I booked a room for myself and wife after viewing the rooms on the internet. There was no mention of shared facilities. I expected to get what I could see.
What we got was a smelly room with 4 bunk beds and grey blankets. There was a sink, one chair and a table. The toilet was right outside the door and the showers upstairs. They looked a like shearer's beds.
They refused to refund my money or even part of my money. We left and had a great night at the Novotel.

We arrived very early in the morning on our first day in Sydney, after a 23 hour flight from the US we were tired of hauling our bags. Happily they stowed them in their office for us, and gave us directions to Darling Harbour! Oh my goodness! We crossed the street and were right on Darling Harbour...for 89 dollars a night! There were dozens of restaurants, the aquarium, water taxis, IMAX, Maritime Museum all within 5 minutes walk.

After 5 hours of sightseeing we returned to the hotel to check in...the sad little awning on the door does invoke a sense of "youth hostel" from my early days of traveling, and the staircase once inside likes to creak loudly (and goes up and up forever), but the rooms had sinks and refrigerators so we were able to shop at the "Woolies" (woolworth's) and have food in our rooms. The rooms varied dramatically, but most had second hand tables and older tv's...however, we were in Australia to see Australia, not watch television or be pampered in our rooms.

The staff was friendly and very willing to assist with taxis, directions and advice. We fell in love with Darling Harbour and Sydney, and we couldn't have afforded to stay so close to the harbour anywhere else. If you are a fancy traveler, have a bad back or are a light sleeper, skip this hotel. But if you like an adventure, love to walk about and don't mind sharing a bathroom (in some cases) it is THE BEST VALUE IN AUSTRALIA!

I booked to stay here for two nights in Sydney and thought the hotel was great value for money. I paid $69 dollars for single room with a shared bathroom (which i already thought was very cheap), but I had injured my leg so the very kind staff upgraded me without me even asking to a room an ensuite on the ground floor so I didn't have to climb the stairs! The room was simple but very clean, the bed comfortable, the staff very warm and helpful and the breakfast was more than adequate. They have a nice little courtyard to relax in and it is so close to darling harbour that even with my dodgy leg I could walk everywhere I needed to go. Only down side would be a bit of road noise but as the lovely gentleman at reception said unfortunately in the city it's just something that is unavoidable. Would definitely stay again!

we had the pleasure of travelling round a fair bit of australia over 6 weeks and stayed in numerous hotels and units, and this was by far the worst, I dont know where the pictures on the hotel description came from but it certainly wasnt the hotel we stayed in, the paint was peeling of the damp walls 5 bunks in a room, we couldnt sleep as any time any one rolled over the squeaking was outrageous! it was so bad our plan to stay in Sydney for 4 days was reduced to 1, an extremely bad experience all round, I imagine the worst kind of backpaker joint would be better than this, My advice avoid avoid avoid!