Base Magnetic Island

Fab hostel, one of the best ever!
Fantastic hostel! Stayed on beautiful huts on the beach. Staff were really helpful and friendly. Great craic at night time! One of my best memories of australia. Would advise anyone to stay there.

Ruined
i stayed here for three months when this hostel was originally coconuts. it was out of this world! laid back staff, if you could call them that. as soon as you got there it felt you knew them for years! coming back, ruined is this only word for what was paradise -- three days and i moved on further.

Ok, but isolated with little nearby
Base at Magnetic was Base's first "Flashpacker" hostel, and it's now getting a little tired around the edges. Worst are the budget doubles -- $70 may be cheap in the scheme of things, but they are very basic, and with only a tiny portable fan. The flashier doubles come with TVs and Air con, and are probably worth it just for that. The dorms are very cramped, and get amazingly hot in summer with the sun beating down on the tin roof. Note that at the full moon parties, break ins are relatively common in the basic doubles, thanks to the thin piece of gauze over the "window" which can easily be pushed in. You can defeat this by using your towel as a curtain (prop it up with the fan) so no one can see in, and leaving lights, fan, and a radio on. It's not very green, but it works. The pool is ok, but filled with seawater (so it does look a bit cloudy/mucky) but at least you can go in it -- unlike the sea, which for half the year is out of bounds thanks to the stingers. Also, dive schools take over the pool in the mid morning and mid afternoon -- you'll be herded out of the pool area when this happens. I walked to supermarket in Nelly Bay -- that took about half an hour. You can do it, or take the $2 bus. There is nothing closer -- the hostel is literally on an isolated bend in the road. There is just one pay phone here, with long queues thanks to the very poor mobile reception (Vodafone is just possible if you clamber up on the rocks by the point). The bar is enormous but with very strict security at the infamous full moon parties, with different colored sets of wristbands so guests can get to their rooms/the bathrooms but not order a drink at the bar unless they buy a separate $20 full moon ticket. The parties go on to 5 a.m., and are amazing loud so don't stay here unless you are up for it. The bar uses the same sound system to play music at deafening volume from the start of the afternoon too. Sadly the bar manager is heavily into gangster rap, so you have the strange sight of most people cowering in the furthest green patch to get away from the noise. In short, it's fine, but only if you are up for a very big, noisy, party.

Good place. Dirty pool though. But good place. Their Full Moon Party was great! They lock the kitchen at 11 p.m. So no late night munch. That sucked. The TV was crap. Good place to stay though.

After experiencing some of the other hostels along the east coast this place was a godsend. Unbeatable location right on the beach, and I stayed in the female-only sanctuary which means you get a towel and free shampoo and conditioner. Nice facilities and great bar. My only complaint is that some of the rooms are too close to the bar, so unless you have earplugs you'll be kept awake by the music until 2 a.m.

I loved Maggie Island and base was excellent. We stayed in the sanctuary rooms which are for females only and it was luxury after travelling for nine months. Very chilled out, great swimming pool and brilliant views. Had a few bar nights which were good. The kitchen was a little small. Only stayed a few nights as we had a bus booked but could have definitely stayed longer esp for the full moon parties. The staff seemed okay but a little moany when there were too many people around the reception booking in. Being in Maggie lsland was like being on holiday! Would definitely visit again

Attracts a certain type of backpacker. If you like other Base backpackers, large party-type hostels, and to stay on a resort and never leave to explore the rest of the island, this might be for you. But if you prefer something with a bit more character, that's smaller, cozier, and better-located for actually seeing Magnetic Island, then stay elsewhere.

Probably the best hostel I stayed in whilst in Oz-- much better than the other Base Backpackers around the country. Excellent location, great facilities, felt more like a hotel than a hostel. Although, try and get a room away from the bar if you wanna sleep well!

Amazing - first hostel we stayed in in Oz and was by far the best. The private cabins which sleep up to 4 have the most spectacular view and make it a pleasure to wake up to in the morning!! The bar is great and provides some fantastic entertainment. A great place to go if you want to laze by the sea, enjoying spectacular views and recovering from the hangover of a fantastic evening spent with great people! Would live there if I could!

The best way to solve the problem of being cramped in the dorms- is to rent a tent instead -they are $20 pn, permanently errected, well lit, spacious for only 2 people with a good fan.

I didn't really like it here. The dorm was a bit cramped and the toilets a bit far away from our room. The food was horrible. Location is ok, but there is nothing to do.

This is a great place to stay if you are not bothered about being a little cramped in your dorm room. The rooms are clean though and now have air conditioning in them so they are very cool. The location is fabulous, as it is right on the beach. The bar is very good, playing great music, and it finishes at 12, which isn't too late but not too early either. A great place to stay.

I planned to stay here for one night and ended up staying three months! The location is absolutely incredible and facilities would rival that of a 5-star hotel. Although improvements are always possible — this place hasn't got far to go — and what needs to be done is either getting done or being planned. The bar serves wicked cocktails (go Jono!) which are perfect for sipping on while lounging about beside the pool in a spongy day chair while overlooking the beautiful ocean where the sun is shining (approx. 300 days per year). YEW!!! And then stroll back to the cafe for a light meal (you rock, Cam) or jump on the back of a scooter (Timmay!) and cruise around the island that should be re-named "Paradise." Incredible location, fantastic facilities, super friendly staff (especially Deni on reception) and everything you need on site — the best place to stay on Maggie for sure!

The atmosphere here really is as good as you can get! The bar is right on the beach, it is relaxing and the meals are great and semi-cheap. You can hire snorkeling equipment, learn to dive, hire a kayak or just lay on a Thai tanning cushion all day. Some of the rooms may be hot without air-conditioning, so try to get a bed in one of the bungalows on the cliff face so you can catch the ocean breeze at night. And they have full moon parties every month, with music till 6 a.m. — these things are out of control!!

We had a double room and it was lovely! Loads of cushions and fresh sheets. The only thing I would fault was the crappy kitchen and absolute lack of cutlery, plates and cooking utensils.