Rotorua Hostels

It didn't start well - my room was next to the night gate whose keycard lock is kaput and if it was not closed carefully it closed with a clang. My phone call to the night manager (reception closes early) to change rooms was ignored. But next morning the front desk staff was most helpful in changing my room to a quieter one. Avoid rooms 11 and 12 if you can. The hostel itself is modern, well set up and well located. The kitchen is spacious and well equipped. The dorms are small but the ensuite facilities are good. The bunks are comfortable and come with a reading light and privacy curtains. The hostel is located a few blocks from the tourist center around the lake shore and from the supermarket in the Central Mall. It is also just across the road from Kuirau Park, a geothermal area in the heart of Rotorua. Relax and soak your feet in the thermal footbath. Parking was not a problem. Haupapa Street outside the hostel has metered parking from 9 to 5 Mon to Fri and 9 to 12 Sat. Outside those hours parking is free and unrestricted. Across Ranolf Street on the edge of Kuirau Park there is unrestricted free parking at all times - get in early to claim a spot. Hostel staff also told me that they have off-street parking for $15 a night. Security is not great - the broken gate lock means that the common areas are open to anyone, but the rooms are secured by keycard locks.

Amazing stay. Pretty clean facilities for a hostel, friendly and helpful staff, dorms were decently sized. Overall one of the best hostel stays I've had. Only notes are that top bunk beds don't have rails and (at least in my room) there were no outlets near the beds. On the plus there were cupboards to keep your stuff, just bring your own padlock! If looking for activities to do while you're visiting, there are tons of pamphlets in the lobby and staff has many good recommendations (plus discounts for certain places so make sure to check with them before booking)

The location is very good, right next to the i-site, it is very convenient to catch the intercity bus in the morning. Many restaurants nearby, Government Gardens, Polynesian baths, and a Tamaki Maori dinner event I participated in are all within a 10-minute walk. Hygiene is okay for backpackers’ hostels. They seem to wash the sheets themselves rather than outsource them, but I don’t know which is cleaner. I don’t know if this hostel is run by Indians. The staff are all Indians, so there are more Indians staying in. Everyone is very kind. The only one who wanted to complain is that the bathroom hook is too high. The 154's stature said that he couldn't reach it on tiptoe, and the staff responded that they had nothing to do. Fortunately, I carried a portable hanger at any time, barely reaching it. Otherwise, you can only put on the wet floor towel to change your clothes, just think about it😥

There were some sites that rated this as a 4. Seriously... maybe a solid 3. The lady who's runs it is nice and helpful. The basics were clean, but walls, etc, weren't and lots falling apart. My kitchen sink was crazy small and the tap wasn't attached, so when you turned it on, it moved, and water was everywhere. I was worried when I first arrived, seemed super sketchy....traveling solo. It turned out to be safer than I thought. The room and amenities were sufficient, and it was close walking distance to a super cool park, active vents, etc. But was it a 4, no, not at all. The place is falling apart, and I had my own room with ensuite.