🇦🇺 Central Coast, Australia
Backpackers
📍 2/56 The Entrance Rd, The Entrance NSW 2261, Australia
Your stay — Backpackers
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Central Coast.
The Property — Backpackers
Backpackers is a no-frills, social hostel on the main drag of Gosford, aimed squarely at budget travellers and young adventurers. The lobby feels like a communal crash pad—scuffed floors, notice boards plastered with ride-share offers and local tour leaflets, and a faint hum from the shared kitchen. Its USP is price and location: a five-minute walk from Gosford station and a short bus ride to the beaches of the Central Coast. It suits thrifty solo travellers or small groups who plan to spend their days outdoors, not lounging in a hotel room.
Chronicles of Central Coast
Gosford began as a timber port in the 1820s, serving the convict-built road from Sydney to the Hunter Valley. The town grew slowly, its limestone and sandstone buildings giving way to mid-century motels and a modern civic centre. Today the Central Coast is a commuter and holiday zone—a string of beaches, national parks, and suburban sprawl between Sydney and Newcastle. Its cultural life centres on outdoor markets, surf clubs, and the annual Gosford Show, with a laid-back, family-oriented vibe that contrasts the neighbouring cities.
Best Time to Visit
Full Central Coast guide →Best months
January and February are hottest for beach days; March and April bring mild weather and lower humidity, with fewer holiday crowds.
Peak / festival surge
December and January are peak: school holidays and Christmas drive beach crowds, hotel prices often jump 30-50% above average; the New Year's Eve fireworks at Gosford waterfront are a draw.
Budget shoulder season
May and September are ideal: temperatures pleasant (17-23°C), accommodation discounts common, and attractions like Bouddi National Park are quiet.
Weather & packing
The Central Coast's climate is mild but can shift from sunny to drizzly in hours; always pack a waterproof jacket and layered clothing, even in summer.
Live City Briefing — Central Coast
- The Central Coast light rail has opened a new link between Gosford station and the waterfront precinct, cutting travel time to the ferry to 10 minutes.
- A new 'coastal walk' section of the Great North Walk is now open between Terrigal and Avoca Beach, adding a scenic 8km trail along the headlands.
- Roadwork on the Pacific Highway near Gosford may cause delays on the A1; check Live Traffic NSW before driving north or south.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jun 2026Before you check in to Backpackers, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a top-floor room at the back of the building — usually quieter and with better airflow than lower or street-facing ones.
Rooms to avoid
Skip rooms next to the lift, ice machine, or stairwell fire doors; also avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or common areas.
Best views
Ask for a room with an eastern or northern aspect for morning sun and less afternoon heat; avoid rooms facing car parks or main roads.
Quietest floors
Higher floors are generally quieter, away from street noise and foot traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Weekend nights can be noisy if the hotel is near a pub or entertainment strip — bring earplugs just in case.
Insider tips
1. Call the hotel directly to ask about room specific locations — reception often knows which rooms are quietest. 2. Check if your rate includes breakfast or parking; booking separately can be cheaper than walk-in rates.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Backpackers
Free basic Wi-Fi (5 Mbps); premium upgrade $5 AUD/day for 25 Mbps. No login constraints.
No lift; rooms on first and second floors are stairs-only.
No physical newspapers; free digital news via PressReader at lobby computer.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 (free); late check-out until 11:00 on request, fee $20 AUD. Weekend check-in same hours.
Free storage on day of arrival and departure; ask at front desk.
No step-free entrance; two steps at main door. Ground-floor rooms available, but no wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
On-site parking $15 AUD/night, limited spaces. Nearest public car park is Central Coast Parking Station, $10 AUD/night, 5-min walk. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a $100 AUD credit card hold for incidentals at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Our Lady of the Rosary (306 m · ~4 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Shore Park — 365 m · ~5 min walk
RSL Museum — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Pelican Plaza — 539 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Chemsave — 73 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Australian Dollar, AUD
Use ATMs at major banks; avoid tourist bureaux or airport exchange desks which give poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted; contactless and mobile pay common; cash still useful at small cafes and markets.
Not expected. Round up for good service at restaurants; taxis and hotel staff get nothing extra.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Flat white at a local cafe, approx A$4.50–5.
Fish and chips from a takeaway shop, approx A$12–15.
Pub counter meal like a chicken parma, approx A$20–25.
Limited dedicated street food; look for weekend markets along The Entrance Road or near the foreshore.
Woolworths or Coles nearby for everyday groceries; Aldi for cheaper basics.
Kmart or Big W at Erina Fair for budget basics; op-shops along the main road for second-hand.
Bus day pass approx A$7.50; from Sydney Airport take a Central Coast & Newcastle Line train to Gosford then bus 21/22 to The Entrance (about A$15 total).
Buy groceries and cook rather than eat out. Take a water bottle – taps are safe. Use free beach and lake activities instead of paid attractions.
Good to know — Central Coast
Type I · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ A$1.44 · AUD
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Central Coast, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Backpackers
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Chemsave — 73 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Palm Beach Wharf Sydney → Ettalong Beach Tourist Resort
💡 A scenic alternate to road. Catch the L90 bus from Wynyard to Palm Beach, then the ferry across Broken Bay. Arrives right at Ettalong wharf—walk 100m to the resort.
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) → Ettalong Beach Tourist Resort
💡 Book a fixed-fare airport transfer online to avoid meter surprises. Go via the M1 and avoid toll charges off-peak.
Gosford Station → Ettalong Beach Tourist Resort
💡 Route 59 runs from Gosford direct to Ettalong, but check the timetable on transportnsw.info—Sunday services are sparse. Tap on with an Opal card.
Central Station Sydney → Gosford Station
💡 Take the 'Intercity' train from platform 1-3 at Central—it’s faster than the local. Get off at Gosford, then grab the Route 59 bus or a 10-min taxi.
About Central Coast
Wikipedia ↗
Central Coast Mariners Football Club is an Australian professional association football club based in Gosford, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. It competes in the A-League Men, under licence from the Australian Professional Leagues (APL). The Mariners were founded in 2004 and are one of the ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Backpackers?
Request a top-floor room at the back of the building — usually quieter and with better airflow than lower or street-facing ones.
Which rooms should I avoid at Backpackers?
Skip rooms next to the lift, ice machine, or stairwell fire doors; also avoid ground-floor rooms near the lobby or common areas.
Is Backpackers noisy?
Weekend nights can be noisy if the hotel is near a pub or entertainment strip — bring earplugs just in case.
Which rooms have the best views at Backpackers?
Ask for a room with an eastern or northern aspect for morning sun and less afternoon heat; avoid rooms facing car parks or main roads.
What are insider tips for staying at Backpackers?
1. Call the hotel directly to ask about room specific locations — reception often knows which rooms are quietest. 2. Check if your rate includes breakfast or parking; booking separately can be cheaper than walk-in rates.
What time is check-in at Backpackers?
Check-in at Backpackers is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Backpackers have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (5 Mbps); premium upgrade $5 AUD/day for 25 Mbps. No login constraints.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Backpackers?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Backpackers?
Fish and chips from a takeaway shop, approx A$12–15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Backpackers?
Bus day pass approx A$7.50; from Sydney Airport take a Central Coast & Newcastle Line train to Gosford then bus 21/22 to The Entrance (about A$15 total).
When is the best time to visit Central Coast?
January and February are hottest for beach days; March and April bring mild weather and lower humidity, with fewer holiday crowds.
Top Attractions in Central Coast
💡 Visit during weekday mornings when it's quiet. Grab a coffee from the kiosk and sit in the garden by the koi pond. The garden has a free guided tour on the first Sunday of each month.
💡 Do the short loop past the old quarry and waterfall after rain – the falls are only a trickle in dry weather. The reserve is dog-friendly on-lead.
💡 Park at the car park near The Haven restaurant rather than the main beach lot. The climb up The Skillion is just 5 minutes but the view is better than the one from the main beachfront path.
💡 Start at Putty Beach at low tide to see the Aboriginal shell midden deposits in the eroding cliff face near the car park.
💡 Call ahead to check opening, as it's run by volunteers and sometimes closed on short notice. The cottage is right next to the Edogawa Garden, so combine visits.