408 The Esplanade, Scarness Bus 5, 16 Tel (07) 4125 3601 or 1800 354 535 Websitewww.koalaadventures.com
BUG review
Koala's is a shabby hostel with bare rooms with flaking paint and mouldy tiles. The kitchen is large and empty and the bathrooms are dull. They have a bar, but it doesn't often get very lively. The garden swimming pool is a good place to hang out, but again this place doesn't seem to have much of an atmosphere, even though Koala's is usually known for its party style. The staff are inattentive and overall this place is unspectacular. The tour desk does, however, offer loads of tours and activities.
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Price Dorm bed $$28 ($26.60 VIP) Double room $72 ($68.40 VIP) Twin room $62 ($58.90 VIP) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
At a stretch, the staff.
Cons:
Their inability to clean.
alys.
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 12696)
The worst aspect of this hostel was the kitchen; it was filthy (covered in flies), most of the utensils were missing (although at least they provided some replacement paper plates) and some of our food was stolen while we were there. The bar was unappealing, the rooms uninviting, the bathrooms disgusting. I can't work out how a hostel can go so wrong, especially when one like Fraser Roving was next door where we stayed for the remainder of our stay.
Koala Hervey Bay has a great location, wright next to the beach.
Great Value Meals, big and cheap and friendly staff.
We did our fraser while we were there and loved it.
After coming back from our fraser trip we went to morocco's bar that night, which ended up being a great night.
overall i made the right choice staying at koala's.
Pros:
Value meals
Cons:
koala back bar closed to early
promister
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8539)
The hostel has a large swimming pool, and has such great atmosphere. It also seems to be well maintained.
The meals in the bar are cheap, big and tasty.
Everyone was really nice and made my stay enjoyable.
A great place to stay before and after doing Fraser.
thanks all
An ok place to stay but i wouldnt write home about it 28 December 2006
Pros:
Not far from beach, t.v in the room
Cons:
The fridge in our room was a bit knackerd and smelt funny
rachaelandy
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 1047)
Hervey bay was nice, not alot 2 do though. We had an old double room with on-suite (used to be a motel) i dont think they have re-decorated since it was built ! The room was small and the bed was very springy. The bathroom was ok with separate shower and toilet. It wasnt as clean as i would have liked it.The communal kitchen- It was a mess with old rappers and dirty pans everywhere. No one cleaned up after themselves and it wasnt very clean. I personally didnt like the kitchen but thats just me. We got picked up from the Greyhound bus stop and arrived after 12.00am although they seem to have trouble with people staying late and not checking out at 10.00am - we had to leave our bags in the room and then go back after a few hours. Luckily there was a few surf shops nearby, there is also a foodworks just a few minutes from the hostel and another supermarket just down the road. There is quite a few coffee shops and a wetherspoons type place just down the road. Oh yer the hostel has internet and a pool round near the kitchen. The washing machines and dryers were not working properly when we were there so we couldnt wash our stuff. There wasnt a laundry close by either.The hostel was ok - staff were a bit humpy.
Pleasant and well organised with very helpful staff. 10 October 2006
Pros:
Cheap meal nights, tour bookings, hostel grounds
Cons:
Bar closing time, insect bites!, paying extras
Minnie Munchkin
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 871)
I just stayed there last week (October 2006) for 4 nights in total (before and after my Fraser Island trip). Ditto to everyone elses sentiments about the town itself having little attraction other than the beach and various water sports. The hostel itself is in a great location being on the doorstep to all essential amenities and across the road from the beach. The staff are very friendly, helpful and well organised for tours. The hostel has beautiful grounds around the swimming pool, pool tables in the bar, good sized kitchen and a TV room. Showers were brilliant and adequately cleaned.I stayed in 3 different dorm rooms during that time, giving me a mixed view on the standards. All rooms were clean but bare and beds were comfortable. 1st room rather dim, way too stuffy & hot with a ceiling fan that could barely move a feather! Requested to move rooms, which was much nicer (on top level so got a good breeze with door open), and a better ceiling fan. The 3rd room on my return from Fraser Island was of a standard in between the 1st and 2nd room I stayed. The only complaint about that final room was the amount of insect bites I left with by the end of the 2 days.... still scratching now! (and no, they weren't bites from Fraser Island).The cheap communal meals in the bar make it a good way to meet people and they taste fine. The bar is a bonus although for some reason closes an hour or so before the on-site nightclub opens, so you're kinda left in limbo for a while and need to stock up on drinks of you're planning on heading to the club afterwards. The on-site club itself is nothing to write home about, but you get in free with your door key (I think... well we did anyway!) and can provide some entertainment and more booze if you've nothing else planned.Didn't like the hassle of having to pay for all the extras (linen, blanket, towel, kitchen equipment), but you can get a loyalty card stamped where you get 7th night free if you stay 6 nights in total in any Koala resort. There were plenty of internet terminals at the usual rates and they do have the courtesy bus to collect and take you to the bus terminus.
Pros:
Cheap drink and meals at the bar
Cons:
Having to share a room with Tan
Steve-ido
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 231)
I would recommend this hostel to anyone who is about to explore Fraser Island.
There is a bar on site, which hosts cheap meal nights every day.
There is also a large pool outside, and two pool tables inside the bar.
The rooms are clean, and well maintained, and the staff are very helpful.
The only downfall was having to share a room with Tan, who proceeded to try and slap me silly at 4am, the morning we were setting off for Fraser Island.
Good starting point for Fraser Island 12 March 2006
Pros:
Cheap meat & drink deals for Fraser
Cons:
The sand people bring back with them from Fraser
smileymac
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 204)
This is a generally well maintained hostel with a good pool, good people and a decent bar offering all you can eat most nights for $7. The main reason people will stay here is because they have booked a 4X4 Fraser Island Safari with Kaolas and this is where the hostel works best. They give safety briefings before you go to Fraser, they seperate you into the groups you'll be in on the island and they have deals with local businesses to get you discounts on the food and drink you'll need to take with you. They also have free bag storage for while you are away on the island but don't leave any food in the bags as they have mice that'll eat through your backpack and all your stuff to get to the food. They are also really helpful when you get back from the island, saving dorm rooms for you if you asked- the showers and beds are most welcome after returning from camping and all that sand. Its good if you're going to Fraser but there isn't that much in Hervey Bay if you're not.
Good hostel in a not-so-fun town, Great mix of people 16 February 2006
Pros:
Good parties, Average rooms, Awesome atmosphere
Cons:
Town isnt that great
Canadian Traveller
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 133)
Stayed here the night before Fraser Island and for 2 nights after Fraser. Had the best time. Met people from evreyhwere that had come to hervey bay just for Fraser Island. Everyone was in a good mood here, which helped make the stay enjoyable. Hostel has everything one needs and even has a 'Make Your Own Didge" instructor at the Hostel all day everyday, helping you create your own didgeridoo. I recommend staying here before venturing onto Fraser Island for sure.
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Anonymous
England
Cleaning bathrooms isn't rocket science!! 15 October 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 10637)
We stayed at Koalas in October 2005 to do our Fraser Island tour, which I have to admit thoroughly enjoyed although some of their equipment is a bit old. However the hostel in minging and there was also a rampant thief going around whilst we were there. The bathrooms were a disgrace, absolutely filthy - hair and water everywhere, no proper sanitary bins just waste paper bins with used sanitary protection in completely uncovered (not a nice sight first thing in the morning) and the bins were not emptied regularly. There was a dirty old razor blade on the floor for days. Come on guys cleaning a bathroom a couple of times a day isn't hard!! There were three groups went out to Fraser the day we went. We had all done our shopping the night before and told to leave our fridge stuff in the kitchen fridges - fine, but most of it was gone the next day!! We also had olive oil, tuna and tea bags stolen from our personal food bag. If you are a backpacker reading this who is in the habit of being light fingered around other people's stuff - get a life, we are all in the same boat arseholes..and remember karma...... someone's stolen beer might just choke you (hopefully) one day!
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Anonymous
Scotland
Koala - mops aren't expensive 23 September 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 10638)
Stayed here as had Fraser package booked through them. Hostel slightly better than one in Airlie Beach but that's not saying much. Rooms are pretty much 4 bunks and a window and are in pretty close proximity to bar so tough luck if you're wanting your kip early. Rooms are reasonably (sort of) clean but communal toilets/showers are an absolute fecking disgrace - i actually looked forward to digging a hole on Fraser Island.Again, reception shuts early which is always handy and they want money for absolutely everything - never had my hands out my pocket paying deposits.Alright location and trip was good although i think they may have to revise their brochure a wee bit - late model Land Cruiser doesn't mean 15 years old!
(and no, they weren't bites from Fraser Island).The cheap communal meals in the bar make it a good way to meet people and they taste fine. The bar is a bonus although for some reason closes an hour or so before the on-site nightclub opens, so you're kinda left in limbo for a while 
and need to stock up on drinks of you're planning on heading to the club afterwards. The on-site club itself is nothing to write home about, but you get in free with your door key (I think... well we did anyway!) and can provide some entertainment and more booze if you've nothing else planned.Didn't like the hassle of having to pay for all the extras (linen, blanket, towel, kitchen equipment), but you can get a loyalty card stamped where you get 7th night free if you stay 6 nights in total in any Koala resort. There were plenty of internet terminals at the usual rates and they do have the courtesy bus to collect and take you to the bus terminus.
