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Greenhouse Backpacker

Melbourne

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Address
Level 6, 228 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Victoria, Australia   Map
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Greenhouse Backpacker Online Booking
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Their Description
 
The Hostelz.com Review
Greenhouse Backpacker is part of the Friendly group, which also owns Friendly Backpackers on King Street and a travel agent at the ground floor reception of the Greenhouse. Hostels in Melbourne are generally more expensive than in most places elsewhere in Australia and the Greenhouse is certainly not the cheapest hostel. However, locationwise the hostel is on Flinders Lane, only a two-minute walk from Flinders Street Train Station and Federation Square. There are a number of small convenience stores right next to the hostel on Swanston Street, as well as lots of coffee shops (Degraves Street) and fast food outlets. There is a large supermarket on Swanston Street next to the Bourke Street mall.

The hostel is large, which can seem a bit impersonal, but does have good facilities. The main reception and common areas are on the sixth floor. There is a large TV lounge, pool tables, vending machines, laundrette, dining area, and reasonably well equipped kitchen. There is also a roof terrace on the next floor up with sun loungers and BBQ. The reception desk is open twenty-four hours and the staff are able to provide information on tours and local events. The hostel also organises a pub crawl every week and this can be a good way to meet other people in the hostel. They also organise walking tours, provide free breakfast every day (pancakes on a Sunday), and have a free BBQ once a week.

The hostel is relatively clean and the rooms have air-conditioning. However the pillows are pretty thin and some rooms are in the middle of the building and have no natural light. All rooms have large lockers for storing your stuff (you need your own padlock). Generally the hostel is pretty social but can seem a bit like a hotel with a high turnover of guests. It is a good idea to book ahead as the hostel can be very busy in summer, and unlike other hostels if you don't pay ahead for your bed, then they may book it out to someone else. Overall the hostel has a great location and good facilities, however the size can make it slightly impersonal and there are cheaper and smaller hostels in the area if you are on a budget or looking for somewhere a bit quieter.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2007

How is Greenhouse Backpacker rated on other websites? (NEW)
Hostelworld
Not listed on Hostelworld.
Hostels.com
Not listed on Hostels.com.
HostelBookers
 Overall: 83% 
 Cleanliness: 80% 
 Staff: 78% 
 Location: 98% 
 Fun: 76% 
 Atmosphere: 78% 
 Security: 90% 
Hostelsclub
Not listed on Hostelsclub.

Ratings & Comments

4.3 Average from 22 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site — so take what you read here with a grain of salt.
Comment by Anon, England
September 2009
2 Unfriendly, unclean, disappointing
I was so disappointed with this hostel! Having heard such good things about Cairns greenhouse I thought it was going to be amazing. The hostel is very large, therefore impersonal. The staff were rude and unhelpful. Despite having booked in a for a month they told me I would have to move rooms after a week as I hadn't paid for longer upfront. I pointed out I had an email confirming I would stay a month but they said I still had to move rooms. So i just went elsewhere -- and it was no big loss! It has a good location and free internet. but that's where the good stuff ends. The fleece bed covers you are given to keep warm (all rooms are freezing as there is no natural light) were filthy! covered in hairs and a weird white stain! I went to ask for new ones, only to realise a couple of days later why they were so horrible -- the cleaners only change the sheets and the throws on the bed are never washed! they're just refolded between guests! disgusting! They also closed the kitchen at ridiculous hours so you can't enter between 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and the bathroom was closed for cleaning after 10:30 a.m.! (although cleaning is dubious as they also seemed to have a hair problem in there!) Overall, I would not recommend.
Comment by Rutger, The Netherlands
August 2009
5 Best hostel I've ever stayed at during my eleven months of traveling
Very clean, friendly staff, and most important -- awesome atmosphere. I've met so many great people here and the location is absolutely perfect. Don't stick around for too long though, cause you may not want to leave anymore.
Comment by Jenny, Ireland
March 2009
4 Well worth it
would recommend this to anyone on a budget. it's clean, big, and the staff are friendly and helpful. didn't know what to expect at first but it was a pleasant surprise. the kitchen could be cleaner but that wasn't the staff's fault. the free bbq on a tuesday night was brilliant and the breakfast is good value. stayed here two weeks and would stay again!
Comment by April 2008, USA
August 2008
2 Non-friendly
A friend suggested that I stay in a hostel while traveling around Australia. In Melbourne, I stayed at the Greenhouse Backpacker and my enthusiam was quickly withdrawn. I stayed here for a week and was disappointed with the non-friendly guests that were there. Most just kept to themselves and had no interest in meeting others. Employees were the only people that were somewhat friendly. Room was not clean and very cold from the air conditioning, TV room was filthy with stains all over the furniture, DVD player was non-functional, and the map given to guests was useless. The tours available on the first floor is the only thing worthwhile in this hostel. After a week stay, I was happy to leave. After leaving Melbourne, I went to Airlie Beach on a three-day sailing cruise around Whitsundays, I meet people who stayed in this same hostel and had similar disappointments such as being too noisy and dirty. I would not want to return for a stay while in Melbourne.
Comment by Sept 2006
September 2006
1 I was disappointed by this hostel. The location is good but the building has no character, the rooms are small, and the bedsheets are stained and worn.
Comment by Gidon
August 2006
5 Wow! What can i say? absoloutely amazing, friendliest staff, nicest rooms and bathrooms. Great big TV and communal areas. Perfect location. The best hostel I stayed in during three months of travelling.
Comment by Melissa
August 2006
5 The area is great and close to everything. It was my first time in a hostel and by far one of the greatest I stayed in throughout my trip. The rooms are very secure (they have card keys) the people are very friendly. Whether you want to be by yourself or meet people it can all be done. I would recommend this place to anyone. They have a bar downstairs -- not too popular (yet) but it's a start for the evening. Really enjoyed my stay here -- and they have an elevator! (So glad I didn't have to carry my stuff up and down the stairs!) I stayed at the Greenhouse in July 2006.
Comment by Geordie
August 2006
4 Stayed here for a month in 2005. Was very clean & obvioulsy well maintained. Has some good events every night too. Make sure you ask for a room with a window because some rooms have no natural light which makes it impossible to get up in the morning! Your body just does not know what time it is!
Comment by Simon
July 2006
5 We enjoyed spending five nights at Greenhouse recently. It has an excellent location near to Flinders Station, Southbank, National Gallery. Staff were friendly and efficient and very helpful making transport bookings and restaurant recommendations.
Comment by Marcela Flores
May 2006
5 I stayed at this hostel back in 2004 and it was amazing, clean -- and hey who can say no to the free pancakes? Great people in and around the hostel. I felt very safe because they do have good security. Location is key which was great, you're just few minutes away from the casino and also the train station. Even though I stayed there couple of years ago I recommend it to friends that were gonna go to Oz. If you're looking for a tour to go on I recommend the Penguin Parade.
Comment by Anthon
March 2006
5 An absolute great place to stay! Friendly personnel, clean, a little big and sometimes feels like a hospital, but great rooftop and stunning parties on the top as well. Buy cheap wine and go there to play the drinking games.
Comment by Susanne
February 2006
4 Eating area ***** Staff ***** Rooms *** Kitchen ** TV Room * Location ***** Internet * Bar * Cost ** A place not to forget, with excellent staff, dinner room and right in the city, sadly the internet, game room, TV etc seems to be set in the 80's.
Comment by Kerry Brown (Portsmouth, UK)
October 2005
3 It was like staying at a boot camp. The place had no personality. It was very clinical and big, so you don't really get to know other people as you see new people every day. It didn't really have a very homey feel to it, it was a case of "give us your money and get on with it." Very noisy, too. If you are into the whole party every night until 5 in the morning then you might enjoy it here. On the plus side, it is very clean and the facilities were very good. Good location. Stay in St. Kilda, though! Much nicer!
Comment by Casey C.
August 2005
5 This place was awesome! The rooms were very clean, the bathrooms were insanely clean, and the location is unbeatable! You can walk anywhere in Melbourne within about 20 minutes — MCG, Aussie Open grounds, Crown Casino, Chinatown, everything is right there. Well worth the few extra dollars! The staff were very friendly, too.
Comment by Jana
April 2005
5 This was one of the best hostels we've been to during our six-month trip around Australia. It was very clean, secure and the location is just awesome!!
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The Hostelz.com
Total Combined Rating
for Greenhouse Backpacker
88%
This score is a weighted average calculated from reviews on Hostelz.com combined with ratings on the other major hostel websites (see rating details below).
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