Huon Valley Backpackers

This is a great hostel, really friendly, great atmosphere, beautiful views, and friendly animals. The lady who runs it is very nice, and is like a mom -- very helpful and kind, she always makes you welcome. There are always lots of Korean and Japanese backpackers, who love it here, I spoke to some who had come back to this hostel for a second time. The rooms are comfortable and clean. There's cable TV, and a good games room. Film nights are popular. Internet access is available.They even do laundry for you. The work is seasonal and is organised by the owner as is the transport -- you always get to work! In all I think this is one of the friendliest, best kept country hostels I have ever stayed in, I can see why people come back again!

I stayed in this hostel from end of December to middle of May. For me, there are good and bad things to say about it. First of all, it is a working hostel. The prize is relatively normal in these times -- pretty high. Work is nearly always available, but not everybody likes to pick strawberries. There are as well blueberries, cherries, and apples. But these are season fruits, so there is no garantee for work in these. There is but guarantee for work in strawberries. And you can work about six hours a day for "how much you can pick." The One-Women-Management is a lovely lady and runs the place as good as she can. She never gets angry if she mustn't and I never heard anybody complaining about her being a racist or anything alike. The best time for this hostel is in summer -- in autumn it gets really freakin' cold, especially without any heaters in the rooms and only one in each of the three houses' living rooms. The kitchens are quite nice. In the maintime, of course it gets a bit cozy, but no big problem. There are a lot Koreans and Japanese staying in this hostel and in my opinion that is one big plus, because they are really cool people. If you want to learn how to cook in korean or japanese just ask them! The busservice is quite ok -- you get to work in time. You also get into Cygnet for shopping and sightseeing (as if there was anything) once a day. Cygnet is a rather big village or tiny town and the main attraction is nothing. On sunday and sometimes on other days, a bus leaves for Huonville, which is not too far away and features at least a Woolworths. Hitchhiking is pretty easy in this area and a well-used form of travelling. The climate in the Huon Valley is as mild as in Europe -- you have sunshine and rain and sometimes snow. All in all this hostel is 'not too bad' as my girlfriend would say. It has some flaws -- the reception is only open in the evening (for three hours max), intenet is there but a bit expensive -- and some good points -- the fabulous atmosphere, the great view and surrounding area to explore, the lovely pets, the sports and the TV-room -- and all the things said above. Look up the harvesttrail and then decide when to go there! I am looking forward to meet my friends again in this place. Because we all come back to Huon Valley Backpackers.

I am a local. We were lucky to make friends with a dozen or so of the Japanese and Korean backpackers staying at this hostel. They spent a few days with us, kayaking in the bay and collecting buckets of oysters to take back with them for a party or two. They stayed on and on in Cygnet. They loved our temperate climate and understood that the picking was a bit poor this year. That's how it goes with primary production some times. Our Folk Festival was great this year. They loved it and say they can't wait to come back. The Cygnet people look forward to meeting our regular Asian visitors.

This absolutely the worst hostel I have ever seen. STAY AWAY. The staff misleads you when you call to inquire about whether or not there is work (THERE ISN'T!). People there didn't even usually manage to make more than $10 more than what their rent is for the night -- bent over for 3 hours strawberry picking and then back to NOWHERELAND for the remainder of the (likely cold and wet) day. Also, more than once I heard the owner of this hostel making racist comments about Japanese people.