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Farmgate Backpackers (formerly the Sugar Bowl Caravan Park Childers) specialises in connecting local and international workers with job opportunities in regional Queensland, specifically the Bundaberg region. Located in Childers, we are in the centre of one of Australia's largest food growing regions. We strive to provide safe, comfortable, affordable accommodation for our guests, whilst also ensuring our local farming partners are supplied with the most suitable workers for their seasonal jobs.
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Stayed at Farmgate to complete my 88 days & enjoyed all aspects of the working hostel / life in Childers. The accommodation is brilliant for long term stayers or go - ers as your facilities are available 24/7. The cabins are set out in a mini village type of feel, with a pool & social areas available. The 9pm curfew means it’s no party hostel but arrangements were always made to accommodate any social events which we may have planned. The surrounding areas of FG are good too with Childers town being 15 minute walk from accommodation & 40 minute drive to the local beach. During my stay work was allllways available with the help of Mel in the office going above & beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable & accommodated for. From my experience & stay at FG i would definitely recommend to any other backpacker.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 10 Aug 2021
Hi 903ciaral, thank you so much for the 5 star review, we really apprecaite it. We will you all the best with your travels. Regards, Bill.
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I completed both my 88 days and 6 months in farmgate. I was lucky enough to get a cabin with a bathroom and kitchen included but not all of them are like this! I picked avocados and packed citrus fruit during my time at farmgate, both on good farms. I was never out of work and came back to do my 6 months because I enjoyed my 88 days so much.
Mel in the office was very accomodating and always helped with any queries and looked after us! There is a 9pm curfew for noise (even on the weekends) but, other arrangements can be made if it’s a special occasion!
Farmgate is a good place to get your days done and save money since Childers is not that busy. It has pubs, supermarkets, gym, coffee shops and bakeries, so pretty much everything you need.
I made great friends here and the different cabins allow you more privacy than a normal working.
I’d definitely recommend farmgate to other backpackers who need to complete their farm days.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 10 Aug 2021
Hi BethG1996, thank you for the recommendation and great review. Great hasving you here. All the best with your travels, Bill.
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Spent 4 and a half months at Farmgate doing my 88 days farm work :) Mel, Tracey and bing did their upmost to make sure I had work coming up, always interested in my feedback and made changes to run lists when farmers weren't any good etc I lived in a tent (with a big tarp) and had the work allocation and transport included for a reasonable price considering the average price for working hostels. Free laundry, my own camp kitchen and a very clean pool were big upsides! - That and being so close to town, pubs and shops without bending the bank as Childers is a small town. Also beaches aren't far at 40 minutes drive and there's Bundaberg, Howard and Hervey Bay near by!
Downsides were that is wasn't very busy, like many other places during covid and of course it got busier as I left in February! #unlucky I would have liked to have met even more cool people ♥️
If you are looking for farm work I'd definitely give Farmgate a shout, you don't get the same BS you do with a lot of other places I've heard about.
Miss you all Farmgate family! I'll see you again!
Tent girl xx
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
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Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 25 Mar 2021
Hey Chloe, awesome review, thank you! We very much enjoyed having Tent Girl in residence :-)
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I think staff were reasonable, fair & accommodating. Asking $150 upfront was a shock at first but considering the utilities supplied to the tents and how long you could stay there it was reasonable. However, If it was not up to my circumstances I would not have stayed there due to the cliqueness of long term backpackers.
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Date of stay: July 2024
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 1 Nov 2024
Thank you for the kind comments. We feel we have a great group of backpackpckers through the hostel. I can't imagine anyone being cliquey, but eveyone is different I suppose. All the best with your travels Tyler.
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Would definitely recommend over other working hostels. Although you share a cabin, you get a kitchen between a few of you rather than a whole hostel and you have access to the camp kitchen too. In high season the place was buzzin with lots of predrinks going on before going to the pub. The atmosphere is great! It’s pretty quiet going into low season but at least there’s no queue for the shower.
Work-wise it’s pretty decent, the management have new jobs coming in most of the time so if you finish one fruit season they can put you on something else straight away. I had an hourly paid job the whole time.
Would definitely recommend, especially for solo travellers because you’ll meet loads of people at work and at the cabins.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 25 Mar 2021
Hi AJ5991, a great review and I'm sure other travellers will find it helpful. Cheers, Bill.
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I stayed at farmgate between May 2020 - July 2020. I can not recommend this backpackers enough. I arrived on a Wednesday and by the Monday I had a permanent, hourly job. I got 7 day sign offs every week I was there. Some people say it is expensive for the accommodation you receive, but you have to remember that they find you a job (you don’t have to do anything) they provide transport to your farm, free pool/BBQ/laundry/WIFI/work t-shirt among other things. I have previously spent time at a working hostel in bundaberg and it was hell - I love the idea of everyone in different cabins as opposed to a hostel building. The people you meet are amazing and management go out their way to help & assist you. I never had any problems while staying there. Anyone searching to do their 88days should definitely apply to farmgate.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
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Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 25 Mar 2021
Hi JackAllan, we couldn't have asked for a better review, thank you so much. Bill.
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I stayed at Farmgate from January to July 2020, I started work within 5 days of arriving and throughout this time they have consistently supported me with employment in order for me to complete my 88 days. Staff are friendly and always willing to help. Great place to meet new people and complete your 88 days.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 29 Aug 2020
Hey Laurajlh2020, great review, thank you. We are so glad you enjoyed your time with us.
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Me and my crew have stayed with Farmgate Backpackers from January till now, we have stayed at other accommodation facilities for the "seasonal work program" however this is our best stay so far. The managers Melissa, Lukas and the team take really good care of us. The hospitality is really nice as well, with weekend trips fishing, beach days, shopping trips to Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and much more. It is like a big family at Farmgate which for us, makes our stay more enjoyable. We definitely look forward on coming back next year to stay at Farmgate Backpackers.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
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Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 29 Aug 2020
Hi K2144JSlukea, thank you for such a detailed and well considered review. Much appreciated.
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From when we first arrived at Farmgate backpackers Malissa the manager was extremely welcoming and helpful. She greeted us as soon as we arrived and showed us to our rooms. Our cabins were clean and room mates were lovely.
We were able to get hourly work straight away and the farm we were placed on were extremely accommodating.
Would 100% recommend.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Bill Darby, Owner at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 29 Aug 2020
Hey charliegK2685SS, thank you for taking the time to post such an informative and positive review. We really appreciate it.
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Well done Farmgate. The cabins were reasonable and in line with other backpacker accommodation, basic but clean and well maintained Great swimming pool. The setup is good and payment options are more than reasonable. Staff are helpful, friendly and engaging when it comes to farmwork under sometimes difficult conditions. I've noticed they care and lookout for us when someone isn't well. A Rather good spot for seasonal work.
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from BillDarbyQld, General Manager at Farmgate Backpackers
Responded 27 Jan 2020
Thank for you your review Richard. We enjoyed having you stay with us and hope that you have a great time travelling around the country.
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There are more places to choose from in the Childers area.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Sugar Bowl Caravan Park & Backpackers
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandBundaberg RegionChilders
NUMBER OF ROOMS
50
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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