Raglan Backpackers

The hostel is within walking distance of everything you need in town, and the staff are super friendly and helpful. It’s the most sociable hostel I’ve stayed at in New Zealand so far, with everyone welcoming and friendly. They clean it well every day, and on clear days the sea and Mount Karioi look stunning, especially at sunset. Great town, too.

It’s a simple hostel, in a good way, and it’s clean and quiet at night. There are ocean views, and you can go for a dip every morning. People are open and friendly, and it’s easy to have a yap with them in the lounge. Laid-back vibes. Raglan really is a magic place, and this hostel made the experience for me. Thanks, I’ll be back ❤️

The location’s great, just a short walk from Raglan’s main street, and free parking is available, though there’s very little space on site. The bedroom was alright, with not much room for bags. Bathrooms were okay, with warm water and good pressure, but felt old and could use repairs. I appreciated the hair dryer. The shared kitchen really needs attention. There isn’t enough fridge space, ants are crawling around, and the appliances, utensils and equipment feel old and grubby. The daily staff clean barely seems to make a dent. There’s a wooden boardwalk outside the bedrooms, and one person roller-skated up and down it all day. The noise reverberated through the rooms and got quite annoying. The place has a lot of potential, but right now a few things let it down.

My room had a great view, and I liked the location and the young, surfy energy. The rooms themselves are very basic: nowhere for backpacks except the floor, no bed lights or plugs, no privacy curtains, and no Wi-Fi signal in my room. The kitchen and bathrooms were okay, but don’t expect much. Still, it gave me the full hostel experience.