The Original Backpackers Hostel

Sydney · Australia

The Original Backpackers Hostel

HostelPunk Score
49% SHIT
High confidence 242 reviews
No bed bug reports in 784 analyzed reviews

Tags

Facilities

🍳 COOKER 👕 Laundry 🅿️ Parking 🅿️ Paid Parking 🔥 BBQ 🌅 Outdoor Terrace 🌿 Garden 🍳 Free Breakfast
Other facilities (33)
Free City Maps Free WiFi Free Internet Access Free Security Lockers Free Luggage Storage Jobs Board Luggage Storage Tours/Travel Desk Housekeeping Reception (Limited Hours) Internet Access Book Exchange PlayStation DVD's Board Games Wi-Fi Linen Included Hair Dryers Ceiling Fan Towels Not Included Charging Plugs Towels For Hire Security Lockers 24 Hour Security Safe Deposit Box Common Room Games Room Lounge Room Social Balcony Vending Machines Tea & Coffee Making Facilities Hot Showers Flexible NRR

Prices

Dorms $30 / night
Privates $88 / night

HW prices from today

Unusual phrases

Worst reviews

Spain Couple Feb 19, 2026 1.0/10

- La habitación estaba muy sucia, era muy desagradable

Translated to English

The room was very dirty, and very unpleasant

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Australia Family Jan 27, 2026 1.0/10

+ Location in terms of position but the area is dark and filthy

- The room has probably never been cleaned

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Spain Family Jan 25, 2026 1.0/10

+ Nada,

- El peor hotel en muchos años,muy sucio,imposible dormir con el ruido,muy mal

Translated to English

Nada, The worst hotel in many years, very dirty, impossible to sleep with the noise, very bad

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South Korea Solo traveler Dec 13, 2025 1.0/10

+ No?

- ?

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Chile Solo traveler Aug 23, 2025 1.0/10

+ La ubicación

- En la habitación donde me quede, perdí dinero, pastillas importantes, dos labiales y artículos personales

Translated to English

In the room where I stayed, I lost money, important pills, two lipsticks and personal items

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Chile Solo traveler Aug 19, 2025 1.0/10

+ creo que el personal y la entrega de secador de pelo era lo único bueno, nos robaron en el alojamiento, la suciedad era sorprendente, los baños compartidos asquerosos, las tinas llenas de pelo, las bajadas de ducha hasta con hongos, habían muchos insectos y la cantidad de ratones que entraban desde la calle al hostal era increíble, como dije al principio casi nada salva, horrible experiencia

- todo!!! baños asquerosos, camas con sábanas manchadas, almohadas planas de tanto uso, las camas durísimas, refrigeradores hediondos, el olor a marihuana sorprendente y desagradable, las tinas llenas de pelos íntimos y de cabello, muchos insectos y ratones, escaleras que sonaban hasta por mirarlas, horrible

Translated to English

I think the staff and the delivery of the hairdryer was the only good thing, we were robbed at the lodging, the dirt was amazing, the shared bathrooms disgusting, the tubs full of hair, the shower sinks even with mushrooms, there were a lot of insects and the number of mice that came in from the street to the hostel was incredible, as I said at first almost nothing saved, horrible experience everything!!! disgusting bathrooms, beds with stained sheets, flat pillows of so much use, the very hard ...

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Austria Group Apr 6, 2025 1.0/10

+ Nothing.

- I killed 20 cockroaches and told it to the reception, the skinny italian guy said: "it's normal for Sydney" It's the first time in my life that i woke up cause cockroaches were walking on me. I was in many poor countries and slept in cheap places but never had something like that. Thanks god the next day a bigger guy was at the reception who was very quick in handling, changed us the room and explained that they had some problems with that room already. Breakfast was so bad that we had to buy our own bread, butter, etc.. A lot of people with working visa are staying in that hostel and of course i guess they have little respect for the house rules. Every night they were making noises and we had to go outside and tell them to be quiet. (The kitchen is in front of the rooms)

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Australia Solo traveler Mar 25, 2025 1.0/10

+ Location

- Horrible manager horrible hostel

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Australia Solo traveler Mar 24, 2025 1.0/10

+ Location

- The manager is racist, you barely see asian. It's a chaotic hostel. The manger can do whatever he want to do. Check it take 30 mins, they can talk in the hallway, we girls talks was forbid and was throwing out. You won't experience this anywhere else. The manager can do whatever he want to do, girlfriend is reception and can't be complaint for 30 mins check in. Someone fuck in the public bathroom, you can hear the disgusting noisy not sure if it's them

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Australia Solo traveler Mar 20, 2025 1.0/10

- Restrooms were not clean and there weren't enough of them. There wasn't AC.

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Recent reviews

New Zealand Solo traveler May 12, 2026 10.0/10

[no text]

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Chile Solo traveler May 11, 2026 10.0/10

+ The vibe was amazing!

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Chile Couple May 10, 2026 8.0/10

[no text]

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France Couple May 10, 2026 9.0/10

+ Nous somme arrivés plus tôt que l’heure d’enregistrement mais ils ont quand même pu nous donner une chambre, ce qui nous a beaucoup arrangé ! Super ambiance un peu peace and love, c’est pas vraiment une auberge comme les autres 😂 C’est très famille, les gens sont très gentils, certains sont là depuis très longtemps, ça fume beaucoup ahah Repas commun 2 ou 3 fois par semaine Je recommande

Translated to English

We arrived earlier than check-in time but they were still able to give us a room, which made us very comfortable ! Great atmosphere a little peace and love, it's not really an inn like the others 😂 It's very family friendly, people are very nice, some have been here for a very long time, it smokes a lot ahah Common meals 2 or 3 times a week I recommend

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Hong Kong Solo traveler May 9, 2026 9.0/10

+ Das Personal war sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit, sie haben mir sogar meine verlorene Brille nachgeschickt. Auch die Lage ist gut und die Einzelzimmer sind dem Preis entsprechend gut ausgestattet! Ich hab gebucht ohne die Rezensionen zu lesen und am Weg nach Sydney war ich kurz davor zu stornieren, also offenbar hat man an den in vielen Rezensionen Problemen gearbeitet, was man dem Team zu Gute halten muss, wobei ich nochmals betone, dass ich nicht im Schlafsaal war.

- Was in vielen Rezensionen angesprochen wird und was mir auch aufgefallen ist, ist das Publikum. Ich möchte da gar nicht urteilen, aber das Publikum ist durchwegs sehr jung und europäisch. Ich bin zwar auch aus Europa, aber keine 18/19 mehr, sondern 30, dem sollte man sich bewusst sein, wenn man hier als "Oldie" eincheckt. Auch der Geruch von Gras sollte einen vielleicht nicht stören. Aber wenn man sich daran stört, ist Potts Point nicht die richtige Gegend in Sydney. Wenn man in einem Einzelzimmer ist und man als Fokus die Stadt und weniger die Community hat, dann kommt man aber ohne große Berührungspunkte zu den restlichen Hostel Bewohner*innen gut durch...

Translated to English

The staff was very friendly and helpful, they even sent me back my lost glasses. The location is also good and the single rooms are equipped accordingly for the price! I had booked without reading the reviews and on my way to Sydney I was about to cancel, so obviously you worked on the in many reviews Problems, what to keep the team good, where I emphasize again that I was not in the bedroom. What is mentioned in many reviews and what I also noticed is the audience. I don't want to judge, but th...

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Netherlands Couple May 9, 2026 3.0/10

+ De locatie en het personeel

- Veel onrust en herrie snachts en wietlucht door de gehele accomodatie

Translated to English

De locatie en het personeel Much onrust en herrie snachts en wietlucht by the whole accommodation

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Spain FEMALE 18-24 May 3, 2026 Atm 40%

i am a 23 y/o travelling alone (stayed at many hostels before), and i had 3 nights but could just do 1. i felt very uncomfortable with the men there, since i got looks and some comments. everything was very dirty as well. the short-term stays were okay, but there were so many long-term (i guess) smoking weed all day at the door (which made the whole hostel smell), even at 3am i would wake up and the whole room would smell. the staff were nice and tried to handle my leaving as best as possible

via Hostelworld
Netherlands Solo traveler Apr 28, 2026 5.0/10

+ Locatie

- Kakkerlakken in de kamer

Translated to English

Location Kakkerlakken in the room

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Finland Solo traveler Apr 26, 2026 6.0/10

[no text]

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Spain Couple Apr 22, 2026 8.0/10

[no text]

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Italy COUPLE 18-24 Apr 22, 2026 Atm 60%

nice hostel but with a small common area

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Australia Solo traveler Apr 20, 2026 8.0/10

[no text]

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Australia Group Apr 18, 2026 9.0/10

[no text]

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Argentina Solo traveler Apr 17, 2026 3.0/10

[no text]

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Australia Solo traveler Apr 17, 2026 10.0/10

+ I liked the courtyard, it’s spacious and it’s a place where you can easily meet fantastic people, also my private room is fantastic

- The kitchen… isn’t like the one at home… but you can still cook something

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Italy Solo traveler Apr 17, 2026 10.0/10

+ Amazing staff, common space and amazing the free dinner and breakfast

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United Kingdom Solo traveler Apr 16, 2026 10.0/10

+ Big rooms that are clean, open social area in courtyard and TV room and convenient location close to the train station (5 mins eachway to city or bondi)

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Italy Solo traveler Apr 16, 2026 10.0/10

+ Really good position, great place and nice people!

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Australia Solo traveler Apr 16, 2026 10.0/10

+ Location was great, staff are extremely friendly and the rooms are nice and spacious. When I come back to Sydney I will be sure to come stay here

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France MALE 31-40 Apr 15, 2026 Atm 100%

Probably the best place to land, nice people comfy beds and affordable, the best place to make friends for sure