YHA Sydney Harbour - The Rocks

What a gem! Central location and amazing place to stay with a group of high school students! The views from the roof top bar are brilliant! The easy access to the Sydney Harbour bridge, Circular Quay, and public transport makes it a perfect location. Rooms are clean with modern bathrooms and breakfast service fantastic. Love that it is accessible to all ages and showcases the rich history of The Rocks

Loved this place! Super clean (way cleaner than I expected for a hostel!) and I loved the vibe. Self check-in is super easy, and the app is awesome, discounts plus your room key right on your phone. The rooftop is a gem for drinks and sunsets 🌅. The location is unbeatable, honestly 100/10. Only 15 minutes’ walk to the Opera House, close to trains, trams, buses, and ferries. Lots of restaurants and shops around, and there’s even a little convenience store right next door. If you don’t like stairs, you can just walk around the corner and go up the hill instead.

My wife and I came halfway across the world from Canada, to visit friends in the NSW region. We booked YHA on a complete fluke and were a little bit skeptical about the Hostel situation. We were blown away by not only the amenities, reasonable pricing, the service and the quality we received for our last 2 days in Australia and Sydney proper. The rooftop bar was a highlight of the stay, along with the view of the Sydney Opera House. When we return to this amazing country we plan on staying YHA again.

This was a total win with planning my trip. The beds are so comfortable. The rooms are large and clean. The staff were super helpful and welcoming. There aren’t much in means of amenities but it’s perfect if you’re looking for a place to base out of rather than party in. I’ve food it quiet and relaxing. Also you cannot beat the view from the rooftop when the sun is rising.

YHA Sydney Harbour is one of my favorite hostels in the world. You've got an incredible central location near Circular Quay and rooftop terrace view of Sydney Harbor, Harbor Bridge, and the Opera House. You've got top-notch staff 24-7 including but not limited to two Chilean all-stars Tomas and Aldo. There's a kitchen with the best prices in the city, fresh cookies daily, and late night coffee, snacks, etc. Great wifi. Work stations. Weekly events. I stayed one week. Could have stayed longer. The best hostel in Sydney and beyond.

We stayed at YHA the rocks in July for 5 nights. After a flight delay - YHA was able to accommodate moving our dates for us. We would totally stay again in YHA! It was our first time staying at any YHA. We had a great time during our stay . We opted for the breakfast and it was very delicious! We also chose a private room and ended up having partial view of the harbor and Sydney Opera House. Very clean and lovely place to stay with family or friends during any trip to Sydney! Very walkable neighborhood and only a short walk to the trains or bus stops. Our room was a private room with one queen size bed with a private bathroom. The room did have limited storage options. The bathroom was a good size for us and was very clean. We did not have any issues with noise and were able to sleep peacefully. The rooms do not have refrigerators and microwaves. There are large sized refrigerators and cubbies in the dining/ lobby area to be shared by all guests. This was great for us for when we bought fruit , snacks or drinks - we labeled them and dropped them off in the refrigerators. We opted in for the breakfast option which gave us options of breakfast cereals , toast and toppings , hot cereal and potato. It was great for us as we’re not huge breakfast eaters - there are also plenty of cafes nearby closer to the harbor. The hotel had a very calm ambiance and had both a roof top bar and lounge area and a smaller outside lounge area by the lobby . It was also nice to see ruins and museums under the hotel . Nearby there are food, parks and shopping options. We had pizza at a hotel restaurant nearby. There is also a convenience store next door. We usually ate before heading back to the hotel We will be back on our next trip to Sydney

Stayed in a queen bed room with ensuite recently for a show at the Opera House. The room was clean and tidy, the bathroom was clean and towels provided. We had a view of the Opera house from our window. Check in is easy, staff are polite and helpful, rooftop bar was fun. We were very happy with our stay, big recommend. Oh and location is amazing! Obviously.

Our stay at the hostel was excellent. I especially want to highlight the attention of Tomas, who was always ready to help us with everything. Super kind and friendly, he made our experience much more comfortable and enjoyable. Thank you so much!

I am a traveler , and this place is the most diverse place I've ever seen. Amazing staff and great amenities. Besides the loads of money you'll save sharing a room with strangers, you have a chance to meet new people. They offer free pancakes in the morning, snacks for sale, and laundry. If you arrive early they have locked luggage storage. The view from the deck! No hostel can top it. A view of the bridge and opera house. And the location is so perfect for touristy things. They are in a safe neighborhood called "the rocks" with plenty of things to see and eat. 5 minute walk to the trains, buses, and taxis.

I enjoyed staying here except for the two that I was paired with. I had just flown 20 hours, was now 15 hours ahead of my normal time. They kept coming in and out of the room getting beer until 3am. I finally got up, took a shower, slept in the lobby until it was time to go to the cruise port. I would have paid for private room if I knew my experience would have been this. I was offered a different room but didn't want to be that person and wake up someone by going into their room at 3am.

If you're used to traveling for really, really cheap, this place is probably super nice. Likely the only affordable location at the Rocks. Comparing it to European hostels though, it's a 3.5 for me. Tips: - If you're carrying a lot of baggage, take the damn Circular Quay train exit. That one is much closer than the other one they recommend that starts with a W. Given how many stairs there are, I would just take a quick Uber from the Circular Quay. - This hostel is very a la carte. Others will hold your baggage; here you have to pay for locker rental if you show up early and can't check in. It's $5AUS for the first four hours. - Bring your own towel. Rental is $2AUS. - Bring your own lock. Buying one is $7AUS. *** - Buy your own sim card in the airport (super cheap if in the airport) before you head into town. The wifi here is pretty shitty unless you pay, and it's only available in the lobby. Their network needs to be expanded for the number of people on it, but I guess there's no need to if you want people to pay for wifi. Things to love: - Location - Free sunscreen. Really good of them. - You can put all of your food in a cubby, marked with your name and just cook your own meals. - Staff, like most massive hostels, was really nice. Probably the one thing that bothered me the most is how cheap they are with the AC. Now, I'm from a tropical island, so I can tolerate some heat, but this was just ridiculous. It was almost record hot in Sydney that weekend I was there, but you have to run upstairs and ask for them to turn your AC on to your room. Even then, the coldest it can go is 23 degrees when they click "on" to activate by computer mouse, but it won't feel like 23 degrees before it automatically shuts off. It was hard to fall asleep at night. If you're broke or on the road for a long time, this is a solid stay.

This is no ordinary backpackers! It's easy to see why it has received many awards and has a great reputation. For starters, there's its prime location in the historic Rocks area, very close to Circular Quay, the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, etc. Very handy for the BridgeClimb - just a few minutes away on the same street. A huge bonus is the hostel's rooftop terrace which has spectacular views over all of this, a real treat. Like many YHA hostels, the building has a quirky aspect to its character - the modern building has been constructed around an archaeological site. I didn't have time to visit the on-site Big Dig centre or take part in the activities but it was pretty interesting just to observe the site beneath the walkways and display of artefacts in the entrance. Inside, the hostel is modern and clean and of an excellent standard. Our room itself was great. We had booked a double room with ensuite shower and WC. The room was a reasonable size and was more like hotel accommodation than a backpackers. Tea/coffee making supplies and towels were also provided. The large kitchen, dining and social space areas are light and airy and located on the same floor as reception (1st floor), and there's a café counter to the side of the reception area. If you fancy dining al fresco there's a balcony with tables and chairs or you can take the lift up to the roof terrace. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There are a number of items you can borrow for a deposit from reception like hair straighteners, etc. One thing to bear in mind is that the hostel is located atop a hill. On the map it didn't look like much of a walk from Circular Quay but it felt like a fair old hike carrying our bags up sloping pavements and flights of stairs. It did cost more than our central Sydney hostel stays but for private ensuite accommodation in such a well-equipped and high standard of hostel in an excellent area and with panoramic rooftop views over world famous Sydney harbour and its landmarks it is absolutely value for money!

Truly as good as it gets! Having stayed in hostels all over the world, I don't think anything can beat The Rocks at Sydney Harbour. Everything from the level of cleanliness, to the folks at the front desk, to the rooms, the views, and just the history of the neighborhood makes this YHA blow every other hostel out of the water. I have a twin sister who backpacked through Australia a year before I did. When she told me about this hostel I scrambled to book a room and found that on a few of the nights I'd be in town, they were all booked up. Damn! Having been forced to stay elsewhere in Sydney, I can guarantee that this is by far the best hostel in town. Perched atop a hill you'd be smart to catch a bus or cab to the hostel. If you're an idiot like me, you can also get lost and climb dozens of stairs with a heavy backpack. NOTE: Doing it my way will make you learn the hostels location really fast. Once I finally made it there, I never forgot how to get back. And I never took my backpack down that hill until I checked out! That being said however, the hilltop location provides spectacular rooftop views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. It's totally worth the climb! And after eating some Hungry Jacks, I needed to burn off the calories anyway. If you're a history buff, an archeology buff or a geology buff - this is the hostel for you. The historic location of the hostel is really unique as they built it on stilts above the ground. With glass floors and glass walls at the ground level, you'll notice carefully placed signs and posters that show you what The Rocks looked like decades ago when people first settled in this neighborhood. You can even see artifacts that have been dug up as well as outlines and bricks leftover from old housing plots. It's fascinating! I really loved that the hostel wanted to preserve the land and make sure that travelers were aware of the history of the area while they passed through. There's even a little museum area where guests of the hostel can go and learn from a speaker and get a more in-depth story about the region, the history, the people, etc. The rooms at this hostel are great too. In an effort to conserve electricity, each room has a special key card. When you slip this card into a slot on the wall you can control the lights and the AC. That way when people aren't at home - the lights and air conditioning aren't working and there's no waste of energy being devoted to empty rooms. The kitchen is also state-of-the-art and enormous. Packed with everything you'd need to cook or prepare a meal, everyone has space for a cubby or a shelf to store their own food if they have any. Attached is a large communal dining space and seating area with cozy couches and chairs. While the space is clearly a hostel and not a hotel, it was a clean as a hotel and much cheaper. You still have to pay for WIFI access but that seems normal in Australia. Nothing was free! Unless I'm on a romantic vacation with someone, I don't think I'll ever stay in a hotel in Sydney. I really enjoyed my stay at this hostel and wish every other hostel in the world could be this amazing. And I didn't even get to the huge TV room yet...!

I stayed here earlier in the year when I was visiting Sydney and although there are a few hostel choices in the CBD this has got to the the best hostel I have ever stayed in, and like many others who have reviewed this hostel comment, I have stayed in many hostels around the world. You are a short walk away from incredible views of the harbour bridge and opera house and the heart of the CBD. It is easy to get to from the airport just get off the train at circular quay station which is only a short walk away. Of course the short walk can feel like a marathon if your backpack is heavy and you are jet lagged! Needless to say once unburdened by luggage the YHA is easy walking distance to the transport hub of circular quay, train, bus or ferry. The hostel itself is built over an archeological dig of The Rocks with some information boards detailing the history of The Rocks area which is something different and interesting. The staff at the front desk were some of the friendliest YHA staff I have come across and this is the same level as the kitchen and dining area. Such a large and well kept kitchen. Indoor seating or under cover outdoor for those wanting some fresh air and a view. The breakfast is reasonably priced but very filling and I got much more than I expected for my buck. The rooms are large with plenty of space for all in the four person dorm I stayed in. Most impressed with the sheer space afforded to the ensuite compared to some of the airplane sized dorm ensuite I have seen in other hostels. And hot water too!!! There is a storage locker for each person, bring you own lock, that are big enough to handle a proper backpack without it needing to be cut in half and then half again just to fit inside. Each bunk has a light and power plug, handy if you want to read up on he lonely planet without keeping others in the dorm up. There is a TV room and wifi. Wifi you pay for but reliable enough. The view from the roof top terrace is utterly amazing, looking straight out to the opera house provided one of those massive cruise ships is not docked at circular quay! A lovely place to stay in the heart of Sydney

Best hostel yet, for these reasons-- Location: Across from gym ($17 day pass) Few-minute walk from Harbour Bridge (climb up stairs, walk across the bridge) Two pubs down the street Few-minute walk from harbour area with ferries, Circular Quay train station, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Opera House Convenience store next door Built atop The Big Dig (curious) 30-minute train ride from airport (stop at Circular Quay) 4-person room: En-suite, hotel-like bathroom Plenty space for 4 people Individual power points (sockets) with light at each bed Individual lockers in room Enough head room at bottom bunk Common areas: Large kitchen / dining room with multiple cooking / washing stations Rooftop terrace with nice harbour views and entertainment room Other: Wifi $5/day, decent/stable enough Pleasant staff Modern building Clean

Normally I prefer smaller hostels, but for a large, city hostel Sydney Harbour YHA is as good as it gets. Everything is clean and new. The dorm rooms have ensuite bathrooms. There is a giant, well-equipped kitchen. The view from the roof is fantastic! Being a huge hostel, it's not that social but they offer some nice activities like a free walking tour, that help with meeting other travellers. The staff are generally very good, although one of them was extremely rude and acted like everything was huge imposition on his time. If you are arriving from Circular Quay, you don't have to walk up the endless flights of stairs with your backpack as their directions tell you to, just walk a block over to Essex Street and then up to York Street then straight down York. It's still up hill, but almost no stairs.

This is easily the best hostel that I have had a pleasure staying at, everything about it was perfect. The room impressed me the most - I stayed in a 4-share room and the room comes with a private bathroom! Also the room is spacious in itself and there are plugs everywhere in the room, even a plug near the bed night switch and in the locker...impressive. The service at reception was really great. I enjoyed the continental breakfast for $6, it's just a great way to start your day. Unfortunately the rates are not the best for this YHA as they are more pricey compared to the other YHA's, but if you ever want to visit the Harbour Bridge & Opera House you definitely have to stay here!

This hostel is really amazing! Located in "the Rocks" neighborhood, (the nicest place in Sydney), The hostel is clean, the service is incredible, from the upper deck you can see the Opera house. The facilties are very confortable. The price is not the best value, and if you are interested try to book in advance.

location. the rocks. couldn't be better and the view from the rooftop-terrace is stunning. I don't know how they got the place but it's AWESOME! rooms/facilities. brand new. shiny. the most clean hostel I've seen in Australia worldwide only toped by Mountain Hostel Laax Switzerland. rates. reasonably low. it's still a yha :o) service. also a hostel has some kind of service but yha-like this one is forthcoming and friednly as we know it. So if you're looking for a good accommodation in Sydney this is your place. You'll find it right here.

I've been meaning to Yelp this YHA for almost a year now. The best hostel I have ever stayed in, I instantly saw what all the fuss was about. Not only is it an extremely cool building, but the staff are so incredibly helpful and kind. I would love to return here and definitely recommend it. It is also in a prime location. The staff was helpful in getting me connected to the US when I could not get the phone to work out myself. They also recommended many things to do, places to see, and restaurants to eat in around Sydney. I cannot wait until my next trip to Sydney.

Located in the oldest and arguably the coolest part of Sydney - The Rocks - the Sydney Harbour YHA hostel was an amazing place to stay during our Aussie adventure. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the beautiful views advertised were real and not over-hyped!! No worries on capturing awesome pictures of the Opera house morning, day or night. For those who have an interest in history or archaeology, the hostel is actually located on an active dig site - a fantastic and close activity to do when it's raining outside. The hostel is big and seems to cater to large groups, so you don't have some of the charm found in smaller hostels, but that being said, the facilities all seemed to be new and everything was remarkably clean - best bathrooms we used on our entire trip!! Insider tips: Camino Cantina has $2 tacos on Tuesdays and The Fine Food Store (located in The Rocks) has some excellent coffee. There is also a free walking tour that goes through The Rocks in the evenings at 6 PM, which is a cool way to learn more about the area (http://www.imfree.com.au/sydney/rocksat6/).

Simply the best hostel I have stayed in. Fantastic location, at the heart of Circular Quay, close to train and ferry. Safe, exceptionally clean and welcoming vibe. The roof has a harbour view and a cinema. There is even a gym right across the road. Would definitely stay here again.

Haven't stayed in many YHAs but thought this one was great. A large communal kitchen/lounge area, amazing roof-top where you can BYO beers and take in one of the best views of Sydney Harbour, nightly activities and food specials, and all of this on top of genuine Australian artefacts: the bottom level where you walk in was having a tour group through it when we arrived, and looks out down to excavated artefacts of the first settlers. Room was simple, as to be expected, but did the job. A very cool place to stay in Sydney.

It's close to everything and the view from the roof terrace is incredible. The atmosphere of the hostel and the place around is inviting, safe and comfortable. One should stay longer at the place if he wants to throughly explore the rocks and the CBD.