Barnacles Backpackers

Ten weeks
This is the best hostel when I was in Oz. I have a great time over there. And the owners are very nice and responsible person. Just the second day, they gave me a good job, I am so happy for that! And they let me save the big money for the after traveling. And they have a good relationship with many farmers. This is very important for supplying us jobs. And the hostel is clean and tidy, they have cleaners keep clean up everyday. The owners (John and Christine) will welcome you come there!

The best working hostel I've stayed at!
I stayed at another hostel before moving to Barnacles. The owners found me really great work within a couple of days and I stayed in that work for about fourteen weeks. I made a lot of money so that was good. The owners are really good people who go out of their way to help you.They don't tolerate idiots who spoil the fun for everyone else, if your serious about working and making lots of money this is the best Hostel in Bowen. The facilities are great and the hostel is about two hundred metres from the main street so everything is within a few minutes walking.They drive you to the beach on your days off as well. the owners John and Christine rock so does Barnacles. five stars for this hostel.

Nice
The owners are both legends and the dog legend was a legend also. They found me a good job and treated us well. They are not perfect but they are characters! miss them both.

Barnacles backpackers on the whole was good, it actually has some good facilities, and plenty of work offers if you arrive at the right time of the season. Although there are two problems with this backpackers and they are, firstly John (one of the owners) -- not only was he so self opinionated and rude, he was regularly heard raving that backpackers are as i quote "a subspecies" and not worthy of his help. more worrying than this though is the fact that he is almost permanently drunk even when driving backpackers to and from work. The second problem with this place is his wife Christine, probably one of the most vicious and angry women i have ever met in my life let alone backpacking. be warned don't go near the office or she'll fly off the handle at you about something or drag you into one of her and john's endless arguments. Not only this but i actually witnessed her frog marching someone to the bathroom to brush their teeth as she thought they were up too late! so be warned as they are also more than likely to create numerous problems between you and the farms you work at.

The owners of Barnacles were know-it-alls.We arrived at three-thirty p.m. to find reception was closed. As we were having supper we got a phone call from the owner at five-fifty saying if we wanted a place to stay we had to leave the restraunt and go check in before six p.m. We were told we had job the next day but we told them we didnt want them because we were just passing through to Airlie Beach. Well the guy lost his marbles on us and completely over reacted, telling us if we were smart we would take the job and work the next six months! He then went on to tell us this was the only place we would find work on the entire east coast and called us liars when we said that we worked other places!

I would imagine that most backpacker places are the same, but I wasn't backpacking so I can't really judge. It was my first experience of a place like this, a working hostel. I found John and Christine both helpful. I didn't like being woken up at 5:30 a.m. but hey! That's the way it was. People were friendly and there was a great atmosphere. Our room was a twin with a wardrobe and fridge and small light, very comfortable by other standards of hostels we came to stay in. John took us to Horseshoe Bay one Saturday and picked us up, he's a genuine bloke. Christine's a bit more serious and sarcastic but a real person, so I have no complaints. It was good value and I would stay again, taking earplugs with me. It's located near everything central in Bowen. Even opposite a Freemason church (dodgy) but I enjoyed myself there and for workers I would recommend it. John and Christine really put themselves out to help everyone. Well done, Barnacle's of Bowen.

Well, I was at this hostel last year and the owners were really, really bad (that's putting it mildly), but since I left new owners have arrived and I hear that they are great and they have updated all the amenities. I can't wait to go back and visit sometime, lots of wicked memories!!!

Barnacles was the best hostel I have stayed at in Oz. The owners are very friendly and great fun and the place has a very homely feel. Plus they do their very best to get you work, even if there is very little around.

The new owners ROCK!!! I'd go back any time.

I had a great time here — thank God for the new friendly, fantastically accommodating owners. I knew nothing about farm work in Australia and they were so helpful. They hooked me up with a great job, and they even provide a bus service to get you there. Bowen has great beaches and the hostel is clean and has a good vibe. It's a must.

The owners are the only problem with this venue! Unfortunately they are very old and very old fashioned and their communication is at times very abusive/rude! However bear in mind you are there for the money, not the owners friendship, and there are jobs about however poor they are!

This hostel is clean and well run. The new owners try their best to find you work. I had a good time here and would recommend it to anyone wanting a comfortable place to lay their head after a hard day's work on the farm.