I stayed in the YHA Darwin for only one night and was disappointed by the poor YHA standards.
My room was on ground level, in a row of rooms with their doors to the car park (similar to a motel). The rooms were small and had a small ensuite bathroom. Neither room nor bathroom were clean - not sure about other rooms but other travellers told me later they were not happy either. There was a fridge in the room which at first I was pleased about. But people spill things and it was not very clean and really, in Darwin, in the Tropics, that can attract a lot of bugs, insects and other animals that you do not want in your room.
The kitchen on the ground floor was tiny (which is probably the reason that there were fridges in the rooms) and there was no sitting area inside and only a small one outside - one big table near the pool, by far not enough.
In another review a kitchen upstairs and common room is mentioned. Well, I did not know about those and did not walk through the whole hostel to find out whether there might be another kitchen. When I checked in the staff mentioned only the kitchen downstairs, so if there are more facilities I would have liked to be told at check in.
There is parking available but it is on a first come first serve basis, i.e. if you are arriving in the evening it is very likely not to get a space. Also, neither the car park nor the access onto the premises, ie. the rooms, is secured - at least it was not when I was there - so that anybody could enter the hostel.
I stayed for one night only, then went to Litchfield NP and when I arrived back in Darwin I went to Chilli's Backpacker - at that time a little bit more expensive but a lot more value for money. I have stayed in many YHA hostels before, especially overseas, but this one really was a huge disappointment.

Stayed here for one night, and one day before flying to Bali. I'm suprised with all the bad reviews, as I found it to be good hostel. It's a converted hotel so each room has its own ensuite bathroom, and the room was clean and safe. the kitchen was small, but there actually is another one upstairs!. There's a nice common room with TV and comfortable couches, and a nice pool and patio area. The location is great with lots of bars and restaraunts nearby and you can walk to Mindil Beach as well. Because of our late night flight, we stayed one night and check out but used the hostel for the day with no day use fee! Good value for the money.

I mean really, for a hostel, what else can you expect that it's clean, safe and fills your basic needs such as kitchen, shower and comfortable bed.
The staff were very helpful at the hostel which is always a bonus too.

I stayed here for 4 nights all in all. the first two nights was in a 4share room which was very plain and basic, had a fridge in the room and a shower and 2 bunk beds, really basically filled my needs for what i was after. the 3rd night i had a double room as i met up with my friend, again just used for sleeping and showering so what else do you need? Went on a trip to Kakadu for 3 days so when we came back I stopped again in an 8 share dorm this time and then set off very early in the morning to get my flight back to sydney,

I really cant think of anything to say bad about this hostel. Overall it was an easy pleasant stay and it served my purpose.

Would recommend

dirty, ugly, smelly, rooms are awfull, staff look dodgy, location is ok, but overall, one of the worst place I've stayed at so far.