Sydney is so ultra modern. I loved the Opera House.
Hostels in New South Wales 
Looking for the best hostels in New South Wales? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in New South Wales with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal New South Wales hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking New South Wales and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in New South Wales
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in New South Wales, across 41 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All New South Wales hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in New South Wales. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
All Top Hostels in Sydney
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
Pittwater
Fancy a city escape? Pittwater YHA is located 30km north of Sydney city centre, surrounded by more
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$15.45
Darlinghurst
"…me Away From Home - When I got there I was a bit daunted by the stairs and the actual rooms were more
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$13.17
Sydney CBD
Budget accommodation overlooking Sydney Harbour, anyone? A huge rooftop terrace offers the best more
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$20.81
Woolloomooloo
"…We believe that a traveller needs to feel secure, at ease, inspired and instantly at home to have more
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$16.16All Top Hostels in Byron Bay
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
"…Our prime location makes this one of the best affordable accommodation options in Byron Bay.
more
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$16.07
"…Embrace the ultimate coastal experience with Vali's unbeatable location just moments away from more
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$17.68
"…A great stay. This place has a really nice atmosphere, friendly staff and clean and well-equipped more
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$16.51
"…Location -- tops! right by the beach and bars. Rooms were pretty good, nothing special. Very more
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$15.84
"…Thank you Aussitel, you are and will be one of the highlights of my two years in Australia!! Best more
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$9.54
"…Great place! - Really chill place. The owner is really nice and it is just a great place to relax more
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$11.38
"…Good! Free Pool table.
Free Internet. Clean and good kitchen. Pool with topless bathing permitted more
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$11.48
"…Thanks to Richard, Phil, Brad, Laurie, Simon, and all the crew for a wonderful time. Great place a more
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$11.45Our handwritten guide on Backpacking New South Wales
The most popular destination when visiting New South Wales is Sydney. As the largest city in Australia, it is home to the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the ever popular Bondi Beach. The area the Sydney covers is huge and you will find hostels in all of the different neighbourhoods including downtown, The Rocks, Glebe, Kings Cross, Manly, Coogee and Bondi. There is a lot to see and do here but it is one of the most expensive cities in the country so make sure that you come with lots of money as it will fly out of your wallet here.
If you head inland a couple of hours from Sydney you will hit the Blue Mountains National Park which is just stunning. There is some incredible hiking to be had here and make sure you go and visit the Three Sisters. There are hostels scattered throughout the different towns of this area so plan what you want to see and do in the park and choose a hostel in that area. You can get there fairly easily on a train from Sydney. If you keep heading inland from here you should hit Bathurst, home of the famous car race that happens here every year.
As you head north of Sydney, the major cities that you will pass through on your way towards Queensland are Newcastle, Port Macquarie, and Coffs Harbour. There are a few hostels in each of these cities. You will not really need to spend more than a couple of days in each place.
Right before you hit the border of Queensland you will find the hippy beach town of Byron Bay. It is one of the most popular surf destinations for backpackers in Australia. It is also home to a great music scene and some awesome music festivals over the summer. They also have some great cafes and restaurants here as well.
South of Sydney you will find Wollongong, known affectionately to the locals as 'The Gong'. It also has some great beaches and can be a bit of a party town as it is popular with university students.
The Jervis Bay National Park is also a must see on the way south. You will need a car to access this area however as it is not accessible by the Greyhound bus. Along the main highways however you will find that getting to and from each of your destinations will be fairly easy with the Greyhound bus or trains. If you are going into an area where hostels are not overly abundant, it is a good idea to book in advance to make sure that you don't miss out.
Handwritten by local expert for New South Wales hostels Globetrotter
Popular Areas for Traveling
Travel Tips for New South Wales - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking New South Wales. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of New South Wales. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in New South Wales
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in New South Wales?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in New South Wales here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in New South Wales safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.