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Hanmer Backpackers Reviews

41 Conical Hill Road, Hanmer Springs, Hanmer Springs, New Zealand

Reviews & Ratings Explained

92%Overall Rating

From 27 ratings
  • 90%Character
  • 86%Security
  • 98%Location
  • 91%Staff
  • 90%Atmosphere
  • 96%Cleanliness

The following reviews were submitted by customers who booked in the last 6 months.

The reviews and ratings in the rating box are based on all-time feedback and are the opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up to the minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is. Read our review guidelines »

We now classify our reviewers based on how well travelled they are.

  • Novice Nomad: 1-10 Reviews Added
  • Avid Traveller: 10-20 Reviews Added
  • Globetrotter : 20+ Reviews Added
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97%

We got the private double with ensuite - great room, but it would have been nice to know that there was very limited hot water. We weren't warned, so we didn't monitor ourselves closely enough and one of us ended up having to take a freezing cold shower.

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for taking the time to review our hostel. very much appreciated. Great to hear you enjoyed the place. Unfortunately water boilers have a limit to their capacity and when it runs out it will take time to reheat the new water. This is quite normal really. The only way to run out of water is by having extremely long showers or two relatively long showers straight after another. It would have been great if you had notified management at the time. Please notify management at the time when the issue occurs. In the 3 years I have had the hostel we have never had any complaints about the hot water being limited. I myself have actually lived in that room for 6 months too. Sorry to hear you had to endure a cold shower. That is no fun! Unfortunately there is nothing we can change to this unfortunate situation but we have taken notice of it. Thanks.

93%

It was a cool place to stay, would definitely stay again sometime in the future.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 08 Apr 2012
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Male 18-24
  • (1 review)


93%

Mmmm free icecream :)

  • Novice Nomad
  • 04 Apr 2012
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Female 18-24
  • (1 review)


97%

FREE ICE CREAM! But also a very friendly welcome from Edwin, discounted entry to the thermal pools, and an overall clean, cosy hostel.

  • Avid Traveller
  • 20 Mar 2012
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Male 25-30
  • (16 reviews)


93%

Amazing atmosphere and location. Overall best hostel yet! Loved the free hot coco, fruit and ice cream! Would suggest getting a new mattress in the double room, it was an extremely uncomfortable sleep. Also, quiet hours were not well enforced at all, and we were kept up most of the night.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 17 Mar 2012
  • Anonymous
  • USA
  • Couple 18-24
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
Thanks for your great review. The bed in your room is the next on the hit list for replacement. Interesting enough we get as many complaints as raving reviews about it, which is awkward. Apologies for you being in the group of c'complainants'. Quite hours are enforced, but of course we can not sit up all night to "police". ALWAYS notify management if there is an issue. That is the reason we always inform our guests when we check them in that if there is any issue or problem to buzz us. Buzzer is on the reception desk and we are available 24/7 for our guests. And of course it is always an option to ask the guests who cause the noise directly if they could be quiet first. Come and test our new mattrass/bed in that room in a couple of months.

100%

a lovely clean friendly place full of interesting fellow travellers. great location, peaceful, cosy and homely. more than value for money, top class. i am in my 50's and felt i blended well with the eclectic mix of travellers. my daughter, 18yrs, loved the vibrant friendly mix.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 13 Mar 2012
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Female 41+
  • (1 review)


73%

This hostel is very well located, very clean and lots of character! Only flaw 2toilets in the hostel and bed room n.2 was very uncomfortable.One thing I would complain is the unfortunate owner Edwin Van der something : very unpleasant and stressed, his behavoir and his welcome was not very nice with us, his answers at our suggestion to change room was acid and bossy. We may just meet him in a bad day, so we warmly suggest to him to go to the Spa Pools on those days, relax and take it easy.

Owner Comment (Show)
Thank you for your review. Always appreciated. Apologies if your experience with me was the way you describe. I am surprised why you did you not take up my offer to move to the room upstairs which has a newer bed and a firmer mattrass? If I would go to the pools who would be cleaning your room haha. Btw, please do not act surprised when your room is not ready at 11 AM, three hours before check in time of which you had been informed when you made the booking. Happy travels.

97%

lots of character, friendly staff, clean hostell with a personal touch - recommended

  • Novice Nomad
  • 22 Feb 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Netherlands
  • Female 31-40
  • (5 reviews)


87%

Clean and cosy hostel. Double room was really nice with a view of the mountains through the skylight.


70%

The walls in this hostel are EXTREMELY thin - your stay will be greatly affected by the other guests. The walls are so thin you can hear the people in the next room plug something into the power socket of the neighbouring wall.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 02 Feb 2012
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Female 25-30
  • (1 review)


100%

One of the best hostels over the year of travelling. Great value for money for NZ. Edwin the owner, is a very caring and generous host. Free Ice cream, milk, herbs, coffee etc. As well as a spotlessly clean hostel. Discount for the Springs and very cheap internet (once again by NZ standards!)

  • Globetrotter
  • 14 Jan 2012
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Couple 25-30
  • (56 reviews)


87%

We stayed in the double ensuite and found it fabulous. Very clean and spacious. Will definitely be back and recommend it to others as well! Cheers!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 06 Jan 2012
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Couple 25-30
  • (1 review)


83%

The guy running the place was really negative about his job, about working in the summer, about tourists coming to town in the summer... weird interactions with someone in the hospitality industry! When you greet someone with "what a beautiful day" you don't expect them to say "is it? not for me, I'm working". Suck it up, it's your job.

Owner Comment (Show)
Hi Jo, sorry to read you did not seem to get the fact I was joking around that day and that you interpreted it as if I was being negative or not like my job. I guess Dutch humor is an aquired taste and gets misinterpreted at times. That is the risk I run I guess. Believe me, the very day I stop loving my job you will see a for sale sign on my business. Apologies if it left you with a bad vibe as that is certainly not my intention of course. I hope you enjoyed your stay in beautiful Hanmer Springs nonetheless. Happy travels.

97%

Wonderful hostel. The owner Anton and the staff were warm and friendly. One of the best hostels ever stayed in.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 17 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Male 25-30
  • (1 review)


90%

great backpackers, staff definitely go the extra mile to make sure your stay is comfortable, easy and relaxing

  • Novice Nomad
  • 17 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Female 18-24
  • (1 review)


100%

Lovely friendly place.Spotlessly clean.Edwin seemed to be everywhere at once.A very friendly hardworking host.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 12 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Female 41+
  • (1 review)


100%

Absolutely amazing - friendly caring helpful and just great. I would certainly go back again and I am telling all my friends about it. The owner/operator was an excellent host.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 10 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • New Zealand
  • Female 41+
  • (1 review)


87%

A lovely hostel with lots of character which is what you would expect in Hanmer Springs. Also the location is brilliant. Having hotwater bottles on all the beds is also a lovely homely touch




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