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Reef Lodge Backpackers International

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

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Online booking is not offered for this hostel, contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed below).
Address
4 Wickham Street, Townsville   Map
Price
$19-00 Dorm no a/c $21-00 Main Dorm a/c $23-00 Small Dorm a/c from $54 Double or twin a/c
Location/Contact
Details
Their Description

Features

  • Kitchen
  • Lockers
  • Gameroom
  • Lounge / Common space
  • Pool Table
  • BBQ
  • TV
  • Movie Library/Rental
  • Book Collection/Exchange
  • Washing Machine (laundry)
  • Clothes Dryer
  • 24 Hour Free Hot Showers
  • Phones (public or in room)
  • Air Conditioning
  • Gym/Fitness Room
 
The Hostelz.com Review
Reef Lodge is a new hostel in Townsville, and is located just off of the main downtown street. This makes it ideally situated to the pubs, restaurants and cafes that line the Esplanade.

While still undergoing renovations, the building is in good condition and the dorm rooms are relatively clean. All rooms have air conditioning, a the more expensive dorms come with a fridge and toaster. The washrooms are a dissapointment, but to be fair, they may be next in line for renovation. There is a TV lounge, a patio and a kitchen area for all guests to use, and a privately operated internet cafe/eatery is attached to the front reception area.

Reef Lodge appeared to lack atmosphere, likely a product of the fact that many of its guests were only there for a short-stay, as Townsville is the main departure point for the very popular Magnetic Island. While the hostel is owner-operated, the owner has a business mind and understands what it means to offer a good service. Thus, if anything is not up to spec, he will be happy to make the necessary changes for you. In addition, he does pick-ups and drop-offs to the Townsville Transit Centre for all of his guests. Another positive factor is the hostel's proximity to the ferry terminal that travels to Magnetic Island.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review


Your Comments
This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites, we don't censor out the negative comments.
We do not validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.
Comment by Kelly, UK
July 2008
Single girls, do not stay here.
The owner/manager is creepy. He is all friendly and smiling when i checked in and his wife was around but when we were alone later that night he became very touchy feely and was a different person. He didnt actually do anything wrong but he would stare at me and touch me all the time and i didnt like it, so i checked out after two days. I went to another hostel and felt much safer. If you're a girl and traveling by yourself dont risk the feelings that i had, yuck, give Reef lodge a wide berth. Its not a good to be creeped out where you are living. I had a job in Townsville and was going to stay for three weeks but not in that place.
Comment by Gemma and Mel, England
April 2008
Boring and not very clean
I stayed here with two friends and they thought the same. No atmosphere and there was also a couple of weird people staying there who gave me the creeps, i did not feel safe, although nothing bad actually happened. On Saturday night the music and noises from the bars is very loud. The room was ok but i think the place overall was run down and could do with a good clean. Maybe for one night but don't stay longer than that.
Comment by Woody
April 2008
Great!
For my short stay with a few friends, it was a great place. Staff were very helpful and everything was kept nice and clean. Everyone who was staying there were nice, and everyone got along well. Recommended to anyone.
Comment by John, Scotland
March 2008
Good stay
I found nine bathrooms and I was staying at the hostel for a week. I had no trouble while staying at this hostel, it was very clean and tidy -- great kitchen.
Comment by MILLIE, Denmark
March 2008
The best place and I've been traveling for eight months.
The Reef Lodge was my home for more than a month cause I absolutely loving the atmosphere. The Owner Dean and Simone are the nicest hostel owners I've ever met. I stayed in three different hostels in Townsville and ended up at Reef Lodge where I decided to stay. The rooms are nice and very very clean. The cleaner actually came in every morning at about 11:30 and laughed at me when I was still in bed. There are some mosquitoes but you cannot avoid that in the tropics. The atmosphere is amazing and I loved staying there.
Comment by Stoaty & Quirky, Uk
March 2008
Best Hostel I've stayed in ever!
I lived at the Reef Lodge with Dean and Simone for three months. They are the most caring, organised, clean, civilized people, and the hostel is ran accordingly. I have never known a hostel, where every single person is friends, like they are in here! The rooms are spacious and airy, the hostel has the most relaxed laid back feeling I have ever encountered from a hostel, and actually I know that most people I met in Townsville had stopped over night, however decided to stay, due to the fabulousness of the reef lodge! Best Hostel in the World as far as I am concerned!
Comment by Krista, Australian
March 2008
Just excellent!
I stayed here for two weeks -- they rescued me from my own disaster! I found the rooms excellent, everything was accessible, and above all the people were really welcoming and really friendly! i stayed in a room of four (two bed bunks), and has plenty of space around to spread your things. Air-conditioning was also a blessing and the kitchen was open and spacious. Truly it's a wonderful place to say especially if your on your own or if you'd like to meet similar people. Its location is excellent, couldn't argue one bit, it's right on the corner of the main street and close to the strand!
Comment by Keiron, United Kingdom
March 2008
Excellent friendly, quiet hostel
The Reef Lodge is one of the best hostels I've stayed in during my year in Australia. Family-run, it has a much more personal feel than a lot of other hostels. Always clean and tidy with one of the best kitchens I've ever seen. Guests are encouraged to party in the Irish pub next door once it gets late so you can always be guaranteed a good nights sleep. Plus a rather impressive range of DVDs available to rent! I'd recommend it to anyone staying in Townsville.
Comment by alex, french
January 2008
True story and fair comments
this one is unbelievable. Four bathrooms for fifty rooms. I didn't sleep because a guy in my room was beaten up and went back to the hostel. the manager let us know he had hepatitis C and will clean the corridors. had no refund for the night! the manager said you can be happy because I let you know at 2 a.m. -- I could have said nothing! cheers mate, first that is against law but that's f***ing immoral! regarding the ambiance, there is nothing at all, just a couple of vagabonds living there. i don't speak about bedbugs. to sum up, place to avoid absolutely.
Comment by Liam, Scottish
November 2007
By far the best hostel i have stayed in while travelling oz
Great community atmosphere. Perfect location, right in the middle of things. Really clean and staff always went out of the way for us. would definitely recommend this hostel to anyone staying in Townsville.
Comment by Nathan, Canadaian
April 2007
Good place to stay. Clean. Has a gym, really nice rooms. Had no problems staying there for my two weeks.
Comment by Sandra
January 2007
What a dump. I stayed here for two nights and was eaten alive by bedbugs. I had to go to the doctor i had so many bites. The manager is rude and thinks he rules the world. Do not stay here unless you are desperate.
Reply from the Hostel: "Sandra came to me for a refund, after she had been to the the doctor. He did not as much as look at her bites and assumed it was bedbugs because she was staying at a hostel. She also spent needless amount of medication from the chemist. I tried to explain the differencebetween the many biteing things in the tropics and bedbugs. No I dont rule the world. But unlike some doctors I know the difference between insect bites and bed bug bites and I dont charge $80-00! Please go to my website to learn all about bedbugs. It may very well save you a small fortune in bills! **thankyou * *dino:-)"
Comment by Doesnt even deserve 1!
August 2006
The hostel wasn't the nicest, front desk was run by a ten-year-old girl. The man owner was a sour bastard who went nuts at us for having two friends over for a quick dinner before we went to the cinema. Signs in the kitchen like "do your dishes or i'll rip your f**king head off" made me feel a bit uneasy too.
Reply from the Hostel: "NO NAMES ??????** Sadly these people cant even leave thier names and they are people who no hostel wants staying. After I had explained to them that we do not have visitors in our hostel after 6PM. They decided to invite thier 2 freinds in for dinner. After I found this out I again explained their friends had to leave. 2 1/2 hours later they were still in the hostel, I got very pissed off and told them to get out. Yes the sign did say this, after 5 days of people using every dish in **kitchen ** and the floor as a dumping ground for rubbish and taking my2 x cleaners 1 1/2 hours each to clean the mess. I do get a bit pissed off at times. Sour somtimes, but I am not a bastard, I know both my parents and they were married. (Look it up in the dictionary) Lastl,y my 11 year old daughter is very good at looking after our office. I am always close at hand!!! **thankyou * *dino:-)"
Comment by rach and jamie
May 2006
staff were nice but room was terrible, the air con from upstairs was leaking through our ceiling so we had a soaking mattress which got sticky in the heat, wouldnt stay there again!
Reply from the Hostel: "Sadly I tried to explain Rach and Jamie that in the tropics we have humidity in the 70% to 0% marks with low temps at night in the mid 20's. If you run your air-conditioner all night with your windows open. It will certainly rain in your room due to condensation. After refusing their request of a refund, as it was their own fault it was raining in the room. It took 2 days for the room to dry out. No it wasn't leaking through the roof. **thankyou * *dino:-)"
Comment by melissa
April 2006
The room we stayed in was really nice and clean. We even had a fridge, kettle and toaster. The kitchen was nice and clean as were the toilets. the TV rooms are outside which meant you get eaten by mozzies at night. The owner wasn't the most friendly guy.
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