Note: This hostel now has a new owner and management (and a new name) and they say they have fixed some of the issues mentioned in this review. We plan to have a reviewer go back to write a new review at some point in the future.
Rosie's Backpackers is a party hostel. If that's not what you're looking for, you would be better off looking elsewhere. It isn't a well organised, clean, tidy, and respected place. It's just a place to soak up the sun, drink, and party.
We booked ahead and were told that we'd be picked up from the bus station. Well, on arrival, there were many backpacker buses, but sadly, no bus from Rosie's. So we tried to phone the hostel, but alas -- our call kept being put straight to answermachine! So we walked. It's a good fifteen- to twenty-minute walk from the bus station and you need a map. On our arrival, there was no explanation for the lack of a bus. Apparently -- the phone was broken too.
We set off to our dormitory -- only to find the keys didn't work. When they were replaced, the dorm was found to be full. When we finally got to our room, an eight-bed dorm, one couldn't tell which bed was actually free. The room was fairly clean with the bathroom loaded with tolietries and beer bottles from the other backpackers.
Rosie's is quite small. It appears bigger, but the whole place can be navigated in seconds. It has a relatively good kitchen, a laundry with cold wash only, a fairly adequate TV room, and fairly nice pool. There are many backpackers here who are around purely to party and get loudly drunk. Indeed a large group of backpackers were extremely loud until the early hours of the morning on our stay.
The reception is generally unreliable. It's small, opens for short periods of time, lacks an actual reception desk, and contains internet facilities (only available when reception is -- so not often). A free breakfast and evening meals are available. Barbecues are also held on Sundays.
Rosie's is a young, untidy, party-style backpackers hostel, but lacks the facilities and space to be a great all around hostel. As indicated, it appears the backpackers rule here. Only recommended if you're under 25 and purely in Cairns to stay up all night and drink and soak up the sun.
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— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
June 2006
Location/Contact
4.6 Average from 7 Ratings
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