The Hostelz.com Review
Action Down Under is very good value for the money. The place feels more like a motel than a backpackers. It's a modern, clean place close to the centre of town. They have made very good use of the space they have. The rooms open out onto the communal areas, on the second level there is a large, well-equipped kitchen and dining room which leads out onto a large decked balcony with tables/chairs and BBQ. The balcony has great views of the lake and mountains.
The ground floor has a laundry, TV room (with Internet terminals), pool table, and table tennis table. The other building has a spa pool and sunbathing area. There are plenty of parking spots. They have free sports equipment and rent out bikes.
The double ensuite rooms are clean, but are a bit cramped. But as the communal areas are so nice, you probably wouldn't spend too much time in there anyway. The rooms have alarm clocks and hairdryers.
Down Under is easy to find - it is on the corner of Tamamutu and Kaimanawa Streets. The latter is a turn off of the main road that runs along the lakefront and is only a few blocks away.
The atmosphere is really nice and friendly and there's always plenty of people on the balcony, but it is not too rowdy, as this is a "quiet area" after 10 p.m.
The ground floor has a laundry, TV room (with Internet terminals), pool table, and table tennis table. The other building has a spa pool and sunbathing area. There are plenty of parking spots. They have free sports equipment and rent out bikes.
The double ensuite rooms are clean, but are a bit cramped. But as the communal areas are so nice, you probably wouldn't spend too much time in there anyway. The rooms have alarm clocks and hairdryers.
Down Under is easy to find - it is on the corner of Tamamutu and Kaimanawa Streets. The latter is a turn off of the main road that runs along the lakefront and is only a few blocks away.
The atmosphere is really nice and friendly and there's always plenty of people on the balcony, but it is not too rowdy, as this is a "quiet area" after 10 p.m.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2005
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HI - Taupo YHA - Action Down Under Hostel Details
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HI - Taupo YHA - Action Down Under Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Very good Stayed here over Christmas 2008. The staff put on a BBQ on Christmas Day, which was exactly what we had wanted! Hot tub on site. Nice garden area and a balcony with seating, where you can watch the sun set over the lake. A little walk out of the centre of Taupo or up to the hot springs. Rooms were cosy but clean. Bathrooms were mixed sex -- which was fine but a little weird. — Lisa , England (2010-02-10) My god it's cold reasonable place, but not a great yha. bit old and yes by god it's cold. the showers are outside. i'm cold thinking about it. — debs , irish (2009-11-02) Good enough. With a hot tub. We stayed here over Xmas 2008. The rooms are nothing flash but are kept clean. Staff are ok but not as friendly as across the rest of NZ. Having said that they organised a BBQ on Xmas day which was good craic. Only thing was that it being a YHA there was a curfew and despite the fact it was only midnight on Xmas day and we were well away from anyone sleeping we were still sent (yes, sent) to bed. YHAs are generally of a high standard but you must be prepared for early nights! Kitchen was clean and well equipped. The common room is also the TV room so if someone's watching a film the social room becomes the room of silence! Does have a hot tub -- nice. Close to town centre and the Lake and also walking distance to the hot springs (which are hot -- lovely!) and the Taupo Bungy - cheapest in NZ and also the nicest setting for a jump! All in all, acceptable without fulfilling its potential. YHA fans will love it. — Nick , England (2009-04-14) Quite nice Action Down Under is a nice, clean, and safe-feeling hostel. The kitchen's clean, and the outdoor terrace is great for enjoying the summer sun (with sunscreen on!). The reception staff were friendly enough, and they have a huge selection of films you can borrow and watch in the TV room. It is a bit of a walk from the information centre/bus drop-offs, though -- I'm glad I didn't have too much stuff to carry! — Ulla , Finland (2007-12-28) We booked a private twin room and although it was a bit small, it was amazingly clean, as were the showers and toilets. The beds were comfy and we even had a small TV. The staff were friendly, and after watching a "dodgy" female being turned away, we felt very secure too! They were happy to spend time going through what was available and booking everything for us. We only stayed two nights, but would go back anytime. — Girlygirl (2006-10-05) The best backpackers I've seen in Taupo by far -- stayed at another on my first night and had a good look around the next day after a bad experience and can highly reccomend action down under to all. had top faciltiies like a gym/spa was spotless and close to everything, very friendly staff, and free bikes which was great. — jacki michaels (2006-08-04) Hostel itself was pretty good, clean, and well-equipped, very friendly with a great kitchen and balcony area to socialize. Was there over St Paddy's Day and the staff gave out coupons for the Irish pubs in town, and there was a great atmosphere happening. The main drawback to this hostel is that it's a good 20-minute walk from the main drag in town, and shops and restaurants and whatnot. Not really an issue, except if you're a solo female traveler coming back late at night, the roads are pretty desolate. Also, like most YHAs, the staff at this place are very sticklerish about their "rules." But I'd stay here again, easily. — Sarah (2006-07-09) The worst hostel I've stayed in throughout NZ. Smelly room which had a skip full
of rubbish directly outside the window; a room which had to be entered by going through a corridor with 7 sleeping people in it (they had a cheek to call that a dorm!) No heating in room and indifferent staff. (May '06) A generally tatty feel.
You can pay the same and get much better eleswhere in Taupo. I booked 2 nights but stayed for one. — Felix (2006-05-14) Good place. Stay here if you have the chance. — Kat (2005-09-17) Great place, top facilities - awesome hot-tub and kitchens fully equipped, super clean rooms. Staff were really friendly and had a few good deals on activities - worked out cheaper than the visitor information place in town. Highly reccomended! — Jack (2005-07-26) I only stayed here one day but wished I had booked for longer. The location was good, close to a large supermarket. Rooms were small but clean. Kitchen was good but very busy. Very relaxed atmosphere. — Tony & Tracey (2005-01-30) Fantastic! Really good location — close to the bus, shops and big decks and garden areas. It's a really friendly place with a good feel — great if you are travelling on your own. The reception staff were onto it and had some really good deals on activities. And it is the cleanest hostel I have stayed in! — Leanne (2005-01-10) The hostel itself was fine. It had good facilities and a fairly good kitchen. But the staff were so rude that it kind of ruined the whole experience. We were staying there over Christmas and there was no atmosphere and no effort made to celebrate the holidays — not even a Christmas tree! We were distinctly unimpressed, to be honest. — Kate and Ian (2004-12-31) The dorms were a little overcrowded as they seemed keen to cram in an extra bed everywhere, but this is a good place for a couple of days. — Monkey (2004-12-30) Well, I stayed at over a dozen different places on my trip to NZ and Australia and I have to say that the best and most consistent quality was always provided by YHA hostels. They are usually more expensive, but often worth the price. This hostel had a great deck for gatherings and the rooms were quite nice. I wasn't around long enough to check out all the amenities, but I believe they had many. Reception was not open very late, and that hindered plans to do things like laundry, but overall a nice, clean place. — K the Fo (2003-12-15)