Horrible experience. Everything is old and disgusting. The room smells. Cocrcocroch in the toilets.I decided to shorten my stay but of course no one was there to help me and they refused to refund my 2 nights and I was untitled to. To have my deposit back I had to go back there other wise I will never had back my money. The manager is rude and dishonest.. Don't go there!

Rude rude very rude, nasty and offensive owner asked you where you natively from first and then he would decide to let you see the room or not. Dirty bathroom, kitchen, if you only book for one night, the owner will even bother welcoming you. Don't come to here i beg you guys!

I had one of the worst experiences at this hostel. I booked for 3 nights but as soon as I got back to the room, I was seized by the stale smell, dirt and lack of hygiene (a used condom dragged down and other waste). I could not sleep one night, unbearable. So I left and ask for a refund of 3 nights. No response from the manager, even two weeks later, the reception desk couldn’t do anything. This hostel is certainly cheap, but this should not exclude hygiene! TO FORBID!

Tried canceling 3 days prior to my arrival as I found a place to live in Sydney. I no longer required the room and yet they charged me full price for 3 nights still. This is a very harsh and unnecessary policy. You guys could certainly be a little more lenient on your clientele (which consists of backpackers on a budget in one of the most expensive cities in the world). I can understand no refunds if I canceled within 24 hours of my arrival, but I gave you almost 72 hours notice. So ya, enjoy my 140 dollars! You could of filled the room easily after I canceled early and we all would of been happy but now I have to just eat the cost and struggle a little extra while starting my expensive life in Sydney.

ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!!! my partner and I booked a private room. We have stayed at hostels before, and are understanding that they are not five star hotels! And we knew that they may have some issues. When we got to the hostel, we got checked in, and unfortunately, our room was on the third floor, and there was no elevator. Again, not a huge deal, we just had to lug the suitcases up the large staircase. When we open the door, we could feel the room was extremely wet! The air was thick, and everything felt damp (mattress, sheets, walls, carpet). When we sat on the bed, our legs/pants felt like we had just sent some thing wet. Even just keeping our stuff in the room for a couple hours began to make our stuff feel damp. We wanted to keep the fan on just to circulate the air and get some air flow in.. the fan was so loud that it sounded like a machine was in our room. They need a better fan and a dehumidifier in there! We understand that hostels aren’t perfect, so we didn’t want to complain right away. On the second night I woke up with water dripping on my face. I look up and there was multiple spots in the ceiling that were leaking yellow water… when I turn the light on to see what was happening the bunk above us was had large wet spots from being dripped on all night. We had clothes and shoes on that bed, all were wet and now smelled gross. Including a new pair of Uggs that were purchased. I went downstairs to tell the staff member, and they ensured me that they were going to call maintenance. But I knew that wasn’t going to fix the problem right away! They also informed me that they’ve had an issue with this room over the past month or so and last week a couple actually left due to the same reason. This room should never been booked, or our reservation should have been canceled because it was absolutely disgusting!!!!! When I came back up to the room to try to find some dry clothes to wear, we looked at the walls and there was black mold everywhere. There were many spots that had big, black, mold, patches, and that’s a HUGE health hazard! We informed the receptionist that we were no longer going to be staying there and we’re going to find another place to stay for the remaining amount of our trip. The receptionist was able to give us a partial refund, which should’ve been a free refund… We shouldn’t have been staying in a room that had black mold, and has had issues in the past month! The room needs to be blocked off and not used anymore, because it definitely is not fair. The location wasn’t the best either there wasn’t too much around, but we made it work. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS HOSTEL!!

Secret garden stole my money. Showed up and the front door was locked despite it being during reception hours and their phone number on this listing and on the door was disconnected (call it and you’ll see for yourself). On top of that, they refused a refund. Save yourself the stress and go elsewhere.

Sooooo crazy horrible terrible and disgusting place. Big disgusting smell in the room. There are mice and cockroaches everywhere. A lot of rubbish in the room and nobody clean it or wash the bed after the roommates left for two days. Kitchen and the public area are very dirty. Check the picture you will understand why I comment like above.

Lovely garden ! Charming encounters Would recommend 100% I recently stayed at a hostel in Sydney and was pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. The location was excellent, situated near major attractions and public transportation. The staff were friendly and helpful, providing valuable tips for exploring the city. The dormitory rooms were clean and comfortable, with secure lockers for belongings. The common areas were vibrant and well-maintained, fostering a social atmosphere among guests. Overall, I would rate this hostel a solid 17 out of 20 for its great value and enjoyable atmosphere.

Literally the worst hostel i've ever stayed in. My friends told me there was bed bugs here and so I went to cancel a week and a half out from the date but they would not let me and hung up on me when trying to make a compromise on the non-refundable situation (They wont refund you under any circumstances). I ended up staying there because I had paid for it and I got bed bugs. The woman who was on the service desk was extremely rude and did not care and told me to f off.

This place was uncomfortable, smelly, dirty, and unprofessional. Exposed wiring, mouldy bathrooms, trip hazards and unattractive smells in the entry/common rooms made our stay very unpleasant. We tried to spend as little time as possible in the hostel, and would come back in the evening around 10-11pm. The local area is a little rough, with dealers or homeless on most street corners. I felt unsafe here after dark, and was harassed by a man who tried to get into the hostel with us one night. This may be the cheapest hostel in the city, but there are some severe down sides. Stay somewhere else if you value cleanliness and safety.

If you want to have a good sleep, don't stay at this hostel. The rooms are very dirty, moldy and there is barely any ventilation. Also, there were lots of insects (cockroaches, bed bugs) in the room so you couldn't sleep at all.

Many people love this place, but I have found it less than appealing. The room I'm in has a mold stain on one of the corners, the place has an odd smell and just feels dirty. I did see a cockroach on my first night, but haven't seen one since. The staff are extremely friendly and there's a great party crowd, if that's what you're in to. If, like me, you don't like to party and you are more introverted, I would steer clear. This place is definitely suited to those who are extroverted and love to party.

Very friendly and helpful staff and great location. The rooms (12 bed mixed dorm) are simply "not clean" and it is a shame, considering the price for a bed (ONE BED in a 12 people dormitory). Cleaning standards must be improved greatly.

We stayed here for 5 nights. We had a great time. We stayed in the double room, which I saw had some issues from some previous visitors. They've sorted out the issues and put in a dehumidifier now. (See pictures). It was comfortable and very clean. We were jetlagged, so we didn't join in with any of the activities, but there were things going on for guests every night, which sounded like great fun. They cleaned at least twice a day. We had a good time mingling with people when we could. The staff were super friendly. The kitchen is really big, it's so great if you have a few people cooking at the same time. I recommend booking on hostelworld, they offer better prices than booking directly with the hostel. The hostel also has a no refund/cancellation policy, but if you book with hostelworld, you can pay a little bit extra to get a refundable booking up 24 hours before your check-in day. It doesn't say anywhere, but their reception is open for 8am-8pm. You can check in after 8pm, but you have to call a number on the door. There is no doorbell. I only found this out when they sent me an email after I booked the room. Thanks for a great stay SGB!

The hostel is really cool and personal. I enjoyed my time there! Fiona the french did the best work.

If you are looking for a place to party hard, this is your place. If you are looking for a clean place to rest after all day visiting the city, not really. Its noisy, my check in was a bit of an adventure as the person in charge could not hear the door because the music was so loud at 23.30h. Its dirty! Toilets and bathroom are not enough for the number of people partying in this place, I have seen it clean only once in 6 days (it was very early in the morning after the domestic cleaned it, the only time that it seems to happen) the humidity is overwhelming. The rooms are small for the number of people in them. There is no rules/regulation about making noises at certain time. Etc. To summ up...it is by far the worst hostel I have ever been in my whole travelling life. Go somewhere else.

Great hostel! Great vibe and very easy to make friends. Free breakfast and events through out the week. It is a hostel so don't expect hotel standards. Lots of long terms who keep the community going. Only recommendation is double glazing as it can be a bit noisy on the street side. Plus if the private bathrooms could be a bit cleaner and put some non-slip material on the floor. One of the cheapest places in the area and very close to a nice park and to town!

The staff are very friendly and the hostel is in a pretty good location, near to Central Station. HOWEVER - the hostel is unclean, and while I normally wouldn't be bothered by the cleanliness, I found cockroaches in my bed and all over my luggage in the dorm room. I ended up leaving at 11pm and staying at WakeUp next to Central station which turned out to be the same price as Secret Garden. Secret Garden is cheap, but not worth the cockroaches in my opinion, especially when there are other affordable hostels nearby. The staff were very apologetic about the situation, but left it at that.

Omfg so bad even rats come in look around and go straight out the way they came in!

When I first arrived to Sydney 2 years ago, this was the best hostel I could ever wish for! It had such a family vibe environment but since then I have visited several times and not had the same experience. I even worked here at one point two years ago for a while and we had such a close staff team who were very helpful and friendly and everyone in the hostel was so inviting back then, everyone helped everyone get jobs, we had a days out everywhere with groups of 20-50 people. I’m not sure what happened with all the management changes and new rules applied here. My phone is filled with so many photos of good memories that we shared here. This hostel was such a good location, close to the park, close to the station, great coffee across the road at Dina’s cafe. I’m sure if you looked far enough in the reviews you’ll find another review from myself going on about how good this place was at the time.

Very clean, friendly staff and good location. No lift, so have to walk up and down flights with larger suitcases and toilets facilities are shared by all guests.

I absolutely love this place! The new manager Florencia is such a star! I stayed a few month back and can honestly say this hostel changed a lot. Much nicer people, the showers are very clean these days. Even free yoga classes are offered! Have never tried it before but loved it! Keep up the good work!

Good hostel for the price lot of different free activities at night and free pancake on Sunday morning. Great location. The only thing is the hot water in the shower, it was boiling and just 1cm it's cold...

bad service booking shows 4 bed room and was sent to 10 bed room and they gave some one else my 4 bed room. staff inconvenienced customer the vending machine broken and red bull never replenished

I’ve been here for two weeks, I love this pplace!! Good vibes around, and free pancakes every Sunday 😍

Even on the 3rd floor, the noise from the busy road late into the night makes it a rough place to sleep. Clean facilities for how many people are crammed in here.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Secret Garden Backpackers , and I can confidently say that it was an absolute gem of an experience. From the moment I walked through the door, I was impressed by the warm and friendly atmosphere that permeated the entire hostel. The staff at Secret Garden Backpackers deserves special mention for their outstanding hospitality. They went above and beyond to make me feel welcome, providing invaluable local tips and recommendations that enriched my stay. Their genuine passion for creating a positive and memorable experience for guests truly stood out. The cleanliness and organization of the hostel were impeccable. The common areas, including the lounge and kitchen, were consistently tidy, creating an inviting space for guests to socialize and unwind. The dormitory and private rooms were well-maintained, featuring comfortable beds and thoughtful design elements that enhanced the overall aesthetic. The amenities provided exceeded my expectations. Fast and reliable Wi-Fi, secure lockers, and convenient laundry facilities were just a few of the thoughtful additions that made my stay more enjoyable. The location of Secret Garden Backpackers was another standout feature. Situated in a vibrant and accessible neighborhood, it allowed me to explore the city with ease. Whether I was seeking local cuisine, cultural attractions, or simply a relaxing stroll, everything was within convenient reach. In conclusion, my stay at Secret Garden Backpackers was nothing short of exceptional. The combination of friendly staff, spotless facilities, a welcoming community, and strategic location make it a hostel that I wholeheartedly recommend to fellow travelers.

Great place near city centre. It's clean and cozy, has something fun to do each day. Bbq and pancakes are deliss and all staff is very frendly, Oscar was mvp for sure.

Very nice hostel and friendly staff. The rooms are very basic. Overall I think it's a good value for money

Really cozy hostel, good kitchen area and nice bathrooms. Also the staff members are very helpful and friendly. Thanks to Oscar Manu and Francesca(at least 6 toilets/7showers)

Location is great 10min walk from central. Staff was friendly. Only thing was not enough shower blocks. But if you're there just for few days and always outside it's a good place. I think lots of long stay (backpacker, not old weirdos) mainly Spanish speaker. Would come back again for a long weekend.

The stay in this place has been very good. All the staff were very nice and friendly at all times. A good place to stay for a few days in Sydney. The location is also very good, totally recommended.

Super friendly staff! The manager Florencia was very kind and helpful. Great events and beautiful garden

Not the cleanest or most up to date place. The staff were rude. At least I met a couple cool people.

I had the best time in this hostel in Sydney. Close to centre, but not central crowded vibe. A lovely park near by. And the backyard garden was awesome! Good nights spent there!

Very easy going people and super friendly the staff also! It's like living in a big family. It is still a hostel but the rooms are spacious enough and it's not too loud even though everyone is partying nearly every night! Breakfast is for free and you have a big fridge and other storage space where you can leave your food. The kitchen was very clean and bathrooms okay! The location was actually very good because you can walk to the central station and the grocerie/liquor store is also just 6 min by foot! For many people the hostel is a bit too stressy but if your just there for the night and gone during the day i personally think it is a good hostel!

Staff super friendly and the place is very clean

Got my nose broke by a drunk guest, staff didn't call ambulance or even ask if I was okay.

Me and my two friends enjoyed our stay here. The rooms including the shared bathrooms and kitchens are really clean. The stuff is really kind. Our highlight was the garden which invites for cozy evenings together. We would always come back!

I’m living in this hostel and I really like that. The people work here are kind and there are the Italian guys work in reception they helped me to carry the bag to my room. Room are not perfect clean but you can easily live here. Bathroom are clean and the position is perfect because is not so far from central station. Gave 4 stars just because the people after midnight they still make noisy, but it’s okay is a hostel

Most probably the worst hostel I’ve stayed in. The room was super warm and couldn’t get any fresh air. Everything in general was dirty and you will always feel dirty even after a shower. The staff was not friendly and they were unbothered. I would not recommend specially for the price you pay.

I had really high expectations for this hostel as it got recommended to me by friends. Let’s say my experience was quite the opposite. Most of it involved an Italian staff member, who quite frankly, is one of the most insufferable people I’ve ever met. The first day, other guests warned me about him being inappropriate to women. He was also bragging to my male friends about the favours he could do for them if they were nice to him. If you’re a staff member or friends with the staff, you get princess treatment, if they don’t like you (for whatever reason that may be) they make your stay here a living hell. They’re watching and checking the cameras ALL THE TIME, it’s such an invasion of privacy. I felt watched and became paranoid about cameras everywhere I went. They then come to you and show you a picture of you on camera not washing ONE cup and continue to fine you 20 dollars. What bothers me the most, is that this obviously does not apply to friends of staff, who leave their cups just about everywhere. I can accept crammed and smelly rooms to a certain extent, it’s a hostel after all. But the intimidation and bad management make this hostel a BIG NO. I’ve never wanted to leave a place so badly. It’s unfortunate really, because they do make an effort to organise events for their guests.