BUG review
Located just off the main street in Bellingen, this YHA hostel is in an old building, but well maintained. Dorms are spacious, colourful, and have nice wooden bunks. There are outside beds on the veranda with mosquito nets and wonderful views of mountains and valleys. The kitchen is fully-equipped, there is internet access ($5 for unlimited internet including Wi-Fi) and the common area on the veranda has hammocks and a pool table. Reception organises canoeing tours, Dorrigo rainforest tours, and even a weekly trip to the nudist beach Bundagen. They also do free river tubing trips.
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Price Dorm bed $30-32 ($27-28 HI/YHA) Double room $78-100 ($70-90 HI/YHA) Family room $98-100 ($88-90 HI/YHA) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit cards MasterCard, Visa
Reception open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-11am & 4pm-8pm
Beautiful Bellingen: A retreat for the soul 14 August 2007
Pros:
The owners and the lovely, cosy rooms.
Cons:
A lot of families make the place quite noisey.
Sawritergirl
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 6019)
My boyfriend and I stayed here for three nights and had a wonderful experience. They had just recently renovated so the place was lovely and clean. The bedrooms are lovely and sunny and most have wide balconies with views onto the river and into the distance towards the mountains. The atmosphere was relaxed and cosy and genrally laid back. We found that there were more families staying here so if you don't like kids you might want to give this place a miss. However it's worth a stop at the end of your journey as it forces you to relax and enjoy the beautiful surrounds. Definitley worth a look!
I've stayed here for two nights in a double in august 2005. We had a nice room with a bed and nice view (and some small guests...). Although the place was generally clean and well maintained, we had some cockroaches in the showers and our room. The location, next to the river and in a beautiful landscape was a big plus, just like the nice atmosphere
6 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Katie
Sydney
Great place to chill out Oct 2003 28 March 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Katie
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8863)
I went up to Bellingen to check it out and to have a quiet weekend to myself. Then I saw the huge line of Oz Experience travellers waiting to check in. Uh-oh! But the place is that lovely and relaxing that it didn't matter too much in the end. My only criticisms are that the rooms on the deck aren't very private if you are at all modest (people can see in) and that when I asked at reception about a good place to eat they recommended the kinda dodgy pub nearby, when there are a few fantastic restaurants there--one with a great live music scene! (Dodgy pub was advertising "lingerie waitress night".
10 of
20 people found this review helpful
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Pegske
Belgium
Little corner of the earth 19 December 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Pegske
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8864)
From the green banks of the Bello Bellingen (of Bello) wades in peace and serenity and I am loving it! My heart skips a beat as we drive into town. Old, wooden houses and nice shops. Purple flowers in the trees, a horse in lucious meadows, the bridge over the Bello river, the river is good for swimming. The village reads like poetry, listening to the laughter of a kookaaburra, reeks off the jackaranda, resting under a blue air. I love this little corner of the earth!!! The hostel is a dream with 3 Tina Turner chooks (chinese silk chickens) and a cat (Bella). The staff is very friendly and helpfull, it's very clean, in short: paradise. On the first floor you will find the wall of fame: pictures of 800 and some people have had their picture taken by Greg on the nude beach by Bundagen. No pornography or sensuality, just natural people captured in an artistic way. A policy of this hostel is honesty. The rooms don't all have a lock, you can take fresh eggs, but they count on you to pay for it, without them asking you. Every two days the Oz buss checks in and then you can join the pasta dinner for 7 AUD, this includes garlic bread, pasta and a big piece of cake. To me it's a place I would love to live in! And a place and people I hate to leave... Thanks everyone at bello YHA, I love you!
12 of
20 people found this review helpful
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John Haly
Sydney, Australia
Accomodating accomodation in an artisitic valley 5 October 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
John Haly
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8865)
Catching a train up from Sydney to Urunga, and the folks from the Backpackers will provide you a free bus to and from the station and into the beautiful valley of Bellingen. Home to an array of artistic dance and arts festivals, a beautiful flowing river through the middle of the valley, and a community that has a spirit so rarely found but always sought. The accomodation overlooks the river and is close to town and amenities (and by that I mean walking distance not driving distance) and the staff charming. The backpackers at Bellingen has been my accomodation of choice and a getaway from Sydney for Seven years now and it only gets better. The staff know what the meaning of accomodating is and when it's all over (sadly) they will give you a free lift back to the train station to go back to the grind. If you want a space to renew your soul come to Bellingen and stay in the company of friends.
11 of
20 people found this review helpful
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kai stafford
aylesbury, buckinghamshire UK
easily stay forever! 16 November 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
kai stafford
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8866)
the hostel is the best i have stayed in. its friendly, relaxed and wonderfully clean. there is a verander overlooking the river where you can play free pool all day and listen to your own cds. they organise day trips to the rain forest, nudey beach and canoeing. Greg is the personality of the place (he looks like hes just come from the original woodstock festival!) I origanly went to stay for one night and ended up there for 6! what more can i say? Yha belligen is simply the standard in which other hostels are measured!
10 of
23 people found this review helpful
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onedavesmith@hotmail.com
Sydney, Australia
Chill Out 15 April 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
onedavesmith@hotmail.com
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8867)
This hostel is located in the small town of Bellingen 20 minutes off the Pacific Hwy half way between Sydney and Brisbane. A beautifully renovated building which overlooks the Bellinger river. It is a great place to stopover for a few days to relax before heading North to Byron and Queensland or South to Sydney. A great location to explore the World Heritage listed Daintree forests or the surrounding rural countryside. If you like this style of place read my review of the Pittwater Youth Hostel.
