Thredbo YHA Hostel, Budget Accommodation in the Snowy Mountains [Review]

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If only all hostels had views like the Thredbo YHA Hostel in the Snowy Mountains, in Kosciuszko National Park. Especially in a town that is not cheap to stay in.

It’s Thredbo, Australia’s premier ski destination. Within the small alpine village are streets of lodges and cabins, typical of what you’d get in any skiing town around the world.

And then amongst them sits the YHA Hostel, with stunning mountain views and budget prices.

It’s a crazy deal for those who are visiting for ski season. But you might be worried that staying in a budget hostel means sacrficing some level of comfort.

In this guide, we share our honest review of our stay at YHA Hostel in Thredbo, so you can know what to expect from travellers who have stayed there.

About Thredbo YHA Hostel

For anyone who is worried they can’t enjoy the pleasures of skiing in the Snowy Mountains as it is too expensive, I introduce you to Thredbo YHA Hostel.

This is an award-winning YHA hostel located in the heart of Thredbo village and near to the famous Thredbo Ski Resort. The fab location cannot be beaten, plus it’s open all year round.

I would consider staying here any time of year. The view stays the same, it’s just what you can do with that mountain that changes.

In the peak winter season you have skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, back country and cross country.

Whilst in the summer you have mountain biking, walks, abseiling, bob sledding, fishing and golf.

YHA Thredbo has a range of accommodation options and is suitable for any type of traveller. Families may look towards a separate self-contained apartment, while backpackers and solo travellers may find the dormitories more to their liking.

Facilities at Thredbo YHA

There are many great property amenities at Thredbo YHA which make it a great hostel. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, which for a mountain location, is quite good. Some areas of the building can have spotty WiFi, but it’s good enough to upload social media images.

In the summer, you can bring your own bike or hire one from the hostel, and store it in their bicycle storage (ski storage in the winter).

You can also book your ski lift passes at the hostel, and there is ski-in, ski-out access from the hostel.

There is also a barbeque, food store and a shared kitchen and dining room, and an open fireplace in the common lounge area.

There are two toilets with a shower for those guests staying in dorms or rooms with a shared bathroom.

In the summer, there is a TV in the nice communal area, but who needs a TV when you have great views like this?

There are also guest laundry facilities and a drying room.

Reception Hours

The front desk is open from 8.30am – 11.00am, and 3.00pm – 8.00pm Sunday – Thursday, and 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM and 3.00pm – 8.00pm Friday and Saturday.

If you arrive outside this time you need to make a special check-in request 48 hours before arrival.

Accommodation Options at Thredbo YHA Hostel

There are several types of accommodation option to choose from when staying at Thredbo YHA Hostel.

You can stay in either a dorm or choose the comfort of a private room:

• A four-bed male dormitory
• A four-bed female dormitory
• A self-contained studio apartment with a private entrance, private bathroom, private kitchen and living area (suitable for up to four people)
• A twin room with one bunk bed and a shared bathroom (suitable for 1-2 adults)
• A twin room with two bunk beds and a private bathroom
• A family room with a double bed and three bunk beds

We stayed in a 5 bed family room. The family room rate starts at $146 AUD per night.

Our Experience Staying at Thredbo YHA Hostel

After a hard day climbing the peaks, bob sledding and mountain biking, we’d head straight to the deck with an ice cold beer and glass of wine, followed by dinner with a view.

The ravens would visit, patiently waiting for any scraps from our BBQ dinner. They were the biggest ravens, I’ve ever seen, their darkness imposing, yet interesting to Savannah who just wanted to chase them.

Before coming here, I never even knew Australia had ravens. I thought they were crows.

The peaks still had snow on them. It’s the first time I’ve seen snow in my own country. It was a special treat. I don’t think you can ever tire of looking at them.

The girls had ample space to play within the YHA.

It’s great for budget family alternative accommodation, and there are plenty of toys for them to play with and DVD’s to watch.

We felt so safe knowing they were entertained in an environment suitable for kids. They ran around the grounds of the YHA and made friends with the manager’s children.

One night we toasted marshmallows over the fire with the manager’s family and friends.

As we were staying between winter and summer during the quietest month of the year, we almost had the hostel to ourselves. We enjoyed the space for cooking, homeschooling and working online.

The YHA is only a short walk to everywhere in town. Nadia, the manager, was super helpful in giving us great tips on things to see and do in the area.

“I’m going to miss that place and Thredbo.” Kalyra said as we drove away. I think she’s quickly developing a mountain heart.

And with those views who wouldn’t easily do that.

Benefits of staying at Thredbo YHA Hostel

• YHA is in the heart of Thredbo village – easy walk to pubs, cafes and restaurants.
• Unrivalled value when it comes to cost.
• 1,300 feet from a bus stop, and 6-minutes walk from the village square.
• Friendly staff.
• Children can stay at the hostel too, as long as they are accompanied by a legal guardian.
• The award-winning YHA hostel is a purpose built lodge with a mix of accommodation options.
• Comfy lounge and dining room.
• A Cosy atmosphere, especially when the fireplace is lit.
• Cute rooms with all the linens provided.
• Comfy beds.
• Nice common hall where you can leave your muddy shoes.
• Many activities nearby such as horse riding, cross country skiing, and mountain bikings.
• Open fireplace.
• Walk to the ski lifts after checking out snow conditions from the hostel lounge.
• Good location at literal foot of the mountain with views of the ski slopes.
• Full use of kitchen to cook your own meals and save money on eating out.
• Has a barbecue available onsite.
• Has an extensive communal balcony.
• Easy access to mountain biking.
• Close to the trails of the Kosciuszko Mountain range, Australia’s highest mountain.

Cons of Staying at Thredbo YHA Hostel

• The free WiFi is spotty in some places, but it’s to be expected staying in the mountains.
• Dorm rooms do not include lockers or reading lamps.
• There is great staff but the reception closes at 8.00pm so if you arrive later, you must tell them in advance
• There’s only two pots and pans in the kitchen. Though it is a full kitchen with everything you need, you may have to wait for others to cook.
• There wasn’t parking at the hostel and not many places to park nearby. There is a tight situation in Thredbo so parking is an issue no matter where you stay. If you have a car, plan ahead where you can park it. You can still load and unload outside the hostel if you have a lot of stuff.

Final Thoughts on Staying at Thredbo YHA Hostel

Thredbo YHA Hostel has million dollar views at budget prices, suitable for families and those wanting a ski experience without spending a fortune.

For those families wanting a budget place to stay with great amenities, this is the best value ski accommodation in Thredbo. It is one of the best YHA hostels we’ve stayed at on our Aussie road trip.

We hope this guide helped you understand what to expect from a stay at YHA Thredbo and gave you some food for thought when it comes to choosing Snowy Mountain accommodation.

More Snowy Mountains Inspiration

Need more inspiration for visiting the Snowy Mountains? Check out these other posts:

• Things to see and do on a Snowy Mountain Drive
• What to Do at Yarrangobilly Caves – Snowy Mountains
• Yarrangobilly Caves House Review