One Response to “Huon Valley Backpackers (Baffles Hill)”

1. 

   Susan

   April 7, 2015

   Pros:
   -You only share your bedroom with one other person. The hostel is nice and quiet, generally well equipped, and I met some really lovely people during my stay. The locals are very friendly.
   -The rooms and common areas are clean and tidy.
   -There are good showers with hot water.
   -There are plenty of books and films for your entertainment.
   Cons:
   -There is a 200 dollar deposit which will only be returned to you upon a two weeks’ notice and returning your crockery and cutlery, pot, tea towel etc. This means that you will have to stay for a minimum of 14 days if you want your deposit returned to you. Most hostels charge a small 20 dollar fee for a key. There is a reason why the owner charges a 200 dollar deposit. Keep reading.
   -Baffles Hill / Huonvalley Backpackers cannot be labelled a working hostel. The owner, Jayne, has a very limited number of contacts and this means that you have little choice as to what fruit you pick. There is no whiteboard system where you select the farm you want to work for. Most of the time you start with strawberry picking and after about a week you’ll be offered apple work. Strawberry picking is very very hard work because you bend over for many hours and are left with lower back pain. You make 5 dollars a tray which is very little and it simply doesn’t pay off for the work you put into it and the back pain you’re left with.
   -If you decide to leave prior to your two weeks’ notice, Jayne claims that you can no longer carry on work with your employer. Please note that this is not true. One thing is the hostel, another thing is the work you do.
   -This hostel is expensive. I suggest you have a look at Little Devils which is in Huonville. You’ll be closer to Woolworths for your shopping. However, your best option would be to have a look at Tasman Backpackers in Devonport. I was making just enough to break even and pay for my accommodation and groceries. I was making approximately 40 to 60 dollars a day with strawberry picking. You can expect to do anywhere between 10 to 20 trays a day. If the strawberries are big, your tray will fill up faster. It takes some days to adapt to the work before you can get 10 trays. The hostel is 23 a night/165 a week (this is if you pick strawberries, it’s more for apples) so after groceries, I was left with approximately 10 dollars a day. This is a joke. Nobody in their right mind would voluntarily pick strawberries for 14 days. Unfortunately, not many backpackers can afford to lose 200 dollars so decide to hang in there.
   -The weekly rate is higher if you pick apples. In addition, Jayne charges 7,50 a day for transport to and from the apple farm. This is a fixed rate. If you can’t ride with her you’ll still have to pay the full fee.
   -There are no free weekly shopping trips. You have to hitchhike to do your groceries.
   -There is no heating in the bedrooms. It can get chilly in autumn and winter time. Make sure you bring your own sleeping bag.
   -There are no sockets in the bedrooms. You have to charge your mobile phone/laptop/tablet in the common areas.
   -There is no WIFI at Baffles Hill / Huonvalley Backpackers. The website says there is, but there isn’t
   -Some rooms have very thin mattresses, you can literally feel the bed slats.
   -A load of washing costs 4 dollars and the washing machine doesn’t do a terrific job.

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