Located on the main drag in Tully, Banana Barracks serves as a hostel for those travellers working in the fruit-picking trade. Restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and news agents are all within walking distance.
The building is in good condition and is relatively clean. Each room is set up with several self-contained units that connect to a common area that has an ensuite bathroom and security lockers. Oddly enough, management has installed bunk beds into these common areas, which is less than ideal considering the amount of traffic that moves through the zone.
The atmosphere is very friendly, and a unique commradarie emerges as nearly everyone is there with the same purpose: to make money and get the hell out. Due to the fact that most people work early in the morning, the weekday nightlife is generally subdued, if not non-existant altogether. On weekends, the adjoining bar (Rafters) goes off and the backpackers spend some of their hard-earned money.
The kitchen is large with plenty of cooking and eating space, along with large refridgerators and ample room to store food. A mini-theatre area is set up next to the swimming pool which is where movies and music videos are played throughout the day. The Raging Thunder Cafe is nearby, and although they offer excellent white-water rafting trips along the Tully River, most people do these day-trips via Cairns or Mission Beach.
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
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