks before it closes.

They don't put on events here but because the hostel is do mall you can easily get to know people here.

Breakfast 

Again, like most places Down Under, breakfast just isn't included in the price!

Showers and Toilets

We had an ensuite and it was quite large. The shower was hot with good pressure and it was quite spacious. There is also a bathroom close to the tv room as well. Cleanliness was good in both of these,the hostel owners are very good at keeping on top of this.

Staff

The hostel is run by Belinda, she is really nice and dies try to help as much as she can. She also mentioned the sand sculptures to us and told us about activites to try in Surfers. She was very welcoming and nothing seemed too much for her. 

Value for Money 

This was one of the cheapest hostels we have stayed at in Australia. Don't get me wrong you aren't going to get the flash packer experience but you have all the facilities that you need and free wifi! Not too shabby if I say so myself.

Dorms 

The rooms here are nice although not large you can comfortably get around even with the additions of bags etc. the window to our room would often get jammed-not ideal security wise. Despite a lack of plugs, an extension cable was provided so this was a non-issue. 

Location 

Really good location; just a 5 minute walk from the bus station, 10 minute from the beach and in between for shops and bars. 

OVERALL

The hostel was really nice snd it was nice to be in a small hostel di that we could get to know people! 

Imogen xoxo