I am from Mount Gambier and think it's one of the most beautiful places I've lived. It's humble and a place to relax and take in all the amazing scenery. So close to the sea, the vineyards, and the marvels of the volcanoes.
Hostels in South Australia 
You are looking for hostels in South Australia? Good news, you have come to the right place.
On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your South Australia hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking South Australia.
All Cities in South Australia
We list every single hostel in South Australia and the world. In total, we have 8 cities in South Australia for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.
All South Australia 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 South Australia. 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.
Best Hostels in Hostels in Adelaide
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
"…So when we showed up, it was heaven to not cope with trying to find accommodations, as we had a more
from
$14.12Best Hostels in Hostels in Port Elliot
"…A variety of rooms from shared dorms to double and family rooms to cater for all. Fantastic self more
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$13.25Our handwritten guide on Backpacking South Australia
Adelaide is the largest city in South Australia and home to quite a few hostels. The hostels here will be found in two main regions of the city, the downtown area, or Glenelg. Glenelg is a very popular area as it is right on the beach where people hang out during the day and then in the evening it turns into a popular party hub. If this is your scene, Glenelg is where it is at and you can access the downtown area by a tram. The city is quite dead in the evenings as all of the businesses close down fairly early. For some good shopping you can hit up the famous outdoor Rundle Mall.
In the hills of the area around Adelaide you will find the Barossa Valley wine region. There is the odd hostel in these regions but they are scattered and getting to them will require a car as public transport in this area is not great. With a car you can also visit the beautiful Mount Gambier. You will find hostels here too but make sure you double check availability before driving up.
One of the best places to visit in South Australia is Kangaroo Island off the southern coast. It is the second largest island off of the coast of Australia, behind Tasmania. It's home to some of the most incredible wildlife, including seals and koalas. It is worth spending a couple of days to a week here if you have the time. There isn't any public transport to get around so you will need a car to get from the ferry around to your hostels as you navigate and explore this incredible island.
From Adelaide, you can take a train heading north or jump on a tour that will take you up through the town of Coober Pedy, which is famous for its underground opal mining. You can pick up some cheap opals here and explore some of what is popularly known as the 'Great Australian Outback' as you head north into the Northern Territory towards Uluru and Alice Springs.
South Australia is quite an underrated destination in Australia. Many people don't actually make it here if they don't have the time but it does have quite a charm to the place and also has some really interesting history to the area. If you have the time it is well worth coming over to visit. But as always with Australia, you are going to see way more if you have your own car and you navigate your own journey as opposed to trying to get places on public transport.
Handwritten by local expert for South Australia hostels Globetrotter
Travel Tips for South Australia - 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 South Australia. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of South Australia. 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 South Australia
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 South Australia?
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 South Australia 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 South Australia 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.