The Hostelz.com Review
Cape Trib Beach House is one of a handful of hostels in Cape Tribulation, and the only one right on the beach. Most travelers come here on trip from Cairns and stay over one or two nights, while some choose to stay longer and soak up the rainforest atmosphere.
Cape Trib Beach House has a tour booking desk in reception and can advise travelers about things to do in the area, including guided night walks and tropical fruit tasting. They also provide suggestions for self-guided walks, along with safety advice.
The Location
Cape Tribulation is a large -- but isolated -- area in Tropical Far North Queensland. As such, none of the hostels is particularly close to each other. The Cape Trib Beach House is right on the beach, which is accessible from the restaurant and bar. It is, however, a thirty-minute walk to the nearest general store, so it is best to stock up on supplies before arriving, especially for those planning to cook their own meals. All of the tour companies that operate to Cape Tribulation will stop at the hostel, and it is also accessible for those doing a self-drive.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms sleep five people, with two sets of bunk beds and one single bed in each room. Rooms have locks on doors (and require a key deposit), but do not provide in-room lockers. There are neither shelves nor cupboards, but there are a few hooks on the wall to hang things. Linen is provided but guests should bring their own towels.
There are bug screens on all of the windows, and the doors tend not to have big enough gaps for rainforest critters to get in the rooms. The rooms are fan-cooled during the day, but also have air-conditioning that can be turned on at night. Private rooms with en-suite bathrooms are also available.
There are two sets of bathrooms, each with separate facilities for males and females. The first set of bathrooms is located nearest to the dorm rooms, along with a communal laundry room. The bathrooms are open, so plenty of bugs make their home there. (Note, this will likely be the case at most of the backpackers, since they are all in the middle of the rainforest.) Travelers should be aware that they may be sharing their sinks and showers with spiders and other bugs, which can be quite large. Bugs are not removed from these bathrooms.
There are also cleaner bathrooms with fewer bugs by the pool and restaurant. Because these bathrooms are near the restaurant, they are cleaned more frequently. Although the front door to the bathroom is open, there are bug screens on the windows of the toilets, so fewer bugs are found there. This second set of bathrooms is a further walk from the dorm rooms, but is worth the walk for the cleaner experience.
The bathrooms nearest the dorm rooms do have shower caddies for toiletries, as well as hooks for clothes, while the ones nearest the restaurant just have hooks, but no caddies.
Common Spaces
There are several common spaces at the hostel. Each block of dorm rooms has a large picnic table outside. There is also a guest kitchen with outdoor seating. The kitchen has a bug screen on the door and window and is cleaned daily. It is quite hot in the kitchen, as it only has a fan for cooling. There is plenty of space to cook in the kitchen, with two stoves, large cubby holes for food, and a large refrigerator for food as well. Cooking pots and pans are supplied, but cutlery is not provided. Guests can hire a cutlery set with bowl, plate, mug and utensils for a price from reception -- the deposit will be returned when a clean and complete set is returned. The kitchen seating is outside, with three tables able to seat a total of approximately fifteen people at one time.
The hostel has a very nice swimming pool, which tends to be a meeting point for most travelers, since the climate is generally hot in tropical Far North Queensland. The pool area is right next to the restaurant, so is convenient for getting cold drinks or ice creams. There are also plenty of lounge chairs. The pool is certainly a highlight of the hostel.
The restaurant and bar area has a sun shade covering the entire seating area, along with fans to keep guests cool and mosquito coils at night. It has a good atmosphere and plays music. They serve meals and snacks at specific times during the day. The restaurant is expensive, so it is a good idea to bring food to the hostel to cook for some meals. In the restaurant area there is also a pool table, games, book exchange, and internet (which is slow in all areas of Cape Tribulation). There are no TVs in the rooms or common areas.
Because most travelers arrive on tours from Cairns, it is quite easy to meet people. The hostel has a social -- but not party -- atmosphere.
Summary
Cape Tribulation is an amazing place to spend a few days in the world's oldest living rainforest. It is beautiful and makes an impression on most people. It is also full of bugs, and very, very hot.
Travelers to Cape Tribulation should be aware that while the area is beautiful, with rainforest meeting the reef and amazing things to see in the rainforest, it is also full of bugs, and is crocodile country. As such, bug repellent is a must, and travelers should take care when walking anywhere in Cape Trib, and should follow the advice of hostel staff regarding walking during low tides.
Cape Trib Beach house is a good hostel with all necessary facilities for most travelers, and it is the only hostel right on the beach. Also note that the beaches are unsafe for swimming in the summer months of November to May due to marine stingers. The best bet for making the most of a visit to Cape Tribulation is to book guided activities, and don't get too bothered by the insects (which will live at any chosen hostel). Bring bug spray!
Cape Trib Beach House has a tour booking desk in reception and can advise travelers about things to do in the area, including guided night walks and tropical fruit tasting. They also provide suggestions for self-guided walks, along with safety advice.
The Location
Cape Tribulation is a large -- but isolated -- area in Tropical Far North Queensland. As such, none of the hostels is particularly close to each other. The Cape Trib Beach House is right on the beach, which is accessible from the restaurant and bar. It is, however, a thirty-minute walk to the nearest general store, so it is best to stock up on supplies before arriving, especially for those planning to cook their own meals. All of the tour companies that operate to Cape Tribulation will stop at the hostel, and it is also accessible for those doing a self-drive.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms sleep five people, with two sets of bunk beds and one single bed in each room. Rooms have locks on doors (and require a key deposit), but do not provide in-room lockers. There are neither shelves nor cupboards, but there are a few hooks on the wall to hang things. Linen is provided but guests should bring their own towels.
There are bug screens on all of the windows, and the doors tend not to have big enough gaps for rainforest critters to get in the rooms. The rooms are fan-cooled during the day, but also have air-conditioning that can be turned on at night. Private rooms with en-suite bathrooms are also available.
There are two sets of bathrooms, each with separate facilities for males and females. The first set of bathrooms is located nearest to the dorm rooms, along with a communal laundry room. The bathrooms are open, so plenty of bugs make their home there. (Note, this will likely be the case at most of the backpackers, since they are all in the middle of the rainforest.) Travelers should be aware that they may be sharing their sinks and showers with spiders and other bugs, which can be quite large. Bugs are not removed from these bathrooms.
There are also cleaner bathrooms with fewer bugs by the pool and restaurant. Because these bathrooms are near the restaurant, they are cleaned more frequently. Although the front door to the bathroom is open, there are bug screens on the windows of the toilets, so fewer bugs are found there. This second set of bathrooms is a further walk from the dorm rooms, but is worth the walk for the cleaner experience.
The bathrooms nearest the dorm rooms do have shower caddies for toiletries, as well as hooks for clothes, while the ones nearest the restaurant just have hooks, but no caddies.
Common Spaces
There are several common spaces at the hostel. Each block of dorm rooms has a large picnic table outside. There is also a guest kitchen with outdoor seating. The kitchen has a bug screen on the door and window and is cleaned daily. It is quite hot in the kitchen, as it only has a fan for cooling. There is plenty of space to cook in the kitchen, with two stoves, large cubby holes for food, and a large refrigerator for food as well. Cooking pots and pans are supplied, but cutlery is not provided. Guests can hire a cutlery set with bowl, plate, mug and utensils for a price from reception -- the deposit will be returned when a clean and complete set is returned. The kitchen seating is outside, with three tables able to seat a total of approximately fifteen people at one time.
The hostel has a very nice swimming pool, which tends to be a meeting point for most travelers, since the climate is generally hot in tropical Far North Queensland. The pool area is right next to the restaurant, so is convenient for getting cold drinks or ice creams. There are also plenty of lounge chairs. The pool is certainly a highlight of the hostel.
The restaurant and bar area has a sun shade covering the entire seating area, along with fans to keep guests cool and mosquito coils at night. It has a good atmosphere and plays music. They serve meals and snacks at specific times during the day. The restaurant is expensive, so it is a good idea to bring food to the hostel to cook for some meals. In the restaurant area there is also a pool table, games, book exchange, and internet (which is slow in all areas of Cape Tribulation). There are no TVs in the rooms or common areas.
Because most travelers arrive on tours from Cairns, it is quite easy to meet people. The hostel has a social -- but not party -- atmosphere.
Summary
Cape Tribulation is an amazing place to spend a few days in the world's oldest living rainforest. It is beautiful and makes an impression on most people. It is also full of bugs, and very, very hot.
Travelers to Cape Tribulation should be aware that while the area is beautiful, with rainforest meeting the reef and amazing things to see in the rainforest, it is also full of bugs, and is crocodile country. As such, bug repellent is a must, and travelers should take care when walking anywhere in Cape Trib, and should follow the advice of hostel staff regarding walking during low tides.
Cape Trib Beach house is a good hostel with all necessary facilities for most travelers, and it is the only hostel right on the beach. Also note that the beaches are unsafe for swimming in the summer months of November to May due to marine stingers. The best bet for making the most of a visit to Cape Tribulation is to book guided activities, and don't get too bothered by the insects (which will live at any chosen hostel). Bring bug spray!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2010
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Cape Trib Beach House Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Almost great Amazing location right off the beach -- where else can you find miles of pristine beach with six people on it? The dorm rooms are small, and depending on which one you're in, it's a bit of a walk to the bathrooms. My only real complaint about Beach House is that the atmosphere at the cantina/bar is not very social and the food is a bit overpriced relative to the quality. But you can always buy groceries at the IGA next to PK's and cook for yourself in the kitchen. — ala737 , USA (2007-10-19) Cape Trib Beach House has the perfect location for this area -- right on the beach with the individual cabins and pool surrounded by rainforest. Beautiful location. Not a party atmosphere if that's what you're looking for -- a nice, quiet atmosphere that enables you to enjoy the sounds of the rainforest. Our family dorm room was clean -- just a musty smell that was probably due to the humidity and rain during the rainy season. The main thing we didn't like was the bathroom -- the common one closest to the office needs to be renovated, similar to the one near the bar/restaurant. The sinks didn't drain properly, one toilet was flooded, the floors were dirty from outside, and the showers were not very nice. If you get a cabin with an en-suite, it would be a much nicer place to stay. But, on the other hand, if you want a rustic stay in the rainforest, you've got it! — Kim , Canada (2007-03-27) The staff was friendly and helpful. The rooms were nice. The communal kithcen bathroom could have used a good scrubbing. The bathroom was usually covered in a layer of muck and filled with all sorts of creatures.
The Beach House's location away from it all is part of its charm. However, since this place is quite far from the few bars and restaurants around town, you have to find your entertainment there at night. Unfortunately, the bar closed fairly early while I was there. (Strangely, it closed earlier on the second night I was there despite the fact that there were more people.) — Beth (2006-03-21) Just stayed here (13 Dec 05). Initial impressions were good although you have to drive on a 3km unsealed road - this makes most hire car insuramce invalid. Unfortunately, due to uncleanliness under the fridge, we had a cockroach infestation. Not easy trying to sleep with giant cockroaches trying to cuddle up to you. I killed 17 in all during an unpleasant night...many others got away. This was not what i expected from the premium rate St Crispin cabin. In addition, after close the kitchen had rats in it. They crawled over the fresh fruit and cereals that were later out at breakfast. This explained the outbreak of stomach complaints amongst the resort guests. The staff, who were intially friendly and helpful, dealt with the complaints poorly. They kept replying "this is the rainforest, what did you expect?"...perhaps a clean room that didn't invite infestations of cockroaches. Other guests in the backpacker dorms were also dealing with serious bed bug bites. If you value your health, sanity and a good nights rest then avoid this place. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! — Dan Arlett (2005-12-20) This hostel is great for people who just want to get away from it all. It's located in the middle of the rainforest so expect bugs and insects to be everywhere. The food was great if not a bit expensive, but all in all, it is a nice relaxing place to stay. — Elaine (2005-02-24) I loved staying here. This place has a lovely staff, and you feel so relaxed and happy here! Everyone is friendly, and I had a great time. — Leigh (2004-09-15) Fab place to stay - we had a wonderful time in Cape Trib. It's great if you want to get away from it all, as it's literally you, the rainforest and the beach! Food is fantastic -- make sure you try the divine puds too! I have heard some say the bistro was a little pricey. Maybe it is a bit more than the usual backpacker fare, however the portions are huge and the quality so high that we didn't begrudge the price. Highly recommended hostel!! — Anonymous (2004-06-01)