Base Backpackers
Base Backpackers is a privately held Australian hostel chain (founded 1987, Sydney HQ) operating 8+ budget properties across Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand, serving backpackers, group travelers, and working-holiday visitors through direct online booking, the BedHopper Pass, and Goki contactless check-in.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Base Backpackers does
Base Backpackers, legally Recreational Tourism Group Pty Ltd and operating under parent Tourism Adventure Group (TAG), is an Australian-headquartered budget hostel chain founded in 1987 and headquartered in Sydney. The company operates a network of 8+ hostel properties across key backpacker destinations in Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island, Noosa, Fraser Island), New Zealand, and Thailand (Ao Nang Beach), with wholly-owned subsidiaries Base Backpackers Pty Ltd, Nomads World Hotels Pty Ltd (acquired brand), and United Backpackers (acquired brand). The portfolio offers shared dormitory rooms, private rooms, and camping options, with ancillary revenue from meals, Wi-Fi, room service, and on-site bars at select properties.
The company's commercial stack is anchored by three proprietary products: the BedHopper Pass, a multi-night flexible pass enabling stays across Base hostels and partner properties along Australia's east coast; Goki, a contactless mobile check-in application (available on iOS and Android) that turns the guest's phone into a room key and supports staff messaging and stay extensions; and Work & Travel Packages, bundled accommodation-plus-work offerings for working-holiday visa holders. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via stayatbase.com, supplemented by phone booking, walk-ins, and a dedicated group-booking channel handling parties of 10 or more. Payments are processed through a PCI-DSS compliant National Australia Bank gateway.
Base Backpackers targets price-sensitive independent travelers aged 18-35, group travelers (10+), working holiday visa holders, and digital nomads, positioning itself as a higher-standard alternative within the backpacker segment. The business is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, no published revenue, and operating geographies spanning Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. The addressable market — global hostels — was valued at USD 5.26 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at an 11.2% CAGR to USD 13.68 billion by 2033.
Base Backpackers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Base Backpackers
- Legal name
- Recreational Tourism Group Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://stayatbase.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Base Backpackers is a privately held Australian hostel chain (founded 1987, Sydney HQ) operating 8+ budget properties across Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand, serving backpackers, group travelers, and working-holiday visitors through direct online booking, the BedHopper Pass, and Goki contactless check-in.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Base Backpackers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Budget Hostel Accommodation
- NAICS
- Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213), Other Traveler Accommodation (72119)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Traditional Dormitory Hostels (THAGAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Quiet/Work-Friendly (Digital Nomad) Hostels (THAMAIAF), Long-Stay/Monthly Backpacker Hostels (THAGAGAI)
Keywords
Where Base Backpackers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices4 records
Markets served
Base Backpackers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hostel Accommodation: Revenue from providing budget accommodation including shared dormitory rooms and private rooms at hostel properties across Australia and New Zealand.
- Additional Charges: Additional revenue streams including meals, room service, wireless internet access, and other hospitality services during guest stays.
- BedHopper Pass: Multi-night pass allowing flexible access to multiple Base hostels and partner properties along travel routes.
- Work & Travel Packages: Bundled travel packages combining accommodation with work placement opportunities for travelers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shared Dormitory Rooms |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Rooms |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Camping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Base Backpackers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Base Backpackers operates a chain of budget hostels across Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand offering shared dormitory rooms, private rooms, and select camping accommodations. The company targets backpackers and budget travelers aged 18–35, supplementing its core accommodation with group booking services, multi-property BedHopper passes, and Work & Travel packages for working holiday makers.
Product overview
Base Backpackers operates a portfolio of hostel accommodations across Australia and New Zealand, offering budget-friendly shared and private room options. The core offering consists of individual hostel properties in key destinations, supported by the BedHopper Pass for flexible multi-property access, Goki contactless check-in technology, and Work & Travel Packages. The company positions itself as a premium backpacker hostel brand targeting young travelers, digital nomads, and group bookings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nomads: Hostel brand acquired and operated under the Base portfolio, including locations in Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island, Melbourne, Sydney, and Noosa.
- Goki
- BedHopper Pass
Products and services
- Hostel Accommodation - Shared Dormitory Rooms
Companies that use Base Backpackers
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Base Backpackers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Base Backpackers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Base Backpackers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Base Backpackers social profiles
Digital presenceBase Backpackers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Base Backpackers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Base Backpackers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Base Backpackers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Base Backpackers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Base Backpackers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Base Backpackers
What does Base Backpackers do?
Base Backpackers operates a chain of budget hostels across Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand offering shared dormitory rooms, private rooms, and select camping accommodations. The company targets backpackers and budget travelers aged 18–35, supplementing its core accommodation with group booking services, multi-property BedHopper passes, and Work & Travel packages for working holiday makers.
Is Base Backpackers a public or private company?
Base Backpackers is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Base Backpackers founded?
Base Backpackers was founded in 1987. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Base Backpackers based?
Base Backpackers is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Base Backpackers make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hostel Accommodation is the primary driver. The others are additional Charges, bedHopper Pass and work & Travel Packages.
Does Base Backpackers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Base Backpackers.
What industry is Base Backpackers in?
Base Backpackers's product category is Budget Hostel Accommodation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGAGAA, Traditional Dormitory Hostels, with a secondary code of THAMAIAF, Quiet/Work-Friendly (Digital Nomad) Hostels. Its NAICS code is 7213 and its SIC code is 7000.