BUG review
Brook Lodge is a good hostel, but it’s a place for working travellers and the beds are only sold on a weekly rate. The manager does an impressive job helping out his guests with jobs and he provides free transport to and from work. The hostel has good facilities that include a kitchen, internet access, pool table, table tennis, barbecue, laundry and a bar. There’s also a TV room with film characters painted on the walls. It is clean and well maintained.
About BUG's hostel reviews
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.
We show up unannounced at hostels to write honest and unbiased hostel reviews. Many of BUG's reviews now feature videos and photo slideshows. BUG never receives payment for listing any establishment and BUG's researchers never accept free accommodation in exchange for favourable reviews.
Price Dorm bed $120-125 per week Double room $260 per week Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Good facilities for finding work, friendly staff
Cons:
Dirty hostel, bed bugs!
Barbie
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 652)
I worked for five weeks in Donnybrook in early 2006. What can I say, Mike is very friendly and helpful when it comes to finding you work which is good when you are a backpacker in a tight spot. However, the accommodation leaves little to be desired. I was not in the main hostel but in the alternative accommodation down the road which houses approx 30 people and it was beyond filthy, in my five weeks at brook lodge the showers and toilets were cleaned THREE times. The shower floors were quite often so covered in hair that it blocked the drainage holes therefore water could not escape so there was often a layer of slippy, dirty, greasy hairfilled water floating all over the bathroom floor - not nice. The toilets were also just gross - covered in hair, stains, blood and dust. The kitchens were not much better. Also, several people complained of bed bugs but nothing was done about these. I know the "main" hostel was better but where I was was disguisting, which was a shame as it has the potential to be fantastic accommodation in gorgeous surroundings. I was told that a working traveller was supposed to "be in charge" of the bottom lodge and keep it clean, but he did feck all and Mike should have kept on eye on this because really if Health & safety had been called the place would have been shut down it was that bad. In fact when complaining to a farmer about the dirtiness she said that she had heard so many complaints about the hygiene at brooklodge that if she heard one more she would be getting in touch with the health authorities. So come on Mike, don't spoil what has the potential to be the best working hostel in Oz - CLEAN YOUR BATHROOMS!
Brooklodge backpackers is the place to be l went there for 1 week and ended up staying 7 months the place is great and the owners are lovely people Mike and Tanya will look after you if ever you have problems
plus the bar has proper cheap drinks and a great DJ!!
l loved it there and l will tell everyone l met to go down south
Tasty 05/06
Pros:
people the atmosphere and all the crazy country goings on
Cons:
far from anywhere, to many Germans and a dick head welshman
Darren james
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 357)
On arriving at brooklodge on a cold and bleak winters day, i was immediately welcomed by the finest hosts i have ever met, Mike and at that time a very Pregnant tanya were full of life and always more than helpful
I did 4 months in donnybrook and even with a broken knee half way through i still had a good time, the people you meet will stay friends forever and the atmosphere was world class, This place has charm all of its own which is why people stay so long! !I reckon anyone that comes to this place with an open mind will have a great time and whoever the idiot is that has given this place a bad revue is obviously challenged to be able to enjoy himself!
The bar is great with the cheapest drinks in town aswell, how often do you get 120 people that dont know each other having a party every day?
Tom
13 of
13 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Anonymous
Kent/Stoke, England
CHA CHA CHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 23 November 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 11524)
We were there 4 years ago but it was great for work, masses of fun, we met life long friends and had fantastic times at the sausage sizzle on a sunday at the Railway! BRUCE AND JANINE, not sure if they're still running it but they should be!So says Alex and Jo x
10 of
16 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
Mike Griggs
Bristol, England
Good for finding work and a friendly atmosphere 23 March 2001
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Mike Griggs
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 11525)
I stayed in Donnybrook Hostel about 5 years ago and had a lot of fun there, considering it is predominantly for working. The hostel runs a good service whereby they find you jobs and arrange all the transport to and from farmyards. Nearby facilities for shopping are adequate with easy access south to Bunbury, Margaret River and Esperance.
!I reckon anyone that comes to this place with an open mind will have a great time and whoever the idiot is that has given this place a bad revue is obviously challenged to be able to enjoy himself!
The bar is great with the cheapest drinks in town aswell, how often do you get 120 people that dont know each other having a party every day?
Tom
