hi everyone,
i've done some research but i wanted to hear people's opinions of some hostels before i book.... i have a week in sydney in the middle of july at the tail end of my trip, and i was thinking of spenging a few days in sydney and a few days in bondi beach, coogee or manly.
i'm wary of staying in kings cross, because i get sketched out easily, especially walking alone at night. i want to stay somewhere social, where i can meet other backpackers, since i'll be traveling solo. i have a friend who stayed at the ywca on wentworth ave, and wasn't comfortable with the area. what about sydney central YHA, railway square YHA, or wakeup on pitt street? has anyone stayed there? or the pink house? our would darlingurst be better? or glebe? and this may be a dumb question, but do the dorms have lockers for my back?
and any recommendations of where to stay near bondi beach? noah's? beached at bondi? indy's surfside? bondi beachouse YHA? and would you recommend bondi over coogee or manly? or do a little of each?
i don't have a YHA card, but i'd consider joining / buying one if it's worth it, since i'll be there a week.
ok, what was a lot of questions for one post. sorry, i haven't backpacked in years, and only in europe, never in australia. i'm excited.
thanks!!!!
Manly looks to be the "safest" option. City centre locations would also be good in July, which after all is mid-winter.
oops, haha, i meant lockers for my pack, not my back. why would i need i locker for my back?
and thanks, nerb. i know it will be kinda cold, but sydney in july is better than sydney not at all!
I spent one night at Wakeup before hightailing it out of there. I'm not a fan of big hostels operated with a corporate mentality and impersonality. Wasn't my thing.
I ended up at the Blue Parrot in Potts Point which, despite being close to King's Cross, didn't feel sketchy at all; in fact, it was one of my favourite hostels in all of Australia. Small, homey, met some great people, never felt unsafe as a solo female, free internet, and the greatest free food shelf imaginable. No lockers but it's the type of place that didn't really need them.
On the other hand, if you like big chain hostels with hundreds of people and loud bars in the basement, Wakeup will probably appeal to you.
I actually stayed in the wake up and really liked it!
I found it lively, central and good fun. Oh and very safe.
yeah, avoid the darlo YWCA. i lived there for a whole bloody year when i was 17 (don't ask). it IS a sketchy area, even if you're not a wet-behind-the-ears escapee from rural NSW like i was, and the establishment itself sucks. darlinghurst and glebe are fun and lively but definitely have a bit of a problem with sketchiness.
i think bondi or coogee is the place for you (or manly, but it's a little tamer and further from the city). social, fun, lots of people to meet.
re: staying in Sydney city distinct from the beaches: i've stayed at the funk house in king's cross and never had a problem or felt unsafe there, but i understand you not wanting to stay in that area. am now living very close to the Central YHA and the Wake Up. i've found it very safe and those hostels in particular have been recommended by friends who stayed there. you're also pretty much in the city centre, as opposed to the cross or pott's point. footprints westend is also fine, if a bit bland. the one don't i've heard is the maze on pitt st. as a solo female just take the normal precautions you would anywhere+you shouldn't have a problem. have fun!
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