Emily S.
Yelp
Stayed at Wake Up a couple of times while backpacking around Oz.
Rooms: Spacious mixed room, but the rooms I stayed in, the beds were all lining the walls, which resulted in an obstacle course of bags and clothes when trying to get to your bed. The lockers were decent, though, so you could keep your things neat and safe, if you feel so inclined.
Bathrooms: Clean enough and big enough. The handful of toilet stalls and shower stalls never left me waiting to use either, which is always a plus.
Kitchen: It was a struggle, at times, to find enough space in the fridge for my freezer bag, but if you've ever played Tetris, you'll figure it out. The food prep areas were always busy at peak hours, and seating also difficult to come by, at times, so plan your meal times accordingly. Besides all that, the space was typically kept clean and had all you needed to prep your meals.
Community: Some of the best people I met while traveling I met at Wake Up. Definitely take advantage of the free walking tour of the city, and any other free group activities. You'll be rewarded with a free drink after, and you're likely to meet some awesome people along the way. The basement bar almost always has a crowd, and the drink specials are hard to beat in a city as expensive as Sydney.
Location: Conveniently across the street from Central Station, a stone's throw from Haymarket and Hyde Park. I easily walked all around town for the week or so I stayed. It's a bit further to the other backpacker destinations, like King's Cross, but where there's a will, there's a way (especially if you just catch a bus by the train station).