Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Top Hostels in East Coast Australia for Backpackers & Travellers
15
items After travelling the East Coast of Australia for 6 weeks on the Greyhound bus, I stayed in hostels all the way from Sydney to Cairns. This guide highlights the best East Coast hostels I experienced—whether you’re after social party spots, chilled bea...
Map
Drifter brings a boutique, design-led feel to backpacker accommodation, making it one of the most stylish hostels you’ll find in Australia. With comfortable dorms, sleek communal spaces, and a social atmosphere, it’s perfect if you want a step up fro...
Drifter Hostel – North Melbourne
A cosy and modern hostel just minutes from Bondi Beach, perfect if you want to wake up by the ocean and dive straight into Sydney’s coastal lifestyle. The hostel has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy to meet other travellers, whether...
Little Drifter – Bondi Beach Hostel, Sydney
Wake Up! is one of the most popular hostels in Sydney, and for good reason. Located right next to Central Station, it makes exploring the city easy, whether you’re walking to Darling Harbour, hopping a train to Bondi, or joining one of the hostel’s f...
Wake Up! Sydney Central – City Centre Hostel, Sydney
If you’re looking to break up the long bus journey between Sydney and Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour YHA is the perfect stop. It’s a relaxed, friendly hostel with a pool, BBQ area, and plenty of common spaces to meet other travellers. The staff are super h...
YHA - Coffs Harbour
This small and stylish hostel captures Byron’s chilled-out vibe perfectly. You’re close to everything — the beach, surf lessons, the lighthouse walk, and Byron’s nightlife — but the hostel itself feels relaxed and friendly, with a community feel that...
Little Drifter – Byron Bay Hostel, New South Wales
If you’ve ever dreamed of learning to surf, Spot X is the place to do it. This surf camp is set right on a quiet stretch of beach, with dorms, cabins, and tents just steps from the waves. Days revolve around surf lessons, beach hangs, and BBQ dinners...
Spot X Surf Camp Hostel – Arrawarra, Coffs Coast, New South Wales
This modern hostel is right in the heart of Surfers Paradise, close to the beach, shops, and nightlife. It’s designed with backpackers in mind, offering a pool, rooftop, and plenty of events to make it easy to meet others. If you’re looking for a soc...
Bunk Surfers Paradise – Gold Coast, Queensland
With its rooftop pool overlooking the Brisbane River and skyline, this hostel feels more like a boutique hotel than a budget stay. The dorms and private rooms are clean and modern, and the communal spaces are great for meeting fellow travellers. Bris...
YHA Brisbane City – Brisbane, Queensland
Right in the heart of Noosa, this hostel is buzzing with energy and has everything you’d expect from a top East Coast backpacker stop. There’s a lively bar on site, daily activities, and easy access to Noosa’s surf beaches, the Everglades, and Fraser...
Noosa Backpackers Hostel - Noosa
Agnes Water is often overlooked, but staying at The Banana Hostel is a great way to break up the long Greyhound journey and discover this relaxed coastal town. The hostel itself is colourful and quirky, with a friendly community feel that makes you f...
Banana Hostel – Agnes Water, 1770, Queensland
Right in the centre of Airlie Beach, this hostel is surrounded by tropical gardens and has a lively social vibe. The pool, hammocks, and bar make it easy to relax or meet people, and it’s the best launch pad for trips to the Whitsundays. Whether you’...
Nomads - Airlie Beach, Queensland
This iconic beachside hostel is set right on the sand, with palm trees, hammocks, and cabins just steps from the water. During the day you can hire snorkels, hike the island’s famous trails, or spot wild koalas, and at night the bar comes alive with ...
Nomads Magnetic Island - Queensland
Surrounded by lush rainforest, Jackaroo Hostel feels more like a tropical retreat than a typical backpacker stay. It has hammocks, a pool, and open-air communal areas where you can relax after a day of adventure. Mission Beach is the skydive capital ...
Jackaroo Treehouse Rainforest Retreat – Mission Beach, Queensland
If you’re looking for the ultimate party hostel, Gilligan’s is the place to be. Located right in Cairns’ city centre, it has a huge pool, bars, and nightly events that make it easy to meet fellow travellers from around the world. It’s also a convenie...
Gilligan’s Backpackers – Cairns, Queensland
Cairns Hostel & Backpacker Accommodation | Drifter