The Hostelz.com Review
Castaway's Backpackers is located just outside of the main town. It's a nice, clean hostel, with rooms located both within the main two-story building as well as in a motel-type style. It is a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, so those looking for a party place may want to look elsewhere. There is a big kitchen and spacious lounge room with comfy couches where you can watch free movies, though quiet time is at 10:30 p.m. Some bedrooms are located right next to the lounge room, so the quiet time is important. There are also several outdoor sitting areas, including a small pool, large balcony, and a few picnic tables around the parking lot.
It is about a ten- to fifteen-minute walk into town, or the hostel offers around six to eight shuttles a day to and from town, ending when the office closes at 6 p.m. There are a few additional shuttles into town early in the evening, hosted by Woolshed, where you can have a free dinner. The meals are basic such as spaghetti with bolognese sauce, though you can pay to upgrade to other basic meals. This is good if you're on a budget -- however, Cairns has many good restaurants worth visiting!
Other perks include free bikes you can borrow during daylight hours, which is a nice way to get around Cairns. There are also two free computers you can use to check email. The staff can provide you with ample information on trips and make bookings on your behalf which is extremely helpful. Reception closes early at 6 p.m., however they do accommodate for late arrivals. During office hours, Castaway's also offers free shuttles from the airport, which saves you a few dollars.
The rooms are clean with a fan and a coin-operated air-conditioner that you must pay for. Some of the mattresses could be replaced, with the bed springs easily felt throughout the night. The bathrooms are kept clean, however there could be more sinks. The main negative feature of the main bathroom is that the lights turn off after five minutes, so you may want to make sure your evening shower is quick! All in all, a decent place to stay for the price in Cairns.
It is about a ten- to fifteen-minute walk into town, or the hostel offers around six to eight shuttles a day to and from town, ending when the office closes at 6 p.m. There are a few additional shuttles into town early in the evening, hosted by Woolshed, where you can have a free dinner. The meals are basic such as spaghetti with bolognese sauce, though you can pay to upgrade to other basic meals. This is good if you're on a budget -- however, Cairns has many good restaurants worth visiting!
Other perks include free bikes you can borrow during daylight hours, which is a nice way to get around Cairns. There are also two free computers you can use to check email. The staff can provide you with ample information on trips and make bookings on your behalf which is extremely helpful. Reception closes early at 6 p.m., however they do accommodate for late arrivals. During office hours, Castaway's also offers free shuttles from the airport, which saves you a few dollars.
The rooms are clean with a fan and a coin-operated air-conditioner that you must pay for. Some of the mattresses could be replaced, with the bed springs easily felt throughout the night. The bathrooms are kept clean, however there could be more sinks. The main negative feature of the main bathroom is that the lights turn off after five minutes, so you may want to make sure your evening shower is quick! All in all, a decent place to stay for the price in Cairns.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2007
Their Description
Castaway's Backpackers Details
|
|
(To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Update Form.)
Map Location/ContactHow is Castaway's Backpackers rated on other websites?
Not listed.
Castaway's Backpackers Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Friendly and helpful Tho this hostel was a little way out of town -- 15 min walk -- they did provide free transport on a regular basis. There was also a voucher for a free meal at the Woolshed in town which was quite adequate and a bit of a bonus when short of cash. Close to other takeaway option. Rooms were clean, not too cramped. The kitchen was well supplied with cooking implements and a shelf/fridge of free stuff left by others which was very handy. Free Wi-fi was great and nice to be able to sit out on the verandas in the hot evenings. Didn't use the pool, tho there was small one to cool off in. — Anonymous , NZ (2010-09-13) Excellent hostel and I recommend it widely. This is the best hostel where I have stayed. The staff was very kindly, they made me feel in home and they helped me a lot. I really recommend castaways backpackers, the hostel is very clean, the rooms are nice, and they have all the services mentioned in their review. Also being aware of the time you arrive, despite the flight arrives late at night. I am very grateful to all members of Castaway's backpackers. — Anonymous , Mexican (2010-08-23) Definitely recommend that one! Really nice and helpful staff and impossibly clean kitchen where you could even use frying pans (really nice). Free wine and cheese night twice a week where you could meet other people. First, we planned to stay only 2 nights, but ended up staying a week, We just loved it! — Anonymous , Slovenia (2010-08-11) OUTSTANDING! We often stay in hostels when traveling (by preference) and this has been one of my favourites. Rooms are clean and beds are great, facilities are awesome and they really make you feel at home. (airport pickups, city dropoffs, free meals at the Woolshed, wine & cheese night). The staff couldn't do enough for us, helping us book trips and try to arrange out-of-the-way activities, and made our stay so much better. Thanks Erin & Laura!! — Anonymous , Australia (2010-07-19) Brilliant! Quality hostel!! Definitely one of the best hostels I've stayed in. the place is always really clean, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the rooms and communal areas are great. It's a nice size hostel, not too big but not too small, ideal for getting to know new people. — Duncan , English (2010-04-04) Best hostel of my travel This is one of the best hostels I have been to in Australia, very nice and helpful staff, a free bus, and free meals -- a lot to do. I would recommend it! — Ann , Germany (2010-01-12) Brilliant We had an amazing stay here, all the staff were really friendly and helpful with any trips we wanted to organise. The owner Leslie was an absolute diamond and went out of her way to be helpful, she even suggested we could come back and shower in the hostel before flying out from cairns a week after we would have checked out! good location too, free bus to and from town centre and a comfy living room and clean kitchen, what more could a backpacker ask for! — Anna , British (2009-12-02) Great accommodation for the budget-conscious traveller Very clean, comfortable accommodation. The friendly staff couldn't help us enough -- we'll definitely stay here again when holidaying in Cairns. — Sharon & Ken , Australia (2009-11-16) Nice place with friendly staff Castaway's is a good and perfectly sized hostel in Cairns. The rooms are nice, they have a good backyard with good possibilities for BBQ, and they have good cooking facilities. The staff is also welcoming, friendly, and helpful. If I'm going to Cairns again, this is the place I will stay. — Joern Johnsrud , Norwegian (2009-09-20) Great place, well run but beware of security Neat, comfortable, quiet place but beware of the louvre windows. I noticed a few had been replaced and on our last night we discovered why. One of the rooms was broken into when someone forced open the louvre window and reached in to grab something off the table. I recommend the place but would warn people to keep things away from the windows and put something in front of the door so no one can get in without waking you. The owners should put dead locks on the doors so no one can reach on and open them, and the tables should be redesigned to make it impossible to grab something through the window. — Athol , Australia (2009-08-30) Great We had such a great stay here, it was a perfect end to our trip, shame not all hostels are the same as this! Very clean and tidy. Friendly staff who could not do enough for you. Free meal at night in the woolshed and free wine and cheese nights, very fun. Also free internet was very good. Would recommend. — Annabelle , English (2009-02-26) Very nice hostel This was a very nice hostel. The rooms were great and the kitchen and toilets/bathrooms always clean. The staff were very noisy in the evening but also nice and helpful during day. Provides you with free-meal-vouchers. — Sofie , Denmark (2008-12-28) This was the first hostel we stayed in during our oz trip and we were spoilt! Had a private room and it felt like we were in a hotel. Really friendly, had some great advice from the staff. Would definitely recommend it. — Ade and Bec (2006-11-29) It's a really nice hostel, no bunks, clean, and good atmosphere. I wasn't too happy though that they told me one price on the phone and when I arrived it was more expensive. Obviously I was the one that had misunderstood. Yeah right!! It seemed like when it gets busy in Cairns everyone puts their prices up as they wish. — Mirjam (2006-08-03) Helpful, funny staff that tried their best to help me out with all my questions. A bit longer than tem minutes from downtown, but there is a bus that goes in to town like 7 times a day. Best recommendations. — C (2006-01-31)