10 ways you can make your next stay sustainable

When travelling on a budget, there’s easy ways to reduce your impact and make your YHA stay friendlier for the planet. These simple tips will help reduce costs, forge connections with fellow travellers, and reduce your footprint on the planet.

Shared accommodation like YHA has always been about blending community and adventure while keeping things affordable. And as it so happens, they’re also the perfect places to develop sustainable travel habits. Making small swaps doesn’t just help the planet, you’ll often save money, eat better, and connect with people in ways that make travel more rewarding. Here’s 10 practical ways to make your next YHA stay more sustainable, healthier, and friendlier on your wallet:

Pack a reusable water bottle

Image: Save plastic (and money!) by refilling your reusable water bottle | YHA Brisbane City

YHA doesn’t sell plastic water bottles. Instead, bring your own reusable bottle and top up anytime from guest kitchens or water bubblers, available 24/7. If you need to, you can also grab stocked water from reception, our cafes or vending machines. By choosing reusable, you’ll help keep plastic out of landfill and have an essential travel companion for long hikes from YHA Blue Mountains or rainforest adventures near YHA Cairns Central.

Join walking tours, hire a bike or rent a surfboard

Image: Hire bikes and surfboards to explore and experience the surrounding area | YHA Coolangatta

When exploring new places on foot or by bike, you’re cutting carbon emissions and seeing your destination up close. YHA Byron Bay has rental bikes ready to roll (starting at just $15 for a half day), or there’s surfboard and wetsuits for hire. Many properties also have walking experiences or pub tours that connect you with local history and highlights, while helping you forge new connections.

Cook and share local meals with fellow travellers

Image: Save on eating out and cook your meals in shared kitchen facilities | YHA Sydney Harbour

YHA guest kitchens make it easy to cook together in groups. Plus, sharing a meal is one of the easiest ways to make new friends in foreign places. Whether you’re staying at YHA Adelaide Central, YHA Sydney Harbour or YHA Melbourne Central, all the properties in the Australia-wide network are close to supermarkets and fresh food markets, giving you no excuses for whipping up a cheap, healthy, and low-waste feast.

Reuse your towel and sheets

Washing uses a lot of water and energy, so reusing your towel or bedding for a few days can make a real difference, especially in busy city stays like YHA Brisbane City. Of course, fresh linen and towels are always available on request.

Go paperless and digital

Image: Unlock your stay with digital wallet keys | YHA Sydney Central

Most YHA bookings are confirmed by email, so you can skip the printouts and keep everything digital, from check-in details to maps and tickets. Many properties also offer digital wallet keys that work straight from your phone, removing the need for plastic cards. Check-in is simple through the app or via self-service kiosks. For an even smoother trip, download the YHA Explorer app to book stays across Australia, connect with other travellers, discover activities, and keep all your confirmations and member discounts in one place.

Take shorter showers

Image: Take shorter showers in our shared bathroom facilities | YHA Sydney Central

With the average Australian shower lasting four minutes, cutting your time even shorter at YHA properties saves water and energy while reducing your environmental impact. It also means less waiting and more convenience for everyone. This simple habit supports sustainability and helps make your stay, as well as the stays of future travellers, more enjoyable.

Your money matters, support local

Image: Enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables from local markets | Adelaide Central Markets

From farmers markets to indie cafes, spending locally supports the communities you visit and creates a positive impact as a traveller. Choosing local goods and experiences also gives you a more authentic taste of the destination while helping reduce overconsumption. Pick up fresh fruit and vegetables at Salamanca Market near YHA Hobart Central, enjoy a fair-trade coffee at an independent cafe near YHA Fremantle Prison, or browse handmade stalls at the weekend foreshore markets near YHA Byron Bay and YHA Cape Byron. Along the way, you’ll connect with locals, learn about their culture, and leave a meaningful mark on the places you explore.

Carry a tote or reusable bag

Perfect for the grocery run or day trips, a reusable tote makes travelling easier and lighter. Stash one in your pack when you’re shopping in Katoomba near YHA Blue Mountains or browsing the night markets by YHA Cairns Central. They fold up small, weigh almost nothing, and save you from relying on single-use plastic bags while on the road.

Be energy smart

Turn off lights, unplug chargers, and switch off air-conditioning when you leave. Small actions add up, especially in larger properties like YHA Sydney Central. Many YHA locations also use energy-efficient lighting and motion sensors, so every guest doing their part helps make stays more sustainable and conserve resources.

Donate your loose change

Image: Donations help to upgrade our properties wth initiatives like solar panels | YHA Sydney Harbour

The Sustainable Properties Fund is YHA Australia’s way of making our locations greener through projects that save energy and water, reduce waste, and support smaller regional properties. By donating just $2, which YHA matches every day, you can help fund initiatives that lower the environmental footprint of both our properties and our travellers.

Words: Troy Nenkervis