Ayr Backpackers

Don’t come here if you’re short on savings or with the intention of saving or completing 88 days with in a time frame. Myself and my boyfriend stayed here for a 8 days. Between flights, work gear, buses and the $800 deposit we spent $2,500 which left us with very little money. Upon arrival the staff we met were lovely, we were brought to our couples accommodation which was a shared apartment. It was absolutely horrific. Not due to the couple that were staying there they actually had to go out and buy cleaning products and scrub the place. The apartment bedroom had two steel bunk beds with filthy mattresses the pillow supplied to each of us was also stained. Again, I’m stating complete facts here. Each individual person in this shared apartment was paying $230 a week. That equates to $920 for the apartment. Just envision the apartment you could get in one of the major CBDs for this. They have so many of these apartments and everyone in dorms paying $210 a week. 180 people staying between the hostel and apartments and everyday the rosters were posted there was only ever 20/30 people working. The apartment was absolutely infested with cockroaches. But we cleaned the place up bought some bug spray and remained hopeful. We didn’t get any farm work and money was really running low. We spoke with many other hostel guests some were only there a few days some were there as long as 3/4 months none of these people were remotely close to completing 88 days. In fact some of them were barely earning enough to pay their rent and had only scratched off 15/20 days. The weather was fantastic the entire 8 days we were there also so no work could not possibly be blamed on the rain. We spoke to locals as well who warned us to run as soon as possible. Not that we had a choice it was either leave or stay and rack up a rent bill with no certainty of work. I will admit I got rostered to work one day, however it was not a farm, it was a cash in hand cleaning job which had nothing to do with 88 days. But I was pleased as we were so short funded after all our expenses. I did see a few reviews about the staff being nasty, that was not my experience any staff member I spoke to was extremely friendly. This entire trip really set us back to square one. Also would like to add everything you pay Ayr Backpackers is paid in cash with no receipts 🚩🚩🚩🚩

Before arriving at the hostel we were told we had work by Elle. When we arrived we were told by people staying there that there is 170 people staying there and on average only 40 are working per day. Some have been there up to a month with no work. They prey on the vulnerable who need to get there 88 Days. Apparently the positive comments on this are fake (or forced) which is something to keep in mind also.

arrived in june and did my three month sentence, made some pretty decent mates, staff and management were alright, no issues there and had a sound farmer who sorted me out a right treat, the jugs in the pub are cheap aswell

Would be a great place for people wishing to do their 88 days in 7 months, as after 4 months I still have 30 days left. When the crew in a farm get reduced it counts as being fired which put you to the bottom of the waiting list. The owner will find any excuses to give you a fine, even for ridiculous things (I’ve never been fined but loads of people have been during my stay). About being rostered, it obviously depends on available farms around, the hostel can’t provide work if there is none. Most of the time there will be empty promises from the office to fill up the hostel despite there not actually being work available. The priority for being rostered should depend on how long you have been there, but this doesn’t seem to be the case; newer backpackers will get rostered and when you ask why you haven’t been they will say there’s no jobs. Spoiler: unless you are close to the office or owner it will be kind of random. Some people get fired for bad behaviour and then still get place into the biggest farm (very consistent and good money) because of how close they are to the owner/office. People that have completed their 88 days are still rostered regardless of whether others still need to get it done because they are running out of time. TLDR : Bad hostel, in the best case you will do your 88 in around 4 and a half months which is ok. Wifi doesn’t work most of the time or is slower then 3G. The way it’s run is chaotic. The office’s efficiency is as good as a fish’s ability to fly (very bad). Owner to avoid at any cost, so you dont get any problems. Lies built on lies.

The best working hostel in Australia ! I spend two Times there, the lovely staff makes everything to get you a job quickly. The place IS very clean and its the right place to create a New family. Definetly the right place to start a trip in australia and to make some friends

Spent 4 months here completing my 88 days. Work was slow at the start but once it picked up it was consistent for me and I completed my 88 days. Made some great memories here and best friends. There is nothing luxurious about a working hostel or farm work but it is what you make it :)