Sydney Central YHA

The property is in a heritage-listed building that was constructed in the early 1900s, with hostel opening its doors in 1996. It’s one of the largest in the world and remains popular, but like many hostels, it’s a noisy place during all hours of the day and night. The volume here is apparent upon entering the lobby where non-stop music pumps out all day long. It could be a fine communal space, but the constant commotion can make it difficult to sit and chat in the lobby. Still, the area is usually packed with people using the free Wi-Fi, as it’s only available on the ground and first floors. Decor throughout is basic, with bright paint jobs, high ceilings, and plenty of casual seating. The property is geared towards 18 to 35-year-old travelers, and attracts individuals, plus a few couples and groups of friends -- many are backpacking through Australia. Some families on a tight budget also stay here as there are Family Rooms available. 

Set on a busy street corner directly next to Central Station, the hostel is in downtown Sydney, with Chinatown just a two-minute walk away. It's an area busy with traffic, people, and places to eat and drink. Hyde Park and the ANZAC War Memorial are a 12-minute walk, and it’s a 15-minute walk to Cockle Bay Wharf and Darling Harbour. Central Station, the city's main rail hub, is directly across the street, and Sydney’s most iconic attraction, the Sydney Opera House, is a 10-minute drive north, or 20-minute train ride, from the hotel. The lively Kings Cross area can be reached in 15 minutes by train, and bustling Oxford Street (home to plenty of nightlife) is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Sydney Airport is a 30-minute trip by train or 15 minutes away by car.

Rooms at the Sydney Central YHA are mainly shared dormitories with communal bathrooms, but some doubles and family rooms with en-suite bathrooms are available as well. Dormitories sleep up to eight and can be male, female, or mixed. They are very basic and look fairly shabby, with old carpets and metal-frame bunk beds. There are reading lights for each bed, and spacious lockers for each guest. Walls are thin and many of the rooms are disturbed by noise from neighbors, elevators, people chatting in the corridors, and the neighboring nightclub. Some rooms on the lower floors also pick up traffic noise. The Family Rooms have a double bed, single bed, and bunk bed, plus a small flat-screen TV. Shared bathrooms have rows of showers, toilets, and basins, while en-suites are equally basic and have a shower but no tub. Guests have reported some cleanliness issues in guest rooms, and we spotted some grime and moldy grout in the shared bathroom when we visited.

The property offers a huge amount of facilities to its guests, especially when compared with other Sydney hostels. The big draw for many is the pool and sauna located on the rooftop, with fantastic city and sunset views -- it's the only hostel with a rooftop pool in the area. There are plenty of communal areas throughout the property, with sofas, loud music, and entertainment such as pool tables or pinball machines. A bar below the hostel has a Hawaiian theme and hosts parties and weekly events like crab racing. The stylish cafe serves a wide range of dishes all day in a casual setting that's more like a coffee shop than a hostel cafe. Guests can also make their own food in two large, modern kitchens as well. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby and first floor lounge (although these areas are often so busy that all the seating is taken). Premium Wi-Fi can be bought which gives access to a high-speed connection anywhere in the building. There’s also a travel agent in reception, a games room, plus a cinema with beanbag seating that has twice daily viewings. Other amenities include laundry rooms, TV rooms, conference facilities, a book exchange, and car parking (for a daily fee).