Worldwide Backpackers
291 The Terrace
Wellington
(see all 14
Wellington hostels)
Hostelz.com Overall Score
6.3
9 = Extraordinary
7 = Good
3 = Not so good
1 = Run away
Based on 149 guest ratings.
Features & Details
Recommended For
Families
Socializing
Free Amenities
Bedsheets
Breakfast
Safe Deposit Box
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Wi-Fi in Rooms
Fee Services
Luggage Storage
($15)
Parking
($7:50 in coupon)
Other Features
BBQ Grill
Book Collection/Exchange
Cable TV
Clothes Dryer
Concierge / Info Desk
Credit Card Payments
Hair Dryers
Hot Showers
Kitchen
Laundry
Lounge Area
Movie Library/Rental
Outdoor Seating
Power Point/Sockets in Rooms
TV
Wheelchair Accessible
Not Offered
Airport Pickup
Entirely Smoke-free
Lockers in Rooms
Towels
Not Allowed
Dogs/Pets
Service Animals
Ages / Restrictions
Genders:
Males & Females
Max. Age:
All Ages
Min. Age With Parent (dorms):
All Ages
Min. Age With Parent (private room):
All Ages
Min. Age Without Parent:
18
Details
Checkout:
10:00 (10 AM)
Curfew:
No Curfew
Lockout:
No
Maximum Stay:
Unlimited
Minimum Stay:
1 night
Open Dates:
All Year
Reception Hours:
7:30am to 7:00pm ( weekend 8am to 6pm)
Size:
Medium (30-60 beds)
Booking
Photos
Description
The Hostelz.com Review
Worldwide Backpackers is a typical city party hostel. It has some good features and depending on what you are looking for, it's either love it or hate it.
The Location
The hostel is located close to the city center -- it's just a five-minute walk to the tourist information; Cuba Street; and shops, restaurants, and bars. It's in a nice neighborhood and the hostel is easy to find as the gate in front is painted in bright colors. The train and bus stations are two kilometers away, so you'll either have to take a city bus or taxi to get to the hostel with public transport. There is no free parking available in Wellington, but you can buy a coupon in the reception of the hostel and park within five minutes' walk from the hostel.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Worldwide Backpackers offers private rooms and four- and six-bed dorms. The rooms are very cramped, and in some rooms it's difficult to find space for your luggage. Where possible, they have made shelves, but still there is very little room. Overall, the rooms are clean and the beds comfortable. Bed linen is provided and included in the price. There are no lockers in the rooms, but the rooms can be locked.
There are shared bathrooms in the hallway. The showers have a few hooks, but other than that there's little space for clothes and no shelves for shampoo or soap. The bathrooms are cleaned in the morning, but can get quite dirty during the day, depending on the people around.
Common Spaces
On arrival in the hostel, you enter through the outdoor deck. This nice patio is next to a bigger road, but it still makes a good place when the weather is nice. The reception is in the same area as the kitchen and dining table. Even though the common areas look nice at first sight, it all is a bit messy and slightly dirty. The reception looks like organized chaos and the kitchen is just not very clean. Breakfast is included and consists of cereal, milk, bread, and jam. It is served from 8 a.m., but only after the receptionist has cleaned the kitchen first.
There is also a TV room, which has DVDs and a book exchange. The same chaos occurs here, with DVDs everywhere -- except in their cases. The TV room has comfortable couches and makes a great place for a drink in the evening. There is also laundry available against a fee and they offer free unlimited Wi-Fi, although it's very unstable and slow.
The atmosphere in this hostel is very social. There are some long-term guests, but they are very inclusive. In the weekends it can get quite crazy, so don't go here if you are looking for peace and quiet. The crowd here is quite young -- expect mostly backpackers who are on a gap year after high school.
Summary
Worldwide Backpackers makes a great hostel if you are looking to meet new people and party. It is not the cleanest, but the location and social atmosphere make up for that.
The Location
The hostel is located close to the city center -- it's just a five-minute walk to the tourist information; Cuba Street; and shops, restaurants, and bars. It's in a nice neighborhood and the hostel is easy to find as the gate in front is painted in bright colors. The train and bus stations are two kilometers away, so you'll either have to take a city bus or taxi to get to the hostel with public transport. There is no free parking available in Wellington, but you can buy a coupon in the reception of the hostel and park within five minutes' walk from the hostel.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Worldwide Backpackers offers private rooms and four- and six-bed dorms. The rooms are very cramped, and in some rooms it's difficult to find space for your luggage. Where possible, they have made shelves, but still there is very little room. Overall, the rooms are clean and the beds comfortable. Bed linen is provided and included in the price. There are no lockers in the rooms, but the rooms can be locked.
There are shared bathrooms in the hallway. The showers have a few hooks, but other than that there's little space for clothes and no shelves for shampoo or soap. The bathrooms are cleaned in the morning, but can get quite dirty during the day, depending on the people around.
Common Spaces
On arrival in the hostel, you enter through the outdoor deck. This nice patio is next to a bigger road, but it still makes a good place when the weather is nice. The reception is in the same area as the kitchen and dining table. Even though the common areas look nice at first sight, it all is a bit messy and slightly dirty. The reception looks like organized chaos and the kitchen is just not very clean. Breakfast is included and consists of cereal, milk, bread, and jam. It is served from 8 a.m., but only after the receptionist has cleaned the kitchen first.
There is also a TV room, which has DVDs and a book exchange. The same chaos occurs here, with DVDs everywhere -- except in their cases. The TV room has comfortable couches and makes a great place for a drink in the evening. There is also laundry available against a fee and they offer free unlimited Wi-Fi, although it's very unstable and slow.
The atmosphere in this hostel is very social. There are some long-term guests, but they are very inclusive. In the weekends it can get quite crazy, so don't go here if you are looking for peace and quiet. The crowd here is quite young -- expect mostly backpackers who are on a gap year after high school.
Summary
Worldwide Backpackers makes a great hostel if you are looking to meet new people and party. It is not the cleanest, but the location and social atmosphere make up for that.
by Paulien
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
2016-02-06
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Map
(Location is approximate. You may need to pan/move to find "Worldwide Backpackers" at 291 The Terrace.)
Location/Contact
- Address
- 291 The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand
- Coordinates
- -41.291192, 174.771048 (accuracy not guaranteed)
- Location
-
- Website
- www.worldwidenz.co.nz
- Telephone
- +64 4 802 5590
- Fax
- +64 4 802 5591
To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Correction Form.
How is Worldwide Backpackers rated on other websites?
| Cleanliness | Staff | Location | Atmosphere | Security | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostelworld |
47%
|
67%
|
60%
|
60%
|
||
| HostelBookers |
67%
|
77%
|
67%
|
73%
|
||
| HostelsClub |
Not listed on HostelsClub.
|
|||||
| Hostels.com |
53%
|
73%
|
60%
|
62%
|
||
| Priceline |
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
71%
|
||
| Average |
56%
|
72%
|
62%
|
67%
|
||
Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
DO NOT STAY HERE IF YOU WANT TO SLEEP!
Booked the queen and got the double. The double room's door is directly on to the outdoor smoking area allowing you the opportunity to share other guests smoke and conversation into the early hours whether you want to or not. If you are looking for any semblance of privacy do not stay here.
Simon
(British)
2011-04-08
What a great place!!!
Stayed here for three weeks after only intending to stay two nights. This place has a great atmosphere and the staff are very welcoming and would do anything to help. The building is historic and one of the originals in Wellington which adds to its character. I found the place to be very clean, beds comfy, and other guests friendly and welcoming. I'll be back, for sure.
Xavier Spain
(Spain)
2010-05-15
My new zealand home
For anyone wanting to instantly be welcomed into a great group of people from around the world, WWB is for you. There was a great mix of both long termers and short termers to keep things fun and interesting. When I stayed, there was always something going on. By far, the best hostel I've stayed at in NZ. It really does feel like home.
Elaine
(Canada)
2009-12-26
Extremely poor
We arrived late at night and our room was by the sidewalk with a bed and a hole in the wall where the heater is and a board propped in front of it. The sheets and bedspread were threadbare and I am not sure how clean. Outside/inside was jammed with people drinking (free wine)/partying. The place was filthy in/out. We changed our minds. we were pointed to a phone that wasn't there if we wanted to do something different. Absolutely no help and staff left. We did find another hotel. Called the owner the next day to get a refund for the second night. The only way that I could get it back was if I personally came back, picked up the cash. Extremely rude, hung up on me twice. Would not ever recommend this place to anyone. Staff extremely rude, place filthy, very noisy because of the partying.
Jocelyne
(USA)
2009-11-26
Give it a big miss!
Spent two nights at this hostel which had been described as boutique in an advertisement. This place is not boutique. It is bottom of the range accommodation. Showers and toilets unclean, noisy at night due to the partying on front veranda and other guests slamming doors (bed shakes with the reverberations!), have to push your way through the partying to get to door, rooms small, thin and washed out sheets and duvet cover, rooms so small you could not swing a cat. However, if you want free internet, breakfast, and are not fussed about hygiene this may be the place for you. TV room couldnt be used for watching TV as randoms sleep on the sofas etc in sleeping bags -- not sure if they are paying guests! I do not recommend this place to anyone. there was a mum and baby there last night.
Maria
(New Zealand)
2009-09-26
Just been refused a room because we have a baby. We've been backpacking a lot and more specifically in New Zealand these months and it never happened.
A guy snogging his girlfriend said a backpacker is not a proper place for a baby (I think he was kind of close from being one himself). Very surprised I'm a party animal too but know how to deal with living in a community. Please don't go there, lack of management.
Cyrils
(French)
2009-03-25
I stayed in this hostel in January, 2002 and somebody staying in my room actually did vomit right outside the bedroom door while on one of his many trips to the bathroom that night. He was fined $50 and I, along with my roommates received a crate of beer from one of the staff members as "compensation."
Tricia
2006-11-23
Second time I've stayed there and the last time I will. Unless you want to stay in a party house -- look elsewhere. Noisy drunk people everywhere and management are either condoning it or not around. Stayed two nights and couldnt believe the difference from our first visit about five to seven years ago. if it was advertised correctly it should say 'party house.' When other guests are running around yelling and screaming and you hear girls saying they think they are going to vomit outside your room it sort of loses its appeal. The doorbell rings all the time when the drinking is happening which makes you wonder how secure the place is. Another guest (not with us) had to take a sleeping pill to get sleep. Never again!
anon
2006-10-01
More reviews...
Rate Worldwide Backpackers
Have you stayed at this accommodation? Please submit your rating and review.
(Didn't find the hostel you're looking for?
See all 14 Wellington hostels.)