---
title: "Big Backpackers Hostel vs Secret Garden Backpackers: which hotel is better?"
description: "Big Backpackers Hostel or Secret Garden Backpackers in Sydney? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/big-backpackers-hostel-sydney-vs-secret-garden-backpackers-sydney/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-06
---

# Big Backpackers Hostel vs Secret Garden Backpackers

Both are in Sydney, 1.1 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hostel · Thai Town
## [Big Backpackers Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/big-backpackers-hostel-sydney/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.3 ·  Very good

- **Location score:** 9.3

- **Score by category:** 3 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1208934/agoda/?lang=en)

Hostel · Strawberry Hills
## [Secret Garden Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/secret-garden-backpackers-sydney/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.3 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 7.3

- **Score by category:** 0 of 3

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2071280/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Big Backpackers Hostel

It leads in 3 of 3 categories. 1.1 km apart.

### Choose Big Backpackers Hostel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay (8.3 / 7.3)
-   to walk to the sights (790 m / 1.6 km)
-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 37 / 20)

### Choose Secret Garden Backpackers if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 20 / 37)

### Why is Big Backpackers Hostel better than Secret Garden Backpackers?

1.  Higher guest rating (8.3 vs 7.3) (+1.0)
2.  780 m closer to the city centre (−780 m)
3.  230 m closer to public transport (−230 m)
4.  More guest reviews (1,730 vs 278), so the rating is more reliable (×6.2)
5.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 97 vs 79) (+18)
6.  23 more sights within 1 km (+23)

### Why is Secret Garden Backpackers better than Big Backpackers Hostel?

No clear advantages in our data.

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Big Backpackers Hostel | Secret Garden Backpackers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.3  (+1.0) | 7.3 |
| Location | 9.3  (+2.0) | 7.3 |
| Public transport | 9.4  (+1.2) | 8.2 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.3  (+0.9) | 7.4 |
| Guest rating | 8.3  (+1.0) | 7.3 |
| Number of reviews | 1,730  (+1,452) | 278 |
| Google rating | 3.1/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 222 | – |
| Rank in Sydney | bottom 41%  (+35%) | bottom 6% |
| Location |
| Location score | 9.3  (+2.0) | 7.3 |
| Distance to the centre | 790 m  (−780 m) | 1.6 km |
| To public transport | 260 m  (−230 m) | 490 m |
| To the airport | 7.9 km | 6.8 km  (−1.1 km) |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 150  (+25) | 125 |
| To the nearest food shop | 160 m  (−370 m) | 530 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 30  (+28) | 2 |
| Sights within 1 km | 26  (+23) | 3 |
| Rooms & building |
| Rooms | 37 | 20 |
| Floors | 4 | – |
| Listed amenities | 8 | 8 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free breakfast | ✓ | – |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | – |
| Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | – |
| Parking | – | ✓ |
| Shuttle | – | ✓ |
| Laundry | – | ✓ |
| Garden | – | ✓ |
| Distance to the main sights |
| Australian Museum | 750 m  (−1.1 km) | 1.8 km |
| Art Gallery of New South Wales | 1.5 km  (−1.1 km) | 2.6 km |
| Museum of Contemporary Art Australia | 2.3 km  (−1.1 km) | 3.3 km |
| Sea Life Sydney Aquarium | 1.4 km  (−940 m) | 2.3 km |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Couples | ✓ | – |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Business trips | ✓ | – |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

[Big Backpackers Hostel prices by month](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/big-backpackers-hostel-sydney/prices/)

## Location

1.1 km apart

Big Backpackers Hostel: city centre: 790 m, nearest station Sydney Central: 260 m, Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD): 7.9 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 26 sights within 1 km.

Secret Garden Backpackers: city centre: 1.6 km, nearest station Regent Street railway station: 490 m, Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD): 6.8 km, 125 places to eat within 500 m, 3 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Sydney

[Sydney weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/new-south-wales/sydney/weather)

## Big Backpackers Hostel or Secret Garden Backpackers: common questions

### Which is better, Big Backpackers Hostel or Secret Garden Backpackers?

Big Backpackers Hostel leads in 3 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location, public transport.

### Which is cheaper, Big Backpackers Hostel or Secret Garden Backpackers?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Big Backpackers Hostel is closer: 790 m from the centre, against 1.6 km for Secret Garden Backpackers.

### How far apart are Big Backpackers Hostel and Secret Garden Backpackers?

The two hotels are 1.1 km apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [Big Backpackers Hostel vs Maze Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/big-backpackers-hostel-sydney-vs-maze-backpackers-sydney/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

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Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/big-backpackers-hostel-sydney-vs-secret-garden-backpackers-sydney/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/