Average price for a bed: Hostels in Airlie Beach cost 15€ – 18€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 37€ up to 75€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Airlie Beach Location: Situated just 40-minutes from the nearest airport, Airlie Beach is also easily accessed by car. It’s a really small town, so wandering by foot is recommended. All of the hostels in this guide are either on or very close to the main strip.
Airlie Beach Festival of Music: Every year a jam session kicks off on the beach and in 15 venues in the area. There are usually around 75 artists over a long weekend in November. If you’re in the area during this time, it’s definitely worth going. One and three day passes are available.
These are our favorite hostels in Airlie Beach. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.
Welcome to Bounce Airlie Beach – the hostel that feels more like a laid-back resort than a backpacker base.
Here you’ll find lush tropical gardens, palm trees swaying overhead, and a seriously inviting swimming pool right at the heart of it all.
Sun loungers? Yep.
Poolside bar? Of course.
Big communal kitchen? Absolutely.
Free Wifi? Naturally.
It’s easy to start your Whitsundays adventure from here – and even easier to spend lazy days hanging out by the pool.
We especially love the private balconies that come with most of the rooms here. Dorm options range from 4, 6, and 8-bed setups. All come with air-conditioning and sturdy lockers.
Looking for some peace and quiet? Good news: the rooms here are more on the chilled side, and the vibe strikes a nice balance between social and relaxed.
There’s also an onsite travel desk for booking tours, a BBQ area, regular events, and a good-sized communal kitchen.
Location: Right in the centre of Airlie Beach. You’re a minute from the famous lagoon, cafes, and nightlife.
The best choice in Airlie Beach for
Solo travellers who like comfort with a social edge
Backpackers who prefer a relaxed atmosphere with a pool to chill by
Prefer things a bit more low-key? Airlie Beach YHA Hostel is a quiet, clean, and affordable place to base yourself.
This isn’t a party hostel – it’s more of a chilled, homey space that’s ideal for travellers who want a good night’s sleep before or after exploring the Whitsundays.
Expect:
A small swimming pool
Fully equipped communal kitchen
Laundry facilities
Free Wifi
Luggage storage
Rooms here are no-nonsense and range from 4-6 bed dorms to private rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Air-conditioning is standard, and there’s a leafy courtyard to relax in.
What makes this place stand out is the super-friendly team at reception. They’re always happy to help with advice, booking tours, or sharing local tips.
Location: Prime spot! You’re less than 100 metres from Airlie Beach Lagoon, with bars, cafes, and shops on your doorstep.
A great choice for
Couples and solo travellers who want a peaceful base
Travellers prioritising affordability and location
Calling all travellers that like to have everything under one roof. Choose your stay with Nomads Airlie Beach – simple.
And by everything we mean…
A swimming pool
Hostel bar
Communal kitchen
Free Wifi
Onsite parking
Not only that, but there are tropical gardens, a volleyball court and a BBQ area.
Essentially, you need never leave the hostel once you’ve arrived.
The social vibes are always flowing thanks to the great shared spaces. Another great way of meeting people is to join local live music and $3 tacos on Tuesdays!
Looking to spice it up a little? Ask staff about their fun boat parties.
There is something happening every day of the week. It’s a top choice for solo travellers.
What we really like is the small dorm rooms of 4, 6 and 8-beds.
They all have air conditioning, lockers and secure key card access. Unfortunately, there are no privacy curtains.
Once again, this hostel has hired staff that know their stuff. They can help you with planning your Whitsundays adventure(s).
Make sure you ask about the range of day tours and overnight trips at affordable prices.
There is also a handy Nomads Airlie Beach airport shuttle on offer.
Location: Directly opposite the swimming lagoon and 50 metres from Airlie’s strip of bars and boho shops. It’s just a 10-minute walk to the bus station.
This is one of the best hostels in Airlie Beach for:
Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.
Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.
Best Hostels in Airlie Beach for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Airlie Beach for solo-travellers?
Well, there’s no doubt that Airlie Beach is a wonderful destination for sociable solo travellers that love organised events, tours and communal areas.
This hostel specialises in affordable Whitsundays tours and offers fun activities everyday of the week.
With an on-site bar and luxurious private cabins, what more do you need?
Important: We recommend this for solo travellers that want to enjoy their own private room. There are no shared rooms here anymore, yet the hostel still offers plenty of shared spaces for social times.
If you’re here to party, Airlie Beach Magnums is the legendary backpacker hostel you’ve been hearing about.
This is the place to meet fellow travellers, with a buzzing social scene every night of the week. The onsite bar is a major hotspot in town, and you’ll often find DJs, live music, and themed events happening here.
Magnums isn’t just about the nightlife though.
There’s also:
A tropical beer garden
Communal kitchen
Games area with pool tables
Tour desk for all your Whitsundays adventures
Free Wifi zones
As for the rooms? They’re set in wooden cabins dotted through lush gardens, giving it that fun summer camp feel. Choose from dorms (4, 6 and 8-bed options) or private rooms. Most have air-con, but no frills here – you’re staying for the vibes, not luxury.
FYI: Things can get noisy in the evenings, but that’s the whole point, right?
Location: Right in the centre of town. You’re steps from Airlie Beach Lagoon, cafes, and, of course, the nightlife.
Best for:
Party people
Solo travellers who want instant friends
Backpackers chasing that classic Aussie east coast experience
Before you go! There is one other option for older travellers and adults.
Have a look at Kipara Tropical Rainforest Resort for more cute cabin options set in the rainforest just 2km from Airlie Beach centre. It’s located on Shute Harbour Road. Note: there are only private rooms available here.
More Hostels worth a mention
At the moment, we have two more hostels for you.
Airlie Beach Magnums
Backpackers by the Bay
Airlie Beach Magnums
Let’s kick start with an award winning unique accommodation that offers epic tours and relaxed vibes.
Think of it as your very own tropical oasis on the beach.
Wander around the lush on-site gardens, or take a wander to the nearby famous Airlie Beach lagoon. You can’t beat a central location, after all!
If your main reason for visiting the area is for tours and trips, we can’t recommend Magnums enough.
They specialise in and offer unbeatable prices for:
Great Barrier Reef trips
Full day Whitsundays tour
Overnight sailing trips
Adventure packages (skydiving, rafting, 4WD)
Yet perhaps you’re also looking to relax and unwind. That’s also possible!
Test your volleyball skills in the sun-drenched court, get out of the sun in the TV room or be real Aussie and enjoy a BBQ.
There is also two communal kitchens and that all important free Wifi which follows you throughout the resort.
To top it off there is secure car parking at the back of the property – a real win if you’re exploring the country by car.
Good to know: Sadly Airlie Beach Magnums no longer offer shared dorms, only private rooms.
Yet, we decided to keep this hostel as #1 because of the wonderful shared spaces that encourage people to mingle.
This is an opportunity to treat yourself to a private room instead. The options are:
Twin room w/ shared bathroom
Double room w/ shared bathroom
Triple room w/ ensuite
NEW: Queen cabin w/ ensuite
Each room includes air-conditioning, a small fridge, kettle, linen and towels – pretty good huh?
Even though the rooms are modern and super comfortable, don’t forget to make time to go outside and enjoy the surroundings!
Location: Situated on the Main Street of Airlie Beach surrounded by popular cafes, bars and restaurants. Port Airlie is a 15-minute stroll. This is also the closest hostel to Shute Harbour Road.
This is one of the best hostels in Airlie Beach for
Backpackers by the Bay is a small, clean and purpose-built Airlie Beach backpackers hostel. Feel free to call it BBB for short.
With a total of 70 guests at one time, it’s still possible to meet new friends and enjoy some peace at the same time.
The room choices include 4 and 8-bed mixed dorms as well as double and twin rooms.
We vote BBB as having the best dorms in this guide. That’s because they offer sturdy wooden bunks so there’ll be no rattling in the night!
Fun fact: this was the first backpackers in Airlie Beach, built in 1986.
This cosy, International, environmentally friendly house is equipped with a…
Covered outdoor pool
Hammocks
Outdoor exercise area
BBQ
Library and
Communal kitchen
The staff love to get their guests in to their rooms ASAP. So if you arrive early and it’s ready, you can dump your bags, get showered and head off to explore.
Daily freebies include tea, coffee, Wifi and a courtesy drop to the marina each morning (8am).
To promote new friendships, there is a nightly trivia competition and the small hostel bar offers the cheapest drinks in the Whitsundays.
Though we personally think the coolest thing to join is an outdoor movie.
Location: It’s a 5-minute walk to the Main Street and is located directly opposite the coach transit. There is a wonderful view of the Port of Airlie Marina from here.
This is one of the best hostels in Airlie Beach for
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
It is completely free to join!
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Airlie Beach best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Our Favorite Hostels in Airlie Beach put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Airlie Beach hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
Flights to Airlie Beach?
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this Airlie Beach guide.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels, The Hostelgeeks
Have fun!
– – – pin it for later
Base Airlie Beach
Update: This hostel has closed. We’ve kept this content here for your information.
Right then party people, we’ve got a treat in store for you.
Book your stay with Base Airlie Beach and you’re guaranteed a good time.
It would be hard not to enjoy yourself when there is all of this on-site:
Boat House Bar w/ $16 meal deal
20% off drinks
Outdoor swimming pool & 2 volleyball courts
Shed Bar (outdoor nightclub)
Treat yourself to a private room and you’ll get your very own spa-bath, fridge and air conditioning. Yes please!
To top it off, the staff can help book your 1-3 day sailing adventure to the Whitsundays.
Location: Set amongst 6 acres of tropical gardens, 50 metres from the swimming lagoon and beach.
We are 100% Independent: Some links on Hostelgeeks are so-called affiliate links. If you decide to book through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support allows us to keep producing high-quality, independent content free of influence from hostels or external advertisers. Learn more here. 🙏
