United Backpackers
by the TopOfHotel team
United Backpackers is a hostel sitting right across from Flinders Street Station on the Degraves coffee laneway — the cheapest pick on the list, and a fitting way to close it out.
United Backpackers is a hostel sitting right across from Flinders Street Station on the Degraves coffee laneway — the cheapest pick on the list, and a fitting way to close it out.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
You get a choice here between shared dorms and private rooms, and some of the private rooms come with an ensuite bathroom. Every bed is made up with linens and has its own locker, so the basics are sorted whichever room type you pick. The character of the place is less about the decor and more about the social side — this is a hostel that wants you out in its common spaces, not holed up in your room.
Food and amenities
There is a shared guest kitchen if you want to cook, plus a TV lounge, a cinema room, a pool table, a games area and a basement bar where travelers end up trading stories. Free Wi-Fi covers the common areas, and practical touches round it out — a 24-hour reception, luggage storage and a lift. Real guests rate the place around 8.3/10, which is solid for a budget hostel.
Location and getting there
The address is the headline. United Backpackers sits on Degraves Street — the legendary Melbourne laneway packed with tiny coffee shops — and faces Flinders Street Station directly. From the hostel door it is a 1-2 minute walk across the road to the station, which puts trains across the whole city within easy reach. Federation Square is only about 50 metres away. For anyone dragging a big backpack, an address like this is a gift.
Things to know before booking
The big one: this hostel now trades as Bounce Melbourne, and some sites list it as Roamer Melbourne — it is the same building on Degraves Street, not a closure, so check the name and address carefully before you hit book. The basement bar is fun but means rooms near the common areas can be noisy at night. And this is hostel-style accommodation that takes no children and no pets, so it won't suit everyone.
Our take
United Backpackers (now Bounce Melbourne) is the pick we'd send any backpacker or solo traveler who cares most about location and price. If you want to wake up, cross the road and be on a train in minutes — with a friendly social scene waiting back at base — this is the genuinely good-value option we chose to close out the list. From about $41 a night, it is the cheapest stay here.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Sits directly across from Flinders Street Station — a 1-2 minute walk over the road, which makes catching trains across the city effortless.
- On Degraves Street, one of Melbourne's best-known coffee laneways, and only about 50 metres from Federation Square.
- Offers both shared dorms and private rooms, with some private rooms including an ensuite bathroom, so it works for tighter and slightly looser budgets alike.
- Plenty of shared spaces to hang out in: a guest kitchen, a TV lounge, a cinema room, a pool table and a basement bar where travelers swap stories.
- From roughly $41 a night it is the cheapest option on the list, and real guests still rate it 8.3/10.
- It now trades as Bounce Melbourne (and appears on some sites as Roamer Melbourne), so check the name and the Degraves Street address carefully when booking — it is the same building, not a closure.
- There is a basement bar, so rooms close to the common areas can be noisy at night.
- This is hostel-style accommodation, and it takes no children and no pets — not the right fit if you want a private, quiet stay.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- When booking, search both United Backpackers and Bounce Melbourne — they are the same place.
- Walk straight across the road to Flinders Street Station to pick up trains across the city.
- Grab a coffee at one of the cafes on Degraves Street, the laneway right outside the hostel.