I stayed at Sydney Central YHA this winter to see if it lived up to its reputation as one of Sydney’s better hostels. Located right at Central Station, it’s a massive property with everything from 4-bed dorms to private ensuite rooms. After spending two nights in one of their refurbished ensuite rooms and exploring the facilities, here’s what I found – and who will get the most value from booking here.
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Location – An Easy Sydney Base
If you’re wondering “What’s the best-located hostel in Sydney?” or “Where to stay near Central Station?” – Sydney Central YHA’s location at 11 Rawson Place is ideal.
Here’s why:
The central location puts Sydney’s transport network at your doorstep, making it incredibly easy to explore the city. Within minutes you can:
- Catch trains directly to both airport terminals
- Hop on the light rail to Circular Quay or Darling Harbour
- Walk to dozens of great restaurants in Chinatown
- Explore the cafes and bars of Surry Hills on foot
Key distances from Sydney Central YHA:
- Circular Quay: 14 minutes by light rail
- Sydney Airport (Domestic): 15 minutes by train
- Darling Harbour: 15-minute walk
- Chinatown: 5-minute walk
Money-saving tip: Skip the expensive airport train. Take the bus to Mascot then catch a regular train to Central – you’ll pocket about $20 per person.
Room Options – From Budget to Surprisingly Comfortable
I stayed in a recently refurbished queen ensuite room, and I’ll be honest – it exceeded my expectations.
The room was substantially larger than our recent stay at similarly priced Ibis Barangaroo, with double the bathroom space and much better natural light.
The room comes well-equipped with:
- Comfortable bed made up with quality linens (King, Queen and Twin options are available)
- Large ensuite bathroom with decent-size towels and hairdryer
- 50-inch smart TV
- Smart lamp with wireless charging pad and USB-C/USB-A ports
- Desk and chair for working
- Plenty of hanging space
- Smeg kettle with tea and coffee supplies
- Both air conditioning and ceiling fan
- Free high-speed WiFi – use the app to access
While there’s no bar fridge (typical for hostels), the room otherwise offered hotel-level comfort. A small fridge would make it ideal!
I took a tour of the property to check out the other room options for you:
Private Rooms:
- Double and twin ensuite rooms (similar layout to mine but slightly smaller)
- Standard doubles and twins with shared bathrooms
- Family rooms that sleep up to 4
Dorm Rooms:
- 4-6 bed rooms each bed with privacy curtains
- Each bed has its own power points and reading light
- Modern lockers big enough for a full backpack
- Some mixed, some female-only options
- Shared bathrooms on each floor
The shared bathrooms deserve special mention – they’re modern, well-maintained and feel more like a good gym than a hostel.
Each bathroom has plenty of hooks and shelf space to keep your clothes and toiletries dry, plus good water pressure in the showers.
Facilities – More Than Your Average Hostel
The property spans nine floors with different facilities on each level. Here’s what you’ll find and how useful each area actually is:
The Rooftop & Pool (Level 9)
While the pool isn’t Olympic-sized, it’s perfect for cooling off after exploring the city.
Head out to the balcony to watching the colours of the sky change over Darling Harbour during sunset. Just remember to bring your own towel from your room.
Kitchen and dining areas (Level 1)
The Level 1 kitchen offers the basics you’d expect from a large hostel – plenty of burners, multiple fridges and generous shelf space for food storage.
During my stay they were well used by guests preparing their meals. I didn’t get a chance to try them out, basically I couldn’t resist the proximity to Chinatown and ate out for all my meals!
Pro tip: avoid the 6-7pm dinner rush if you want your pick of cooking stations. The fridges can get crowded, so label your food clearly.
Work Spaces
If you need to catch up on work or emails, the co-working spaces on levels 4 and 6 offer space for about 6 to 8 people. They are not fancy but they are functional, with dual monitors and ergonomic chairs. They offer a comfortable, distraction-free spot to get some focused work done.
For casual browsing or less intensive tasks, you’ll find plenty of power points throughout the common areas.
Everything Else Worth Knowing
Beyond this, the hostel offers several practical amenities suited to longer stays including:
- Movie room for rainy days
- Laundries on three floors – a wash or dry costs $4 each
- Luggage storage (sadly not free but it is secure)
- In-house café at street level which makes a very decent coffee
- Basement bar (Wednesday-Saturday)
- Paid parking under the hostel – booking required
Security and Atmosphere
The security here is solid. You need your key card for everything – getting in after hours, using the lifts, accessing your floor’s bathrooms. Plus there’s 24-hour reception and security cameras.
During my stay I saw all ages and nationalities, including some large groups. Nobody was rowdy or disruptive.
The common areas have plenty of space if you want to meet people, and there’s a notice board with organised activities, but just as many guests kept to themselves. It works either way.
Things You Should Know
- Check-in starts at 2pm (expect queues on weekends)
- Strict 10am checkout
- Entirely cashless property
- Continental breakfast available (we didn’t try it)
- Download the YHA app ahead of your stay for digital room key access and discounts on all food and beverage purchases throughout the property
Choosing Between Central and Sydney Harbour YHA
A common question we get asked is which hostel is better? While both Sydney YHA properties offer excellent facilities, they serve different needs:
Location Trade-offs
- Central YHA: Perfect for transport connections and exploring wider Sydney
- Sydney Harbour YHA: Unbeatable harbour views and historic Rocks location
Price Point
- Central YHA: Generally more affordable
- Sydney Harbour YHA: Premium rates for those harbour views
Atmosphere
- Central YHA: Busier, more varied crowd with a mix of travellers and longer-stay guests
- Sydney Harbour YHA: More holiday-focused vibe, popular with families, older guests, and weekend visitors
Best Choice For
Central YHA if you:
- Want to explore beyond central Sydney
- Need good transport connections
- Are watching your budget
- Plan to use co-working facilities
Sydney Harbour YHA if:
- Your priority is harbour views
- You want to be in the historic Rocks district
- You are only in town a few days
- You don’t mind paying extra for location
- You plan to focus on harbour attractions
Booking Information
You’ll find Sydney Central YHA listed on all major booking platforms, including their own website. If you’re planning to book, it’s worth knowing that your first night’s stay automatically includes a two-year YHA membership, valid at hostels worldwide. Alternatively, you can purchase membership separately for $15 before booking if you want immediate access to member benefits.
Room Rates and Pricing Tips:
- Prices fluctuate significantly based on events, seasons, and demand
- Dorm beds typically range from $53-$89+ per night
- Ensuite rooms can vary from $180-$320+ depending on room type and season
- Major events like a concert or sporting final and peak periods (like December-January) see the highest rates
To get the best rates:
- Book well in advance for peak periods
- Check mid-week dates if your schedule is flexible
- Consider shoulder season (March-May, September-November)
- Book direct for 10% discount
- Stay 7+ nights for additional savings
Consider checking rates on both the YHA website and major booking platforms to find the best deal for your dates.
Is Sydney Central YHA Worth Booking? My Honest Verdict
For anyone seeking comfortable accommodation near Central Station, YHA Central offers excellent value that goes well beyond typical hostel expectations. While it’s a hostel at heart, the private rooms provide a genuine alternative to more expensive city hotels, with added benefits like extensive cooking facilities and work spaces that many hotels can’t match.
During our stay, the location proved invaluable. The light rail connection made reaching Circular Quay effortless for our Opera House evening, while the proximity to Chinatown provided excellent dining options.
Who Should Book This Property?
Based on our stay and the facilities available, this property is particularly well-suited for:
- Solo travellers seeking a secure, social environment with private room options
- Couples willing to trade traditional hotel services for better value and more space
- Digital nomads needing reliable transport connections and proper work facilities
- Extended-stay visitors who want to be able to cook and take advantage of the living spaces.
For these travellers especially, Sydney Central YHA gets the fundamentals right – and in a city as expensive as Sydney, it’s great to have these options.
