The Hostelz.com Review
This hostel is a combination of a two-story lodge building (which also has one dorm room) and the older, wooden backpackers building. The hostel is one of the older hostels in Wanaka, and is showing its age and is looking frayed.
The Location
The hostel is located at the top of Helwick Street, which is the main street leading up from the lake in Wanaka. It is opposite an email and cycle rental shop, and also opposite a pub. There are some parking places for the hostel -- however, there are parking restrictions outside the hostel, so beware if you park too long! It is also only about one hundred meters from an Inter City Coach stop, and about five minutes' walk to the main visitor information centre and supermarket.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Rooms in the wooden backpacker building are noisy. It seems that because of the wood floors and thin walls, you hear every noise in the hostel. The rooms have either five or seven beds with plenty of space for backpacks. One negative point is that the matrasses are just old foam, which are not comfortable. Although there are number combination locks on the doors, few people seem to use them and even the main entrance to the hostel is often left open. Security is low at this hostel, and there are no lockers in which to leave cameras or other valuables.
The hostel also offers double rooms and some dormitory beds in the other building, and these have private showers and toilets. The public toilets in the backpackers building have graffiti on the walls and doors. Showers and toilets are not very clean, sinks have piles of hairs in them, and bathroom walls/doors are also a little unclean. The size of the showers and toilets is ok, however the general impression is that everything needs to be renewed. A small stool is provided in one shower where you can put your clothes. There are two public sinks, although these are close together and in a small area, so a little inconvenient to use when the hostel is busy.
Common Spaces
The hostel has a small lounge area which joins the kitchen and dining area. There is also space to sit outside on a small wooden deck. They have a long table in the main lounge that is too big for the room, and not so easy to get behind. As everyone who enters the hostel has to pass through the lounge, it gives it the feel of a waiting room. The hostel is very quiet (at least it was when when we visited), but does have a normal mix of backpackers.
The kitchen is also old and neglected, although it does have a microwave and cooking rings. Fixtures and fittings are old and work surfaces are cracked. There are just enough pots and pans, but if the hostel is busy then the kitchen struggles to cope.
Summary
This is an old, tired hostel that would do at a pinch if the other hostels were full. The lack of security here is a negative point, as is the need for so many things to be replaced, repaired, and renewed. The hostel manager does not seem to visit the hostel section much, which again would reduce security. The hostel is also slightly dearer than the other local hostels, which is not justified given its age and worn appearance. There are worse hostels around, but there are also many hostels that are far better than this one.
The Location
The hostel is located at the top of Helwick Street, which is the main street leading up from the lake in Wanaka. It is opposite an email and cycle rental shop, and also opposite a pub. There are some parking places for the hostel -- however, there are parking restrictions outside the hostel, so beware if you park too long! It is also only about one hundred meters from an Inter City Coach stop, and about five minutes' walk to the main visitor information centre and supermarket.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Rooms in the wooden backpacker building are noisy. It seems that because of the wood floors and thin walls, you hear every noise in the hostel. The rooms have either five or seven beds with plenty of space for backpacks. One negative point is that the matrasses are just old foam, which are not comfortable. Although there are number combination locks on the doors, few people seem to use them and even the main entrance to the hostel is often left open. Security is low at this hostel, and there are no lockers in which to leave cameras or other valuables.
The hostel also offers double rooms and some dormitory beds in the other building, and these have private showers and toilets. The public toilets in the backpackers building have graffiti on the walls and doors. Showers and toilets are not very clean, sinks have piles of hairs in them, and bathroom walls/doors are also a little unclean. The size of the showers and toilets is ok, however the general impression is that everything needs to be renewed. A small stool is provided in one shower where you can put your clothes. There are two public sinks, although these are close together and in a small area, so a little inconvenient to use when the hostel is busy.
Common Spaces
The hostel has a small lounge area which joins the kitchen and dining area. There is also space to sit outside on a small wooden deck. They have a long table in the main lounge that is too big for the room, and not so easy to get behind. As everyone who enters the hostel has to pass through the lounge, it gives it the feel of a waiting room. The hostel is very quiet (at least it was when when we visited), but does have a normal mix of backpackers.
The kitchen is also old and neglected, although it does have a microwave and cooking rings. Fixtures and fittings are old and work surfaces are cracked. There are just enough pots and pans, but if the hostel is busy then the kitchen struggles to cope.
Summary
This is an old, tired hostel that would do at a pinch if the other hostels were full. The lack of security here is a negative point, as is the need for so many things to be replaced, repaired, and renewed. The hostel manager does not seem to visit the hostel section much, which again would reduce security. The hostel is also slightly dearer than the other local hostels, which is not justified given its age and worn appearance. There are worse hostels around, but there are also many hostels that are far better than this one.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2008
Their Description
Matterhorn South Lodge & Backpackers Details
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Friendly, clean, and homey. Under new management since July 2009. This hostel is very clean with the new managers making many improvements. New Spa pool, new showers and wash basins and the grounds have been tidied up extensively giving it some nice outdoor areas to enjoy. Security has been stepped up and the Managers Husband can be seen walking around checking the place until very late. New mats have reduced the noise from the wooden floors but not taken away from its character. All in all a very clean and friendly place to stay. — Peter , Welsh (2009-11-23)Comment from the Hostel Yes this hostel has had staffing issues, so we hear! However this was addressed a while ago with the appointment of a new manager. Unfortunately due to a change in personnel circumstances the current manager has to leave and Peter and Donna Hartley will take over on 21-7-09. That's us! We have over twenty-five years experience in the hospitality industry between us. You will be guaranteed a very warm welcome at all times. The owner has spent a large sum of money completely refurbishing the shower and toilet area in the backpackers so you can be sure they are spotless and very user friendly. Yes 10 a.m. is check out time to enable cleaning for the new arrivals, you all know that. If you wish to stay a bit longer and wait for your bus, just ask us and we will make arrangements to accommodate you and make you feel welcome. We are a very approachable couple and we aim to make you very comfortable and welcome so you can enjoy the wonderful environment we locals like to call paradise. Look forward to seeing you all and giving you great memories of Wanaka. — Peter , Wales-NZ (2009-06-27)
The worst hostel I have been to The woman working in the reception of this hostel is the most unprofessional and rude woman I have had to deal with in New Zealand. Attempting to book into the hostel was a huge inconvenience for her. About ten minutes after check in my boyfriend accidentally leaned against the window in the room and the glass shattered. When he went to tell the lady in reception instead of checking if he had been hurt, she started cursing at both of us and told us we had to clean up the glass and remove the remaining glass from the window with our hands. When I tried to explain that she was being incredibly unreasonable she told me I was being rude and that I was to leave. I asked for a refund because what happened was an accident, she told us we had to pay an extra fifty dollars in order to get the glass replaced. Eventually we got ten dollars back from our sixty dollars and left. How this hostel is open is beyond me. — Crea Phillips , Irish (2009-03-10) Yes this place changed the manager in October 2005. Now Mr Murray Dodds, (Murray for all people!), manage this place. I stayed three months, all the winter season, the place is good, near all, you are in the center of wanaka, good view. Like friends told me -- you have a good room, its a nice backpacker, you are like in your house, not like in the other backpack where you are just a number! — Claire and Oli (2006-10-17) It seems that the Matterhorn South has cleaned up their staff issues. The current staff was wonderfully helpful and we arrived early and were given a place to store our luggage until they had our room ready. The facilities were great and they're right across the street from a WIFI location which is rare for New Zealand! We stayed two nights and I wish we could have stayed longer. — Anonymous (2006-02-13) DO NOT stay here!!! The facilities are decent, but the staff are EXTREMELY RUDE. We returned from a hike (after 10 a.m.), and were using the kitchen, and we were treated like we were robbing the place of everything it had. That sealed our decision on whether to stay an extra night. They take your money and give you little in return. — Mike, Jordan, Brian (2005-05-14) The facilities were ok but the staff were unbelievably rude. You're not allowed to stay five minutes after checkout time. And it was no polite question to leave, we were shouted at to go immediately, what the hell did we want there after 10...? My advice: Just don't stay there. — Jana (2005-03-17) I'm glad that we didn't stay longer than for one night. Actually it could be a nice place, with bright rooms and so on, but DON'T GO THERE!! It has a very rude staff, and don't forget: checkout time is ten o'clock. Don't dare to stay five minutes longer! Horrible stay! — Julia (2005-03-17) I was here for six weeks several years ago, and the place was great. Unfortunately it has since changed hands - the fittings and facilities are getting pretty shabby, and the management staff were downright rude. I guess it proves you can never go back! — Katherine (2004-09-26)