7 Marine Parade, Arcadia, Magnetic Island Tel (07) 4778 5177 or 1800 663 666 Websitewww.magnums.com.au
BUG review
This hostel is a large complex across from Alma Bay. It has a huge bar and a café on site, as well as two large swimming pools. The dorms are air conditioned and have clean en suite bathrooms, but they are not very well maintained and the beds only have one sheet and no pillows. The kitchen is small and messy and there are barely any cooking facilities. They offer internet access ($6 per hour), laundry facilities, and an outside TV lounge and common area. Staff are upbeat and friendly, though a bit disorganised.
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Price Dorm bed $18-22 Double room $65 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Review from a HostelBookers customer 25 January 2010
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Gemma Wilson
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 13617)
This is a chill out place, not like to Magnums in Airlie. the staff were so friendly and helpfull, you could tell they actually enjoyed their jobs. Rooms were basic but clean. The 'kitchen' was a micowave so not great for cooking your own food, but the food server at the Bistro was gorgeous every time. I would defently go back.
4 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Carrie-Anne Lewis
Review from a HostelBookers customer 22 January 2010
Pros:
Great pool and on-site masseuse
Cons:
Rooms smell musty
Michele
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 935)
Arkies which is now called something else which i can't remember (see - it is a place to party) Magnums' that's it...anyway lots of fun and great pool - transportation on the island is limited. Rooms musty smelling and showers could be better but hey, you're on holiday!
5 of
14 people found this review helpful
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masuk
(masuk@lycos.com)
from Townsville, Nth QLD
Townsville, Nth QLD
changes are coming 23 January 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
masuk
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 10697)
I've just spent a few days at Arkies (mid-January), and all that the previous reviewers say is correct. The kitchen is as bad as they say, and now has no ventilation, so it's a very muggy and hot spot. The swimming pool was used as a dive training centre all one day, so a quiet read was off for that occassion.Now the whole place is due for a radical change. It's been sold, and the developers are going to spend $70 million on new buildings, 3-floor apartments and the like, starting this March. The kitchen will be no more. It will not be replaced I'm told.The evening meals on sale are good value, the beer and cider nice and cold, the staff friendly. Breakfasts next door are not cheap, so bring some muesli.Whether the place continues to be a pleasant stay for backpackers (but rather noisy around the TV/bar area) remains to be seen, but it looks to me as if it's not planned that way. It will no doubt end up like one of those ghastly complexes ruining Surfer's Paradise. I live in Townsville, and I'll go elsewhere for my next stay.
7 of
12 people found this review helpful
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tarnishedglitter
UK
friendly staff but not much else going for it 6 July 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
tarnishedglitter
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 10698)
i didn't particlularly enjoy staying here, mainly because of the stupid restrictions. no alcohol allowed anywhere in the hostel athough they had a bottle shop for takeaways! alcohol at the hostel bar was very expensive (what a surprise), and you aren't allowed to eat your own food anywhere except this poky dirty yard at the back which was situated next to the 'kitchen'. guess why? because there is a bistro there and they want you to buy their food, the kitchen was a complete waste of space- cupboard sized and nothing worked. the beds were also a joke, i thought mine was going to collapse at any moment, although the bathroom was ok. the only good things about it were the staff who were really nice and there were a few semi- entertaining games. please please go to horseshoe bay to geoffs place or maggies beach house, both are much better and not much more expensive.
9 of
9 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Netherlands
Nice rooms, nice location, affordable, friendly staff! 14 January 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 10699)
I was for christmas in arkie's backpacker Resort. My first impressions were: Clean good looking resort with nice pools and a good bar for the nights. I booked a double with my girlfriend and the room was quite nice, probably because it used to be a motel. It had a fridge, nice bathroom, a TV, a double bed and a single bed (useful when you are tired of your girlfriend :P). The double rooms are located near a pool and are fully airconditioned, I found it to be a good choice to stay with your girlfriend. The room was 49$ per night.The staff was friendly. Every night at 5:30 there was a movie scheduled by the bar, which you can watch outside. And after the movie they do more activities like, trivia quiz and speedpool, and other games where you can win some jugs of beer! Near the bar is also a take- away restaurant, where you can either eat the daily special with a voucher from the reception (6$) or you can eat other meals. I ate there twice, the daily special was ok, but not recommendable for a whole week and the other meals (abit more expensive 8$-15$) were quite good.The kitchen facilities were not that good. Ok it was clean, but small and not enough equipment to make a decent meal. There were 2 electric units for the pans and some toasters and 2 microwaves and a grill and another cooking plate. The location is good. There is a bus stand in front of arkie's, from where you can visit the rest of the island (horeshoebay, picnic bay, nelly bay). The boat ferry is +/- 5 minutes by bus. Concluding, arkie's is a nice place to stay, i've enjoyed my time being there. The only minus it gets is the kitchen, everything else was tip-top!Greetings
10 of
15 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Ireland
No complaints 13 November 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 10700)
Arkies isn't an amazing hostel, but I had no complaints either. The 2 pools are lovely, the rooms are pretty clean and have their own bathrooms. Staff are friendly. The kitchen is far too small though, but at $11 a night, good value. Lovely beach across the road too.
0 of
9 people found this review helpful
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maxkayser@yahoo.com
Chicago, Illinois
Well-prepared? -great. Naive? - a challenge 29 August 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
maxkayser@yahoo.com
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 10701)
Arkies is in a wonderful setting, across the road from a beach and in a rather tropical paradise. The pools are nice, the beds relatively decent and the nightlife is fine. If you are used to backpacker hostels and are fairly well-prepared when you arrive, book a long-term stay for the cheapest prices around. Some things to be prepared for: Pillows are available at the check in desk ONLY upon request, for a 5 dollar refundable deposit. The kitchen is a joke. Bring food that can be cooked in an electric fry pan, microwave or toaster. No pasta/ rice!The Bistro(?!) is good, the first day only, breaky okay.Getting around = walking at least 4 kilometers over mountains or waiting for the bus. The nearby ferry is the car ferry. The regular ferry =5Km The beach across the street is a good place to swim at high tide ONLY!!! = early morning or night time.
