Funkhouse Backpackers

OK, this place is crazy! The walls are painted with murals of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, sunflowers and other definitely trippy images. It's purple and yellow and red on the outside - you can't miss it, even in a drunken state, and it's totally technicoloured inside. But it's clean, in a good location (King's Cross isn't as bad as people say), and the staff are supremely helpful.


We booked it from home before we left so we knew where we'd definitely be staying when we arrived, and went for a private double room, which had a double bed with a single bunk above it, a fridge, a couple of shelves and a wall mounted TV which you couldn't see if you were lying in bed!

We got picked up at the airport and taken straight to the Funkhouse, checked in and headed up to try to sleep - didn't work though. We used the top single bunk as a wardrobe to lay stuff out.

You now get a free breakfast every morning, but the kitchen is really well equipped and usually not too busy either. You do get a free welcome pack with a city map, beer vouchers and such like, and linen is included in the cost.

Lots of people found work from the jobs board - we had interviews with a hospitality agency arranged before we got to Oz - and also found longer term accommodation from the hostel too. The staff were great at letting you extend your stay day by day, although they obviously prefer you not to!

So it's a very colourful fun place to be, right in the heart of King's Cross, with easy access to the train network to get into the city, which only takes about five minutes. We did walk back one night = not recommended, around 20 minutes when sober, an endless trip when not!