Online booking is not offered for this Hostel. Contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed below).
Please see Townsville for other available Townsville hostels and accommodations.
Please see Townsville for other available Townsville hostels and accommodations.
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.
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
March 2004
Their Description
Reef Lodge Backpackers International Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | 4 Wickham Street, Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Location | |
| Website | www.reeflodge.com.au |
| Telephone | +61 (7) 4721-1112 |
| Fax | +61 (7) 4721-1405 |
How is Reef Lodge Backpackers International rated on other websites?
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Great time The hostel is a nice place to stay. I'm here for two month now and i really like it. The rooms are not to basic and clean. Also the bathrooms and the kitchen (except the other backpackers didn't clean their stuff). It's a few minute walk to the beach, to the pubs and to the shops. The owner is strange. But if you follow his rules you shouldnt have problems with him. I really enjoy my time here and i met a lot of nice people. A unforgettable time. — Ines , German (2011-12-23) Nice stay! On the 23. December 2010 we were supposed to be on the way to Mission Beach! It was canceled, because there was a flood in Queensland and no Greyhound Buses running up to the north. So we were stuck in Townsville. The manager was very helpful and friendly. Every day we had to check if the buses were running, so he already made a reservation for the room, so in case when the bus is not running we have a place to stay. The most visitors had the same situation so we had a good atmosphere. The manager offered us at Christmas day a FREE barbecue. Finally we could continue our travel, so we checked out at 10.00 am. but we could still use the tv "room". We strongly recommend this fantastic place! — Swiss Girls , Swiss (2011-01-04) Ok, not great Room was a good size, but very noisy, the outside TV area was good with sofa hammocks to laze in. It is not six hundred meters from the transit centre though so do not believe them. it was a very far walk, especially in the rain with our bags! — **B** , British (2009-01-19) 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. — Kelly , UK (2008-07-06) 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. — Gemma and Mel , England (2008-04-13) 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. — Woody (2008-04-03) Excellent. I originally wasn't going to post anything regarding the incident which happened toward the end of December, but having read Alex from France calling Dean, Simone, and their eleven-year-old daughter a bunch of "vagabonds" I've decided to comment my opinions. And my opinions are right, true, and just. Alex from France's "true story and fair comments" is only a half truth; the comments were far from fair. I was staying at the Lodge on the night of the fight, and I can confirm that yes, there was a brawl. Yes, the bloke who was beaten sh*tless bled everywhere. And yes, he did tell the Ambo's that he had Hep C. However, he later admitted to lying about it, so he didn't have Hep C after all. The next day, I witnessed you and your friends confront Dean and his wife. Refund my ass, you wanted to upgrade to a double room for free. You said that you "[got] no refund for the night!" but Dean and Simone run a business, not a charity. "The manager [Dean] said you can be happy because I let you know at 2 a.m --" -- let me finish that for you. For two hours, from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., Dean and Simone relentlessly went over all of the corridors and whatever blood they could find with chemicals to get rid of the risk of Hep C. Two hours he cleaned for yourR safety, mine, as well as everybody else's. The Reef Lodge is the best hostel in Townsville. — Alex , Australia (2008-03-11) 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. — John , Scotland (2008-03-10) 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. — MILLIE , Denmark (2008-03-07) 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! — Stoaty & Quirky , Uk (2008-03-07) 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! — Krista , Australian (2008-03-07) 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. — Keiron , United Kingdom (2008-03-07) 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. — alex , french (2008-01-01) 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. — Liam , Scottish (2007-11-30) Good place to stay. Clean. Has a gym, really nice rooms. Had no problems staying there for my two weeks. — Nathan , Canadaian (2007-04-16)