The Hostelz.com Review
Blackcurrant Backpackers is a friendly and pleasant hostel. The building's design encourages guests to sit outside together and socialize.
The Location
Blackcurrant is only a few blocks from the Intercity bus stop, though it's easy to get turned around and walk the wrong way. By car, it's an equally easy turn off Spa Road. Look for the Pak 'N' Save and a "The Warehouse" store -- Blackcurrant is across the street from "The Warehouse" and one block from the Pak 'N' Save. The bad part of all this accessibility is that the traffic noise is terrible. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are always roaring by.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Unusually, Blackcurrant Backpackers has the design of a motor court motel -- think Motel 6 or Econo-Lodge. All the rooms have two entrances, a front entrance from the parking lot and a back entrance with sliding glass door. Only the back entrances are in general use, though, because the traffic noise is so bad near the front. Some people with cars put up with the noise long enough to bring their luggage in by the front door.
All rooms are en-suite, with a full-sized bathroom and a nice, large shower. Each main room is large enough for two double beds; in the dorms, this space is filled by four non-bunked twin beds. Private rooms (single and doubles) have their own refrigerators. The rooms have many electrical outlets, and the Global Gossip Wi-Fi works in most if not all rooms. Three kiosked computers are also available.
The downside of the sliding glass doors is that room temperature fluctuates widely. Rooms can be cold at night, but hot in mid-afternoon when the sun shines in. All rooms have heated mattress pads, and a space heater is available. There's no air-conditioning, so most guests leave their windows and even their doors open during the day in summer.
Common Spaces
Rooms are in two buildings separated by a garden, with trees and picnic tables. During daylight hours, at least while we were there (in February), most guests preferred to sit in the garden or on the deck outside the kitchen. There is quite a lot of chatter and noise from suppertime until 10 or 11 p.m., but after that things quiet down.
Besides the garden, there is a small lounge next to the kitchen and a larger lounge (the DVD lounge) downstairs. The DVD lounge has a large television, though it apparently does not receive broadcasts. People who want to talk and make noise after 11 p.m. are asked to go inside to the DVD lounge.
The kitchen is well-equipped and has herbs and spices, but one of the gas burners is acting up and the oven door has to be held shut. The kitchen closes at 10 but those who want to use it at other times can request a key from reception.
Summary
Blackcurrant Backpackers is an excellent value for money, and if the traffic noise weren't so bad it would be truly exceptional. We enjoyed our stay.
The Location
Blackcurrant is only a few blocks from the Intercity bus stop, though it's easy to get turned around and walk the wrong way. By car, it's an equally easy turn off Spa Road. Look for the Pak 'N' Save and a "The Warehouse" store -- Blackcurrant is across the street from "The Warehouse" and one block from the Pak 'N' Save. The bad part of all this accessibility is that the traffic noise is terrible. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are always roaring by.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Unusually, Blackcurrant Backpackers has the design of a motor court motel -- think Motel 6 or Econo-Lodge. All the rooms have two entrances, a front entrance from the parking lot and a back entrance with sliding glass door. Only the back entrances are in general use, though, because the traffic noise is so bad near the front. Some people with cars put up with the noise long enough to bring their luggage in by the front door.
All rooms are en-suite, with a full-sized bathroom and a nice, large shower. Each main room is large enough for two double beds; in the dorms, this space is filled by four non-bunked twin beds. Private rooms (single and doubles) have their own refrigerators. The rooms have many electrical outlets, and the Global Gossip Wi-Fi works in most if not all rooms. Three kiosked computers are also available.
The downside of the sliding glass doors is that room temperature fluctuates widely. Rooms can be cold at night, but hot in mid-afternoon when the sun shines in. All rooms have heated mattress pads, and a space heater is available. There's no air-conditioning, so most guests leave their windows and even their doors open during the day in summer.
Common Spaces
Rooms are in two buildings separated by a garden, with trees and picnic tables. During daylight hours, at least while we were there (in February), most guests preferred to sit in the garden or on the deck outside the kitchen. There is quite a lot of chatter and noise from suppertime until 10 or 11 p.m., but after that things quiet down.
Besides the garden, there is a small lounge next to the kitchen and a larger lounge (the DVD lounge) downstairs. The DVD lounge has a large television, though it apparently does not receive broadcasts. People who want to talk and make noise after 11 p.m. are asked to go inside to the DVD lounge.
The kitchen is well-equipped and has herbs and spices, but one of the gas burners is acting up and the oven door has to be held shut. The kitchen closes at 10 but those who want to use it at other times can request a key from reception.
Summary
Blackcurrant Backpackers is an excellent value for money, and if the traffic noise weren't so bad it would be truly exceptional. We enjoyed our stay.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
February 2011
Their Description
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Blackcurrant Backpackers Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Excellent, friendly staff, intimate. The last of refurbishments was completed during my stay, and our room was brand new, clean, and very comfortable. Fantastic staff made our stay very pleasant. We stayed an extra two nights in fact, as we found it hard to leave! Great new kitchen and top advice from office staff. Stay here -- it's awesome! — Brad Rock , South Africa (2009-11-16) I stayed here with my friend for four nights. Burkes is an awesome place to stay! The staff was very friendly and helpful (cheers John) -- the facilities were really nice, and the grounds were really clean -- really good prices, i mean what more can i say! I Love Burkes, and i would recommend it to anyone. I'll definitely be going there again! — Nadia (2007-02-06) The girl that took our booking wrote it on the wrong day in the diary. Luckily there was another room available, and she upgraded us for free. There was free soup in the evenings for hostel patrons. And a old but comfortable lounge area with a free pool table. We met a very nice couple from the U.K. and a group of about ten of us cramped into the lounge to watch the finals of the Amazing Race. — Lian (2006-09-19) Very friendly staff and I met loads of people there, who I still keep in contact with. Worth a look. — Jess Stone (2005-10-20) I found the rooms small and walls very thin. We had a quiet bunch of Japenese girls next door, yet we heard every word and got little sleep. To be fair they were very quiet compared to some neighbors we had. We had a longer walk to the action than the other backpackers too! I much preferred the downdown backpackers. Even though it was a bit rougher with the trout bar upstairs and relaxed atmosphere. After all, you are only passing thru and the holy cow dance on the tables bar is around the corner full of kiwi exp. bus girls and boys fresh from europe doing what you should while in town...having fun!!! — sue perrin (2004-12-30) I stayed there with a few friends on my way south to Wellington and the hostel itself was lovely. It's just a shame that it is run by the most stuck up, pretentious, and boring people I have ever come across at any other hostel in the world. They kicked us out on the third night because we were playing guitars and singing whilst having a few beers and they wouldn't let us use the spa. These were just a few of the incidents that happened at this miserable peoples hostel. We were not the only ones thrown out either. On arriving there were a bunch of girls getting kicked out for no apparant reason. Outside there was a big sign saying backpackers which is what we thought it meant but there were a lot of older people there who didn't want to pay an extra dollar or two and were then forcd to stay with us younger crowd. Unfortunately it was these people who then kept complaining to the owners that we were to noisy which resulted in us getting thrown out. STAY AWAY. — Allan Keddle (2004-03-26)