Youth Shack Backpackers

Darwin · Australia

Youth Shack Backpackers

HostelPunk Score
24% SHIT
Medium confidence 112 reviews
2nd best in Darwin

Tags

Facilities

🏊 Swimming Pool 🍳 Kitchen 👕 Laundry 🔥 BBQ 🌅 Outdoor Terrace 🍺 Bar
Other facilities (27)
Jobs Board Luggage Storage 24 Hour Reception Tours/Travel Desk ATM Housekeeping Internet Access Board Games Wi-Fi Linen Included Air Conditioning Charging Plugs Tea & Coffee Making Facilities Towels For Hire Paid Luggage Storage Key Card Access 24 Hour Security CCTV in Common Areas Fire Extinguishers First Aid Kits Smoke Alarms Smoke Detector Common Room Free City Maps Free WiFi Free Security Lockers Hot Showers

Prices

Dorms $33 / night
Privates $98 / night

HW prices from today

Recent reviews

Brazil FEMALE 25-30 Mar 2, 2026 Atm 100%

It's a good place to stay in Darwin

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Australia MALE 18-24 Feb 5, 2026 Atm 40%

Level 3 men’s toilets had a door missing to a toilet, lights not working and no hand drying or paper towels

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France MALE 25-30 Oct 18, 2025 Atm 40%

the room is a sauna, the air conditioning barely works, it's very difficult to sleep

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Chile FEMALE 31-40 Sep 23, 2025 Atm 40%

Old building, very uncomfortable! The aircons liking and to noisy! No lockers in the rooms. No plugs for charger or conect electronics devices. Music everyday until verry late. Kitchen very small. Staff not kind. I will never stay there again.

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Australia FEMALE 18-24 Sep 14, 2025 Atm 20%

Sooo expensive for what it actually is!!! Full of British people living there long term. The dorms are absolutely tiny. And the bunks are a nightmare esp if you have the top one- you literally have to stop drop and roll just to get into bed! It is on Mitchell st so convenient location especially if you like partying. But apart from that it’s a flop honestly… Would not recommend!!

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England MALE 18-24 Sep 5, 2025 Atm 20%

Receptionist not nice, noise insanely loud (earplugs didn’t help), toilet gross, fire alarm and evacuation at night, just overall bad vibes. Location good though and room was fine. If I was partying and had no intention of resting maybe it would be a good place to keep the bags. I would recommend somewhere nearby though. Room quaking with noise - I’m sure you can go nearby and not experience that, party and sleep.

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England FEMALE 25-30 Sep 3, 2025 Atm 100%

The only thing I did not appreciate at this place was that because I had a really late arrival into Darwin, I called them to notify I would be checking in super late and was greeted by an incredibly rude woman on the other side of the phone who hung up mid way through me asking a question. When I arrived though the male receptionist was lovely so he made up for it!

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Italy MALE 25-30 Aug 8, 2025 Atm 60%

It’s okay, clean, good facilities and sort of new other than the A/C that are as loud as a tractor. If you’re a light sleeper it might not be for you as the place is surrounded by chaos and music and the main backpacking scene is that of party goers. If you’re okay with that it’s good value for money.

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France MALE 25-30 Aug 1, 2025 Atm 40%

We have had a bad stay at Youth Shack especially because every night the bars around the hotel are playing lives music with very hight volume and all night until 3 am. Also when we arrived the staff didn't inform us about the fact that we had to ask for our cutlery so we discovered that by ourselves. In the dormitory we had only 2 plugs working for 4 pers and also no lights in the beds. The wifi was not very efficient and other guests very unwelcoming.

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France FEMALE Jul 20, 2025 Atm 100%

Situation top, très centrale dans une rue avec commerces, bars restos. Contrepartie qui peut être négative selon son attente : c'est un peu bruyant. Accueil sympa, personnel disponible, l'espace extérieur autour de la piscine est vraiment cool. La grande cuisine commune est assez bordélique et pas nickel. La chambre était OK, sanitaires aussi.

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England FEMALE 25-30 Jul 9, 2025 Atm 60%

Pretty decent stay. The rooms were basic and people were happy to talk to you. Great facilities and the staff were lovely! Felt very safe.

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USA MALE 25-30 Jul 7, 2025 Atm 40%

The guy sleeping beside me said he would do harm to me if I couldn't stop sniffling. I told management about this and they still let this guy stay in the hostel scot-free. He's a bald Australian guy, likely mid-30s, his name is Myles. He is unpredictable and since hostel staff won't do anything to protect you, heed my warning: do not become friendly with this guy. Whole hostel is full of long-termers who think they're doing something cool by living in a hostel while working a construction job.

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Ireland FEMALE 25-30 Jun 13, 2025 Atm 100%

absolutely lovedd this place

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Australia FEMALE 31-40 May 8, 2025 Atm 20%

This was my fifth stay. As usual I expected fun vibes day and night and hostelmates partying together almost every night, led by a rep. This time, an owner or manager had had the very-not-bright idea to mix up the long-stay and short-stay rooms. As a result, my $110 private room was suddenly on the opposite wing of the L-shaped hostel building – right next to the pool and the back entry –, as opposed to where it always was, in Mitchell St, where you can’t hear the hostel noise at all. This...

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Germany FEMALE 25-30 May 7, 2025 Atm 20%

Smelly rooms with old noisy A/C and stains on the sheets! The windows arent tight at all, so look forward to hearing the parties on the street the whole night every day of the week. Unfortunately pople smoke everywhere and the staff gives a s***. They also occasionally seems to through out bags (even tho they were labeled). Just stay away!

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Italy FEMALE 18-24 Apr 23, 2025 Atm 20%

Noisy air con you cannot turn off, kitchen closes during the night, too much noise and guests screaming with loud music at 3 am. Male guests never seen with a t shirt on, which I get because of the heat, but kinda gives the ick when you see and hairy man cooking next to you

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USA FEMALE 18-24 Apr 22, 2025 Atm 80%

Def a party hostel and only recommend it if that’s your thing or at least if you can tolerate it. A lot of backpackers stay here while working in Darwin, which creates a very social environment. Everyone I met was great even if they had their group of people. Cleanliness was aight. No complaints but it wasn’t above and beyond

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Germany FEMALE 18-24 Apr 2, 2025 Atm 60%

Es war in Ordnung. Nicht mein bester stay. Vor allem wurde es mit Frühstück beworben, welches im Endeffekt nicht gab. Es ist aber sehr zentral und man hat alles fast vor der Haustür. Die Zimmer waren relativ klein

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England FEMALE 31-40 Dec 18, 2024 Atm 40%

Overall this hostel has a lot of potential but it needs a lot of updating and better cleanliness, most of the staff members are friendly and welcoming apart from one young female who was quite rude even when I was paying to upgrade to a private room. Lots of people living there long term as it was off season but I still managed to meet people, the kitchen is good and well equipped and cleaned daily, the beds are good with a curtain but air con is useless, great pool area and washing facilities

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Canada FEMALE 18-24 Nov 8, 2024 Atm 80%

Good location, nice pool and kitchen, rooms are a bit run down but the bathrooms are nice

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