Barnacles Backpackers — Lodging in Bowen

Reviews of Barnacles Backpackers

• Jack

  Added 2016.09.09

  Second thing I have to say is about the reviews, describing the work and the hostel as a, quote: "Concentrational Camp"
• Luke

  Added 2016.05.05

  Stayed here 7 years ago and had one of the best times of my life only because of the great people I met and lived with. The owners will find you work at the right times of the year but beware as it sounds like nothing has changed the owners are two of the worse people you could ever meet and hate backpackers with a vengeance everything bad is true down to the dirty kitchen and being made to clean ur clothing on arivial I was kicked out after staying and working there for 3 months at7pm arfter arriving home from work no shower all my belongings in Back bags including the ones padlocked in my draw because I joined a party in another doom on a work night they tried to get me sacked from work but my boss kept me as he said he knew what they like bowen is a lovey place with great people and beaches and plenty of work at the right times of year just stay in the many other places not here
• Emma

  Added 2016.03.16

  He is the only employee besides 2 cleaners, and in my honest opinion is not fit to run a working hostel. His heart may have been it in one day but it most certainly is not in it now.
• Aaron

  Added 2015.09.02

  I haven't reviewed any of the hostels in Australia I've been too... but I had no choice with this one.
• Sophia

  Added 2015.08.14

  I'll start with the very few positives. The hostel most PROBABLY will get you work and the hostel is very spacious, kitchen is large too.
• Christian

  Added 2015.07.20

  The hostel owner (John) is an extraordinary character, I can honestly say I've never met anyone like him in my life. He drinks all day and you never know he's going to be in a good mood or bad mood (basically Jekyl or Hyde). While I was there, he told me that I would not last a day on a job I was trying to acquire... I stayed there for 4 and a half weeks haha he also rang an employer (that the two girls I am travelling with was in contact with) and told them not to employ my friends for no good reason!!
• Jackson

  Added 2015.07.03

  There are 2 other working hostels in Bowen: Bowen Backpackers and Aussie Nomads. I would recommend either one of these two, from what I've heard Terri from Bowen Backpackers is extremely lovely.
• Isabella

  Added 2015.04.17

  Now the negatives.
• Adam

  Added 2015.02.20

  So I've read all the previous posts and now I have to share my own experience:
• Zachary

  Added 2014.04.23

  What?you guys can't be serious.John and Christine are two special characters, but they are definitely no bad people, they are just pissed by people partying all night and behaving like animals!It's a working hostel and not a Party hostel in Bangkok.Yes,John will scream at you,but only if you give them a reason to!imagine having a bunch of crazy backpackers,drunk,stoned,every night.You will lose patience as well.Behave like an adult and John will share his beer with you.He is one of gods own prototypes.hilarious.good 3 months of my life,good memories. Nino
• David

  Added 2014.04.07

  Things may have been bad before from all the previous reviews but from my stay things have definitely changed. John is a character, friendly, funny and helpful at times for your personal matters. He has a wicked sense of humour and will find you work. The hostel doesn't have WiFi but that's not an essential, the kitchens are huge, there's a lot of space throughout the building, meet good people and you'll have a good time.
• Jaden

  Added 2014.02.11

  Without doubt the worst run hostel I have ever seen, I'm glad I dont have to look at his Stinken face again .Stay clear at all costs , there's plenty of other hostels around the area that are 10times better than that dump of a place !!!!!!!!!!!!!! RC
• Lauren

  Added 2014.01.07

  John is without doubt the worst person I have ever met in my life. He's drinking from 6am, he then hops in his car and drives you to work drunk as if its normal . Then he has the cheek to call you a piss head for drinking once a Week. He goes around the hostel shouting in peoples faces for no good reason, as if he's some sort of king . There's no activities to do around the hostel , you might be lucky to find a busted football or ping pong table with no balls , net or paddles. He takes no pride in the hostel what so ever , which is a shame because if it was run by the right person you could make the place in to something great with a few dollars spent , but John would rather spend his money on booze.
• Blake

  Added 2013.12.19

  Where do I begin...
• Cole

  Added 2013.09.17

  The hostel itself is rather run down... There is a table tennis table with a broken net (been like that since I arrived in October). So there won't be much to do, DVD's can be rented, there sometimes free or $1 I think depending on what mood John is in.
• Steven

  Added 2013.09.17

  My girlfriend and me came here in April 2014 to find farmwork. We knew that area has tomato season starting around April. And John and Christine found us some work. Not even a week after our arrival. So people wining about no jobs, check the internet about seasons of fruits in different areas! Don't complain about coming after season and not getting jobs.
• Evan

  Added 2013.06.21

  Most people within the hostel would drink 1 or 2 nights a week maximum (Friday and/or Saturday). Each of these days John would come down and start shouting and targeting people and telling them they would have to checkout at 10AM the next day. The next day that person would still be there at 5PM but you never knew whether his threats had any real meaning to them, I think he just couldn't remember because he was drunk maybe.
• Julian

  Added 2013.04.05

  Overall, I would say avoid the working hostel at ALL, it may be cheaper but you'll feel like you're back at school being told what you can and can't do, head to one of the other hostels I mentioned earlier on.