Emerald Backpackers

Emerald

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Address	2 Lakeview Crescent, Emerald Victoria, Australia Map
Price	120 per week

Location/Contact

Details

Online booking is not offered for this hostel, contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed above).

Description

Features

Kitchen
Lockers
Lounge / Common space
BBQ
Movie Library/Rental
Washing Machine (laundry)
Clothes Dryer
Travel information provided
24 Hour Free Hot Showers

Ratings & Comments

3.8 Average from 9 Ratings

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Comment by Domenic, England

July 2009

Really bad!
The hostel is dirty, awful, and crap! The owner and manager are unfriendly.They only want to earn money and don't spend any money back to the hostel. I am not the only one how got only one week work within two months time. They smoke not only tobacco and drink a lot while never care about the Backpackers. And since the manager do not care about the hostel, none of backpackers does as well. The living room is a mess -- especially the kitchen. There is a lot of weed, beer, and partying during the week and especially on the weekends and the people are smoking in the kitchen, which isn't allowed! The equipment of the kitchen is very poor, old, and very used. The stove does not work really well, old pans, no lids for pots, no tin opener. (The hostel has a non-thinker old cleaner who cleans a bit the hostel for his underpaid job.) The most annoying thing while waiting for a job (at least in the winter times). The heat is turned off during the day and the rooms become freezing cold. There is no wood for the fireplace and if wood, then only wet! This led to a lot of people getting sick in winter. I think a inspection by the health department wouldn't be too bad.

Comment by Elle

August 2008

Ok
I have stayed at this hostel for a few weeks last month and there is now hot water, no bedbugs -- at least not whilst i was there. The place is tatty but is slowly being done up by the manager. The microwaves are brand new, I cant vouch for the stove though! The toilets are fixed the showers are hot, the fridges do smell a little wiffy but if you have a food bag with a zip then no worries. Yes the heating is off during the day (whilst you are at work or out) and then on at night, if its too hot open a window! I wasnt even aware there was a pool or a weights room so I'm not bothered. The farms are not that bad, they pay between $14.50 and $16 per hour plus overtime and weekend work. Theres lots of drinking at weekends but you dont have to participate, you can just stay in your room. Yes the internet connection there is very slow but there is free Wi-Fi and you get half an hour free each day at the library and you dont have to join up. Oh and finally theres lots of room under the bunk beds! Its totally fine and its only one-and-a-half-hours from the city and a half-hour from FountainGate shopping centre if emerald town doesnt have what you need.

Comment by Mike, Australia

December 2007

People great, work good, facilities average (and slowly decaying )
I stayed at this hostel twice in 2001/2002 on my very convoluted work around Australia bicycle trip. I met some fantastic people at the hostel. I quite enjoyed the physical outdoor work at the flower farms. It was a big contrast to what I usually do, and the pay was ok. Not brilliant, but if you put your head down you could certainly save. Some of my emerald money ended up paying for my sea-kayaking in the Whitsundays. The physical aspect of the hostel wasn't the best. Certainly we had kitchen, laundry, and bedbug problems while I was there. Perhaps not as serious as others have described. I would recommend giving it a go. If things don't look up to scratch, clear out and try your luck elsewhere. If you're lucky, you'll have as much fun as I did, and leave cashed up for the next part of your journey.

Comment by Dengue, UK

November 2007

Poor
I stayed at the Emerald Backpackers hostel for a while in 2007. The place constantly had no hot water, which led to a lot of people getting sick and having diarrhea. The residents there barely cleaned, the staff had some lame guy who was underpaid to do it and the microwaves were gross from people boiling food inside them and never cleaning up the spilled mess. The stove didn't work really well. The toilets leaked, the showers were freezing, the lounge area was filthy. The "weight room" was never open, the refrigerators smelled nasty. The heat was off during the day and blasted us out to roasting at night. There was a massive outbreak of bedbugs and the management didn't do anything about it. The back "pool" was a mosquito infested swamp, and the flower farms they had us work at payed really low wages. There was a lot of drugs, beer, and partying on the weekends, which was good, until some guys on mushrooms went off their face and wrecked some stuff. While Emerald is a beautiful area, I think that this place needs to be inspected by the health department. Also, their internet connection sucked and took your money a lot, so bring your own computer or go to the library for internet. There isn't much room for keeping your stuff unless you get a private room or the bottom bunk.

Comment by Tim (nickname Elvis in those years)

February 2006

In 1996/1997 I stayed at Emerald backpackers. I can only speak for that time, but if it has not changed it is such a nice place. A lot of work in the neighbourhood. The hostel attracks a certain kind of people, very mixed, but always getting along. Like Joris mentioned, I can nearly remember every day I stayed at Emerald Backpackers. Very nice spot in Australia.

Comment by Kenny

April 2005

I stayed at the Emerald Backpackers for two weeks and had the best time possible. The scenery is awesome and the staff are really friendly. I did so much, yet it all just made me feel more relaxed, like the Australian locals.

Comment by Joris Rhebergen

January 2005

Even after six years I still can remember every day of my stay at Emerald Backpackers. I had the time of my life and hope everybody who has come to Australia and will go to Emerald has an incredible time.

Comment by Thomas

January 2005

I stayed here for over three months, I think. It's a great place, and I had lots of great moments! I'll never forget it!! I was there from September 1999 till December 1999.

Comment by Ted

August 2004

Emerald Backpackers is a wonderful place to stay! I stumbled upon their ad in a backpacker magazine and it was the best move I made my whole trip. Friendly staff and great friends, not to mention the magnificent scenery, made my stay absolutely the best. I stayed and worked for two months solid. I didn't want to leave, but when I had to go I had made enough money to travel to New Zealand in style!!! If you like the outdoors and a country atmosphere, then you will love Emerald.

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