Barkly Backpackers
+ 25
Find the best hotel in Saint Kilda for your dates, by price or preference
Compare deals for Barkly Backpackers across hundreds of sites, all in one place
Look out for a deal with free cancellation or excellent ratings
Compare rooms and prices
We compare 100s of sites to get you the best deal
Fast facts
Check in from: | 13:00 |
|---|---|
Check out before: | 10:30 |
Pets | Pets not allowed |
More about Barkly Backpackers
Barkly Backpackers
Situated in Melbourne and within less than 1 km of St Kilda Beach, Barkly Backpackers has a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi. The property is around 4.5 km from Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, 4.
Reviews from 
Solo traveller
Comment: 18 Jun 2024
Stayed in: Jun 2024
Wonderful service
The team and service here are absolutely AMAZING! So attentive and friendly and the rooms were great. Cannot recommend enough. Fantastic management. Plus, the beds were comfortable and the sheets super clean. I have no complaints and would highly recommend this hostel to anyone who wants great location and very proactive management.
Solo traveller
Comment: 28 May 2025
Stayed in: Apr 2025
Avoid Barkly Backpackers Like the Plague
Staying at Barkly Backpackers in St Kilda was one of the most disturbing, disrespectful, and outright disgusting travel experiences I’ve had anywhere on Earth. What’s marketed as a fun, budget-friendly backpacker hub is actually a seedy, lawless squat run by self-entitled drifters and burnout staff who seem to have confused hospitality with hostility.
Let’s start with the staff and long-term stayers — or as they clearly see themselves, the self-appointed gatekeepers of this crumbling little kingdom. They form a smug, impenetrable clique, whispering in corners, sharing drugs “off cam,” and treating anyone new like an unwanted guest at their private party. Their idea of professionalism? Stumbling in at 3am, high and drunk, collapsing in common areas, and turning the place into a 24/7 substance-fueled free-for-all.
One morning, I walked past the front reception to find one of the staff fully passed out cold, an empty bag of cheap wine on the counter like a welcome mat from hell. If that doesn’t scream "we’ve given up," I don’t know what does.
But the cherry on this rancid cake? The front desk girl. Brunette. Permanently sour expression. You’ll know her when you see her — or rather, feel the blast of her icy disdain before she even makes eye contact. She has the charm of a malfunctioning ATM and the warmth of a tax audit. A condescending, passive-aggressive buzzkill in boots, dripping with that uniquely unpleasant blend of performative authority and Mean Girl superiority. Try asking her a question — anything — and watch her roll her eyes so hard she almost levitates. A customer service horror show in human form.
The worst moment for me? I had an epileptic seizure on the couch in the common room. I came to, dazed and vulnerable, in full view of multiple people. Not one person helped. Not one staff member even checked on me. I was just another disruption to their precious little drug den. The incident is likely on CCTV — though I suspect it’ll quietly disappear, like any other inconvenient truth around here.
On top of that, I made the innocent mistake of bringing a small stash of nitrous on my first night. Within minutes, it was inhaled by the resident freeloaders with the speed and finesse of wild animals. No thanks, no shame, no boundaries.
Barkly Backpackers isn’t a hostel. It’s a tragic social experiment in what happens when responsibility is completely abandoned, and narcissism is left to fester. The place runs on stale weed smoke, warm goon, and cold stares. If you're into being treated like an outsider, surrounded by selfish junkies and bitter teenagers trapped in adult bodies — congratulations, you’ve found your Eden.
Everyone else: run far, far away.
Let’s start with the staff and long-term stayers — or as they clearly see themselves, the self-appointed gatekeepers of this crumbling little kingdom. They form a smug, impenetrable clique, whispering in corners, sharing drugs “off cam,” and treating anyone new like an unwanted guest at their private party. Their idea of professionalism? Stumbling in at 3am, high and drunk, collapsing in common areas, and turning the place into a 24/7 substance-fueled free-for-all.
One morning, I walked past the front reception to find one of the staff fully passed out cold, an empty bag of cheap wine on the counter like a welcome mat from hell. If that doesn’t scream "we’ve given up," I don’t know what does.
But the cherry on this rancid cake? The front desk girl. Brunette. Permanently sour expression. You’ll know her when you see her — or rather, feel the blast of her icy disdain before she even makes eye contact. She has the charm of a malfunctioning ATM and the warmth of a tax audit. A condescending, passive-aggressive buzzkill in boots, dripping with that uniquely unpleasant blend of performative authority and Mean Girl superiority. Try asking her a question — anything — and watch her roll her eyes so hard she almost levitates. A customer service horror show in human form.
The worst moment for me? I had an epileptic seizure on the couch in the common room. I came to, dazed and vulnerable, in full view of multiple people. Not one person helped. Not one staff member even checked on me. I was just another disruption to their precious little drug den. The incident is likely on CCTV — though I suspect it’ll quietly disappear, like any other inconvenient truth around here.
On top of that, I made the innocent mistake of bringing a small stash of nitrous on my first night. Within minutes, it was inhaled by the resident freeloaders with the speed and finesse of wild animals. No thanks, no shame, no boundaries.
Barkly Backpackers isn’t a hostel. It’s a tragic social experiment in what happens when responsibility is completely abandoned, and narcissism is left to fester. The place runs on stale weed smoke, warm goon, and cold stares. If you're into being treated like an outsider, surrounded by selfish junkies and bitter teenagers trapped in adult bodies — congratulations, you’ve found your Eden.
Everyone else: run far, far away.
Other
Comment: 18 Jun 2019
Stayed in: Jun 2019
Place to be
A lot of nice people you feel like in a Family. You get to know nice people who become your friends. If you stay in any other Hostel you will be sorry that you haven't stayed at Barkly Backpackers because that wonderful atmosphere from home is only there.
The staff there is very helpful if you need anything and the beds are very comfortable.
The staff there is very helpful if you need anything and the beds are very comfortable.
Solo traveller
Comment: 8 Jun 2019
Stayed in: Jun 2019
Homely atmosphere, easy to socialise and perfect location
I really enjoyed my stay at Barkly Backpackers. Stayed there the whole summer and it felt like a big shared house. Been to quite a few hostels in Melbourne and never felt as home as there. Big kitchen and couch area connected to one living space which makes it easy to get to know the people you live with. Also by far not that many rules like other hostels... the kitchen is always open and you're allowed to make noise even after midnight (The rooms are quiet though). The staff takes off the bed sheets after you leave and you get free drinks at the bar across the road. Next door is a bakery which has plenty of only one day old bread in their containers to take out and cheap dinner. Would always stay there again. Very good location, as only 10 minutes walking distance to the beach and 5 minutes to the next shops and restaurants at Acland street. Thank you for making this Melbourne summer so enjoyable.
Couple
Comment: 12 Mar 2019
Stayed in: Mar 2019
Awful
awful condition, smelt strange long term people were messy and rude. The worst hostel I’ve ever stayed at. It’s one of the cheapest yet I still feel ripped off looks nothing like the pictures. Put my backpack next to my bed as the lockers were either broke , full of old clothes or dirty. When I lifted my bag off the floor it was filthy , full of a meaty looking paste. The person changing the beds was drinking at 7am after sleeping on the sofa in the lounge , he was standing on other guests pillows with his dirty feet.
The shower room made me feel as if I would be cleaner not even entering , the toilet seat had feces on the actual seat for a few days without being cleaned. The walls and floor were filthy , you could either have the shower extremely ho
Non of the doors lock so that adding to no lockers in St Kilda means you’re at a high risk of being robbed. The hostel has potential with the cool building but it hasn’t seen a proper clean in years.
It’s hard to find any postives , there were computers that looked free to use I never actually went on and there was also WiFi. They had washing and dryers that were a reasonable price but when I took my clothes out they stunk of Urine.
The reception staff were nice as people but under trained had no real idea of what was going off.
Do not stay here I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone one of , if not the worst hostel.
The shower room made me feel as if I would be cleaner not even entering , the toilet seat had feces on the actual seat for a few days without being cleaned. The walls and floor were filthy , you could either have the shower extremely ho
Non of the doors lock so that adding to no lockers in St Kilda means you’re at a high risk of being robbed. The hostel has potential with the cool building but it hasn’t seen a proper clean in years.
It’s hard to find any postives , there were computers that looked free to use I never actually went on and there was also WiFi. They had washing and dryers that were a reasonable price but when I took my clothes out they stunk of Urine.
The reception staff were nice as people but under trained had no real idea of what was going off.
Do not stay here I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone one of , if not the worst hostel.
Very good location
102 Barkly Street St Kilda, Saint Kilda, 3182, Australia|0.4 km from city centre
Check in and check out
Check in from:
13:00
Check out before:
10:30
Good to know
Pets not allowed
Children require an extra bed to sleep in the room.
Please contact the hotel for details about adding extra beds.
Barkly Backpackers: FAQs
Need flights or a car for your trip?
Did you know we can help you plan the rest of your trip? Get exclusive deals and great rates for flights and car hire.Flights
Car hire in Saint Kilda