The Hostelz.com Review
Hot Rock Backpackers is a popular hostel in Rotorua and one of the main stops for Kiwi Experience and Stray Backpacker buses. It's part of the Beyond Backpackers group and has a good location as it is two blocks from the main part of town and right next to the Kuirau Geothermal Park. Similar to other Beyond Backpackers hostels, it offers dorms, triples, doubles, twins, and singles. Some smaller rooms are available ensuite.
Hot Rock is probably the oldest of the four hostels in the Beyond Backpackers group. The best parts of the hostel include the free geothermal pools, which are located on the bottom floor in small rooms, and the pool out back. A kitchen, travel booking desk, sundeck, and TV lounge are all available. It also has a popular bar scene.
We stayed in dorms, which are ok. From talking to other travelers, it seems like the smaller rooms might be a more popular option. The dorm felt a bit cramped with beds placed here and there wherever one would fit (happily, no bunks at least in our room). There wasn't a lot of space to store belongings. The bathrooms down the hall left something to be desired -- they could use more cleaning and a facelift, and a few more toilets and showers wouldn't hurt either. If you're not picky you probably won't mind, and if you want to have access to free geothermal pools, good location, and some nightlife, you'll enjoy it here. All in all, this hostel could use some updating, but it remains a popular choice nonetheless.
Hot Rock is probably the oldest of the four hostels in the Beyond Backpackers group. The best parts of the hostel include the free geothermal pools, which are located on the bottom floor in small rooms, and the pool out back. A kitchen, travel booking desk, sundeck, and TV lounge are all available. It also has a popular bar scene.
We stayed in dorms, which are ok. From talking to other travelers, it seems like the smaller rooms might be a more popular option. The dorm felt a bit cramped with beds placed here and there wherever one would fit (happily, no bunks at least in our room). There wasn't a lot of space to store belongings. The bathrooms down the hall left something to be desired -- they could use more cleaning and a facelift, and a few more toilets and showers wouldn't hurt either. If you're not picky you probably won't mind, and if you want to have access to free geothermal pools, good location, and some nightlife, you'll enjoy it here. All in all, this hostel could use some updating, but it remains a popular choice nonetheless.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2006
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Base Rotorua Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Yuck! First night I stayed in a four-person room. It was filthy, smelled mouldy, rained in, and only cold showers! After I complained I was told I can move to a newly refurbished room. Unfortunately I had to share with nine others and although it was renovated the bunk beds were very noisy (especially if people f*** in the bottom bunk!). The worst though was people returning from the bar pissed and slamming doors, switching the light on at 3 a.m. in the morning! Pool is alright, but if you can afford it, go somewhere else! — Wellingtonian , NZ (2008-11-30) A little bare, but good Great hostel for younger backpackers heading to Rotorua. it wasn't as huge as I'd expected, but that made it less intimidating. Very friendly vibe, easy to meet people, and the TV room is fun to hang out in if it's a rainy day or you're just tired and need a break. Only downsides are the rooms are somewhat small and of course, Rotorua is a bit smelly. Not too much in the way of nightlife at the hostel, head to the bar at Hot Rock or others on the main streets for that. — Caroline , USA (2008-06-12) Avoid -- loud obnoxious music until wee hours in a.m. This is not the place I thought it would be. The pub adjacent to the hostel plays very loud obnoxious music until 3 a.m. seven days a week. The people in the hostel come back drunk and loud. The bathroom cubicle is ridiculous. One toilet and a crappy old shower with fixtures falling off the wall is obscene for twelve people. The room I was in had two sets of bunk beds and it was only designed at most for a set of bunk beds if that. Np electrical outlets either. I was really disappointed. The people at the pool were also loud and obnoxious. Don't say you weren't warned. — eagleyeski , USA (2008-03-03) Traveling around with Kiwi we were offered this place and was pleasantly surprised. Although the smallest of the Base world i stayed in, it was one of the best. Rooms were clean and fine, showers were plenty although not too many toilets. The recreation room was one of the best i've been in though with a big SKY tv (football yay), a pool table, lots of sofas, and even a table tennis room. Only negative was reception closed early and rotorua smells, but that can't be helped! — Rossatron , UK (2007-05-06) I thought this hostel was way overrated. I stayed here one night, and was not impressed. Paid $23 for a dorm that had no bedding ($2 extra!) with one toilet cubicle between twelve people, annoyingly situated in the bathroom past the shower. There was a sign on the bathroom door saying knock before entering, but there was no way I was going to shower -- even behind a shower curtain -- in an unlocked bathroom. Fortunately it did have a lock, but that's a daft place to put a toilet cubicle. Many people end up here as part of the Kiwi Experience bus, which is sad really, as there are many less-known but better hostels in this area who are cheaper, and provide free bedding! — schloo (2006-11-16) I was really disappointed with this hostel. Everything was run down and shabby. We had a private room -- more like a huge motel -- but it stank of mould, we couldn't get the heater off, and had patio-style doors that went onto the main road. The staff on reception were not friendly at all. The pool is great, but found some of the other guests made us feel uncomfortable. We stayed two nights but only because we had paid in advance and couldn't afford to lose our money! — Girlygirl (2006-10-05) Location was ok but the hostel has a sort of "dungeonesque" feel to it. Cavernous, noisy, and not particularly friendly. Amenities nowhere near as good as even other members of the Base chain. Wouldn't recommend. — Sarah (2006-07-09) stayed 2 nites in a double room. Yes it was hot but great in winter. Hot pools great, facility had everything we needed, handy to town. Great central place to come back to. For backpacking, its great! dont know what people are moaning about! — Rose July 2005 (2005-12-10) My first bad hostel experience. Eww! Dirty, run down, over crowded, rude staff, and not a place that attracts reputable individuals. Went without showering and slept fully clothed because it appeared so filthy. — Kat (2005-09-17) The double room was shabby and boiling because the radiator wouldn't turn off. The bathrooms were old, dirty and there weren't enough facilities for the number of rooms. There were only two bathrooms (shower and toilet) for a whole floor. The whole hostel was dated and run down. — Emma (2005-08-21) As usual with Base this was fabulous. Lovely bed, linen, facilities, etc. The only problem was a leaky shower and a smelly town. Very helpful staff, though. — Emma (2005-07-13) This hostel had really nice small, shared rooms for only 3 dollars more than a dorm. These rooms are en suite with a kitchenette. The rooms were clean. The spa pools were pretty cool, too! — Anonymous (2005-05-17) The bar was good but the dorms were crowded and a bit rancid. It was not my favorite hostel in the world. — Sam (2005-05-05) This place is run down, dirty, crowded and souless. The bar is worth a visit but stay elsewhere. — Clare (2005-01-16) This hostel has a good location — it's only a few minutes to the Polynesian spa, the lake and the supermarket. The hostel is a bit quiet but clean and the rooms are very different but all nice. (I loved the TV in the kitchen!) The staff are some of the friendliest people I've met in a hostel so far! If you plan to go there check out the "steal deals" (that includes the Polynesian spa and the whitewater rafting for a great price). — Maya (2004-12-29)