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The gorgeous beach communities that make up the Gold Coast are known for being jammed with tourists - locals and foreigners alike - but also known for being overdeveloped and in some places, seedy. This southern coastal section of Queensland is still extremely popular, but some of the newer developments are more thoughtful than the block towers from decades before, and some of the seediness is disappearing as well. The area is full of hotels, which are quite expensive during summer especially, but there are several hostels in Gold Coast as well.

Surfers Paradise is the largest city in the Gold Coast and the center of attention, but the beaches are great all up and down so for travelers who want to look elsewhere there are Gold Coast hostels in other areas. For Gold Coast hostels specifically in the center of Surfers Paradise you should look on that page dedicated to that city. There are a few other hostels in the area and we’ll cover those here.

By the way, if you are coming from outside Australia you should know that hostels are almost always called “backpackers” in this country. They are the exact same thing as hostels, and just as the general hostel scene is changing elsewhere, it’s changing here as well. The backpackers name makes it sound like these places are only suitable for kids who’ve never owned a real suitcase, but that’s not true. Australians love to travel around their own country and the network of backpackers/hostels is well known as a good method for budget travel for nearly anyone. All ages are welcome, and the majority of places have private rooms in addition to dorms, so couples and even singles who want a bit of privacy can book a cheap bed in a Gold Coast hostel and also get the shared kitchen and other services as well.

The Coolangatta YHA is near the beach and right next to the Gold Coast Airport in Coolangatta. You can walk to the airport in about 5 minutes so this is an excellent location for your first or last day in the area if you’ve got an awkward flight time. Their cheapest beds are in their 8-bed dorms starting around $AUD27 per night, with breakfast included, but they’ve also got private twin and double rooms for only a few dollars more per person. There is a free shuttle that can take guests into town so this is a good location if you want to mix a bit of beach quiet with some nightlife as well.

Anne and Kerrys doesn’t have dorm rooms, but they do have cheap beds and a friendly staff so it’s a good alternative to a Gold Coast hostel. Their private twin rooms also have kitchenettes and balconies, and they’ve got a BBQ area and a store nearby so you can do your own cooking if you want to save a bit of extra money. They are in a quiet part of town, but also not far from some good nightlife.

Hostels in Gold Coast