Arts Factory Jungle Camping Retreat

Mattheus Daly

a month ago

★★★★★

I had a wonderful time here. The communal environment and friendly atmosphere was fantastic. The service was excellent, with the rep on duty, Erin giving tremendous assistance and understanding with issues - her attentiveness was well appreciated. Additionally, she also provided great advice and suggestions regarding what to do in town.

Troy

2 months ago

★★★★★

This is much more than a 2-star hotel: Arts Factory was an incredible experience overall. Staying at this hostel was one of the highlights of my time in Byron Bay. From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere was relaxed, social, and full of interesting travelers from around the world. One of my favorite memories was sitting outside for a meal when several wild iguanas casually wandered beneath our table. It was such a unique and unexpected experience that perfectly captured the laid-back Australian vibe. The hostel made it incredibly easy to meet people, and I quickly found myself sharing stories, adventures, and laughs with fellow travelers who had amazing personalities and came from all walks of life. The communal spaces were welcoming and encouraged genuine connections. The location was another major advantage. Everything Byron Bay has to offer—beautiful beaches, cafes, restaurants, shops, and nightlife—was within easy walking distance. If you're looking for a memorable, social, and uniquely Australian hostel experience, I highly recommend staying here.

shamal swiers

2 months ago

★★★★☆

It's a fun hostel if you wanna experience Byron vibes. A lot of artsy activities and musical events. Location is on walking distance from the city, bus station and supermarket. I had a female dorm. Size, beds and lockers where fine. Hygiene is something that could be improved.

Alice Sanders

3 months ago

★★☆☆☆

I will start with the few positives first. The staff at reception were friendly on arrival and the island private double tent was nice and clean. Why I would not recommend this hostel: The loud music was horrendous. One evening they played deafening drum and base music, making our tent shake. This continued until midnight, although hostal rules stayed 10pm quiet. A rave at the hostel bar was not advertised when we booked. This had the worst hostal kitchen I have ever seen. It was dirty, messy and understocked with equipment. I struggled to find a single spoon to eat my food with. The sinks were piled high with dirty plates. The ‘hippy’ aesthetic seems to be used as an excuse for dirt, mould and careless guests, expecting someone else to clear up after them. The laidback vibe is cool and unique.. but should not mean the residents act without respect to others. Smoking. Despite the mass of no smoking signs, the whole site stank of weed and tobacco. Even smoking in and on the kitchen balcony. Any police officer would have a field day in this place.. and that’s before mentioning the car park. Parking. Or lack of.. the car park was a danger zone. Drunk and high hippies roaming the road not caring when cars were coming. The car park was full of vans, many of which had people sleeping in them, seemingly using the sites facilities for free, taking away a car park spot from paying guests. We struggled to find an alternative free overnight car park spot (which is a miracle to find in Byron Bay), and ended up having to walk far. The staff should ask vans to leave when not paying. I would not recommend this hostel. The town was super cute!! But our visit was clouded by arts factory lodge.

Marilu Garozzo

4 months ago

★★★★★

I first came to the Art Factory about 20 years ago, and coming back now felt really special.🥲 I was looking for something that reminded me of the old Byron I miss and this was exactly that. Surrounded by nature, greenery everywhere, it feels peaceful and grounding, like a little escape from the busyness of town while still being close enough.😍 This time I stayed in one of the private rooms and absolutely loved it. The structure of the room is simple but really well thought out with a small sofa, fridge, and fan, plus coffee, tea, milk, and bathroom essentials like shampoo and body wash. Everything I needed, and it all felt really curated and considered. The bathrooms were also extremely clean and well maintained, which made a big difference. What truly made the experience was the people. The staff are amazing so friendly, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. You can feel the good energy straight away. The whole place, from the café to the outdoor spaces, is just beautiful. It’s the kind of place where you can slow down, sit in nature, and really breathe. I honestly can’t believe I’ve stayed else where every time I was coming back … Why I didn’t come back sooner ??? The Art Factory will definitely be my go-to spot from now on. 😍🦎🌴🍃🏕️🏊‍♂️