--- title: "Newtown Backpackers vs Wake Up Sydney: which hotel is better?" description: "Newtown Backpackers or Wake Up Sydney in Sydney? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/newtown-backpackers-sydney-vs-wake-up-sydney-sydney/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-26 --- # Newtown Backpackers vs Wake Up Sydney Both are in Sydney, 2.5 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · Newtown ## [Newtown Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/newtown-backpackers-sydney/) - **Guest rating:** 7.4 · Good - **Location score:** 7.1 - **Score by category:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1894171/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Haymarket ## [Wake Up Sydney](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/wake-up-sydney-sydney/) - **Guest rating:** 8.9 · Excellent - **Location score:** 9.4 - **Score by category:** 3 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2304242/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Wake Up Sydney It leads in 3 of 3 categories. 2.5 km apart. ### Choose Newtown Backpackers if you want - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 35 / 100) ### Choose Wake Up Sydney if you want - the more consistently praised stay (8.9 / 7.4) - to walk to the sights (720 m / 2.7 km) - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 100 / 35) ### Why is Newtown Backpackers better than Wake Up Sydney? 1. A smaller, more intimate hotel (35 vs 100 rooms) (−65) ### Why is Wake Up Sydney better than Newtown Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (8.9 vs 7.4) (+1.5) 2. 2.0 km closer to the city centre (−2.0 km) 3. 380 m closer to public transport (−380 m) 4. More guest reviews (983 vs 208), so the rating is more reliable (×4.7) 5. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 94 vs 83) (+11) 6. 14 more sights within 1 km (+14) 7. A larger hotel with more facilities (100 vs 35 rooms) (×2.9) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Newtown Backpackers | Wake Up Sydney | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.4 | 8.9 (+1.5) | | Location | 7.1 | 9.4 (+2.3) | | Public transport | 8.3 | 10.0 (+1.7) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.5 | 8.9 (+1.4) | | Guest rating | 7.4 | 8.9 (+1.5) | | Number of reviews | 208 | 983 (+775) | | Google rating | 3.2/5 | – | | Google reviews | 124 | – | | Rank in Sydney | bottom 9% | top 16% (+75%) | | Location | | Location score | 7.1 | 9.4 (+2.3) | | Distance to the centre | 2.7 km | 720 m (−2.0 km) | | To public transport | 460 m | 90 m (−380 m) | | To the airport | 5.8 km (−1.7 km) | 7.5 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 | | To the nearest food shop | 220 m | 180 m | | Shops within 500 m | 5 | 28 (+23) | | Sights within 1 km | 4 | 18 (+14) | | Rooms & building | | Rooms | 35 | 100 | | Floors | – | 9 | | Newest building or renovation | – | 2023 | | Listed amenities | 8 | 7 | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 | 14:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – | | Parking | ✓ | – | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Breakfast | ✓ | – | | Swimming pool | ✓ | – | | Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ | | Bar | – | ✓ | | Nightclub | – | ✓ | | Smoke-free | – | ✓ | | Distance to the main sights | | Australian Museum | 3.6 km | 1.2 km (−2.4 km) | | Art Gallery of New South Wales | 4.3 km | 1.9 km (−2.4 km) | | Museum of Contemporary Art Australia | 4.5 km | 2.5 km (−2.0 km) | | Sea Life Sydney Aquarium | 3.3 km | 1.5 km (−1.8 km) | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Location 2.5 km apart Newtown Backpackers: city centre: 2.7 km, nearest station Newtown railway station, Sydney: 460 m, Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD): 5.8 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 4 sights within 1 km. Wake Up Sydney: city centre: 720 m, nearest station Western Forecourt: 90 m, Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD): 7.5 km, 150+ places to eat within 500 m, 18 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Sydney [Sydney weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/australia/new-south-wales/sydney/weather) ## Newtown Backpackers or Wake Up Sydney: common questions ### Which is better, Newtown Backpackers or Wake Up Sydney? Wake Up Sydney leads in 3 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location, public transport. ### Which is cheaper, Newtown Backpackers or Wake Up Sydney? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Wake Up Sydney is closer: 720 m from the centre, against 2.7 km for Newtown Backpackers. ### How far apart are Newtown Backpackers and Wake Up Sydney? The two hotels are 2.5 km apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Newtown Backpackers vs Cambridge Lodge Guest House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/cambridge-lodge-guest-house-sydney-vs-newtown-backpackers-sydney/) - [Newtown Backpackers vs Mad Monkey Backpackers on Broadway](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/mad-monkey-backpackers-on-broadway-sydney-vs-newtown-backpackers-sydney/) - [Wake Up Sydney vs 790 on George Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/790-on-george-backpackers-sydney-vs-wake-up-sydney-sydney/) - [Wake Up Sydney vs Space Q Capsule Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/space-q-capsule-hotel-sydney-vs-wake-up-sydney-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/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/newtown-backpackers-sydney-vs-wake-up-sydney-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/