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Hostels Guide > Australia & Oceania > New Zealand > North Island > Rotorua Hostels > Base Hot Rock - Rotorua

Base Hot Rock - Rotorua

Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand

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Hostels in Rotorua

Address	1286 Arawa Street, Rotorua Map
Price	Multi-share dorm (up to 12 beds) $26, Multi-share (4-6 beds) $28 double/twin/single $70 Check Current Prices by Date Here

Location/Contact

Details

This is a VIP hostel. Show your VIP Backpackers membership card for a discount at check-in.

Their Description

Features

Kitchen
Lockers
Bar
Nightclub
Lounge / Common space
Swimming Pool
BBQ
TV
Washing Machine (laundry)
Clothes Dryer
Travel information provided
24 Hour Free Hot Showers
Phones (public or in room)

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 en-suite.

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

Your Comments

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites, we don't censor out the negative comments.
We do not validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.

Comment by eagleyeski, USA

March 2008

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.

Comment by schloo

November 2006

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!

Comment by Girlygirl

October 2006

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!

Comment by Rose July 2005

December 2005

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!

Comment by Kat

September 2005

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.

Comment by Emma

August 2005

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.

Comment by Anonymous

May 2005

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!

Comment by Sam

May 2005

The bar was good but the dorms were crowded and a bit rancid. It was not my favorite hostel in the world.

Comment by Clare

January 2005

This place is run down, dirty, crowded and souless. The bar is worth a visit but stay elsewhere.

Comment by Lydia

December 2004

Great hostel. I loved the vibe and the staff were great. I loved the thermal pools and everything was clean enough for a hostel. The only downside was everyone was on the blooming Kiwi Experience bus and kind of like a clique, you know. But I'd recommend this hostel!

Comment by Anonymous

July 2004

Great hostel. The bar is good, and the reception staff are friendly. It has its own pool!!! The pool is naturally heated!!! I loved it here. It's centrally-located, too.

Comment by Clare

October 2003

Don't miss out on the swimming pool sized bath here (naturally heated by the 'hot rocks'!) and I recommend spending a good few hours lazying in the jacuzzi as well.

Have you visited this hostel? Post your comments here.

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Hostels in Rotorua

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