Wollongong Keiraleagh Backpackers
Wollongong Keiraleagh Backpackers
60 Kembla St, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500 Australia
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Avg. RM 283 /night, 10/4 - 10/5
RM 287
per night
RM 283
per night
RM 278
per night
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3.5
#1 of 2 hostels in WollongongLocation
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HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Charming
Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Internet
Non-smoking hotel
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Location
60 Kembla St, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500 Australia
Getting there
Good 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.
Grade: 86 out of 100
86
184 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
76Reviews2Q+A16Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
Place was pretty run down but functional. Stayed in the double room with shared bathroom. Room was a bit dusty but otherwise clean. Bathrooms could do with a bit of a better clean but were not filthy. Shared kitchen facilities were reasonable. Sweet lounge area with TV. Good location in centre of town.
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip 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 at Keiraleagh for 2 weeks and it was a cool place to stay at. People were nice and relaxed and there was a friendly atmosphere all over the hostel. The place is not very clean but the place wouldn't be what it is if it was like one of this sterile yha style hostels. Its sort of a hippie house and well the internet is not very reliable too, but that makes people communicate in real life instead of just staring into their laptops. So yeah if you look for cool people, a nice location very close to the beach, and hygiene is not your number one priority this is the place to be!!
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Date of stay: November 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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 at the backpackers from January to March and found it a GREAT experience !
Now I am always concerned with how clean a place is and I found these backpackers more than suitable, I don’t know what the other reviewers saw but I can assure anyone wishing to stay here that both the kitchen and bathroom facilities are in good condition.
The hostel has a Balinese influence with a relaxed atmosphere only 5 minutes walk from the beach. The local mall and shops are also 5 minutes walk away as is the local Woolworth shopping centre; this hostel is VERY well located.
The owners are very friendly and care about the guests that are staying there much better then the other hotels that hire backpackers to run the business.
This hostel is perfect if you are traveling alone as the dinning area is setup in such away as getting to know the other guests is inevitable, not to mention that in my three month experience of the place the few long term residents are friendly happy pleasant people, they even have a magician :)
In my three month experience i would very much recommend this hostel to anyone.
Now I am always concerned with how clean a place is and I found these backpackers more than suitable, I don’t know what the other reviewers saw but I can assure anyone wishing to stay here that both the kitchen and bathroom facilities are in good condition.
The hostel has a Balinese influence with a relaxed atmosphere only 5 minutes walk from the beach. The local mall and shops are also 5 minutes walk away as is the local Woolworth shopping centre; this hostel is VERY well located.
The owners are very friendly and care about the guests that are staying there much better then the other hotels that hire backpackers to run the business.
This hostel is perfect if you are traveling alone as the dinning area is setup in such away as getting to know the other guests is inevitable, not to mention that in my three month experience of the place the few long term residents are friendly happy pleasant people, they even have a magician :)
In my three month experience i would very much recommend this hostel to anyone.
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Date of stay: March 2013Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Ask for a 4 bed dorm its only a couple of bucks more than the 6 bed dorm
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.
Location is okay, 300 metres from the beach. Downside, lots of small cockroaches on kitchen counters, Flies in TV communal area. Rooms attract plenty pf mosquitoes, esp if your room faces the courtyard. 6 bed dorms used to be horse stables, turned into dorm rooms. Owner has 5 dogs, mind the dog poo in the mornings. Favouritism is shown to Australian guests, over European guests. Music plays on an outside radio until late, guests can party at the back courtyard table until 3-4 in the morning. If your room faces the courtyard, forget about getting a good sleep. You can only pay cash at this hostel, tax avoidance? Owner is frequently stoned, and often moody. Cannot recommend this hostel for families, with young children.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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.
An absolutely lovely place which was super clean, quiet and in an excellent location - close to the beach and shops. The hosts were very friendly and kind, happy to chat and give advice/recommendations for the area. The rooms and gardens were beautiful, they'd clearly had a lot of love put into them. Everyone I met was really friendly and would gather around the fire pit in the evening to chat. I ended up staying here for 2 months and loved it, would strongly recommend this place to all.
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Date of stay: May 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.
Honestly kerialeagh was the best experience in Australia so far. The atmosphere is absolutely unbeatable, so friendly, cosy and relaxed. The workload in exchange for this sweet deal is more than worth it. Everyone works as a team to get things done and the rest of the day can be spent at one of the closest beaches, harbours, the mall, 1 hour drives to some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to such as mermaid pool. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to practice their social skills and connect with nature. Thanks Nathan and Kerry for an amazing stay.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Avoid cooking at peak dinner time
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 man who let me in didn’t seem very happy with people. However, the woman i talked to from there on out was amazing. Super sweet, and upgraded me from a 6bed room to a 4bed room with 3 other girls, which was super nice since i’m a female solo traveller. The bed was super comfortable and the duvet was so soft, i had the best night of sleep i’ve had in ages! The bathroom was honestly so nice, with a stone sink and a nice shower. Absolutely loved it.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip 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 whole place is filled to the brim with such kind people. It was super clean and super welcoming. I come down for work and stayed here and it was honestly such a great choice. The 4 bed dorm was exactly what I needed and I highly recommend if your travelling through.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
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 place had a wonderful atmosphere, room and bathroom were clean with everything in it. Staff were lovely and friendly, so welcoming. I'd definitely go there again and was really impressed, really good hostel.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip 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.
Where to start...Ok I had booked into this place 2 months in advance for a 6 bed room for 6 people during a conference in Wollongong. I confirmed a week before we were to stay there as well by phoning as they did not respond to numerous emails. We arrived in two groups, and I was in the first group to arrive. It took about 15 mins to get their attention at the reception desk ( I think the owner was too stoned to notice that we were there ringing the bell), and then we were informed that our room was not ready, so we were going to be put into two separate rooms for the first night. We paid for all 5 night in full. These were to be two 3 bed dorms, but they ended up being bunks with a single on top and double at the bottom. So two people had to share. The room was very tired and the bathroom was seriously grotty. We put up with it, as everywhere else in town was booked up for the conference.
The following day we checked out of our rooms in the morning and then went back and approached reception in the evening to ask if we could be put into our new room. They informed us that that room was more expensive and we would have to cough up extra money, even though we had paid in full. Several people decided to leave at that point, and there was to be four of us left in the hostel, so we were put together into a smaller room- which turned out to be the same room we had checked out of that morning- with one person on a mattress on the floor! The sheets hadn't been changed (which is terrible considering we were not meant to have been in that room that night), and we realised that we had actually slept on bloody and filthy sheets the night before (we hadn't been able to see this in the dark), who knows when they were last changed! The fourth person later decided not to stay after that revelation, but we figured that seeing as it was a 3 person dorm that that would be ok with the owners...WRONG! They refused to give us back our key deposits in lieu of that persons fee!
Basically the owners were interested in nothing but ensuring they scammed as much money from us as possible. It was a horrible experience and I would never, ever recommend staying here. It is filthy, noisy and overall just disgusting. Needs a complete over-haul and new owners to make this a place I would ever stay at. Good luck if you decide to risk it!
The following day we checked out of our rooms in the morning and then went back and approached reception in the evening to ask if we could be put into our new room. They informed us that that room was more expensive and we would have to cough up extra money, even though we had paid in full. Several people decided to leave at that point, and there was to be four of us left in the hostel, so we were put together into a smaller room- which turned out to be the same room we had checked out of that morning- with one person on a mattress on the floor! The sheets hadn't been changed (which is terrible considering we were not meant to have been in that room that night), and we realised that we had actually slept on bloody and filthy sheets the night before (we hadn't been able to see this in the dark), who knows when they were last changed! The fourth person later decided not to stay after that revelation, but we figured that seeing as it was a 3 person dorm that that would be ok with the owners...WRONG! They refused to give us back our key deposits in lieu of that persons fee!
Basically the owners were interested in nothing but ensuring they scammed as much money from us as possible. It was a horrible experience and I would never, ever recommend staying here. It is filthy, noisy and overall just disgusting. Needs a complete over-haul and new owners to make this a place I would ever stay at. Good luck if you decide to risk it!
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Date of stay: December 2012Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from Roxyco60, Owner at Wollongong Keiraleagh Backpackers
Responded 15 Apr 2013
As a business owner we all have to deal with the public, good and bad. Most of the experiences that I have had over the last 22 years running the hostel have been good, meeting many intelligent and enthusiastic travellers, who enrich the lifestyle at the backpackers for everyone and help to create the particular ambience that we have here. But , then you also get the guests who are not backpackers, but make use of the facilities and stand on their high horse looking down on the facilities that they having only paid a meagre $20 per night for: which includes free unlimited wifi, available all night, free coffee and tea and a kitchen facility which is open all night. This is a 100 year old Heritage Building which has a lot of character and charm which some will love and others will not. The ideal location of this hostel, close to beach and all city facilities, means that some people use it for this reason and aren't backpackers. I am responding to this very viscous, spiteful and vindictive attack on our facilities by a person who might want to look into her own self for her reasons. She was a very high maintenance guest, paying $20/night, and was even upgraded to a private ensuite room, paying only a dorm price. She attended the reception frequently, so I cannot understand how she missed telling us about all her many complaints during her 5 day stay. Her group was noted by other backpackers as not mixing in and having bad attitude. This persons attitude is indicative of a 5 star resort user, and not used to the backpacker style of accommodation, even though they are paying a very different price. We advertise that the hostel is 100 years old and in a Balinese bohemian style, so why come and expect any more. Leave the accommodation for the real backpackers who appreciate this style of accommodation for the budget price they are paying. The sheets are always clean (not dirty as this egocentric woman says), but they are not new and have been washed many times. The kitchen and bathrooms and common areas are cleaned daily or twice daily if very busy; but this NZ archaeologist living in Canberra has no understanding of the management of lots of young backpackers when they are enjoying their surroundings. Everyone is supposed to clean up after they cook , but in the busy peak times, when they are cooking and eating, this may not happen straight away. This 28 year old should have more common sense.There are also defamatory accusations about drug use by the owner. I will be acting legally for defamation of character as this is not true.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
RM 143 - RM 283 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesWollongong
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Wollongong Keiraleagh Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to Wollongong Keiraleagh Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres (0.4 km), Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (0.4 km), and Wollongong Art Gallery (0.4 km).
What are some restaurants close to Wollongong Keiraleagh Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include Ciao Cucina, Lower East Cafe, and Balinese Spice Magic Restaurant.
Are there any historical sites close to Wollongong Keiraleagh Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Wollongong Botanic Garden (2.7 km), The Old Court House Wollongong (0.6 km), and Miners Tribute Monument (4.6 km).