Geeky Gecko Backpackers

The kitchen is huge and has everything you need to cook, and they put out free cereal, toast with jam, and tea and coffee. The staff were so friendly, and there’s sweet art all over the place. We were stoked to find a double bed in a dorm, which is unheard of, so my boyfriend and I could sleep together comfortably. Great location and price, awesome hostel!

The free breakfast was cheap toast and cereal, though there was plenty of jam, milk, coffee, and tea, so no complaints about that part. One staff member was rude and dismissive, while another was pleasant and helpful. We booked because it was the cheapest place online and included breakfast, but that didn’t make up for the rest. Half the hostel smelled strongly of mold, and the other half smelled of cigarettes. It was obvious people had smoked in the rooms, and everyone staying there seemed to have a terrible cough. Much of the place was falling apart, with broken beds and furniture and missing toilet seats. DO NOT STAY HERE UNTIL IT GETS A FUMIGATION.

The bathrooms were really dirty and the staff were unfriendly. They made me move from a bottom bunk to another bed, saying another guest would sleep there, but after I moved, it was clear nobody was going to use that bed. Then they wouldn’t let me have breakfast. I wanted to use the kitchen at 6:30 with my own food, but the guy told me I wasn’t allowed to have breakfast. I ended up eating in the hall. Worst hostel I’ve stayed at in NZ. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, not even someone I hate.

There isn’t parking nearby, so if you’re driving you’ll have a bit of a walk. Still, the cool statue in the entrance foyer makes up for it! The people were really friendly, and both the rooms and kitchen were clean when I visited on my trip to NZ last year.