Haka Lodge Taupo

Carrie was helpful and hospitable, and did her best to make my stay better. I really appreciate it. For the price, the rooms are great, and parking is free and feels pretty secure. I could see CCTV covering certain angles of the parked cars near reception.

There’s virtually no noise insulation. You hear every conversation, footstep, toilet flush, the washing machine, and even glasses clinking. The layout is poorly thought out: rooms are below a kitchen and TV room, and they all face into a courtyard that amplifies the sound. It went on all night, the worst I’ve ever experienced. If you’re trying to sleep early before a hike, you can count on it ruining the next day. Staying here genuinely risks your holiday. We bit the bullet and cut our stay short, paying for two hotels so we wouldn’t lose another day here. Terrible.

Haka House was really clean, and the room had plenty of space. The kitchen had everything we needed. It was close to both the supermarket and the lakefront. There aren’t many places to eat when it rains, but that was totally fine while I was there. Just be aware that luggage storage after checkout costs extra. I’d definitely come again.

On Friday 23 January, the night of the concert, the duty manager at Haka House Backpackers in Taupo told me to leave. I was accused of disturbing the peace by other backpackers, but I was only trying desperately to get to sleep. I have Asperger's Syndrome, and I feel I was treated unfairly. Better communication would have helped. I wouldn’t recommend staying at Haha House Backpackers.