182 Torquay Road, Scarness Bus 5, 16, 18 Tel (07) 4124 4107 or 1800 244 107 Websitewww.thefriendlyhostel.com
BUG Review
This is a small place comprised of shared apartments, each with fully equipped kitchens, TV lounges and new, clean bathrooms. The beds are large and very comfortable and there is internet access ($5 per hour). Everything is well maintained, and although this place has a very quiet atmosphere, it is a good spot to relax. In the morning you can sit on the upstairs balcony with the lorikeets and watch the bats fly over in the evening. Definitely a friendly place.
Price Dorm bed $22-23 Single room $47 Double/twin room $50-70 Apartment $132-170 (2 or 3 bedrooms) Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
The above reviews say it all - this place is really very good. In escaping Brisbane for two nights, I had a relaxing break and appreciated everything in my stay - the other travellers I met, the facilities, the vibe, owners and the laid back pace of Hervey Bay. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and am already looking forward to heading up the highway to stay with the Friendly folk again.
Pros:
It's just little flats so it hasnt got that 'hostel' feeling
Cons:
No pool but the beach isnt far away.....
cheekycheese
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Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
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(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
We chilled out here for a few days. The room was nice and the bed was EXCELLENT!! Not your normal crap. The hostel is split up into flats so there is only 7 or 8 of you sharing the kitchen, bathroom, TV area which is nice. It is a perfect place just to relax and get to know the other BPs staying there. I had a look into the dorm rooms, no bunk beds, little tables with lamps so no strip light coming on at 4am! The only problem is paying for the aircon per night.
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3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1074)
Excellent hostel with extremely helpful owners, December 29, 2006
Pros:
Very clean and well-maintained, helpful owners
Cons:
No aircon
Jabe
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
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(4)
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(3)
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(4)
I hate the heat, so my quibble about the lack of aircon probably isn't one that most people would make. The owners were extremely helpful and gave me the lowdown on all the various Fraser Island tours running from Hervey Bay. The dorms had proper beds and plenty of space, and the kitchen was in good condition. I found the place to be quiet, which might not be everyone's cup of tea but there are party hostels that cater for that type of crowd. I would stay here again (in cooler weather).
Pros:
The hosts Gary and Sheryl were SO SO nice, very accomodating
Cons:
they dont have a hostel like anywhere else!
noccer
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
I dont tend to post up reviews but this place has GOT to be mentioned. i have stayed in over 50 hostels in the last 3 years in various parts of the world and this one is best best by a country MILE.the beds are spotless its been refurbished lately and the bathrooms are spotless, a BIG plus. the apartment style layout is perfect for getting to know fellow trvellersthe hosts gary and sherylle are simply OUTSTANDING, and exceptionally helpful. they clearly were not in it to make as much money as possible, but they run the hostel out of the love of it and they strive to make your stay as good as possible. its very close to the main town they wil pick you up off the greyhound bus if you call ahead free breakfast if you book a tour with them. just what the belly ordered at 6am when youre off to frasier island.i wish all hostels would take a leaf out this places book. it really is a friendly hostel, and the best one ive stayed in bar NONE.keep up the great work!
Pros:
Comfy beds, great atmosphere
Cons:
You'll be depressed when you leave
knapster
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
Like the poster below, I don't often feel compelled to write reviews of places I've stayed at, but I'll make an exception in this case. Whether you're coming back from or going to Fraser, or simply passing through Hervey Bay, you absolutely must stay at the Friendly Hostel (or, more accurately, the Super-Friendly Hostel). Proper beds with lovely snuggly duvets, spotlessly clean units and a great location. And Sheryle and Garry are so incredibly helpful it feels like having your Mum and Dad around to sort stuff out for you (only S & G are much cooler and - I should add - younger too :-)).To sum up - Carlsberg don't actually make hostels, but if they did, they'd be just like this one....
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(Review ID: 590)
Quality, quality, quality oh and did I mention quality!, July 12, 2006
Pros:
Everything is better than you get anywhere else
Cons:
Other hostels aren't the same
Rock Angel
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
In 3 years of travelling I have never felt that I needed to write one of these reviews - although I read them all of the time, but this hostel was so special I just had to. From being picked up at the bus when I called (and they knew my name when I called before I said who I was), Garry carried my heavy bag up the stairs for me, I was shown where everything was including the emergency exits, and the Free tea and coffee (most important after an all night bus!), everything is of hotel quality, the beds were the best with great sheets (not those horrible thin, grey things you get every where else - if you get sheets at all). The view of the ocean from the back balcony was amazing and sitting there with a glass of wine, watching the sunset, the flying foxes and lorikeets fly over was just out of this world. Everything was spotless and Sheryle and Garry were available into the evening when I noticed everyone else around was in total darkness. It was nice to have a guest phone available 24hours a day with an incoming number provided - it meant my family could call me when it was convenient to them without having to pay heaps for cell phone calls. They have thought of everything at the friendly and are really there to help you in every way. And they also gave me great advice on my Fraser tour. I just wished I had known about them before booking my Whitsunday trip because that was a nightmare and they know all of the boats up there - I would certainly have trusted them to recommend something much better for me. I could rave about this hostel all night but if you are thinking of going to Hervey Bay - just stay there - there is no way you could regret it, unless you are looking for somewhere noisy, disruptive, and dirty beacuse this hostel is the complete opposite, clean friendly and nice and peaceful.
Pros:
everyone gets a teddy on their pillow!
Cons:
Damn lorrikeets wake you up in the morning!!!
melkiwi
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(4)
This place is great! the owners are so helpful and polite and every detail is taken care of.It was great to spend a night here before and after our Fraser Island trip..very relaxing! And they picked us up from the bus terminal at midnight - bless!
Pros:
it so friendly and clean and safe an quiet
Cons:
there was no bad things
Italian Stallion
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
When all of our wallets and purse was stolen from Billabong we stayed here after Fraser Island and it was very much better. The staff is nicer and more friendly and the king size double bed is nicer and the hostel is cleaner. The kitchen has more things to cook in. Also they took us to the bus stop the next morning and our wallet was not stolen here - it has much more security.
We stayed at this hostel for 4 nights.Sheryle and Coral knew everything there is to know about Fraser Island and Even the boats in Airlie Beach they have done so many trips on the tours to make sure their guests get the best .Photo's on the wall of them on these trips confirm what they know.
Heather the cleaning lady is the funniest lady she whent on some trips to so no matter who you see you can ask whatever you want regarding trips,restaraunts,supermarkets even book cheaper local busses to Brisbane.If you want a great trip stay with the team at THE FRIENDLIEST HOSTEL IN HERVEY BAY
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(Review ID: 10613)
exceptional, January 27, 2006
Reviewer:
gill lyons
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
thankyou for a really good stay coral could not do enough for us nothing was to much trouble we just wish we had stayed a littlle longer unfortunately we had to come home thankyou gill and martin lyons
