DO NOT GO TO THIS HOSTEL! The owners are treating young backpackers disgracefully and exploiting them for their money while forcing them to work in horrendous conditions. Should you stay here, you will be instantly dehumanised from the moment you hand over your bond of $200. This bond will be taken from you and will not be given back, as the owners Mick and Marlene will find a reason not to return it. They will take money off you for several other petty reasons, such as leaving a pot out, with no intention of giving it back. You will forced to work in relentlessly exhausting conditions, whether you are unwell or not, for 10 hour shifts at a time - with no breaks. One unlucky visitor even died from heat exhaustion in 2017 quite possibly due to a lack of water breaks they let the workers have. Please do not let this happen to somebody close to you. I was astonished to here how badly my sister-in-law and her friends were treated when they visited this year (March - April 2018) and it is clear, having read the reviews, that they are not the only ones. It is not a case of them being lazy or ungrateful, this was a group of people ready to graft hard for the opportunity to experience Australia. But they were treated like dirt, receiving a lot of verbal abuse and experienced very threatening behaviour from the owners. Unfortunately, even though the police were called, they said there was nothing they could do. Again, I implore anyone reading to not let yourself or any family members stay here or you will be putting their safety at a huge risk.

Dirty and overpriced. You have to pay a 200$ bond plus your weekly rent of 160$ when checking in. They charge you 10$ extra for every day you go to work for the bus. You are sometimes allowed to take your own car, but only if it suits them. Some days people were told in the morning to get on the bus, even they were driving with their own car for weeks. They had to pay the 10$ for that day! The cars are also in bad consition, some doors didnt shut properly, lights were not working properly, seat belts broken,gears not working. You have to be lucky to get full time work. They promise a lot of work, but it wasn't true. Heard a lot of people left broke after being in this hostel and moved to lazy lizard down the road to get work and finally make money. The rooms are just old flats with bunk beds. There is only one toilet and shower per flat to share between 10 people. Seems like my review got the hostel owner to scream at me in their response, so I am gladly putting some more in: How do you explain the dirty units, one toilet and shower to share for 10 and more people in the hostel or the bad working condition especially for Asians? You only scream it's not true, but don't provide evidence! You already got your reputation among backpackers and the internet. It's not going to get better by saying all bad reviews are, because everybody is a bad worker! The farmers are the ones giving us work, but you are responsible how the hostel, operates and looks like and that is just disgusting and filthy.

First of all, the only good thing about this place is the people you meet who are also travelling. That’s it. I was here for 3 weeks and only had one day of work after they’d said there was going to be loads of work from the mango farms. The rooms which the manager goes off at people about for not being clean aren’t hardly touched by the cleaners they supposedly employ, all I’ve seen them do is a 5 minute hoover and that’s it. You come out of the shower, walk on the carpet and the bottom of your feet are black by the time you get to your bed. Also I had to wait to get my $200 deposit back of which I actually only got $128 even though I hadn’t broken or done anything to violate the terms and conditions, and left before I owed anymore rent. Also, I had trouble getting paid for the 1 day of work I got in which I was a substitute for someone else and been chasing them up for 2 weeks asking for help with, to no avail (haven’t replied to my last 3 messages since last week). The worst place I’ve ever had the (not at all) privilege of staying. Given up on chasing you by the way, you’re all useless x

Be careful with this hostel and it’s 5-star-recommendations ... I’ve stayed there for 4 weeks in march. I worked only 2 days a week on a capsicum farm, but there is no chance they let you chance the farm unless you get fired because in Marleens opinion it is a “full time farm”. When i had a better job offer from another farm, they gave me 2 options. Staying in the hostel and don’t take the better offer or getting kicked out and do what I want. So that’s what i did. They kicked me out on a Monday evening 8:30pm, kept my 200$ bond and 180$ rent I paid one day before. Luckily a friendly neighbor let me stay with him, so I was able to work on the better farm. He was once the night manager in Ayr backpackers but he also got sacked by Marleen. He was supposed to keep the bond if someone was drinking alcohol in the hostel (there was a alcohol ban) but instead he reminded them friendly that alcohol is prohibited... IMPORTANT: don’t trust those fake recommendations, Marleen took some people from the hostel out for dinner in return for some good recommendations. It’s fake!

I have never came across a 'business' in all my life with such appalling ways of treating the people who keep their business going- the backpackers who stay here. I have never left a review before as I'm not one to moan, however I primarily made this account to review Ayr backpackers as it's simply horrendous. As stated in other reviews which I naively chose to ignore and give Ayr backpackers the benefit of the doubt, the owners and manager, especially Marlene are just over-whelmingly driven by money which consequently overrides any desire to look after, care for or treat any backpackers like human beings- it's just solely about making quick money. I have never been so demoralised and dehumanised in my life. Before you even check in to the hostel there are numerous pages of rules you have to sign- which basically means you're signing your bond away to them before even entering the actual hostel as if you abide by all the rules (which I did, I was in bed by 10pm every night and still got my bond taken off me) they'll find a way to take it off you. In the week I was there 6 different bonds of $200 each were taken for complete petty things. One of the boys was genuinely unwell and couldn't work so his bond was taken in the morning. Another girl had a panic attack on the farm and was told she had to leave the next day and her bond was taken. They don't employ a single person at the hostel except the manager. They force 2 girls every morning to clean the hostel for a mere discount of $60 off next weeks $160 rent, if they refuse to they will be threatened to be kicked out the hostel and lose their $200 bond. Likewise if you refuse an illegal cash in hand job for under minimum wage you get told to 'flip a coin between you or you're all getting kicked out and bonds lost'. If you have an self respect and although you're a backpacker still want to feel like you've got some sort of rights then avoid this hostel like the plague. P.s they will probably reply to this review with 'did not stay here' like I've seen they've replied to all the bad reviews. I've got proof if that is the case.

NO ONE GO TO THIS HOSTEL!! Worst place I have ever been too!! They are lying & are just interested in taken your money! Everyone I know lost there $200 bond which they make you pay up front as well as the $160 rent! They have a massive set of roles you have to be in bed by 10pm!! There is no air con!! It's the worst place I have ever been!! They took my friends phone as he was playing music from it & he couldn't get it back until the next day! Robbing scum!! Horrible people I could go on.

I was planning to work on a farm here for my second visa, but there was no work available at all. My roommate only worked one day a week. We stayed for 2 weeks and it was a waste of time and money. Because I don't have a job, and the air conditioner in my room doesn't turn on until 3:45pm. It was the worst because it was too hot everyday. There's a party every Saturday night so it's noisy. It was so noisy until 4am that I couldn't sleep. There is wifi, but it doesn't work. I don't recommend to come here if you want to work and get 2nd or 3rd visa. The staff won't give us a job and it's terrible if it's their business to keep us.

STAY AWAY FROM IT, they will rip you off. I went there with a couple of friends and promised work for the season(they even told us to bring more friends), we stayed there for one month and only worked 4 days. We thought the bad reviews were because the season hadn't started just yet, we were wrong. Some of the staff members are really rude. All the hostel payments have to be done cash in hand (Effie). They charge you $12 to take you to the farm even if you are the one driving the group there. We had to pay a $200 bond that they would take away if we left before 2 weeks, when there was no work at all. Their business model seems to lure with promises of work as many backpackers as possible and lock them in for two weeks. Even when there is work the way they work is chaotic, they will let you know that you are rostered some few hours before your shift starts, 4.30 am in my case. I can't stress this enough don't go to that hostel! Ps: don't listen to the 5-4 star reviews I haven't met anyone in the hostel that thought something like that. If I were more suspicious I would say that they are fake, also the fact that the owner wrote such a long response not addressing any of my issues with the hostel and implicitly blaming me for actions that I did not incur into should speak for itself. That's the way they treat you in there.

Never go to this hostel. There is a chance you get a nice job, but also a chance you get to work at places where you earn 2 dollar an hour doing black labor.(not usable for second year visa) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At one day we went to a farm and did the following: We had to climb in trees and such to shake mango's out of trees that where picked 5 times already. We made 30$ each on 7 hours (40degrees) So we decided to take everyone in the bus. ( around 8 people) We told the Owner( Marlene) about the situation, Black Labor, no ensurance, no money, climbing trees( dangarous) But she got really mad at us for leaving , she diddn't care about our wellbeing. So she decided to not give us a job anymore. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The worst thing was that they force you to take the job, if you dont like it and tell them its not fair work, they will kick you out of the hostel and take your deposit. Or just not give you any job anymore so you will have to leave. There are a lot of people that will leave the place with less money then they started with. The only nice thing about the hostel is that you will meet a lot nice backpackers.

Zero stars, if that were possible. I stayed at this place for 3 nights in 2001, and can't believe it's still in business. They convinced us to leave our passports in their safe, and after 3 days with no work (which they guaranteed) and a flooded hallway, we asked for them back. The agent took out a large knife and demanded payment. I gave a the staff member a lecture on client service and in the end we left with our passports and without paying. I don't think new management will help, if the owners are the same.

Manager is horrible and will do all he can to make your life hell, other guests in the hostel are lovely

If you want serious farm work this is the place. It’s a hostel focused on work which means that you have all the conditions for doing a good work. It’s a nice place with swimming pool, several kitchen and a tv room. The owner is very helpful and will do his all to help you. The hostel is perfect if you want to do your 88 days or just farm work. I strongly recommend it if you are thinking about doing farm work.

Unfortunately I can't give zero stars. Was in this hostel for a full 3 hours after which I was kicked out for no good reason. I could go into more detail here, but I think I can save that. It's definitely the worst hostel and the rudest owner I've seen so far. The hostel has very questionable rules like you have to take the shuttle bus to the farm (which costs $11 by the way) and you can't take your own car. You only get the deposit back if you stay at least 2 weeks in the hostel. I could go on for a very long list here. In the end I can be happy that I can't be there anymore 🙈

Would give 0 stars if it was possible. The hostel itself has potential to be a good place to do your 88 days and the other backpackers are all lovely but the manager of this hostel ruins the whole experience. He overcharged almost everyone, there’s fines for literally anything, the 160 dollars per week are massively overpriced and the way he treats backpackers is just disgraceful and rude. Unless this is your emergency plan (as it was for us ) or they hire a new manager i would not recommend on staying there whatsoever.

I stayed here a week, but then got offered work elsewhere but still had a lovely time, met a great group of people. If you respect the rules the staff and management go out of their way to help you with any problems you may have and work hard to find work for you. I would go to the hostel with enough money for a few weeks without work, at least until mango season starts.

I’ve recently completed my 88 days in Ayr, and was at Ayr backpackers for a total of 5 months. I had the best time here, and genuinely made friends for life. Personally, I was really lucky with my farm and had a lovely farmer which meant that I actually loved my farm work! The manager of the hostel always looked out for us whilst we were in the hostel, particularly ensuring us girls were safe coming back from nights out and told the guys to always walk home with the girls. Since leaving, the manager has continued to look out for me and my friends and has checked in on us since leaving to know that we are safe and getting on ok in our new locations. My time in Ayr was truly was an unforgettable experience, and I now have memories and friends that will last me a life time!

Overall I'd say I had a decent time with this hostel. I never had any issues with the management/staff we got on quite well unlike some of these other posts state. They do try their hardest to get work for everyone but that's hard to do when the weathers acting up. My only complaint would be that it took just about 6 months to complete the 88 days which sucks but that's life sometimes, doesn't always go as planned.

The hostel in its self can be daunting at first.. give it the culture shock of the area and staying in rural Queensland in a dorm. Please give it a chance, the work is hard, you get tired and you want to throw the towel in first day, PLEASE DON’T! Give it a good try! The people are lovely, there’s a pool and eating/cooking facilities and there’s a gym, there’s supermarkets and pubs etc nearby! There’s the opportunity to pay for travel everyday (or free if you’re the driver), there’s free Wi-Fi and there’s a TV room with ping-pong. There’s also a nice gym tucked around the corner.

If you wanna do your 88 days and have a nice hostel this is a good hostel for you. It has everything you need for a working hostel and the owner are a loyal person that is really help some

Really cool place, the vibes are chill, they will provide you work and a good place to sleep / rest, the farmers around are benevolent and attentive, you can go for it without worries !

It was my first hostel experience and it was amazing. I found lovely people and made friends for the rest of the life!! I finished my 88 days in 4 months, (not too bad bc these year was a bad weather and some farm have to stop) big thanks to the management and the staff for their work. The rules are simple here, if you are nice and respectful the staff will be the same with you, if you don’t wanna get fine just respect the rules and nothing will be charge.

Passed through on a cycle trip. Management looked after me from the first minute, clean rooms, fresh sheets, wifi up to speed, couldn’t ask for much more really. Looks like a decent place to get your 88 days done without any hassle

I finished all of my 88 days here in 4 months. It’s not always busy so it’s possible that you have to wait a few weeks. So make sure that you have some money saved up and don’t come here if you can’t even afford rent for a week. If that is the case, every hostel will kick you out and that is purely your own fault. Don’t let it come so far people, start looking for a job before you only have $50 left. I had a good time here tho. Met a lot of amazing people and made friends for life. Gonna travel with a few of them soon. Honestly it’s sad to see all these bad reviews because the hostel is not that bad. Ofcourse there are things that they could do better, but isn’t that the case everywhere? What people seem to forget is that they come to a working hostel and all they do is drinking and keeping people up in the middle of the night, making the place all messy and then they’re surprised that they get fined or kicked out. I’ve met people who never stayed in a hostel before but now they had to because of their 88 days. If you know how a hostel works, you will see that what they ask is pretty normal. You don’t live at your mom’s house anymore after all. Last but not least, if you have a problem, go to Dominic (better known as Dom) and talk to him directly. He can be grumpy but give him a chance. If you respect the hostel and the rules, he will respect you. - Waffles

I stayed in this Hostel many years ago when a couple named Sandra and Dennis were in charge. I was looked after very well and given good work on a local farm. The work lasted for 6 weeks and I managed to save enough money to travel all the way back to Sydney and have a great time along the way. I have no idea who is in charge now, or if the place is still as good as it was, but I will always be grateful for my time there.