Albany Backpackers

This medium size hostel is situated just a 100 yards from the foot of York Street, the shopping main street in Albany with the Town hall and banks. So it is within easy walking distance to the supermarket, ATM's, fast food outlets etc. Just next to the hostel on Stirling Terrace are a couple of bars and Dylan's, a good restaurant. The tourist information centre is also near to the hostel. However the hostel reception staff are around all day and have maps and contacts for all the main sights in Albany.

The hostel itself has good facilities - plenty of pre-pay internet terminals, 2 TV lounges, pool table, vending machines, adequately equipped kitchen and garden (with BBQ) out the back for smokers. There is 24 hour parking on the side street next to the hostel. The hostel also has bikes for hire for either half a day or the full day. This can be pretty useful as unless you have a car, most of the sights such as Middleton beach and the blow holes are a bit of a hike. There is a very scenic walking/cycle path from near the hostel to Middleton beach (about 4km), which gives good views over King George Sound and the WWII fort ruins that still remain overlooking the bay.

The hostel is generally pretty clean and friendly. Most of the rooms are upstairs, with late evening drinking only allowed downstairs out of the way. The atmosphere in the hostel is pretty good with a sociable lounge and kitchen. Usually in the hostel there is a mixture of a few long termer's, independent travelers and a number of backpacker bus tours stop off here as well.

So for being close to the city centre and decent facilities, Albany Backpackers ticks all the boxes.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
November 2006