Haka House Queenstown Lakefront

The views right outside were stunning, and the location at Haka House was incredibly convenient. We did arrive on a very cold night to an icy room, though. The little heater took ages to warm it up, and parking costs extra. It's a beautifully situated place, as long as you're prepared to put up with the cold 🥶

The price stung a bit, though we were there over New Year's, so we accepted that. The iron looked like it had been through several wars, but hostel guests probably aren't ironing much anyway. The staff had a knack for disappearing with the luggage room keys just when we needed them, though they were charming enough that it was hard to stay annoyed. The hostel itself was impeccable: toilets flushed, showers drained, rooms had walls, and everything was cleaned regularly, pretty much what you'd hope for from a place offering accommodation.

I found several hairs inside the folded duvet as soon as I opened it, on both nights I stayed. Bedding cleanliness needs work. There seemed to be more teenagers here than at other New Zealand hostels I've stayed in over the past two weeks, so there was quite a lot of noise and rowdy behavior. That may just have been the particular group staying then. On the plus side, the kitchen is roomy and well equipped, with big windows, lots of natural light, and a direct, beautiful lake view.

I spent four nights in one of Haka House Lakefront's four-bed dorms. The beds squeaked with even the smallest movement, which made peaceful sleep difficult, but the rooms, ensuite, shared toilets, and showers were spotless. Staff were plentiful, friendly, and quick to help. The communal kitchen has nearly everything for cooking, with plenty of gas cook stations, so just bring groceries and make a meal. Parking is on site for $15 a night, on a first-come, first-served basis, as I was told. If you have a car, paying for it is a no-brainer: town is only about 600m away, so you can leave the car parked. I'd recommend it if you're after a cosy hostel with clean rooms and a useful kitchen.