YHA and Sustainability

$28

per night

This sunny hostel at the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands is committed to reducing its impact on the environment through low-energy lighting, water-efficient bathrooms and recycling.

$25

per night

Converting a historic outdoor cinema, this Red Centre hostel has installed a solar power system that caters to as much as half of the property’s needs, partly funded by YHA’s Sustainable Hostels Fund.

$30

per night

This scenic stop on the Great Ocean Road was purpose-built with sustainability in mind, boasting ECO Certification for its commitment to solar energy, power-saving devices and rainwater tanks.

$25

per night

This award-winning hostel located smack-bang in the middle of the Queensland capital doesn’t skimp on sustainability, with its impressive 80,000L rainwater tank and solar hot water system.

$26

per night

This recently renovated property is brimming with all the usual eco-friendly features, as well as a lush internal courtyard surrounding the pool made up of water-efficient native plants.

$26

per night

The centrepiece of this Byron backpackers is the huge pool at the heart of it, and the roof-mounted solar heating system powers the swimming spot as efficiently as possible.

$25

per night

Let’s face it – if you don’t have air-con in Cairns, you’ll go troppo. But Cairns Central YHA’s air-conditioning system is controlled by a building management system to reduce energy waste.

$30

per night

Perched at the doorstep of the Grampians National Park and crawling with kangaroos and emus hopping all over the place, this ECO Certified YHA was custom built to be kind on the planet.

$34

per night

Hunter Valley YHA is surrounded by a vineyard, and the property’s on-site café is remarkably constructed using 90% sustainably building supplies, including many recycled items.

$30

per night

This gorgeous sandstone beach house enjoys panoramic views of Horseshoe Bay, and assists the serene environment of SA’s Fleurieu Peninsula with a veggie garden and a composting site.

$27

per night

The Gold Coast is one of the greenest corners of the country, and Surfers Paradise YHA protects the planet with low energy lights, free bikes, recycling and water-efficient bathroom features.

$35

per night

You could hardly squeeze any more sustainability features into this harbourside hostel, from solar cells on the roof to the recycled rubber flooring and pin boards made from nasty plastic bottles.

$33

per night

This leafy bush lodge hosts two bush regeneration weekends a year, when an army of volunteers helps protect the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park by tackling outbreaks of weeds.