Reef Backpackers

Hostel

Nice backpacker, parking available around the building. Hot shower, kitchen clean, laundry, swimming pool… very good.

Absolutely disgusting, very filthy and run-down. The receptionist doesn't care about doing his job, he's so lazy he's never at reception and it closes at 3 pm. He didn't help me to carry my bags to the room but he did help other girls. I guess he only helps those he deems worthy of his time. Since the cleaners are backpackers who work for accomodation, the place is never clean, never. Don't waste your money on this place, there are other hostels with the same prices and half as disgusting.

I’ve been to dozens of hostels and this is the worst by far. I don’t have super high standards but man oh man this place… all of the showers were broken for all three days I was there. There was odd hammering in the kitchen at 7 am that just did not stop. When I first arrived to reception there was no one behind the desk. Just an empty room. The final night there was constant glass shattering. I didn’t know if someone was breaking in or what. My boyfriend went out to investigate. Someone had broken an upstairs window all over the indoor staircase and my bf had glass all over his bare feet. Went to find someone to report it to but it seems there is absolutely no staff here after 8 pm? The air con doesn’t work. Slow Wi-Fi. Everything is dirty. Not a social atmosphere. Dont come here.

This place is a bit older and grittier than most, but it has a comfort that makes you feel like you’re at home. It’s well maintained by staff daily and if there are messes in the kitchen or elsewhere — it’s because other guests don’t respect the space and clean up after themselves. Aside from that, the staff and environment are very friendly. Family vibes all around! And worth the cheap rates!

Amnities are in really bad shape. During night you had to be careful sometimes you could find puke on the floor. Rooms are extremly minimal. Pro: Single room is quiet big, most of the time quiet compared to a hostel.

Not the best, not the worst. People were all very friendly, organised events, not too loud party style hostel like a lot around here seem to be. Partnership with the next door hostel makes it seem a lot larger and social. Cosy place. Some people may feel like the rooms are a bit drab and the cleanliness could do with improving, but the facilities are there and during my stay it wasnt noticeably dirty like I've read on some other reviews on various websites. Beggars can't be choosers and if you wanted to stay here for the low price, it's a great atmosphere to buy into on the cheap. I honestly wouldn't mind recommending this hostel to friends who I know are in a similar mindset to me.

Very cheap place to stay — that's why one can't and should not expect too much. Cozy place though.

Atmosphere was fantastic, the room was good however the air conditioning didn't work. I would stay here again.

Location: Well kitchen miserable not clean refrigerator dirty stock-patted partly defective storage area for dry eating dirty dirty In kettle mold present You get no explanation of what works or comes back to the hostel in the evening After the first night Was removed during the day my bedding and since I only came back in the evening I couldn't ask any more as the reception only until 3 pm has open pool is nice and cozy Enough free room to relax.

Great location, Great price. Clean bedrooms and facilities. Staff were super friendly and the garden is great if you love a social.

Cheap and good hostel, MASSIVE garden to hang out in. Really cool people around. Rooms and bathrooms clean, Big kitchen. Cannot fault it. Also big BBQ on a Thursday for $2 which is one of the best nights in cairns.

This is the worst hostel I have lived before. The first time I check-in the room, it's so horrible. The floor under my bed very dirty. There wre a lot of litters hair, and sockes. It seems like one clean it… I could understand the public area is dirty, cuz some people didn't clean up after use. But the must clean the room brfore customers check-in!

In short — don't stay here. In long — the place is a total shambles. Filthy, broken, looks like a special effort was put in to not put any effort in the place whatsoever. The initial room we were checked in to had a very surprised person sleeping in what was in theory our bed. After that was rectified, we were moved to a separate room with 3 holes in the floor and a nice big cockroach to keep us company. The same cockroach ran across my bed at 2 am and woke me up. Thankfully I was too tired to be disgusted. Pay a few extra bucks and stay at any other place. For serious. We moved to Tropic Days backpackers which was fantastic and highly reccomended and cost 4$ more — but seriously. Any other place.

I had no problems with the hostel, very good staff!

The kitchen was terribly dirty, the beds were uncomfortable, and the whole place felt like it had been neglected for a while. The only positive is that they held my bag for several days free of charge after I checked out.

I can absolutely Not complain about this accomondation! They offered breakfast, washing facilities, more ore less clean bathrooms, Free Internet Access and a very neat Swimmingpool plus an comfortable Outdoor area! Bright offering compared to the Small prices.

The worst hostel I have ever been to, it was dirty and smelled awful! I've been travelling for a while and stayed at several hostels and none of them have been this terrible. Our room was so bad that we demanded another room. I can only suggest to others to find another hostel.

I got the distinct impression that this place was inhabited by long-term resident slobs. What a mess. I was put in Dorm C, and basically had to squeeze my way around literal piles of people's crap lying spread out all over the floor. The place doesn't seem like it has been cleaned in donkey's years. The lockers were a joke — no security whatsoever. Half of them had the doors broken off, and the other half, the base was missing in the top locker making it one long locker (with half a door). All of the lockers were overflowing with piles of people's possessions, out onto the floor. See attached photo, with ironic sign. Nowhere to store your things. Well, you could store your bag under the bed, like I did, but you'll find when you pull it out that it is covered in a very, very thick layer of dust. The beds themselves? More metal springs than mattress. I've had comfier nights sleeping on the ground in my backyard. Upsides: price. I paid something around $17, which is cheap — though I wouldn't consider paying a cent more for this place. I was also able to store my bag for free during the day after checking out, which was nice. Social area looked like it was good, though I wasn't around long enough to hang out there. All I really experienced was the dorm room, which was simply the worst room I've ever stayed in — and I've got an extensive history of hostelling.

Small rooms, most uncomfortable beds ever, slow Wi-Fi, dirty. Avoid it First time I give one star in a review.

Cheap, but common in Cairns. They said they freeze 20$ on your credit card and then you get it back after you leave and give back the key and bed linens. Lies. I didn't get my money back, my friend didn't get her money back. I don't have to come and beg for my money, kinda obvious that if it's your job, you send the money back. I ain't here to do your job. Unpleasant. Plus no air con, so hot. And they say they clean often, nope, really dirty. Jazz Cairns backpackers is 18$ a night, clean and very nice staff. Just saying.

The hostel is in a great location and is pretty cheap if you book online. It is just not maintained very well. Everything is breaking and the toilets and kitchen are pretty dirty.

Good place they charge for Ac after 7pm could be cleaner and only one shared washroom with shower working.

Will keep coming back to this hostel! They've got a big new movie room and xbox upstairs. Internet's fast, staff are nice, kitchen is big and has ovens! Good vibe, cool place to be.

This Hostel was really bad. It was really dirty and a really bad smell in the rooms. The aircon didn't work and the staff was unfriendly. I can strongly advise against a stay in this hostel.

The worst ever HOSTEL! They even did not give our key deposit — $20 back as they promised! I LITERALLY HATED BACKPACKERS! The rooms were literally DISGUSTING, ODOUROUS, DUSTY! And even in 10 people shared room does not have a proper air-ventilation system! And even you can find another person in your bed just in a couple of minutes you are away.! In one word — it was HORRENDOUS.

A room which has the original 4 beds but transform for a 6. So storage is not possible! Sheets and dirty room! Lack of replacement sheet.
Room located next to a terrace. Nice, but not at night because of smokers of weeds!
No one watching the night so a brothel not possible until 4 or 5 in the morning.
The pool. Keep out abandonment.
The kitchen. Fridges mess around, cockroaches live there, and the kitchen is dirty!
In short, backpack let has abandonment!
A discouraged.

I really like this hostel, its probably my second favorite hostel at all! The people are amazing, everybody can trust everybody. People leave their playstations and sound systems outside so that everyone can use it. Its really a family. and the pool! omg I love the pool! its the coldest pool you can find in cairns I guess and its really big and beautiful! surrounded by rocks and palm trees. and the best is, its a kind of a party hostel full with longtermers :).

We just checked in for a few days and ended up staying for almost a month. Its a small friendly hostel with a good relaxed vibe! Thankyou Reef backpackers for lots of fun memories, we will be back.

Reef Backpackers was an amazing experience! The place is perfectly located close to town. The people it attracts are very laid back and fun! The atmosphere was perfect for going out if you wanted to or having a night in. I would highly recommend staying here.

Staff was friendly and helpful. Chill and laid back atmosphere. Rooms are affordable and the location was very central and perfect for walking to the esplanade and all around Cairns. All around enjoyable.