Big Backpackers Hostel

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be straight with you about Big Backpackers Hostel – it’s one of those places that actually gets what budget travelers need without making you feel like you’re roughing it in some dingy basement. The moment you walk up to 212 Elizabeth Street, you’ll notice it sits right in the heart of Surry Hills, which honestly is perfect because you’re literally a five-minute walk from Central Station (trust me, your luggage will thank you), and Crown Street’s café strip is basically around the corner. I mean, you can smell the coffee roasting from some of the local spots when you’re walking back in the mornings.

The building itself has this sort of converted warehouse vibe – you know, exposed brick in places, high ceilings that actually make the dorm rooms feel less claustrophobic than you’d expect. What really caught my attention was how clean everything felt, and I’m someone who’s stayed in hostels from Bangkok to Berlin, so I’ve seen some things. The common areas actually encourage hanging out instead of just rushing through, and there’s this kitchen setup where you can properly cook, not just heat up instant noodles. The staff genuinely seem to know the area too – they’ll point you toward the good Vietnamese places on Cleveland Street or tell you which nights to hit up the Lansdowne for live music. Speaking of noise, yeah, Elizabeth Street can get a bit lively, especially on weekends, but honestly it’s more of a gentle urban hum than anything jarring, and the windows are decent enough that it won’t keep you up.

What sets this place apart from other hostels in the area is that it strikes this balance between social and functional. You’ll meet people, but it’s not one of those party hostels where you can’t get any sleep – it’s more like everyone’s just genuinely traveling and exploring Sydney. The location means you can walk to Chinatown in ten minutes, hit up the markets at Paddy’s, or wander through Hyde Park without dealing with buses or trains. Plus, and this is something I really appreciated, they’ve got the practical stuff sorted – reliable Wi-Fi, power outlets by every bed, and lockers that actually fit a proper backpack. The 7.6 rating feels about right to me; it’s not trying to be fancy, but it nails the essentials and then some. If you’re looking for that sweet spot between budget-friendly and actually comfortable, especially if you want to be right in the mix of what makes Sydney interesting, this is honestly a solid choice.

Rooms

• Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (ages 18-40 years only) with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room (ages 18-40 years only) with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Single Room with Private Bathroom with 1 twin bed for 1 adult
• Twin Room with Private Bathroom with 1 bunk bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Double Room with Private Bathroom with 1 full bed for 2 adults
• Family Room with Private Bathroom (4 Adults) with 1 full bed and 2 bunk beds for 4 adults, 2 children
• Bed in 8-Bed Female Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (ages 18-40 years only) with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Double Room with Shared Bathroom with 1 full bed for 2 adults
• Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room (ages 18-40 years only) with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 2-Bed Female Only Dormitory Room with Private Bathroom (ages 18-40 years) with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 2-Bed Male Only Dormitory Room with Shared Bathroom (ages 18-40 years) with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 2-Bed Male Only Dormitory Room with Private Bathroom (ages 18-40 years) with 1 twin bed for 1 adult
• Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room (ages 18 – 40 years) with 1 bunk bed for 1 adult

Reviews

• Relaxed, chilled vibe, nice kitchen/common area, incredibly nice staff – Rukaya from Norway (8/10)

  Really lovely, genuinely nice, flexible staff, nice vibe in the place, everyone is very kind and respectful. The shared 2 bed female dorm is of a reasonable size. The kitchen and living room are great. I was able to leave my bags there while I went hiking, everything was extremely chilled out and stuff just gets sorted.

• Nice place – Servane from France (9/10)

  Really nice staff, big room for the 8 bed dormitory and clean

• Decent Place – Summer from United States of America (7/10)

  Good location close to public transit, some shops, 30 min walk to Harbor Bridge and Opera House. Generally quiet places and all the staff and other residents were very nice.

• Convenient inexpensive clean stay – Morris from Australia (8/10)

  Convenience and friendly staff

• There was an issue with the shower head , – Katrina from Australia (8/10)

  Friendly

• Easy access to Central station . – Marg from Australia (8/10)

  The staff were friendly and helpful. This is close to Central train station so made it easy to get around Sydney from there. They held our bags for us on the day we left so we could visit some Sydney attractions. We appreciated that. Large kitchen although we didn’t use it.

• It’s a great location with train, coffee, convenient store and food. – Jie from Malaysia (8/10)

  Clean, good wifi, weight machine, friendly staff.

• Very Good – Geoffrey from Australia (8/10)

  Inexpensive and convenient for solo travelers.

• Homey and warm- especially considering the Sydney winter! – Renate from United Kingdom (8/10)

  Staff were friendly and helpful . Satisfactory facilities and great location

• Very Good – Geoffrey from Australia (8/10)

  great location. quiet

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities