Hostels in 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