The Surf House

Our review

The Surf House sits 100m from Main Beach on Lawson Street and consistently scores Hostelworld 9.6 — the highest rating in Byron Bay and one of the highest in NSW. We were sceptical at first because that kind of rating usually means an aggressive review-management strategy, but the property genuinely delivers. The dorms are bright and well-built, the rooftop bar is the social heart of the place without being so loud it wrecks sleep two floors down, and the daily activities calendar is actually run by staff — not just printed and ignored.

Who it suits best: solo female travellers (the female-only dorms have proper key-coded lockers built into the bunks, not the flimsy ones that come with a padlock from the reception); first-time surfers who want the lessons-and-bed-in-one-purchase route; couples splitting the cost of an ensuite private; design-conscious travellers who've aged out of the linoleum-and-fluoro hostel aesthetic. Less suited if you're looking for the absolute cheapest dorm bed in town (Arts Factory wins on price), or if you specifically want a sprawling pool-and-bar resort vibe (that's Aquarius).

The rooftop bar is what most people remember. It opens late afternoon, runs DJ sets on weekends, and has actual ocean views — not the "ocean glimpse" that some Byron hostels claim. Drinks aren't cheap (~$12 cocktails) but you're paying for the view. The location matters: rooftop on the third floor means the noise stays up there and the dorms below are quieter than you'd expect. The wellness area downstairs is real — yoga mats, foam rollers, an actual meditation space. Free yoga most mornings.

Surfboards are free for guests, racked outside the entrance. Soft-tops for beginners, fibreglass mid-lengths for intermediates. The surf-and-stay package partnership with Soul Surf School is the most popular single purchase — three nights in a dorm with three group lessons at Clarkes Beach for around $250. Privates with the surf package run closer to $600 for the three nights but include en-suite. We cover the surf options in detail in our Learn to surf in Byron Bay guide; the short version is that Soul's teaching is solid and the convenience of having lessons booked, board picked up at reception and beach 100m away saves you a half-day of admin.

Practicalities: WiFi is fast (which is unusual for Byron — Telstra coverage is the regional bottleneck and most hostels don't put real money into WiFi). 24/7 reception. Properly clean. Laundry on-site, $4 per wash. Lockers in every dorm that fit a 60L backpack. The communal kitchen is small but functional — most guests buy from the cafe up the road or eat on the rooftop. Air-con throughout, which matters Dec–Feb when Byron sits at 30°C with humidity that wrecks unconditioned dorms.

The price reflects the quality. A Surf House dorm bed in low season is $30 (vs $19–22 at Backpackers Inn / Arts Factory) and high-season nudges $100. The trade-off is straightforward: you pay 30–50% more, you get a 30–50% better property. Privates are $130–240 depending on season and room type — at the upper end of Byron hostel privates but cheaper than any boutique hotel.

If we landed in Byron with no plan and a moderate budget, this is the property we'd book first. If the budget was tight, we'd look at YHA Cape Byron or Wake Up. If we were here strictly to party, we'd look at Aquarius. If we were here for the alternative-Byron culture, Arts Factory. But for the "I want a great hostel that gets the basics right and has a rooftop" bracket, the Surf House owns the category.

The catch — to balance the praise — is that surf lessons are not included with a standard stay (book the package separately). The breakfast is not included (most of Byron isn't — you'll go to a cafe). And it's a popular property, which means it books out 4–6 weeks ahead in summer and during festival weeks. If you're planning Schoolies week (21 Nov – 12 Dec), book by mid-October or look elsewhere; see our Schoolies survival guide for the alternatives.

Who definitely should not book here: travellers who want absolute silence (rooftop bar runs to ~midnight on weekends and the building is alive); self-caterers wanting a big kitchen (the kitchen is functional but not ample); people on the cheapest possible east-coast budget (you're not getting cheaper than Backpackers Inn here).

For everyone else, especially first-time Byron visitors trying to balance social, surf, and sleep — this is our default recommendation.

Written by the Byron Bay Backpackers editorial team. Independent. No paid placement.