Frommer's Review
This multiple-award-winning hostel is one of the biggest and busiest in the world. With a 98% year-round occupancy rate, you'll have to book early. It's in a historic nine-story building, and offers far more than standard basic accommodations. In the basement is the Scu Bar, a popular drinking hole with pool tables and occasional entertainment. There's also an entertainment room with more pool tables and e-mail facilities, TV rooms on every floor, and an audiovisual room that shows movies. Rooms are clean and basic. Three dorm rooms hold eight people each; 24 sleep up to six; and 70 accommodate four. The YHA is accessible to travelers with disabilities.
A new hostel, the Railway Square YHA (8-10 Lee St., at the corner of Upper Carriage Lane and Lee St., or enter via the Henry Dean Plaza, Sydney, NSW 2000; tel. 02/9281 9666; fax 02/9281 9688) opened in 2004. The 64-bed hostel offers four-to-eight-bed dorms and 10 double rooms in a historic 1904 building adjoining "Platform Zero" at Central Railway Station. Some dorm rooms are even located in railway carriages. There's a spa pool, Internet cafe, tour desk, indoor and outdoor communal areas, and a self-catering kitchen. Dorm rooms cost from A$27 to A$33 (US$22-US$26/UK£11-UK£13) a night, doubles with shared bathroom are A$78 (US$62/UK£31), and doubles with bathroom are A$88 (US$70/UK£35).
There are more than 140 YHA hostels in Australia. Check the website for the full list, which includes other hostels in Sydney, such as the Glebe Point YHA, the Sydney Beachhouse YHA in the beachside suburb of Collaroy, and Pittwater YHA in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (accessible only by boat, and a fabulous way to experience the "bush" around Sydney).
Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; small heated outdoor pool; sauna; 2 kitchens; TV room
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
