Normalee Backpackers (working hostel)

Manjimup

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Hostels in Manjimup

Address

Ralston Road, Manjimup Western Australia, Australia Map

Location/Contact

Details

Online booking is not offered for this hostel, contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed above).

Description

Ratings & Comments

2.7 Average from 7 Ratings

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Comment by Steff, Welsh

March 2009

Used to be the best
Stayed here in 1998 or was it '99? Used to be run by Fay and Gill. It was fantastic then. Spent six months in Oz and one month of it at tobacco park -- had the best time ever! Picking cauliflowers and packing apples at Appletech! Met some great people.

Comment by Melanie Cleary

January 2007

This hostel is no longer called Tobacco Park. Its called Normalee Backpackers. Before 2006 it was owned by different managers. I stayed there from Feb '06 to April '06 (yes thats almost three months) and had such a great time. It was my first experience of working in Oz, and Naomi and Leah (owners) took all the hassle out of it for me! I worked Monday to Friday in a tree planting factory and pretty much got pissed every night, played pool and table-tennis, or watched movies. Every wednesday they drove us and collected us from town, where we'd enter in a pool competition, and at the weekends we sometimes went on day trips. It's not the flashiest hostel in the world, but it was clean and safe and very homely. I think they've actually done it up since I left though, and possibly got a swimming pool (not sure). I made friends with people I'm still in touch with now, and thanks to the three months harvest work in a very laid back environment, I'm still here in oz a year later. Ok I'll stop waffling nostalgically now. Melanie

Comment by Eva

February 2006

I stayed for 1 month in this hostel in january and it was quite good. It's not called tobacco park anymore, that was the previous owners, it's now normalee backpackers or something like that. I heard the previous owners were pretty bad, as you can read in the other messages, but I think now it's allright. New matresses, clean dorms, kitchen etc. Free pool and table tennis and I had 3 times a free BBQ in the month I stayed there! Owners are very friendly and willing to help finding you a job. But when you have a day off, there is absolutely nothing to do... The owners can take you to town if you ask it friendly ;)

Comment by Mr.F

December 2005

That's the worst Hostel I ever was in. By Far! Beds feels like being used hundrets of thousands of times before and got bed bugs. I have been there for 5 Weeks and they had to close in this period 3 doorms because of bedbugs... Took some wonderful pictures of creatures on the floor, they were everywhere =) I had a really good group, some funny japanese girls, some pomms germans, dutch people, but everybody really funny. Played pool and drank liters of beer. That's the reason I couldn't save that much money. I picked many different kind of fruits, I have to say I a hell of a good applepicker ! I did not know that before, but I think I am really talented... It's lot of work, nearly everybody gets work there. Bad thing when you don't get a job there is absolutly nothing to do! Price is far too high for accomodation of lowest standard. 3 kitchens, no real pan, something like it, but all the kitchenequipment sucks. In the backyard is a huge lake of wastewater, at hot days (i had only hot days) you smell the inside... Best job I had was Potatoe Packing. Tough thing, but if you're willing to work hard and if you are male that's good money (I did not pay Tax at all while packing potatoes). And you get your cheque at a local pup/betting shop =) If you are there combine it with the Diamond Tree! See ya in Perth!

Comment by Lowester

December 2005

Not so much an opinion but a quest. I stayed at this place in 1999 and for my sins wrote 'The Cauliflour Song' - it was written on the walls in the main longe area (if you can call it that) complete with guitar tabs but will no doubt have been removed/painted over shortly after. I have since forgotten a lot of the lyrics but am keen to remember them and set up a Cauliflour Song website yo reunite the fallen - I know this wont apply to 99% of people reading this but if you fall into that 1% then post a message on here and I'll get back to you - you know who you are. Oh, and as for my opinion on the site - twas the best of times, twas the worst of times - great frienship and spirit - worst job and living conditions I endured on my travels.........you live and learn. Cheers

Comment by Rick - Feb 2002

June 2005

Brutal but you will get work! Absolute group of numpties who run the place. Personality clashes created some amazing entertainment along with their regular attempts to confiscate our beer! After a hard day in the fields you need a beer and this did not go down well! We nicknamed the place "Tobacco Prison" but having said that, if you get a good group of people then you can have a great laugh. Warning about Manjimup itself, drunk German girls, shopping trolleys and local drinking establishments do not combine in a way that will endear you to the local population. And if anyone else can get themselves sacked for not being good enough at picking grapes, let me know. I am quite proud of that one.

Comment by Canadian traveler

April 2005

Really sort of brutal. The guys that run it are family and with some serious attitude clash. The place is not overly well run and is in generally poor condition, but if you stay there you will generally find some work. It may be broccoli picking, figs or apples but that is one thing that the place is good for. If you can avoid Manjimup in general, do so.

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Hostels in Manjimup

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