BUG review
This hostel is comprised of two houses with a total of 80 beds, mostly catering to travellers on a working holiday. The buildings are old, but well maintained and very clean. The beds have new thick mattresses that the owners are determined to keep bed bug-free. There is a large well stocked kitchen, internet access ($5 per hour), and a good TV lounge with an extensive DVD library. They are a good resource for finding work and offer free transport to jobs. It is absolutely essential that you phone ahead to book in fruit-picking season.
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This hostel was visited by one of BUG's team of hostel inspectors who write independent reviews and assess a star rating based on an objective assessment criteria.
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Price Dorm bed $25 per night, $120-145 per week Double room $50 per night, $320-330 per week Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit cards JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Reception open 9am-10am & 5pm-6pm daily; phone inquiries 6am-8pm
I stayed in Barnacles during the busy season for around 8 months! the group of people who was there was amazing and we all had a very good time. I feel that the majority of the banter involved John or Christine! Christine was always fine with me and we never had a problem, However the other owner John is a complete T**T! he has a few favourites, which change on a regular basis, I think this is mainly down to ***EDITED TO COMPLY WITH BUG'S REVIEW GUIDELINES***, while i was there John and christine taxi people to and from work, on one occasion ***EDITED TO COMPLY WITH BUG'S REVIEW GUIDELINES***, so i would think twice before getting into a car with him!
On a plus, John and Christine do give honest and reliable information regarding working with farmers, out of all the hostels in Bowen they managed to get a very high percentage of people work while they was there.
however...Sometimes they do suprise you and show genorosity and they do go out the way to help backpackers.
When i look back on my time backpacking i had some of my best times at this hostel, despite one of the owners i would reccomend this 100%. I agree with the earlier reviews that if you are drunk and rowdy all the time then this is not the hostel for you, they do seem to understand that you are backpackers and party they would just prefer you did it where they don't live, but once your cards are marked they can make your time misrable!
If you want to work and have fun while doing this, then this is the place to be!p.s Make sure you put your clothes in the drier when you get there. the owners would rather find cocaine and heroin in your room than Bed Bugs!
The owners of this hostel dont lie to get to your $$$$ 11 May 2010
Pros:
Clean & tidy facilities, friendly atmosphere, owners worked hard to find me a job.
Cons:
nothing really negative stood out, I had a great time.
melishere
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 13060)
One thing I really loved about this backpackers, compared to others I have stayed at is that the owners were truthful in regards to the work available. I called twice enquiring about work before booking in and was advised that I should wait 2 weeks, as a result I walked straight into a well paid job and didnt have to blow $ on rent while I was waiting.
I found the facilities were great, the bathrooms, kitchen etc were cleaned everyday and the grounds overall are very tidy. There are alot of open areas to socialise in and the hostel is in close distance to shops and beaches.
I have read other reviews on this site in regards to the owners Christine and John and find it hard to believe that anyone would have anything negative to say about them. I enjoyed my time with the owners and found Christine to be extreamly friendly and she went out of her way to be accomodating and helpful. I suppose the main thing to remember is that this is a working hostel and if you are planning on partying, breaking the rules and disturbing other backpackers sleep than this is not the hostel for you. I was there to work and like many other working backpackers, I didnt appreciate being woken up by drunken idiots either.
Bowen is a beautiful place and the beaches are spectcular, there is plenty to do on your days off and I will defineately be returning in the future. I loved my time at Barnacles and wouldnt hesitate to recommend this hostel. A+++
Empfehlung an alle Deutschen die hier schauen - geht dort nicht hin - Drecksloch! 23 February 2010
Pros:
Die anderen Backpacker die man dort trifft
Cons:
Die Besitzer vorallem die Schlampe die das Hostel leitet
julia134
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 13015)
Hej an alle deutschen die hier schauen
ich war im Sommer 2009 in diesem Hostel und es war teilweise sehr krass.Die Besitzer treten einen mit Füßen und behandeln die Backpacker wie den letzten Dreck!
einige Beispiele: Weckruf mti den eingebauten Alarmglocken in den Zimmern um 6 Uhr morgens weil ein Geburtstag am Tag vorher gefeiert wurde und John und Christine es lustig fanden alle aufzuwecken, die Duschen ohne licht (angeblich schon seit ca 6 Monaten nicht repariert), Pfannen und Töpfe wurden von der Hostelleitung weggenommen und wir standen ohne Töpfe da, ständig rassistische Äußerungen über Asiaten von John und Christine - wiederlich man sollte die beiden anzeigen!, arbeit wurde versprochen aber nicht besorgt bzw viel zu viel fahrtgeld abgeknöpft, ständig wurden leute rausgeschmissen und freunde auch weil sie die freunde waren von den rausgeschmissenen einfach so als Rache von John und Christine, wiederliche Zimmer mit Schmutz bis an die Decke und vorallem nächtliche Kontrollgänge von den Besitzern (3 oder 4 uhr) in den Dorms.Alles in allem möchte ich euch empfehlen dieses Hostel zu meiden!geht lieber in ein hotel vor ort oder nehmt euch ein Apartment neben der Bibliothek!
Hoffe ich konnte ein paar Backpacker vor diesem scheiss Hostel warnen und ich versteh einfach nicht wenn man Backpacker so hasst wieso macht man dann ein Hostel auf??? Unverständlich
Die Besitzer sollten für ihre Taten in der Hölle schmoren
Julie
The best working hostel in Bowen, great people, friendly owners,everything you need is close by. 1 February 2010
Pros:
The owners find you great work,they do not tolerate idiots who want to spoil it for others, AAA
Cons:
Get there at the beginning of the work season and get a twin room with fridge,air cond DVD etc
Lucyisdead
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 12998)
I stayed at this Backpackers for nearly 6 months after staying at another hostel in Bowen that gave false work info just to collect my rent when no work was available (and they still charged full price)
When I came to Barnacles the owners gave me truthful work information and a timeline as to when I could expect fulltime work.They were absolutely truthful and I got full time work with great hours(clearing after tax $1000-$1100 each week)I had to do the hours and the work was hard.
I managed to save a lot of money which let me travel for many months without the need to work. I started in a large dorm room as nothing else was available at the time, I moved into a twin room later on with air cond , fridge,TV DVD : it was greatttt.
I'll tell you about the hostel as I've read another review from 2009 that is incorrect (suspect is is written by someone I know who stayed there and was kicked out)Firstly the place is cleaned daily,can be an inconvenience if you want to use the Kitchen at 10.30am when the cleaner closes it to clean but that's the price you pay for having a clean kitchen.The TV room is usually closed for about an hour in the morning to let the cleaner do her job otherwise it is open 24/7.All rooms are cleaned regularly, this is one of the best cleaned hostels I have ever stayed at so there are no worries here.
Secondly the manager will go out of there way to help you if you have problems with work of any other issues,they work for you and contrary to others are not crazyyyy. They will not however tolerate idiots who want to spoil the atmosphere for the other 83 backpackers who stay with them.There were a few problems with drunks and drug users spoiling it for everyone.Bad drunks and drug users are kicked out quickly from this hostel.
If you have to go to work at 5.30am you don't want to be woken up by some drunken idiot or someone flying high on drugs Good one Barnacles for taking a stand on this as most hostels don't.
Thirdly days off in Bowen can be great, the beaches are among the best in the world and the snorkling and scubber diving is awesome, the owners will lend you a van or car to go to the beach if they are not taking a busload over. The pubs can be friendly but beware not all of the locals love backpackers so go out in a group to avoid conflicts.You need to enjoy your days off as you don't get many when you work on a farm in the picking season, enjoy a sleep in ,do the shopping,do the washing and have a bit of fun without being an idiot.
Forthly Most of the other Backpackers who stay here are really fun. I was initially surprised at the number of people who were staying here for a second season but it soon became apparent that they enjoyed the atmosphere and the work opportunities.Most people stay for 3 or more months,record I think is a Japanese guy Kai who stayed for 9 months working on different farms (saved $35ooo)before he left Legend guy, a human robot when it came to workLastly you've been waiting for me to finish this review, if you want a clean , safe , friendly place to stay where you'll make lifetime friends Barnacles is the place to go. If you're a slacker or an idiot expecting others to carry you go somewhere else as it is a working hostel. Everyone staying there works hard for there money and they can do without drunken idiots,crazy drug users or thieves.Management do a great job in weeding out the idiots and it makes it better for everyones enjoyment. I'm coming back to Barnacles in 2010. I've already got a job on the same farm I worked on last year and I'll be starting earlier. I've booked my room already and look forward to catching up with friends from last year who are also returning.I know of at least 10 people from last year returning for so that has to say something about this hostel. Go Barnacles , Go Queensland,
Enjoy your work , Enjoy you days off , make great friends and don't let tell idiots people about this place as it ruins the attmosphere
owners are crazy and hate backpackers, should not be running this place 23 September 2009
Pros:
The other backpackers you meet
Cons:
THE OWNERS, JOHN AND CHRISTINE ARE CRAZYYYYYYY!
niamhbkenny
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 12856)
The hostel itself is actually a nice place but i have NEVER met weirder, ruder, crazy, disrespectful people as the managers here, John and Christine. From the moment you arrive they treat you like crap. Ok they get you a job, but in return for this you are shouted at, called names by them and have to put up with and listen to their crap. I would not recommend anyone to go here, these people should be locked up for the way they treat backpackers. They tell you to your face that they hate backpackers so why are they running a working hostel??
I have stayed in working hostels all over australia and have never been treated the way they treated me and 60 other people in this hostel. It is honestly like being treated like a child or being in prison. DONT GO HERE. There is other good hostels in bowen, bowen backpackers, the grand view hotel and nomads who will all find good work and also have a good atmosphere in the hostel. dont go to barnacles!!!!!!!
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16 people found this review helpful
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Hostel manager's right of reply
For a start she stayed with us the previous year (23/11/08 - 18/12/08) and came back the following year (19/4/09-2/9/09). We were actually hesitant in taking her back. So if we were such awful people why did she stay with us a second time? She was given an excellent job where she earnt over $1000 a week.
The only thing dirty about the hostel was her room when she left. All our guests are required to pay a bond and respect our rules, which they are given a copy of, to read before entering the hostel. We dont force people to stay and up front they know exactly how we run the hostel. The choice is simple, if you dont like the rules dont stay. Miss Kenny could have checked out anytime she wanted but actually stayed for
5 months. If I hated a place so badly and the owners were such terrible people, I certainly wouldnt stay there for 5 months would you?
Miss Kenny enjoyed breaking the rules with little consideration for her fellow backpackers and quite frankly should have been thrown out earlier. On leaving the hostel, she damaged property at the front entrance and then persisted in waking us up by phoning us at 1am or 2am in the morning in a drunken state. This is her way of getting back at us and you have given her the vessel to do it without any evidence only heresay.
My suggestion would be, before any review is let onto the net for everyone to see with the potential to destroy a business you actually contact the hostel firsthand instead of letting someone with no control, respect or dignity vent their venom and lies on your site. By the way, we had quite a few backpackers return last year, that should speak for itself. The average stay is 4-5 months. Something Miss Kenny couldnt quite grasp was that we are a working hostel not a party hostel.
zippy
Germany
NEW OWNERS MAKE THIS PLACE THE BEST!!!! 19 January 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
zippy
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 9889)
Lucky I didn't listen to the other reviews for this backpackers. The new owners of this place are the ultimate friendly hosts. They assisted me in finding a job, they have a bus service to get you there and home again and the place is comfortable, clean and friendly. Bowen has stunning beaches - I love the place.
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17 people found this review helpful
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utopia2004
uk
be prepared!! 24 November 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
utopia2004
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 9890)
the owners of this hostel are complete looneys, robin and winton are deffinately in the wrong business, they hate backpackers, they go out of there way to make your stay and work as hard as possible. for example closing the kitchen in the morning and evening when people needed it b4 and after work. instead of during the day when no one about.watch out if you are IRISH OR JAPANEESE. i heard on many occassions one sided screaming matchs because the japs english isnt great.if you use your own transport you prob wont be welcome coz they want you to pay 4 there bus 2 work.however the work is easy and ussually lots 2 go around.
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Hostel manager's right of reply
The new owners Christine and John are aware of the problems in regards to the previous owners. Having taken over from Nov 1st 2004, we have had a good relationship with the backpackers especially some who have previously stayed at Barnacles. Many have passed comment that they enjoyed their stay with us.
Anonymous
Great Fun 16 February 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 9891)
Well, it really isn't so bad. Robyn can be a bit harsh if she tries to get people to get on the bus at early hours, but we found that rather amusing!!! You just need a bit of a sense of humour and you'll have the greatest fun ever. The job they gave me was the best I had during my stay in Australia. It was "easy" (as easy as a fruit picking job can be!!!) and really well paid. If they have a job, they will give you one. If you don't like it, they'll try to give you another one. I had a great time at Barnacles with loads of fun. And the bed was the most comfortable I had in months!!!!!!
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16 people found this review helpful
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Hostel manager's right of reply
The business runs on the hostel working with both farmers and backpackers to supply jobs and accommodation. This is a working hostel and backpackers are aware the night before what time they are expected to be on the bus to leave for their work next day. It is very frustrating having a busload of backpackers waiting on one or two people who are consistently late. This relects badly on the hostel and the other backpackers. Farmers determine what the start time is and expect the workers to be there ready to start at that time. If everyone was considerate of their fellow backpackers there would be no need to yell 'get on the bus'
The Gypsy
Patpong, Thailand
Life is short - Im glad I spent some of it here 12 July 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
The Gypsy
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 9892)
If you consider leaving the doors open 24 hours a day with no key for the dorms 'OK security' and an insane fat old lady screaming at you every morning (GET ON THE BUS!) with a suspicious resemblance to Rose West your idea of a good time then by all means stay there forever. If on the other hand you are less of a masochist I can only recommend a visit tooled up with napalm and a rocket launcher. Saying that it was a laugh and if you get short on cash (you will if like me THEY NEVER GAVE YOU A HALF DECENT JOB) then you can at least give delightfull Robyn a proper servicing now and then and stay for free.
21 of
29 people found this review helpful
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Hostel manager's right of reply
We are working on upgrading the security but with everything it all takes time and money and must conform with fire regulations. The jobs are determined on a first come basis. Some are lucky and secure a long term job others are more short term. The hostel can only try and find work and has no say in the type of work or the length of time the job will last for.
