Bon Accord Backpackers

The lack of laundry and the generally weird atmosphere were the real downsides. They only take cash, no credit cards, and there’s free 5GB Wi-Fi. The kitchen is rather small, though it works fine in the quiet winter period. It’s not the cleanest place, but nothing to sneeze at. This hostel is okay for one night, but if you’re planning to stay longer in Akaroa, I’d recommend another one.

The hosts let three extra people into our dorm at 10 pm, just as we were trying to sleep. It felt like nobody was managing the place. The dorms were freezing, and the blanket was very thin. The bathroom in the main house was revolting; my mum had already showered there before we found the nicer showers out back, though those still had dirt and hair on the floor. The door wasn't locked at night, either. Service was poor: my mum greeted the guy when we arrived and he walked straight past her without a word, then spoke only to tell me, “That’s 135$.” Avoid this place unless you're renting one of the newer private cabins.

The location in this small town is fantastic, but the place itself is a letdown. It looks rundown, with no renovations, and the shared bathroom had wet towels and urine on the toilet floor. The facilities were neglected, and the kitchen wasn't much better. The staff seemed uninterested, and I was overcharged for my room. For the price, this was easily the worst hostel I stayed in during my recent travels around NZ. I only stayed because I was arriving late; otherwise I would have gone elsewhere. As a New Zealander who works in hospitality, I feel this reflects badly on the industry. The owner seems to treat it like a cash cow without putting money into improvements, and I expect word to get around. It could do much better, but as it stands, it feels like a future doss house. Also, 50MB of slow wifi is a joke when there's no other digital entertainment. It's 2014, get with the programme!

We chose this place after seeing the attractive photos and good online reviews, but the rooms were very smelly. The owner offered us a discounted rate because of the smell. Payment was cash only, with no eftpos, and we decided not to stay.