Bellingen is one of the most alternative towns along Australia's east coast, and the Bellingen YHA Backpackers is no exception. While the hostel offers standard dorm rooms, doubles and singles, it has a unique set of open-concept rooms that overlook a scenic forested area. Difficult to describe, these rooms are similar to a veranda and they overlook the Bellingen River. Privacy can be maintained however, by pulling the sheet/curtain across the open-faced side. (Do you know what an aircraft hangar looks like?)
In addition to these unique rooms, the walls inside the hostel are covered top to bottom with artistic photographs of what I would describe as "tastefully naked people" (apparently taken at the local nude beach). You may also buy fresh eggs from the resident chickens ($0.30 each on an honours policy), and to top it off, as with most alternative accommodations, dogs seem to wander around the premises.
Conveniently located just off of the main street, the hostel is close to grocery stores, bottle shops, pubs, and cafes. As previously described, the rooms are conceptually unique and are otherwise clean. The hostel has a TV lounge, a small kitchen and two funky outdoor patio areas - one with a pool table. The main drawback is the limited number of toilets and showers for the number of guests staying there. While I am not sure what the maximum capacity is (likely 30-40 people), everyone shares the same two toilets and two showers.
The guests are a mixed bag between working travellers, hippie-types, and people travelling the Oz Experience bus. Day-trips are offered to the nude beach and for rainforest walks. All and all, a very friendly chilled-out hostel.
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
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