Federal Backpackers

Great place, i didn't want to leave
I stayed here for three months and had a great time. there are no mice or cockroaches running throughout the place. But yeah, it is a bit old and the kitchen is not perfect, but it is a wonderful place to stay work and party, great people, and great staff.

Not so great
This was one of the worst hostels I've stayed in Oz. The bathroom window was missing its glass, the shower kept changing its temperature, the bathroom sink was broken. Some of the bathrooms had no lights, or no locks. I once had a shower with a cockroach next to me. There were some mice and cockroaches in my tiny room and once a mouse jumped out of my suitcase when I opened it. The kitchen and the fridge room are locked nightly at nine, and the cleaner, who is a racist and a sexist by the way, starts cleaning the kitchen at eight throwing stuff and mopping the floor together with your feet. Your food will be bitten away by mice and possums if you leave it in the kitchen or even in the fridge room unless it's covered and protected. I reckon that's the reason why the box of plates and cutlery they give you when you check-in is covered with cling film. Of course you meet people and make friends and have a good time there, and the place feels like your second home when you get used to it, but that happens anywhere you stay anyway.

ok, it's dirty, small kitchen and the place is old. but this is more than just a hostel, it's a way of life. if you're a snobby five-star backpacker that stays here for one or two nights then you shouldn't comment on it because you don't know what you're talking about. when you get to know everyone (and you will get to know everyone) you will become addicted to the place. they talk about the bundy trap, well i got caught in the federal trap, fancy dress nights in the beer garden are what i'll think of on my deathbed. TV room is so comfy, despite the fact that you will probably end up watching the matrix and kill bill about three times a week. the place got me eight weeks of steady work and brilliant fun. read the comments on the wall, they know what they're on about. enter the pool competition, you'll do better than you think. get smashed at beer garden happy hour. above all, stay here for a while because the memories will be like a crystal ornament in your mind.

When i first got to Federal i wanted to leave straight away. its not the cleanest hostel in the world but the people you meet are amazing. I went for four weeks and stayed for eight then I went back for another eight weeks. I met some of my best friends there and they made my trip to oz. The work is hard but the people make it worth it, the beer garden helps too. thanks to everyone I met in bundy it was the best four months I had.

I made the best friends and had the best memories there about six and a half years ago. It made my trip. The people i worked with fruit picking got me through those jobs. The beer garden was indeed where we all gathered. Got pissed every night.

Thats right, when you get there it is really really dirty. and it is also expensive for what you get. kitchen facilities are rubbish. i found some member of the staff really unfriendly and annoying. the thing they will always tell you when you are there is -- do this or you lose your key deposit. my opinion about this hostel is they love your money. they will charge you for anything -- for example, being late to pay the rent will cost you $20. you will be overcharged for alcohol you buy from the bottleshop because you will drink in the beer garden as it is forbidden inside the crappy building. on the other hand i met many nice people but the hostel is not responsible for that. the rate i'm giving does not correspond to the fun i had or the people i've met but to the facilities and the staff.

The hostel was not the best i stayed in in Oz, but the atmosphere was fab and the people I met I'll keep in touch with for the rest of my life!! The beer garden was the place to be -- to meet, moan, drink, and generally have a laugh with the many people from all over the world after a hard day fruitpicking! One of my best memories of oz for meeting great people. The staff were cool too.

What can I say? This had to be the biggest sh*thole i have ever stayed in. It makes hell look like a godsend. The rooms were crap and the staff were rude. One night in this place and you will be wishing you were home. If you want a decent place to stay, avoid this place at all costs.

I was there a few weeks ago. It ruined my trip. It was dirty, dingy and disgusting, not a place for the faint-hearted. There are better ones around. There is no pool, and no Internet cafe on site.

I stayed here for 5 months. The place itself is not so great but the atmosphere is great. The people who work here are great and friendly. The beer garden is the place to meet people from all over the world. You come here to work and party. Be advised that it's an easy place to get trapped into. If you come here with open mind and the intent to make lots of friends this is the place to be. Don't work at Oscar's or pick any zucchinis. And take the building with grain of salt. Trust me; go here with open mind and you will have lots of fun. Thanks to all the people and friends I met and talked with here. Best time I had!!!

I went to Bundy just to pass through and ended up staying for about three weeks. Federal may not be everyone's taste but it's great for getting work and just having a laugh. The staff were great; I can't believe some people have written they were unfriendly. I overall had a great time here just chilling in the beer garden and managed to save some money, too.

The best place in Oz. I'm serious! The work was pretty sh*tty, but I loved the people there. Every day when we all came home from work dirty and smelly we would sit in our beer garden sharing jugs and good times!! And I can't understand if somebody have anything against the staff. Well of course they are gonna shout at you in the early mornings when you rather eat a frog than get out of bet, but otherwise no money equals no fun, so big respect to Pom, Libby and the rest. A big shout out to the Federal and all the people who were there from April to June 05!!!

I lived in Bundy for nearly two months and this place gave me a fabulous time and two months of relaxation in Laos. The staff are friendly and we had lots of fun.

I stayed almost four months and most of my friends in the hostel stayed even longer. I had the best time and it felt like a second home. Yes, it is not the cleanest hostel, yes, there are bad times, but all in all, it is great. It is really relaxing, not as structured as the other hostels. You sit in the beer garden, drink a beer and enjoy a good conversation, share your feelings and have a good laugh. I cannot believe some people write that the staff are unfriendly...these are great people. Make sure you call the hostel first to ask if there is work!!

I stayed here a few years ago. It ruined my trip. I was surrounded with people who backpack for life, not a vacation; and woke up every morning to people huffing (sniffing) paint thinner. Not to mention that the vibration from the club downstairs doesn't stop till the wee hours in the morning.