2011 RACV Tourism Award runners up! Newest hostel on the Great Ocean Road, in the heart of the Port Campbell National Park - home to the 12 Apostles; arguably Australia's most popular natural coastal attractions.
The hostel is centrally located in Port Campbell, a seaside village of about 350 people that Lonely Planet’s 2009 ‘Australia’ guide described as “a pleasant little town with a safe swimming beach, only 12km down the road from the Twelve Apostles”.
‘Port’ - as the locals call their home – is very close to the western end of Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road, a perfect 1-day road-trip from Melbourne. (Melbourne-PC via the GOR (B100) is 290km/175m). Port lies in the middle of the Port Campbell National Park, home to some of the most spectacular and photographed natural coastal attractions in Australia such as the London Bridge, Loch Ard Gorge and the iconic 12 Apostles.
The hostel was opened in late 2009, and is owned by the Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club. The PCSLSC has provided coastal rescue services along a 60km stretch of what is arguably Australia’s most stunning – but, potentially dangerous - coastline since 1963.
It provides modern amenities to suit backpackers and budget travellers in a hostel that continues to be ranked as one of the cleanest hostels in Australia. It is also popular with groups travelling with some of Australia’s most popular adventure backpacker tour companies. (On that note, any beds becoming surplus to a groups needs are sold at really (really!) cheap prices. They are only released about 10.30am (Melbourne time) on the morning of availability, and sold on a “first in/first served” basis).
The district surrounding Port Campbell provides the opportunity to indulge in a number of outdoor activities to suit the young, or young at heart: especially during summer!
Those with a reasonable set of sea-legs could catch a boat tour to see the Apostles or Loch Ard Gorge, or dive on one of the 15 known wrecks along Port’s immediate stretch of coastline.
If you enjoy golf, two challenging courses wait no more than 15 minutes from our door step or, if mountain-biking is more your thing, ask Tony at the hostel about a couple of reasonably gentle MTB trails he’s recently blazed.
If you like riding waves, there are heaps of great surfing breaks dotted all around Port’s coastline. (Also, for the (much!) more adventurous, Port is home to one of Australia’s largest rideable waves: a 40-foot monster that usually springs to life each autumn).
Or, if you simply want to get a little closer to mother nature at her most basic, speak to the guys at the hostel’s reception. They know of a few ‘locals only’ areas they may feel inclined to recommend (if conditions allow...)
The hostel's TERMS and CONDITIONS
Port Campbell Hostel is a unique hostel in the seaside village of Port Campbell, at the western end of the Great Ocean Road. It sits in the middle of the Port Campbell National Park, home to some of Australia’s most spectacular natural coastal attractions such as the Twelve Apostles, and Loch Ard Gorge.
The area around ‘Port’ – as the locals call it - is home to farmers, fishermen and folks who enjoy a more moderate pace of life. They call things they way they see them, expect adults to behave with a bit of common sense and for people to respect the areas they visit. To that end, life in the hostel revolves around three simple rules. They outline the behaviour expected of hostel guests and form the cornerstone of the hostel’s terms and conditions. (And to quote Mr. O.J. Scott (Newcastle, NSW, 2010)… “It’s all about behaviour”).
1: Individuals are responsible for their behaviour. (So, consider the interests and comfort of other guests during your stay. Similarly, parents are responsible for the behaviour of their children in the hostel).
2: Disruptive or unacceptable behaviour on hostel premises will result in eviction of the responsible guest(s). (Evictees will not receive accommodation refunds; forfeit their bond and will have all reasonable reparation costs billed directly to them).
3: The needs of the many outweigh the wants of the few. (The hostel can house almost 90 people under its roof so, again, consider the impact of your behaviour on other guests, especially after 10.30pm)
Right Of Admittance Reserved.
The hostel reserves the right to refuse entrance to any person who the hostel believes may act in a disruptive or unacceptable manner. Any money already collected by the hostel from that person will be refunded.
Bookings are guaranteed for 60 minutes after a nominated Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA). Why???... Port is situated 12km (about a ten minute drive) from – arguably - Australia’s most photographed coastal attractions, the Twelve Apostles. On most nights, in the hour or so following sunset, a large number of travellers arrive in town seeking a place to stay. In many instances they have not booked accommodation, and so the pressure to find them a bed can rise very, very steeply. (And especially so during peak holiday periods!).
Therefore, the hostel guarantees your booking for 60 minutes after your nominated ETA and asks you to make direct contact with the hostel if you feel that you may arrive LATER than 60 minutes after your ETA. If you do not do that, the hostel reserves the right to release your bed(s) / room(s) back to the market. (However, if that happens, the hostel will provide you with bed(s) / room(s) in the hostel, but they may not be the bed(s) / room(s) you booked).
Cancellations and No-shows: General Information
The hostel treats each cancellation or no-show on its merits, so it is unlikely you will be penalized for situations that are truly outside your control. However, in line with typical industry practices, the hostel reserves the right to recoup reasonable costs associated with cancellations and no-shows in instances where such action is warranted. And, unless you booked through an on-line site such as Hostelworld or Hostelbookers, cancellations must be made via direct phone contact with the hostel.
Cancellations OUTSIDE peak Australian holiday periods
1. For cancellations made on your expected day of arrival, the hostel reserves the right to deduct up to the first night’s full accommodation cost from your nominated credit card.
2. For cancellations made the day before your expected day of arrival, the hostel reserves the right to deduct 50% of the first night’s full accommodation cost from your nominated credit card.
3. For cancellations made two days before your expected day of arrival, the hostel reserves the right to deduct 25% of the first night’s full accommodation cost from your nominated credit card.
4. Cancellations made three or more days before your expected day of arrival will not incur a cancellation fee.
Cancellations DURING peak Australian holiday periods: {Christmas/New Year holiday period; Australian Day holiday period (January 26); Easter holiday period; Anzac day holiday period (April 25)}.
1. For cancellations made on the day of OR the day before your expected day of arrival, the hostel reserves the right to deduct up to the first night’s full accommodation cost from your nominated credit card.
2. For cancellations made two OR three days before your expected day of arrival, the hostel reserves the right to deduct 50% of the first night’s full accommodation cost from your nominated credit card.
3. For cancellations made four OR five days before your expected day of arrival, the hostel reserves the right to deduct 25% of the first night’s full accommodation cost from your nominated credit card.
4. Cancellations made six or more days before your expected day of arrival will not incur a cancellation fee.
‘No shows’
In all instances, the hostel reserves the right to deduct up to the first night’s full accommodation cost from your nominated credit card if you fail to show to fill your booking (a ‘no-show’).
Key-Cards: Guests are issued with a key-card that provides access to your room and after-hours access to the hostel. Key-cards are issued on a $10.00 cash bond, which is refunded if the key-card is returned and the behaviour of the person(s) responsible for the key-card was acceptable.
Credit card transactions: The hostel accepts VISA and Mastercard. Credit card transactions attract a surcharge of 2% and, where applicable, are conducted in the guest’s “home currency” (USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, NZD, JPY, SGD, or HKD) as identified at point-of-sale, unless the guest elects to conduct their transaction in AUD.
Hostel facilities are only for the use of bona-fide hostel guests. Do not be tempted to allow anybody who is not a paid guest of the Hostel in, or into your room.
The hostel reserves the right to modify anything within these terms and conditions to suit the ever changing landscape linked to the Australian tourism and hospitality industry.
- Category:
- Local business