Codge Lodge Backpackers

Most horrible place in the world!
This place equals danger. There is no work there so don't believe them unless you owe them rent, then there is loads. It smells of feet. The kitchens are a health hazard but the people are actually cool. I had some bloody great drinking sessions and met a lot of great people.

Ok, What to start with. Don't go there. Not even Innisfail. The work is sh*t and the money too. me and my mate stayed there for eight weeks and in a double room and that time our room wasn't cleaned not once! And we asked and anyway we had to pay 140AUS for the week. And they really charge for using the aircon and everything that's been already mentioned in these reviews. The cooking facilities are really poor and pots and pans are totally not good for use.(and Kinny wont buy new ones). In my time people there used to get sick and we all thought that's because house number 3 has fungus. Kinny has a bad drinking habit and that really affects the people and things in there. Then there are one hundred and one really stupid rules that you have to obey if you don't want to get trouble. Only house number 1 has proper TV an DVD. There's three not good working computers in the main house so maybe you can read your email but that's it. For laundry you have to pay and dryer too. The lifts to the beach are once in a month and that's it. Yeah there's a pool but the water is freezing and you don't have to use it because it's rains most of the year except summer of course. Hopefully this true story will confirm you not to go there. Save your time.

An experience
I stayed at the codge lodge in 2005 i think it was around october. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my time in australia. our first night was spent in a banana fridge in a lay by that dave had told us was a separate hostel with sky TV. we woke up to a plague of insects and the odd rat! after a sleepless night we were picked up at about 5 or 6 a.m. for work the next day. The work is hard, but the money is good. Although i injured my foot humping and worked the rest of the time in a box factory! everyone had jobs during my stay! We were moved into the hostel on the second night onwards. we met lots of people, got drunk quite a lot, and generally worked hard and played hard. rooms were well air conditioned and pool is cool!

Great
I loved staying in Innisfail Codge Lodge! Don't stay anywhere else. everything else is very sleazy! I stayed at the Codge Lodge which was great! They will pick you up at the Bus station and also take you back when you leave! Innisfail is a very nice place and also very close to Cairns! Lots of nice people all the time! They look for work and bring you there and pick you up after. Every weekend there is something to do like bus trips to cairns, waterfalls. If you like the beach there's a bus service from the Lodge or you can take the bus to Cairns or Mission Beach! There is also always something to do the pool is great or you can go to the riverside, to the botanical garden, it's a nice view around Innisfail and there are great places to visit! The Accommodation is good and it's not expensive, free Internet, washing, ping pong, games.

Worst Management I've Ever Seen
Backpackers, do not stay at this hellhole. this place is officially one of the worst i've ever seen and stayed in. I would not even rate it as One Star, it simply doesn't deserve that reward. The management, well one person -- Kinny (aka man) lies and treats you like dirt. Kinny posts flyers/posters all over Cairns and the surrounding areas of Innisfail which are all bare face lies. I mean Free of Charge Broadband Internet when they only have three computers which are not Broadband and are more like Snails. One has a Blue Screen which is totally impossible to look at, the others all have sticky keys, which result with you having to delete repeated letters when you type an email. None of these pc's have soundcards, so you cannot listen to any music. The cd-r Drives are broken, if you think you're going to be able to rip you photos from a cd and upload them -- then think again. As for Videos, Don't even go there. When you speak to Kinny over the phone to come to work at Codge Lodge she doesn't state that the Internet is only supposed to be used for email. You cannot download anything on these pc's -- They are completely locked down by Kinny. That was the first lie -- Secondly, Free Washing Machines. Another Lie. Was told over the phone that you can use Free Washing Machines to wash your clothes as Banana Picking, Humping is Dirty work and everyone should know this. Washing Machines clean clothes by using Hot Water -- These are Cold Machines, There is No Hot water To clean clothes. Another Bare Faced Lie. Your clothes will be ruined, they will be caked in crap -- not to mention that Kinny uses the same washing machines to Bleach all Bed Sheets. There is a no noise policy after 10. Your Alcohol will be taken away. You cannot eat in the TV room. Kinny will turn off all electricity if you break this rule. Even by having music on. She is an Alcoholic and goes into raging drunken fits against people. This place should be classed as a health hazard.

Poor
Well, to begin with it's a pretty nice hostel, pretty clean, pretty quiet rooms aren't too bad. I stayed here for a total of fifteen weeks and I can tell you that the manager (Kinny) -- or the little old man as we refer to her -- is a complete two-faced jackass. Take the day I left for instance, I was at work and my bus was supposed to leave at 6 p.m. so I got home, took a shower and packed my stuff. Then I go talk to Kinny and she says I have to pay $10 day-rate. I mean seriously, I had been there for fifteen weeks paying $140/ week for a pretty crappy hostel and then she charges me $10 for a shower?? Anyway stay away from her when she gets drunk (which happens all the time) cause then she can be a complete jerk. She also kicked my friend out (won't mention the reason here but it was really lame) and she called up all the other hostels in town and warned them about my mate, so he couldn't stay in Innisfail anymore. After that incident five of my mates moved to another hostel, and ten more people left within two days because of her. And this is not just a single incident. She is always a greedy jerk. If you are looking for a good time go to any other of the hostels in Innisfail, they are much better, I can promise you that.

the hostel is clean and it is quite as there is a no noise policy. the main house has the best rooms, the second and third house are good, too, but not as cosy as the main one. the kitchens are clean and you can actually use them, other hostels in town have really disgusting cooking facilities. if you want to work on a farm or in a shed this is an excellent place to stay as you will need to rest properly and you can relax in the tv room or beside the swimming pool. the manager will help you to find work, but bear in mind you have to tell her how long you intend to work for and make sure she understands exactly what you are expecting. she doesn't take any sh*t and she will help you out with anything if you need help. the best place to stay in town especially if you are working to get the second W/H visa. if you get a double room on if you stay in a dorm this hostel is cheaper than others in town.

Dave is no longer at Codge Lodge. The hostel is clean and well run. Work was available for me immediately, however Innisfail is still recovering from the cyclone in March and plantation work will not be back in full swing until January '07. Enjoy Xmas and give them a ring then.

stayed in codge lodge for about two months. i was one of the lucky ones who was able to get work (because i got it myself, not through the hostel). Dave the manager should be locked up. He is clearly unstable and needs medical attention. Dave is very dangerous after a few beers and will do anything to get a dollar out of you. Do not stay here if Dave is still running the hostel.

codge lodge sucks! The house is okay, free internet is cool, but the manager is f***** arrogant. Me and my friend had to leave after a week, didn't get paid and simply called him and asked for the phone number of that paper factory we worked at and he absolutely freaked out and hung up. But if you nevertheless should go there dont miss the free soup on tuesday.

This guy is a sick b*stard. If you are a lone female, please do not stay here, be EXTREMLEY wary, especially if your english is limited as you will be taken advantage of and quite possibly (in fact definitely) be sexually assulted. Be warned, this place is bad.

Ok this is how it is. The building itself is great. It could be one of the most comfortable places I stayed in while in Oz. However it is hard to be comfortable when the manager is an arrogant, abusive, drunk who I wouldn't trust with my money or passport. I stayed there for about a month. For the most part I could put up with it. After all I had a pretty good job. I was a lucky one. However I can only take so much. During my stay, on separate occasions Dave the manager, while drunk, exposed himself and verbally and physically assaulted a female backpacker. The assault resulted in the verbal and physical assault on myself. The manager challenged me to a fight. I am Canadian. According to Dave, and I quote, "all Canadians are soft c*nts." When the police arrived Dave told the officer that he didn't have any of our passports when they were in fact stored in a safe in his office. If I were Asian, specifically an Asian girl, I would avoid that place at all costs. Bad things happened involving the manager and owner. It truly is a shame because the lodge itself is very nice. It is unfortunately owned and operated by a couple of immature criminals. There is a great "retreat" next door to the Codge Lodge. Amazing hospitality. I wish I had stayed there from day one.

Codge lodge is absolutely rubbish...ha ha only kidding! The Codge is the bees knees, if you're going to do some harvest work in Innisfail then you really don't want to stay anywhere else. One of the best working hostels in Oz without a doubt. Stayed in a few around Oz and none of them come close. Stayed in the Codge for three months and every night and day kicked ass, loads of barbecue parties and pool parties and every other party you can imagine. Made working on the bananas so much easier knowing you were going back to a nice clean environment with loads of like-minded travelers. What's great, too, is that most dorms are only a couple of beds and if you're lucky enough you can also get your own room. If you don't mind a bit of hard work you'll get an ace job, too. I made brilliant friends with Dave and Shaye (the managers) too, and if you play your cards right they'll even invite you into their pad and cook you dinner! Cheers Dave and Shaye and everyone else at the Lodge for some unforgettable times!

What can I say? I spent three months in the place and had one of the best times in Oz ever!!! I met the most amazing people and made brilliant memories. Worked hard all week and partied ALL weekend! Innisfail was the place to be!! Rumours Nightclub.... hilarious!! Fantastic times were had at Codge Lodge.... wouldn't you agree? Party Paul, Janie, Craig, Amanda, Michelle, and everyone else!!! Told you I'd put in a good review, Dave!!!

Codge Lodge. All I have to say is that it may be the most unorganized hostel in all of Australia. I stayed there for five whole weeks and the place went through three different managers, Wilco, George and Dave (they were all alcoholics). We did everything in our power to give him the worst time ever. DO NOT trust Dave, he is an idiot. He lost someone's passport, attacked a friend of mine and is just a complete liar. The rooms smell. Over all, the place is fun if you want to party and make some cash working bananas. Word out to Walt, Clare, Garrett, Dan, James and everyone else who made that place a fun place to be!