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Please see Bowen for other available Bowen hostels and accommodations.
Please see Bowen for other available Bowen hostels and accommodations.
Description
Bowen Backpackers Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | Beach end of Herbert Street, Bowen, Queensland, Australia |
| Location | |
| Website | None (if you know the URL of their website, tell us and we'll add it) |
| Telephone | +61 (7) 4786-3433 |
| Fax | +61 (7) 4786-1073 |
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Best memories, clean, good work I went to Bowen in May 2009, and like many others had to wait a while for work (the season started late due to weather). But I was fully aware of the situation before I arrived so didn't mind. The owners were very understanding realising that alot of people had been waiting a while for job as they explained to everyone that every year is different and unpredictable. They lent me a few weeks rent til I got paid, which I thought was really nice of them and other people did cleaning in the hostel for rent. They did everything they could to get people into work they had a car that they gave to people with maps so they could go and look for there own jobs. I ended up getting a really good job in a packing shed and stayed for 4 1/2 months. I returned in 2010 and started work at the same farm it was obviously a better year as the farm started at the end of April, I met some really cool people and had a great time here, the hostel is clean and in a great location (right next to the pool & Pub) The owners were nice, they would get pissed off with people who didn't follow the rules or have respect for other people staying there, but I guess this is fair enough. I would recommend this hostel. — Anonymous , UK (2011-04-25) I stayed there in the 2010 season -- bad decision I came to this hostel in early April 2010 on the promise that work would be starting soon. I had little money so that was the reason for traveling to Bowen when i got there i was surprised to find many others who had also been told that there was plenty of work available, all a lie. a cyclone had gone through the area about 3 weeks before and there was no possibility of work. (other hostels in Bowen had told me this already and i did not listen.) I did not find this out immediately and spent many weeks listening to the owners bullsh*t. Many of us in the hostel talked to other hostels in town and were told that we could not expect work until late june as the farms could not plant because of the wet weather. What a rip off, I had to go home after staying for nearly 8 weeks without work after the the lies and promises of work. There are other hostels in Bowen that tell the truth -- go and stay with them. — tomatopicker , Germany (2011-03-14) Rip Off So, with or without work, this hostel is a disgrace for the sky high price they charge -- and get away with. The mattresses are poor quality foam, thin extremely uncomfortable. Not great for a good nights sleep. The "fan assisted room" is basically one crappy stand fan which is no good at all if you're on the top bunk. There is only ONE plug socket in the whole room which is mostly taken up by the "fan." no bins in the rooms or proper storage space to hang clothes. no mirrors in the rooms. No soap or hand towels in the bathrooms. The sofas in the tv are dirty and flea ridden. There are no cooking utensils in the hostel whatsoever. Scott is completely inhospitable. and shouldn't work in this industry. Although we were paying guests -- they have no respect for their "customers" purely on the fact they can kick you out and with in a day some poor other mug will take your place so they won't loose out on any money. They have fallen out with most of the farmers, therefore only now work with about 2 farms. So the chances of them finding you work is slim. — Anonymous , UK (2011-01-10) Good but if you're lucky This hostel is good but only if you arrive early and get at the top of the work list. I stayed for 3 months in 2009 arriving start of April and luckily i got a job within a month. There was sh*t loads of people waiting for work and getting themselves in debt to the owners and totally ruining their oz experience. Apart from the work the hostel is ok, there are hardly any kitchen utensils but that is because lazy backpackers keep leaving them dirty so you can't really blame them. Bowen is an alright place, not the worst and grand view pub can be alright in the beer garden. P.S Scott can flip out sometimes!! — Anonymous , Scotland (2010-09-09) One of the best! I stayed at Bowen Backpackers in August 2009, stayed much longer than anticipated, met heaps of cool people, and had a great time. Once you got a job, work was good and regular. A lot of people waited a long time for work but from what I can tell it was a pretty bad season as far as work goes. I had friends staying in other hostels in town that had the same problem. The hostel is nice and has a relaxed atmosphere and very clean compared to other working hostels I've stayed in. Would recommend to all. — Tara , Australian (2009-12-25) Worst hostel ever This hostel is just a complete f***in joke I'll and so many more wasted so much money and time in that sh*thole. they only have contact with two f***in farms and one of the farms isn't even a farm. The rent is skyhigh, the kitchen is horrible everything's either missing or broke, one f***in pan for ninety people. I'll for one and many more waited for over eight weeks with the same f***in line every week "next week it will start" and at the end of the day they bring a note where it says that there is no work for this season, thanks. I know so many people that had to go home because you f***in retards couldn't provide sh*t. honestly you should stop call yourself a "working-hostel." A hostel that can provide work for 10% of the people, would be better. thing is that it wasn't a bad harvest-season in bowen it's just that these amateurs couldnt provide sh*t. — Johan , Germany (2009-06-26) One of the Best in four years! I stayed at Bowen backpackers for about five weeks in october 2005. I have to say it is one of the best hostels i have ever stayed in. The hostel is cleaned everyday by the owners Scott and Sian so it is always lovely and clean when you arrive home from work. They have excellent contracts going with a few big farms/packing sheds in the area, and the harvest work was probably the best ive experienced -- so much so that im returning for my final four weeks! I met loads of brilliant people there who ive kept in touch with. The kitchen is pretty big, and although there are only four girls and four boys showers you never seem to wait very long to use them as everyone finishes work at different times and the water is always lovely and warm. although you'd probably prefer a cold shower after work as it does get quite humid in Bowen! The boys rooms all have air con, and the girls rooms have fans (they are currently also adding air con to these rooms), and out of all of the backpackers in bowen it's the most centrally located -- five minutes from the few pubs and the IGA. The owners are really nice and fair people -- and although strict at times -- for good reason, they are also a great laugh and sometimes go out with the backpackers. — Kelly , UK (2008-02-28) f***in mint! — ricey- best time in australia was at this hostel , english (2007-04-25) I had a great time in that hostel. Very friendly managers. After work it was cool to hang out at the shady verandas outside the rooms. It's next to the swimming pool which is not too expensive and on your days off or ater work you can relax there. Very cool. — annica (2006-07-20) I stayed in this hostel in October 2005 and I loved it. That's why I came back in May 2006 but there are new owners now and they're just a fake! They turned this place in a total rip off and promise work where nothing is. Their best sound bite is that they have a farm where you can earn eighteen bucks an hour -- lie! They want one hundred-fifty per week including transport, if you use it or not, they don't care. They don't let you work for accommodation or give you any other discount, when you can't pay or they don't find work for you. They also want you to tell three days in advance when you're leaving. And as it happen to me they don't give you work for then, even though the whole hostel is working. An absolute sh*tty place! Never go there, save your money! — Gesine (2006-05-16) I have had a great time in this hostel. I met a lot of nice people there; the hostel is really clean and very beautiful. I stayed six weeks there and felt like home. It was one of the best hostels I have seen in Australia. — Ulrike (2005-08-11) Love this hostel. Great staff! Good dorms with double beds for couples in some of the rooms. I had loads of fun with all the other guests. — Ingrid (2005-07-06)