If you’re backpacking Australia’s East Coast, choosing the right hostel can literally make or break your trip. After travelling from Melbourne up to Cairns and back south all the way to Sydney through Byron Bay, Brisbane, Noosa, Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island, I stayed in a LOT of hostels — some lived up to the hype… others absolutely did not. So I created my “Stay or Nay” series. A series where I rate all the East Coast Australia hostels I stayed at (plus Melbourne) so you know exactly what’s worth booking (and what’s not).

Here are my unfiltered reviews of the hostels I stayed in across Australia.

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🏙️ Bounce Melbourne

Rating: 7.5/10 – Stay (with caveats)

Bounce Melbourne has solid facilities and a comfortable setup — but it’s more of a long-term stay hostel than a classic backpacker party hub.

What I Loved:

• Cinema room
• Clean bathrooms (rarely busy)
• Comfortable bunks with privacy curtains (huge win in Australia)
• Nice social areas
• Events are organised regularly

Downsides:

• Social vibe in dorms was low
• Many long-term residents already in established groups
• Harder to meet people organically

💡 Best for: Comfortable city stay if you already have friends in Melbourne.

⚠️ Not ideal if you’re solo and looking for instant backpacker vibes.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Bounce Melbourne for yourself

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🐊 Little Drifter Cairns

Rating: 8/10 – Stay

Little Drifter Cairns continues the brand’s cosy, design-led feel and offers a comfortable base for exploring Far North Queensland.

What I Loved:

• Privacy curtains on the beds and personal lights
• Clean, modern feel throughout
• Good social spaces that feel relaxed rather than chaotic
• Central location in Cairns, close to tours and transport

Downsides:

• Dorm rooms are on the smaller side, similar to other Little Drifter hostels
• Fridge and kitchen storage can feel tight when the hostel’s full

💡 Best for: Solo travellers who want comfort and calm social spaces without a party-hostel vibe.

Definitely one of the better hostel options in Cairns.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Little Drifter Cairns for yourself

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🏝️ Bounce Magnetic Island

Rating: 6.5/10 – Maybe Stay

The setting is stunning — but socially, it didn’t quite deliver.

What I Loved:

• Walkable to Horseshoe Bay
• Set in the forest with wildlife (including wild koalas)
• Koala park onsite
• Onsite restaurant
• Built-in beds

Downsides:

• More long-term vibe
• No privacy curtains
• Camp-style bathrooms
• Paid daytime activities
• Weak evening social events

💡 Best for: Couples or people wanting a quieter island stay.

🎒 If you want a backpacker social vibe, there are better options on Magnetic Island.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Bounce Magnetic Island for yourself

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🌴 Magnums Airlie Beach

Rating: 6/10 – Stay (for budget private rooms)

Magnums is right in the centre of Airlie — but it’s not really a social backpacker hostel.

What I Loved:

• Unbeatable main street location
• Bar onsite
• Surprisingly quiet rooms
• Affordable private rooms

Downsides:

• Basic facilities
• Limited bathrooms per block
• No organised social activities
• Not a backpacker vibe

💡 Great for a short stopover before your Whitsundays tour.

👎 Not the place to make lifelong travel mates.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Magnums for yourself

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🎉 Bounce Airlie Beach

Rating: 8/10 – Stay

A genuinely solid backpacker option in Airlie.

What I Loved:

• Great social areas
• Built-in beds
• Strong WiFi
• Good events
• Free shared kitchen items

Downsides:

• No bed curtains
• Not the cleanest hostel
• No separate dry shower area
• Slightly off the main street

💡 One of the better Airlie options if you want social vibes.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Bounce Airlie Beach for yourself

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☀️ Bounce Noosa

Rating: 8.5/10 – Big Stay

Possibly the most hyped hostel on the East Coast — and yes, it mostly deserves it.

What I Loved:

• 10/10 decor
• Extremely clean
• Spacious dorms
• Great pool area
• Strong social events
• Good happy hour deals

Downsides:

• Location is far from town
• Limited shuttle times
• No privacy curtains
• WiFi occasionally patchy

💡 The location is more of a drawback than I expected — but overall, it’s excellent.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Bounce Noosa for yourself

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🌆 City Backpackers Brisbane

Rating: 4/10 – Nay

One of the weakest stays of my trip.

What I Liked:

• Rooftop pool area
• Cinema room
• Walkable to South Bank
• Decent kitchen size

What I Didn’t:

• Run down and tired
• Shared unisex bathrooms that were not clean
• No soundproofing (very noisy)
• No visible social events

💡 Only redeeming feature: the rooftop.

I was very grateful this was just a one-night stay.

👉 Click to take a look at booking City Backpackers Brisbane for yourself (although I wouldn’t recommend)

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🌊 Abode Mooloolaba

Rating: 6/10 – Maybe Stay

A small, quieter hostel off the beaten track with some nice perks.

What I Loved:

• Free surfboard hire
• Pool
• Excellent private rooms
• Cosy social spaces
• Free car parking

Downsides:

• Sketchy WiFi
• Small kitchen
• Long-term vibe
• No bed curtains in the dorms

💡 Great if booking a private room — less exciting for dorm backpackers.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Abode Mooloolaba for yourself

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🌅 YHA Cape Byron

Rating: 5/10 – Soft Nay

There are so many better places you could stay in Byron, honestly.

Positives:

• Pool gets sun all day
• Good kitchen size
• Great WiFi

Negatives:

• Very weak social vibe
• Events almost cancelled due to no turnout
• Rickety bunks, no curtains
• Not the cleanest
• Very basic private rooms

💡 Fine if you want quiet or a relatively decent price for a private room.

Not ideal if you’re chasing the Byron backpacker experience.

👉 Click to take a look at booking YHA Cape Byron for yourself (although I wouldn’t recommend)

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🏖️ Little Drifter Bondi Beach

Rating: 8/10 – Stay

One of my favourite stays.

What I Loved:

• Curtains + nightlight on beds
• En-suite dorm bathrooms
• 5-minute walk to Bondi Beach
• Cosy communal areas
• Social events

Downsides:

• Very small dorm rooms
• Fridge storage system was frustrating

💡 Felt homely, well-designed and comfortable.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Little Drifter Bondi Beach for yourself

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🌆 Summer House Sydney City (Gifted Stay)

Rating: 6.5/10 – Maybe Stay

Great location — but a bit uninspiring overall.

What I Loved:

• Excellent central location
• Amazing WiFi
• Nice rooftop terrace
• Curtains + large locker drawers
• TV room with Netflix & Disney+

Downsides:

• Small kitchen
• Long bathroom queues
• Long-term vibe
• Saw bugs in the kitchen
• No cooking basics like oil or salt

💡 Not bad — just not a must-stay.

👉 Click to take a look at booking Summer House Sydney City for yourself

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🥇 Best Overall:

• Bounce Noosa (8.5/10)
• Bounce Airlie (8/10)
• Little Drifter Bondi (8/10)

🚩 Wouldn’t Recommend:

• City Backpackers Brisbane (4/10)
• YHA Cape Byron (5/10)

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How I Rate Hostels (My Criteria)

Every hostel is rated based on:

• Cleanliness
• Social vibe
• Bed comfort (CURTAINS = bonus points)
• Kitchen quality
• Bathroom setup
• Location
• Overall value for money

Because let’s be honest — when you’re backpacking solo, your hostel is more than just a bed.

Let me know what you think to my ratings!

Enjoy your Travels,

Em x

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FAQs About East Coast Australia Hostels

What are the best hostels in Australia for backpackers?

Some of the best hostels in Australia for backpackers depend on what you’re looking for, but based on my experience, Bounce Noosa, Bounce Airlie Beach, and Little Drifter Bondi Beach stand out. They offer good facilities, comfortable beds, and better-than-average social vibes compared to many other hostels on the East Coast. A lot of hostels in Australia do attract people who are staying on a longer term basis, so can feel cliquey.

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Are Bounce hostels good for backpackers?

Yes — Bounce hostels are generally a safe choice, especially if you want modern facilities, good WiFi, and organised events. That said, some Bounce locations feel more like long-term accommodation than traditional backpacker hostels, which can affect the social atmosphere. They’re great for comfort, but not always the easiest place to meet people.

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Which hostels are best for solo travellers in Australia?

If you’re travelling solo, hostels with strong social spaces and organised events make a big difference. From my stays, Bounce Noosa, Bounce Airlie Beach, and Little Drifter Bondi Beach were the easiest places to meet other travellers without forcing it.

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Are Australian hostels social?

Some are — but many aren’t as social as people expect. A lot of hostels on the East Coast cater to long-term workers, which can make them feel quieter and less welcoming for short-term backpackers. If socialising is important to you, look for hostels with daily events, bars, and open communal areas. You can read more about my thoughts on solo backpacking Australia here.

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Do hostels in Australia have privacy curtains?

Not always — and this matters more than you’d think. Privacy curtains are surprisingly rare in Australian hostels, so when a hostel has them, it’s a big plus. Hostels like Little Drifter and some Bounce locations scored higher for me simply because they offered more privacy in shared dorms.

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Are private rooms in hostels worth it in Australia?

Yes, especially if you want comfort without hotel prices. Hostels like Magnums Airlie Beach and Adobe Mooloolabaoffer excellent value private rooms that are far cheaper than hotels while still being central and convenient.

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What should I look for when choosing a hostel in Australia?

When booking a hostel in Australia, I’d prioritise:

• Clean bathrooms
• Comfortable beds (bonus points for curtains)
• Kitchen size and facilities
• Social spaces and events
• Whether it’s a backpacker hostel or long-term stay

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Are hostels in Australia clean?

Cleanliness varies a lot. Some hostels — like Bounce Noosa — were among the cleanest I stayed in, while others felt run-down and poorly maintained. Always check recent reviews, especially for bathrooms and kitchens.

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Is it easy to meet people in Australian hostels?

It can be, but it’s not guaranteed. Hostels with bars, daily events, and open social areas make it much easier. If a hostel doesn’t actively encourage socialising, meeting people can feel surprisingly hard — even if the hostel looks busy.

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Are hostels expensive in Australia?

Compared to Southeast Asia, yes — but compared to hotels, hostels still offer good value. Expect to pay more for privacy curtains, newer facilities, and central locations, especially in places like Sydney, Noosa, and Byron Bay.

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