Skip to main content
  1. Hotel reviews homepage
  2. New Zealand hotel reviews
  3. Bay of Plenty hotel reviews
  4. Rotorua hotel reviews
  5. Reviews of Rotorua Downtown Backpackers

Reviews of Rotorua Downtown Backpackers

1193 Fenton Street, 3010 Rotorua, New Zealand

#40 of 81 hotels in Rotorua

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 189 hostel reviews

7.9

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.2

  • Comfort

    7.9

  • Location

    9.4

  • Facilities

    7.9

  • Staff

    9.0

  • Value for money

    8.4

  • Free WiFi

    9.1

100% verified reviews

Real guests. Real stays. Real opinions.

Read more- opens a dialog box
Write a review

Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 10 May 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 7 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Really friendly staff, they definitly made my whole experience one to remember ❤

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 6 May 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    It was not a very social hostel and there seemed to be a lot of families staying which changed the atmosphere— not bad, just would have been good to know.

    The location was good and the hostel was quiet

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 25 April 2024

    8.0
    ✌️
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    A little dingy in how it felt from the inside

    Loved the location and how everything was in walking distance

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 25 April 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Mattress was a bit worn out: you could feel the mattress springs. And a reading light near the bed would be great!

    Great location in the centre of Rotorua, super friendly staff and the hostel couldn't be cleaner! They are really cleaning all the time! Big kitchen with several microwaves, sinks, stoves, 2 big double doors fridges etc. Really enjoyed my stay here

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 21 April 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Not many tables for eat

    Free coffee & tea Clean Friendly people Area outside Perfect location

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 7 April 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Good Location and regular Backpackers with everything you need.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 26 March 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very small kitchen for the amount of people staying there. Soap not refilled in the ensuite when the beds were changed, so it was empty for a lot of our stay

    Good location and the dorm had an ensuite which is very handy. Beds were comfy.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 18 March 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 10-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Great location Comfy couches in the living room Kitchen always clean

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 March 2024

    7.0
    It was OK.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Could use better lighting in the small sitting area. Could not read my book, which is paper. Also our room was on the main road and the I Windows would not close so we had to move to another room, and fortunately the staff was very helpful I. Doing that.

    Location, access to kitchen and the facilities.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 13 March 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The community area is quiet small, but this helps with meeting new people.

    Super nice staff who make you feel right at home! It is really easy to meet new people. Everybody is really relaxed. The staff cleans the kitchen all the time!

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 6 March 2024

    7.0
    So good booked extra nights
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The Wi-Fi was really bad, had to try and connect to the public Wi-Fi across the street or park the car beside the hostel and use it from the car it just didn’t seem to reach our room, would maybe invest in a Wi-Fi booster for the hostel

    We had the couple room, it was very big, clean and had great big windows. The staff were so lovely and I think that location was so very good, right!

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 29 February 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    it is very clean and organized

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 27 February 2024

    8.0
    Great location and price for budget conscious travellers.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 5 nights

    More common room space, the couches were taken up by more people than there was space and the outside area with bbq was not clean nor appealing to spend time there.

    Location is exceptional, one block from the Information Centre and from the bus stops to go out to Redwoods and Te Puia etc. Not at all noisy which was surprising. Most of the people staying there seemed to be seasonal workers from Germany. The private double room with shared bathroom that we booked was comfortable, clean and the bed was awesome! The kitchen was maybe a little small for the number of people constantly in there but it was maintained clean and well stocked with utensils&pots etc. The free pasta and coffee was helpful for the budget conscious.

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 27 February 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very small kitchen

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 22 February 2024

    8.0
    Fabulous. Really nice staff
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Twin Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing

    Central location

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 19 February 2024

    8.0
    Very recommended!!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No proper indoor dining room.

    Great location, 50 m from the Intercity bus stop. The most clean hostel’s kitchen I have ever seen. Toilets were always clean and available. There is not elevator but the girl at the reception helped me bringing upstairs my very heavy suitcase. Pasta, rice, salt, coffee and tea, free to use.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 February 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    All good

    Great

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 11 February 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Our room had no windows that could open and could become very warm on some days. Showers were a little bit low for most people.

    Staff was friendly and helpfull. The free pasta and rice are nice although the kitchen is sometimes a bit crowded. Overall felt really goof staying here.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 5 February 2024

    9.0
    For a nice stay with nice people this is the place. But be a light packer!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    I believe the owner of this hostel is a traveler who has spent time in his own hostel. The lockers in the room were a joke, very small and rusty inside. There wasn’t even a shelf near the bed. Everything was on the floor.

    The staff was helpful, happy, and hardworking. And the people staying there were all kind, considerate, and quiet. The kitchen had everything, even an air fryer!!

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 2 February 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Female Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Perhaps it gets too crowded downstairs

    Amazing staff (shout out to Celine who is amazing!) and good location

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 31 January 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No real tabes to sit and eat.

    Chill music. Charging stations for phones etc. Free pasta and rice for guests. Nice staff.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 30 January 2024

    9.0
    Very central
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Close to bus stop, central, clean, good kitchen, friendly staff, comfy beds

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 27 January 2024

    7.0
    Good for a small amount of time
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    There needs to be 2 hand soap dispensers in the bathrooms as people are forever in each other’s way when trying to wash hands. The kitchen isn’t big enough for the amount of guests, needs more burners. Shower curtains are a little grimey.

    Great location, nice private rooms. Friendly staff and good kitchen equipment (albeit a small kitchen).

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 25 January 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Gets too hot in the room in a summer day with only one fan for 8 people

    Near city centre so very handy

    Stayed in December 2023

Showing 1 – 25

We Price Match
We Price Match
Low rates • No booking fees • Find cheaper? We'll refund the difference!

Guests also reviewed these properties: