Byron Bay, Backpackers Inn on the Beach at Byron Bay

I travelled to Byron for a much needed break after recently being told by my doctor I was no longer able to continue running my business due to health reasons in which I was self employed for 13 years . After suffering from a very stressful and trying period this was suppose to be some time to just chill out and relax. Byron seemed like the perfect place!

I was happy with the facilities, rooms etc and also met many nice people at the Byron Bay Backpackers inn, the receptionists were also quite friendly.

The only problem I had was when the owner of the Backpackers inn yelled out to me when I was nearby in the car-park calling out to me as if I was a dog.

Owner: Hey mate, ''come here I want to have a chat with you''! Where are you from? I replied I had travelled from the mid-north coast of NSW.

Owner: ''Okay so you're Australian? Yes I said. Owner: This isn't really a home for Australians! How long have you been here? a couple of weeks now? Me: About a week and a half. Owner: Well okay this isn't a place for Australians mate it's just how I run my business. So when are you booked in til? Owner: There are plenty of hostels in Byron, Share the love around mate. This happened on remembrance day 2017. I have been lucky enough to travel around the Coast of Australia and i have stayed at hostels as they are affordable and I also enjoy meeting people from other countries, especially as I am half European. Unfortunately though, I have come across this attitude a number of times. It is somehow not acceptable to be travelling Australia if you are Australian unless you're a grey nomad! Maybe one day it will be trendy and acceptable.

This is one of the best backpackers i stayed at in Australia. Its a pretty basic backpackers, smallish rooms, shared bathrooms and kitchen(no air-con) etc.

However its the atmosphere and the fact thats its less than a minute from the beach that makes this hostel such an amazing one.

There is a pool on site that is good to chill out in after a day surfing but its the beach that is the best aspect of this backpackers. You can rent a board from reception and spend a day on the water within minutes from your room or just sunbathe till your cooked.

The beach itself is stunning, going on for miles and has a really laid back feel.

As the sun goes down you start to hear to sound of music being played on the beach but its back in the hostel that things start to warm up. People filter back from wherever they have been, be it Nimbin; to expand their horizons or the famous Lighthouse, and join in with the regular BBQ put on by the staff. Whatever you have been doing during the day everybody comes together and has a few drinks in the Backpackers garden; the social aspect of this hostel rivals any other i have stayed in and it a selling point for me.

You can come here on your own and have a mate within minutes if your outgoing enough.

Byron Bay has plenty of cool bars to go to, so once you have had your fill of 'cold ones' at the hostel make a move to one of the buzzing bars to meet the shielas. Wandering back to the hostel may seem twice as long but waking up right by the ocean clears any hangover.

If you are travelling in Australia then Byron Bay is a definate reccomendation, and if you go then make sure you stop over in this backpackers.

Ask for Mikey, he is the dude strutting around with his chest puffed out!