The Hostelz.com Review
Rotorua Central Backpackers is clean, comfortable, and welcoming.
The Location
It isn't in the best part of Rotorua; there's an escort service next door. But there's a police station right across the street, so it's probably perfectly safe. It's only two blocks from the bus station, and three blocks from the supermarket.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorm we saw was a single large room with six twin beds in it, and the hostel advertises that it has no bunks. There are gender-separated restrooms, with multiple stalls and two showers apiece, plus a few extra unisex toilets. Showers have changing space behind their curtains.
Common Spaces
Rotorua Central has a well-equipped kitchen, a roomy bar-and-counter dining area, and a well-positioned TV room; the TV's sound doesn't carry far. There's a good, inexpensive laundry. Zenbu internet is available and could be used in our room. The hostel has its own hot tub, a Roman tub filled with thermally heated water, housed in an outbuilding near the laundry. It is clean and pleasant. Most of the people there during our stay seemed to be in their early twenties, but the hostel is reasonably quiet, thanks to good design and good soundproofing.
Summary
Rotorua Central lives up to its name -- it is central, and it is a very comfortable hostel. We would have been glad to stay longer.
The Location
It isn't in the best part of Rotorua; there's an escort service next door. But there's a police station right across the street, so it's probably perfectly safe. It's only two blocks from the bus station, and three blocks from the supermarket.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorm we saw was a single large room with six twin beds in it, and the hostel advertises that it has no bunks. There are gender-separated restrooms, with multiple stalls and two showers apiece, plus a few extra unisex toilets. Showers have changing space behind their curtains.
Common Spaces
Rotorua Central has a well-equipped kitchen, a roomy bar-and-counter dining area, and a well-positioned TV room; the TV's sound doesn't carry far. There's a good, inexpensive laundry. Zenbu internet is available and could be used in our room. The hostel has its own hot tub, a Roman tub filled with thermally heated water, housed in an outbuilding near the laundry. It is clean and pleasant. Most of the people there during our stay seemed to be in their early twenties, but the hostel is reasonably quiet, thanks to good design and good soundproofing.
Summary
Rotorua Central lives up to its name -- it is central, and it is a very comfortable hostel. We would have been glad to stay longer.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2011
Their Description
Rotorua Central Backpackers Details
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Place was nice, but bad experience with staff Could have been a fantastic stay if a couple of the night staff were not rude. I went to the office to ask a question, the door was open, so I knocked and opened the door. They told me I was rude for interrupting them at 9pm. I apologized but they shut the door in my face. Not the kind of hospitality I would expect from an establishment with a good rating. — Anonymous , New Zealand (2011-12-29) Pretty good place Stayed here two nights. Rooms were spacious and warm, and the beds comfortable. I like that they don't have bunks. I really enjoyed the thermal pool out back. The owners were great, very helpful and friendly. They can get you some good discounts for activities and local shops. It's a quiet, relaxed place. Go somewhere else if you want to party. It would be nice if they had showers upstairs too, and more Internet terminals. — Dave , Canada (2011-04-12) Not so good In my opinion the place is very comfortable but the staff aren't helpful. I stayed there last month and I had many bags and the attendant give me a bed on the second floor. I asked him "sorry, my bags are big and heavy, can you give me a bed here," and he said "unfortunately not, but you have a strong boyfriend." He was laughing, stupid man. And others things that make me disappointed. I won't stay there again. — Ana Maria Pereira , Brazilian (2009-02-19) A veritable lack of wildlife these days. They must have solved the fly problem here, as aside from the occasional ant there was no wildlife of any sort to be seen in the hostel when we stayed. Sporting no bunks, only comfy beds with real mattresses, it would be hard to find fault with the place. The price was reasonable and the location was excellent. The front-desk staff seemed helpful and friendly. Perhaps the only downside is the slightly strange seating arrangement on offer in the kitchen, so that with three hobs there was plenty of room to cook sociably, but not so much room to eat sociably! No tour buses here. — Richard Johnson , British (2008-10-24) Needs some fly spray There are three advantages to this hostel -- the great central location, the option of a bath instead of a shower, and the sizeable clean bedrooms. However there are three distinct problems with this hostel. Firstly if you choose to have a shower, they are not great and could do with doors/locks. Secondly the kitchen is not large enough to cope with the volume of use at peak times, and indeed at several times throughout the day. Finally the kitchen is not hygienic. Even though it is cleaned by staff daily the volume of both dead and living flies makes use of the kitchen a very unpleasant experience. An additional positive note is that the staff are very friendly and approachable. — Paula , Ireland (2008-02-23) This hostel was an excellent place to stay. Dorms were big and there were no bunks. The kitchen had lots of space and very well equipped. The owners were helpful and gave us good advice on trips to do. The spa was an added bonus. Would definitely recommend this hostel. — Maria and Leanne (2007-03-03) First time at a Backpackers, as over fifty! Lovely bedroom, very clean linen, kitchen, bathroom, shower. Catherine and Neil friendly and helpful, went on the Maori evening -- excellent. as the place says Central to everything -- Rotorua, Taupo, highly recommended Backpackers hostel. — Diane and Ed (2007-02-19) Its hostels like this one that make me proud to be a Kiwi. The lady behind the desk was so friendly and Mother-like, was very refreshing!
Our room was up stairs and was huge! Even had a fireplace in it, we had our own beds (no bunks!) and lots of windows and natural light.
There are toilets and showers and even baths scattered everywhere through out the hostel, so you never have to go far. The kitchen is huge and tidy and there is a TV lounge and a 'reading' lounge. There is heaps of free car parking at the back of the hostel. Its right in town so need to walk for miles. We liked the price of this hostel and really enjoyed our stay, I loved the huge world map in the kitchen and the owners personal travel maps around the world/NZ. Only thing I would of liked was free linen hire ($2) but thats nothing major and I understand that alot of bedding must get stolen. We liked this hostel so much we stayed longer than we were ment to. Cheers to the owners/staff, I will be back! — Chippie (2006-08-27) I loved the massive double bed!!! — Lore (2004-08-26)