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HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Languages Spoken
English, French, Dutch, German and 1 more
Property amenities
Paid private parking on-site
Car park
Pool
Outdoor pool
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Shared kitchen
Laundry service
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
Room features
Desk
Safe
Clothes rack
Iron
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
5-11 Egan St, Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales 2042 Australia
Summer House Backpackers Newtown
160 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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I stayed at Billabong Gardens for three weeks on a working holiday - I got a private en suite room for the first two and a bit weeks, but had to move to a private / shared bathroom room for the last three nights.
My experience was pretty mixed: Newtown is an awesome location, great pubs, bars, restuarants, a cool vibe and just close enough to the city. Loved it. The private rooms are also pretty nice: I felt cosy and the decorator obviously had a thing for ikea. The little fridge & kettle were great and I loved the wireless internet! The staff were helpful and friendly too, and they have a cat. All scored points.
The downside: this place is NOISY. The courtyard in the middle of the main building is an echo chamber and having backpackers singing at the top of their lungs til 2am wasn't my idea of a lullaby when I needed to work early the next day. If you're out there partying then this is the place for you - families and workers, not so much. A real shame!
I'd also recommend the private en suite rooms - when I had to shift to the building next door for the shared bathroom room, it was dissappointing. A bit run down and the toilet nearest my end didn't work.
The verdict: a great place to stay, if you like to party and have a private en suite room.
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Date of stay: August 2008
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.
Another reviewer hit the nail on the head when he/she mentioned you are entering the home of other people when you arrive at Billibong Gardens and my goodness you will be made to feel like an impostor.
The hostel has great potential due to location, price and size but it is struggling in many places - the kitchen is incredible dirty, with old equipment, passive aggressive notices about being kicked out if you don't do your dishes (which never happened while I stayed there but staff are watching CCTV and will scream at you), dirty fridges, and not enough space.
Smoking is allowed in the communal area within the hostel walls which just happens to be directly outside the kitchen door which is never closed - the staff join in the smoking so when I challenged this I was told "its the smoking area, nothing we can do" - it is entirely disgusting to allow this to continue and I am almost sure against the law now in Australia from the 1st June.
There are particular members of staff (young red head and young bearded guy) who were helpful enough but I was amazed by the antagonistic, snippy, and rude attitude of the older members of staff from the moment I checked in. Is this the way Australia likes to present itself? It was difficult to know when you could or could not approach them and what kind of response you would get.
Staff aside, whom you generally won't interact with too much I need to mention the long term residents (some of whom are alcoholics) dragging the place down. There are a few people who will make you feel uncomfortable in the way they approach you, get in your face when they drink (which is every night) and just make this hostel not a nice place to be. Their behaviour has been noted by the reception who are "building a case" in order to get rid of them. I will mention there are people who have been there for nearly 18 months.
It seems more of a halfway house than a hostel. So why do people go there - it's cheap. Cheap cheap cheap and now you know why. The lounge is great, empty during the day but incredibly smelly - either body odour, feet or both. Filled to the brim with people in the evenings though. There is a 15 minutes limit on the computers. Never enforced though.
The 6 person dorm had a bathroom beside it. 2 toilets, 2 showers. I never had to queue for either despite these amenities being open for the entire hostel to use. One plus. Bedding can be changed every day if you want. I was not told this until my second week - yes that's right I had to stay for 4 weeks.
I do think the owner is either oblivious to the scummy nature this hostel is giving off, it's either that or he does not care. The majority of people here are working full time or looking for work - I don't think they are all students as another commenter stated. But they are paying, so why would anyone get rid of long term paying customers in favour of short term backpackers passing through?
At least you know what you are getting. I don't understand why some commenters have rated this "extremely clean" - it's not and you will see that when you enter your room.
Choose carefully, don't stay too long and beware the long term folk.
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Date of stay: May 2015
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Â Rooms through the kitchen might be quieter but wifi does not reach there.
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.
My stay at the Billabong Gardens was exceptional. Especially after having some bad experiences with others hostels in Sydney I am highly satisfied and more than happy with my stay at this local, authentic and friendly Hostel. Starting off with...
THE LOCATION : Egan Street is just a heartbeat away from King Street, the lively and buzzing centre of Newtown. Within 2 minutes you're out and about, easily reaching shops, pubs and restaurants. Perfect for people who like the nightlife or just want to have a good lunch or dinner.
THE HOSTEL : Entering the hostel through a big garage entrance (only with your own keycard! Safety comes first here. At night there's an on-call security service that looks after the guests. Nice!) you're welcomed by the guys behind the counter who are always around if you have some questions you enter the courtyard with a little pool. Summer, here we come! The kitchen offers lots of space to store your own food, but be careful : Things such as cutlery are wanted not only by you. I've often found my fork or knife in someone elses box. ;) If you like to do your laundry you are able to for about 4 AUD for cleaning and drying. Internet is 2 AUD for 500MB of date (Jan 2012). Fair enough. What I liked the most that this is not a party hostel! You'll find nice people to connect with or even have a party, but mostly outside of the rooms in some pub or hotel. Everyone keeps quiet after 11pm. Respect!
THE ROOMS : The rooms are standard sized, female dorms or mixed dorms available. For a fair price of approx. 24 AUD per night you'll get your own bathroom and a fridge to store your stuff. Definitely an advantage if you don't want to leave it in the kitchen! Of course the furniture isn't high class, but the matresses are always clean, the rooms cleaned with vacuum cleaner each day and the air condition works fine. Nothing to moan about!
THE RECEPTION : The guys are great! Always ready to help out, even available for a small chat or insider tips for going out in Newtown. You are able to print out important papers such as applications, flight information etc. for 20cts a page.
All in all I'd say this is by far on of the best hostels I've been in. If you're an open-minded, but quiet and adventerous traveller who likes to be out and about in Newtown and prefers to sleep and rest in the hostel THIS is the place for you to go!
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Date of stay: January 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Â Check out the room you're supposed to go in first. A friend wanted to change it because she...
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.
I checked in to this place as a base to figure out where I want to live in Sydney. The hostel is in a great location but that’s just about the only good thing about this place. My room was propped open by the bin so I wasnt convinced it was secure when I left so I crammed everything I had into the locker. The room was a mess (not the hostels fault), clothes everywhere and just had a dingy vibe. Within 10 mins of being there I felt so uncomfortable due to some of the strange guests I came across and left feeling like I didn’t want to return. I could’ve asked to change rooms but I booked another place ASAP and instantly felt a relief as I left. This wasn’t expected as I have stayed in 3 or 4 summer house hostels and had a great experience each time. Other guests seemed fine with the place so maybe it’s just me but I didn’t mind losing $150 on a whole weeks accommodation just to get out.
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Date of stay: March 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.
As this place has a good review in Lonely Planet, we were surprised to find that the reviewer could have been talking about a different place altogether! We had specifically requested a quiet room as we were only in Sydney 2 nights last weekend and wanted to make the most of our time there by getting up early, etc. We were put in the backpacker section when we were meant to have a room in the quiet? terrace next door (but after reading the reviews above maybe that was a good thing). Anyway, other guests spent the entire night drinking and being very loud in the courtyard, the whole place is brick and creates an echo chamber and even at normal talking level we could hear these people while we were in bed in our rooms with earplugs in! When they shouted it sounded like they were in our room. Since this is in Newtown we couldn't understand why these people didn't go out to one of the many bars & clubs in the area. Why go to another country then sit outside your room and drink? Apparently there is a rule against drinking in the courtyard, but it isn't enforced. The girl on duty that night couldn't do anything about it. She told us it was a regular occurance. The other worrying thing was that the place is unattended after midnight - the staff go home, so there is no way to contact any member of staff, no after hours number - what would happen if you lost your key, were threatened by one of the drunk lodgers, there was a fire, or any number of things? Don't know if this is legal? As for the room, for $88 we got a reasonably sized double room with a bathroom (mouldy), really dodgy and ugly furniture that hurt our eyes and looked as if they found it in the hard rubbish. No heating either (it was freezing in the middle of winter). The kitchen is filthy. We finally got to sleep at 4:30am after the noise from downstairs stopped, but no apologies from management after we complained (we are still chasing up a refund - why should we pay when we were mislead that the place was quiet and we didn't sleep at alhey insist on full payment for the first night at the time of booking. When we checked in the guy tried to get us to pay for our second night upfront too but luckily we have come across this before and refused. When you discover how noisy or dirty it is and you have already paid for your stay in advance, you have no recourse to get your money back. Ask to see the room first! When we complained the next morning we were reminded 'this is a backpackers' - we have stayed at probably hundreds of backpackers in 2 years of backpacking all over the world and have never experienced anything like this - hell for a night. It would have been quieter to sleep rough at Circular Quay. Don't get ripped off by staying here, on our 2nd night we moved to another place, a proper hotel, for $75 got a much nicer, clean, just renovated room in the city near museum station. They promote themselves at Billabong Gardens as being unbelievable value but the place absolutely ruined an otherwise fabulous time in Sydney. I'm completely confused to how they can be allowed to bill themselves as 'motel style' Never again! We are currently following this up through consumer affairs.
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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.
There is only one word I can use to describe this hostel. HORRENDOUS.
If a dark, smelly, germ and bed bug ridden room is what you're after, then this is the place for you!! You are woken daily by the cleaner who hoovers around all the obstacles on the floor, therefore only cleaning 30% of floor space. Old food, clothing, razors etc.. Are just left in the room from previous guests for God knows how long ago! The standards of cleanliness is extremely worrying...
These standards of cleanliness carry on in the kitchen, pool, and all other areas. You cannot open the tiny windows in the room, no daylight comes in either which makes it feel more like a prison.
What's worse than the rooms is the staff. They are the most discriminative, unhelpful, rude group of people I have ever come across, they clearly hate their dead end jobs and that truly shows in the atmosphere and scummy rooms in the hostel. I have never written a bad review about anywhere before but I need to warn people not to go and waste your money at Billabong gardens! This is an under exaggeration of the conditions.
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Date of stay: September 2016Trip 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.
The worst, terrible in all the aspects! Go here only if you are a dirty, rude and mean. Terrible people at the reception, the staff is really bad, racist, snob and thet don't care about you. THE MATTRESS WERE FULL OF BED BUGS INSECTS! FULL! not only mine, but many others. everyone there is gay and they use to flirt and have sex in the room...light open until 5 am in the rooms,, the people lives there for months, they are unfriendly with you - you're not welcomed. I've seen girls coming after drugs, alcohol and gay sex in the same room where you are. the guest are absolutly the worst dirty and rude people. I've been there for 1 week - terrible. but the worst is the staff at the reception - rude and mean, really racist and bad people. be careful. Very dirty, I repeat, with BED BUGS IN THE MATTRESS (I've seen them and there were many girls complaining about the red things on their skin due to the insects) WIfi doesn't work properly... TERRIBLE people, worst staff, dirty and full of insects. do not book!!!!!!!!
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Date of stay: February 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Â run away from here!!!!
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.
I have been traveling for long time and this by far the worst hostel. The rooms are very small dark with smell of feet no place for you own belongings bathroom is stinky and full of junk and bed bugs. Basically someone live there for long time and left the place to rotten and no one bother to clean after. The kitchen is the same smelly very Dirty and the fridge not cold at all. The staff was very unfriendly and when i wanted to cancel/ upgrade to privet room there policy doesn't approve it which make no sense. Tryed to talk with the owner haico and he as well like a broken record. Just want your money and you stuck in this filthy jail looking hostel. This is disgrace to charge this amount of money for this filthy unfriendly noisy small dark hostel wouldn't pay a dollar for this place. Be aware don't go there.
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
I stayed here for 6 nights last week (March '16). When I walked into the room I was appalled at the state - absolute tip, with several cockroaches crawling about the place! I honestly don't think that room (number 1, I was sleeping in the top bunk immediately to the left as you walk in) had been cleaned in that span of time apart from the 30 second hoover (around all the clutter all over the floor), and quick bathroom clean that happened once in my entire stay.
After night 2, I noticed bites on my waist and legs. I immediately and very politely told the staff who brushed it off, and reacted as though I had offended them. They vehemently denied that it could possibly be bed bugs. Nothing I could really do as I'd already paid for my stay.
After night 4, I had bites on my other side of the waist, bum, legs, feet and arms. I once again reported to reception who was less rude this time, but more denial. I asked for a different bed, but they said they were fully booked. I asked for fresh linen, and I was given them and replaced myself. I endured the final two nights and upon checking out I showed them all my bites again, and complained. Some more denial, with a mild touch of condescension..
Upon arriving in Brisbane, I immediately visited the doctor, and then spent two days cleaning/boiling everything I own, and then had to continue lathering myself in scabies/body mites cream for 3 weeks following. An absolutely appalling stay which marred my experience of Sydney
One other thing - the internet access is terrible - paid $2, and the reception is extremely poor (at least in the room I was in).
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Date of stay: March 2016
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.
not good.nothing was good there. staff, place , cleanliness, ect ect ect tiny pool , coackroaches , dirt in the kitchen and restrooms . A pure waste of money and time. Neighbors complaining for no reasons .
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Date of stay: January 2016
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
It's about a $25 taxi ride, or you can catch the Airport train to Central, then get the Strathfield line. But by the time you do that, it costs you the same as a taxi. Billabong Gardens is a great place to stay!
There are more places to choose from in the Newtown area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$134 - AU$174 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
billabong gardens hotel sydney
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Billabong Gardens
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesSydneyNewtownNewtown
NUMBER OF ROOMS
37
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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