Lakeside Backpackers

We stayed for two nights in a room with lake views, set back far enough from the road that noise wasn't an issue. There wasn't much traffic at night either. It's an easy, short walk to the waterfront, town centre, and botanic garden. The room sleeps three and has a small kitchen area. There's no dining table, just a writing desk that was barely enough for two to eat at. We couldn't leave the window or front door open because there were no screens and we were worried about flies getting in.

The location is the one real plus: you can walk to everything, and the room has a good view. The service and cleanliness, though, were nowhere near what you'd expect for the price. There was dust all around, with only the obvious surfaces cleaned. In room 109, the bathroom ceiling was leaking and mouldy, with occasional drips from the mouldy area. We stayed three nights and the room was never cleaned. When I asked for housekeeping, they refused and said they only clean after checkout.

The room was so dusty that my allergies flared up, and there wasn't one area that felt clean. The blanket smelled awful, like it hadn't been washed in a long time. In the bathroom, the floor stayed wet, there was no spare toilet paper, and nobody seemed to be checking or maintaining it. The whole place felt neglected, and the poor hygiene made the stay very uncomfortable. Staff were unhelpful and gave answers that didn't match the confirmation details from Booking.com. Housekeeping also opened my room door without knocking, a serious invasion of privacy. I've stayed in plenty of backpackers in New Zealand, and this was the worst. I strongly advise people to avoid Lakeside Backpackers and stay somewhere else. A complete disappointment, and I can't recommend it.

The room was spacious and had a nice view, and the water pressure was good. But the bathrooms need work, the showers are tiny, and the kitchen is short on proper equipment. For the price, it doesn't really feel worth it.