In the final post of my Western Australia series I wanted to share with you some of my favourite budget places to stay in Perth, Fremantle and Western Australia. Hope you find the tips useful and if you have any further recommendations to add to this list, please leave a comment below.
Perth City YHA
300 Wellington Street, Perth, Australia
Price: Starts from €20.45 for a bed in a 6 bed dorm and €22.57 for a bed in a 4 bed dorm
Perth City YHA
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
In terms of value for money, comfort and location Perth City YHA is pretty decent choice. Situated in a 1940’s Art Deco Building, the hostel is centrally located in the CBD district and is just a 5 minute walk from the city. Hostel is clean and tidy. Rooms are air conditioned with the option of shared and private bathrooms. Facilities are excellent here with a nice kitchen plus they have a gym with an elliptical, a bike, a treadmill and free weights. The hostel runs a free shuttle bus service into town. Reception is open 24 hours. Staff are really helpful. Free wifi works ok in the rooms. On the negative side, you can hear the noise from trains so if you are a light sleeper, get a room towards the front of the hostel. Breakfast at their Lobby Cafe is great value at just $6.
Witch’s Hat Hostel, Perth
148 Palmerston St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Price: €19.75 in a 6 bed dorm going upto €56 for a private double room via Hostelworld.com
If you like hostels with character and history then you should definitely consider staying in the quirky and fun Witch’s Hat Hostel. Built in 1897, the hostel gets its name from the conical Edwardian turret that crowns the building. It could easily be mistaken for something from Alice in Wonderland or some disney fairytale. The hostel itself has a warm, friendly and welcoming vibe with wooden floors and clean, comfortable rooms. Dorms are spacious and the communal areas: TV lounge and the courtyard are nice places to relax in. The hostel offers a free but basic breakfast of toast, cereals and hot drinks. Most hostels in Australia will charge a fee for this so is a nice touch. Staff are helpful with plenty of tips of things to do in Perth and can help organise trips to Rottnest Island. This is a quiet but social hostel and they do organise regular events and barbecues for guests. On the negative side, the hostel is about a 20 minute walk into town. However on the plus side some of the city’s best bars and restaurants are in the nearby Northbridge area so if you are a foodie like me, this hostel is ideal.
Pensione Hotel
Address: 70 Pier Street, Perth, 6000
Price from: €84 a night via Booking.com
If you are looking for a no frills, clean and comfortable budget hotel with a central location in the CBD district, then look no further than the Pensione Hotel. The rooms are on the smaller side but the beds are super comfortable and are ensuite. Wifi is fast and works well. Staff are friendly and attentive. The breakfast buffet is excellent but on the pricier side ( $24 AUD) However you are in a neighbourhood with tons of great value places to eat so my tip would be to skip the breakfast unless you are feeling really lazy.
Fremantle Prison YHA
6 The Terrace, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia
Price: Starts from €19 in a 10 bed dorm and €21.50 for a bed in a 4 bed dorm booking via
Freemantle YHA Hostel
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
I’ve had my fair share of stays in Prison Hostels around the world and the Fremantle Prison YHA ranks highly in terms of character, location and value. Part of the world heritage listed Fremantle Prison building which dates from 1850’s , guests have the choice of sleeping in the old prison cells with bars in front of the windows plus the rooms retaining some of the original interiors. The private rooms and dorms feature air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. Most have bunk beds. Guest can learn about the rich history of the prison which is displayed throughout the hostel.
I stayed in one of their newly upgraded family rooms which comes with ensuite bathrooms. Sleeping 4 people, these rooms start at around $130 AUD which is a great deal for Fremantle. Had a great, very peaceful nights sleep here.
The location of the hostel is superb, just a 6 minute walk from Fremantle Markets, 11 minutes walking distance from Fremantle train station and a 15-minute walk from Bathers Beach.
YHA Dunsborough
My double room for the night at the YHA Dunsborough
Geographe Bay
Dunsborough Beachouse YHA
201-205 Geographe Bay Rd, Dunsborough, Australia
Price: Bed in a 6 bed dorm starts from €25.39 via Hostelworld.com
One of the main reasons for coming to stay here is the location. This hostel enjoys a fantastic location right behind the Geographe Bay beach and is a 20 minute walk into Dunsborough town. There is volleyball, table tennis, basketball and heaps of outdoor things to do being right on the beach. The hostel is a good base to explore the surrounding area like the Ngilgi Caves (11kms away) and also going whale watching with the Naturaliste Charters Whale Watching & Eco Tours. ( Details to be found in my earlier post ) Other nearby adventure activities include surfing, snorkelling or diving near the HMAS Swan or the Busselton Jetty and even skydiving. Guests can rents bike for 15 AUD a day, which allows you to cycle to some of the local beaches & caves.
The hostel got a bit wild and into party mode in the evenings so if you are looking for a quiet nights sleep, this may not be the place. Again this was my personal experience and maybe its quieter out of season. Lack of locker facilitates was another negative. The rooms themselves are pretty simple, clean and adequate. Free wifi worked well during my stay. Linen is provided. There’s a basic free breakfast of coffee, tea, cereals and toast. Other excellent facilities include a guest kitchen, a lounge with fireplace and pool table.
Common lounge
My double ensuite bedroom
Surfpoint Prevelly, Gnarabup
12 Riedle Dr, Gnarabup WA 6285, Australia
Price: Start from €61 for a King Bedroom with shared bathroom, based on booking for 4 nights via Booking.com
For exploring Margaret River, Surfpoint Prevelly resort is a top notch high quality budget accommodation. In terms of style, design and comfort this was probably the best place I stayed in my whole trip. Location is fantastic , just a short walk from Gnarabup beach and the amazing Elephant Cafe. The rooms are clean, comfortable and come with choice of shared and ensuite bathrooms. The wifi was excellent. Other plus points include the benefit of a huge shared kitchen so you can bring your own groceries and cook here. Plus they offer free tea and coffee around the clock. The resort also has a games arcade room and a well maintained outdoor garden and pool. Plus you have laundry facilities onsite. In terms of price and quality, I was really impressed with this place and highly recommend this as a base for Margaret River. Prices for a double room with shared bathroom start at the $90 AUD mark.
Baywatch Manor Augusta
9 Heppingstone View, 6290 Augusta, Australia
Prices: Start from €80 a night via Booking.com
This is another great value budget accommodation option for exploring Margaret River.
It is about a 30 minute drive from Margaret River but on the other hand you are just an 8 minute drive to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, 10 minute drive to Jewel Cave and Hamelin Bay ( home to the stingrays ) The hotel offers guests a wide range of excellent facilities that include a clean, fully equipped shared kitchen, a laundry for guest use , a BBQ area plus their very own herb garden. You can choose from rooms with private or shared bathroom facilities depending on your budget. Rooms are cosy and beds are comfortable here. All rooms include bed linen. Staff here are friendly and helpful.
