Your home base in Bowen
A relaxed, welcoming hostel for farm workers, backpackers and travellers exploring Queensland's beautiful north. Stay a night, or stay the season — most people do.
A small town that punches well above its weight
Bowen sits between Townsville and Airlie Beach — close enough to the Whitsundays for a day trip, far enough from the crowds to actually save money.
88-day farm work
One of Queensland's best regions for Working Holiday Visa regional work — tomatoes, capsicums, mangoes, melons and more.
Beaches & fishing
Eight beaches within ten minutes of town, plus some of the best land-based fishing on the coast.
Affordable living
Rent, food and fuel all cost less than the cities. Your pay goes a lot further while you knock over your days.
Great community
A genuinely international crowd — you'll share a kitchen with people from a dozen countries. French speakers especially welcome.
Everything you need after a long day in the field
Two houses, a cottage and a big shared courtyard on Gordon Street. Nothing fancy — just clean, practical and built for people who work.
Big shared kitchen
Commercial-scale kitchen with multiple gas cooktops, ovens, microwaves, sinks and a fridge shelf and food tub of your own. No queueing at 6pm.
Common rooms & TV
Two large tiled common rooms with couches, big-screen TVs, PlayStation and plenty of power points for charging.
Laundry on site
Commercial washers and dryers plus outdoor lines — because work clothes don't wash themselves.
Courtyard
Covered outdoor area with picnic tables. This is where the hostel actually happens.
Free parking & Wi-Fi
Off-street parking for your car or van right at the door, and Wi-Fi throughout.
Walk to everything
Woolworths, the banks, the pubs and the bus stop are all a few minutes on foot. No car required.
Simple weekly pricing
All rates are per person and payable a week in advance. Many guests stay several months — book ahead, beds fill up quickly in season.
10-bed mixed dorm Most popular
The classic backpacker option. Bunks, fan, shared bathrooms.
8-bed female-only dorm
Same rate, women only. Popular — worth asking early.
4-bed dorm
Fewer people, more space, a bit more quiet.
Private rooms
Limited availability — for couples or anyone wanting their own space.
Nightly stays
Just passing through? $65 the first night, $55 each night after.
Honest guidance, not empty promises
We don't guarantee employment — nobody honest does. What we give you is local knowledge, real contacts, and a straight answer about what the season actually looks like right now.
The main harvest runs through the second half of the year. There's also hospitality and general labour around town, and our guests are good at sharing lifts to the farms.
"We'd rather give you a real picture than tell you what you want to hear."How the 88 days work
What guests say
Scott looks after everyone here. The kitchen is huge, the place is clean and there's always someone to talk to.Google review
Great location — you can walk to the shops and the bank. TV, PlayStation and a good garden to hang out in.Google review
I came for two weeks and stayed four months. Best decision of my working holiday.Google review
16 & 18 Gordon St, Bowen
Right in town, a few minutes' walk from the supermarket, the banks and the pubs. The Bruce Highway runs through Bowen, so both Greyhound and Premier Motor Service stop here.
- Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays — about an hour's drive south
- Townsville — about two and a half hours north
- Horseshoe Bay — ten minutes; the best beach in town
Got a bed with your name on it?
Tell us your dates and how long you're planning to stay, and we'll let you know what's free.