BUG review
This is an excellent hostel with a great atmosphere and a good range of facilities that include a big kitchen with lots of utensils, but no oven; a good TV lounge; internet access, including Wi-Fi ($5 per hour); an open-air games room with another TV plus air hockey and table football plus a swimming pool and a lush garden. There is a good mix of both travellers staying long term while working in Kununurra and short term guests staying a night or two while travelling through the Kimberley. Most travellers staying just one or two nights stay in the nice new building and longer term guests stay in the older building. Accommodation in both buildings is of a high standard but the bathrooms are better in the newer building.
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Price Dorm bed $28-30 ($25-27 HI/YHA) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit cards MasterCard, Visa
Reception open 6am-6pm; late check in with prior arrangement
Excellent hostel with stand-out kitchen 20 August 2006
Pros:
Friendly and helpful owners, brilliant kitchen, good crowd
Cons:
99% workers so no-one around during the day
Jabe
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 730)
I stayed here for several nights and would highly recommend it. Note that it seems to be near full capacity all the time so you would be advised to book ahead. The hostel seems to cater mainly for workers, so the dorms can end up quite messy and there aren't many people around during the day.The owners are extremely helpful, including running a minibus up to Kelly's Knob to see the sunset. In terms of facilities, there's Internet access (3 machines), a swimming pool, a TV area, and an undercover dining area that's good for meeting other residents. With a bottleshop and pub just over the road, it's inevitable that you'll end up drinking with other people. Note that there's also a cheap large public swimming pool just a couple of hundred yards away if you're feeling particularly energetic.The kitchen here is superb, and a model for how hostels should run their kitchens. You are given a bucket with a name label into which you put all your fridge stuff. You can also label one or more boxes in which to put your non-fridge stuff. This means the fridges in particular are tidy and not full of 6 month old lettuces. The kitchen is kept clean and there's plenty of room.I would definitely stay here again.
3 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Adie
Kent, England
Small, friendly and sociable 16 September 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Adie
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 11560)
This is a clean and sociable place with helpful and friendly staff. The new owner Phil is going to great efforts to make everyones stay happy and relaxed. The kitchen is very well equipped and thoroughly cleaned everyday as are the washrooms. There is also a nice swimming pool, TV area and barbeque. A good social atmosphere is created by the communal area situated as you enter the hostel and friends for life can certainly be made here. The hostel is close to town and there is a free bus to Kellys Knob to see the sunset every evening!
9 of
15 people found this review helpful
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K
sydney
getting there 11 August 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
K
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 11561)
The new owners are trying to make this place better, but still there were a few hassles when I was there. the kitchen is good, the rooms are ok, but the never ceasing noise from the tables outside keeps you awake all night. And a slightly larger bathroom could be handy!
5 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Louise
Ireland
nice, chilled atmosphere 8 August 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Louise
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 11562)
Stay here just for the experience of meeting Jim the owner.... he has bought the hostel and renamed it Kimberley Croc or something - authentic aussie cowboy... nice hostel, being 'tidied up' bit by bit. Good large kitchen, plenty of utensils, great showers and v.handy for town.
6 of
13 people found this review helpful
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Scott
London, UK
Worth staying here 23 April 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Scott
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 11563)
Known as the Desert Inn nowdays and new owners in recent months, rooms are clean and cool (air con works great) pool area is great and the kitchen is big enough for the hostel.
7 of
14 people found this review helpful
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Alan & Barbara
Devon, England
Unfriendly staff, lacking facilities 17 June 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Alan & Barbara
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 11564)
A very unfriendly welcome,not told about the deposit for kitchen utensils. They even closed the kitchen at 08.45 for cleaning, is that not breakfast time ??Some more toilet facilites would be welcome for the amount of people.The best thing was the pool and the Bungle tours
10 of
10 people found this review helpful
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Cathy
(cathrin_e@yahoo.de)
from Osnabrck, Germany
Osnabrck, Germany
friendly place 20 September 2001
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Cathy
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 11565)
oh, I like the way the travellers are treated here. I remember teh dinner it was pumpkin soup, homemade! and I got some really family-wise advices on what lift to take to darwin. In the desert inn I feel always welcome
Also known as the Desert Inn, this hostel is well located in Kununurra being close to the town centre. The hostel supports good facilities including a swimming pool, large kitchen, washing machines, A/C rooms, courtesy bus to Kelly's Knob in the late afternoon, and also a TV which is provided in the outdoor social area. The outdoor social area to some is perhaps slightly rustic (I remember picnic tables), however it is comfortable and adds to the warm, friendly charm of the place. There is no on site bar however takeaways are available at a hotel across the road.
