Hobart · Australia
Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Google Maps
I stayed at this backpackers recently and unfortunately had a disappointing experience. After my stay, I developed insect bites all over my back, which I strongly suspect were bed bugs. Although the beds appeared clean, the itching was uncomfortable and concerning. Another issue was the bed setup. The electricity charging ports are not conveniently located, so if you’re staying on the top bunk you need to climb up and down just to charge your phone, which was very annoying. On top of that, the top bunk bed was quite noisy. The shared facilities were also a downside. There are only two toilets and showers for a large number of guests (more than 20?), which often resulted in long waiting times. On the positive side, the backpackers is located in a nice area and the garden is quite pretty. However, it is not very convenient to get to, especially from the airport. It’s also a fair walk from the town centre and involves walking uphill, which can be difficult if you’re carrying luggage or not driving.
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Confirmed Google Maps
Unfortunately, our experience was far from pleasant. To our dismay, we discovered bed bugs during our stay, which not only caused discomfort but also raised health concerns. We urge other travelers to consider alternative accommodations in the area to avoid similar experiences. It’s crucial for a lodging place to ensure cleanliness and safety, and Montacute Bunkhouse fell short on these basic expectations. Please look elsewhere when booking your stay in Hobart.
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Confirmed Google Maps
I do not recommend you stay here. My group all got bed bugs after our stay. Disgusting! The owner was super rude about it and made some fairly racist remarks to different members of our group. Stay away.
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Confirmed Booking.com
TERRIBLE HOSTEL!!!! DO NOT STAY HERE. The owner is extremely rude and racist. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs. There were bed bugs and our entire groups rooms were infested with them.
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Vibe Analysis
Montacute Boutique Bunkhouse is an old Battery Point house with creaky floors, antique furniture, a balcony view, and a cosy sharehouse feel. It sits close to Salamanca Market, the docks, cafes, pubs, and the waterfront, so Hobart is easy to do on foot from here. The big kitchen is one of the strongest parts of the place: it is spacious, well equipped, and useful for cooking properly instead of surviving on instant noodles. There are communal areas for reading, chatting, warming up, or just sitting around after a day in town, plus practical extras like free tea and coffee, parking, laundry access, hair dryers, chargers, reading lights, and hot water bottles in colder weather. Beds are often comfortable, hot water is usually strong, and the house can feel homely when everything clicks. The atmosphere is more quiet and domestic than party-hostel chaos, with a mixed-age crowd and a lot of people doing their own thing. This is also a flawed, very personal kind of hostel. The bathrooms can be cramped, dated, limited, and inconsistently clean; the old building carries sound easily; and the on-site owner presence can feel intense or uncomfortable. It works best for travellers who want location, character, kitchen access, and a low-key house vibe, not polished boutique accommodation or a big social scene.
Signals to check
- Bathrooms may be cramped, dated, limited, or not cleaned well enough at busy times.
- The old house is creaky and thin-walled, so light sleepers should bring earplugs.
- Dorm privacy can be limited, with top bunks lacking curtains in at least part of the setup.
- The owner is very present on-site, and interactions can feel polarizing or uncomfortable.
- Female travellers may want to weigh privacy and boundary concerns carefully before booking.
- Wi-Fi can be unreliable, and charging access is not ideal for every bunk.
- Some rooms can feel cold, small, dusty, or short on storage space.