60 Tarewa Road, Rotorua Bus 5 Tel (07) 347 0931 Websitewww.kiwipaka.co.nz
BUG review
This hostel is set on large grounds on the other side of Kuirai Park from the centre of town. Accommodation ranges from tent and campervan sites to lodge dorms and private chalets. Rooms were reasonably clean but had clearly seen some wear and tear, as have most of the facilities. There’s a big thermal pool on site, as well as a café and bar. Kitchen facilities were large but not fully equipped; there are barbecues available, but they cost 50c to use. Many large school groups and backpacker buses come through, and it has something of a holiday camp feel to it.
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Price Dorm bed $27 Single room $50 Double/twin room $60-80 Prices are in New Zealand dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
A dirty let down to the good YHA name. Avoid if you value sleep and your belongings. 21 January 2008
Pros:
I'll never have to see it again
Cons:
Dirt, theft, rude staff, worn sheets, noise, broken facilites...
australazier
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 7495)
Second stay in 4 years, still one of the worst. I thought things MUST have improved, but not.The bins overflow, there are just two fridges, one of which is warm inside, and no freezer. 2 of the 6 cookers weren't working and if you want cutlery, you have to wait in line for a pack which you have to return immediately. The polyester sheets have holes in, the "chalet" walls are thinner than paper. Add food theft, excessive noise (car horns, puking, etc until about 3am) and rude staff, and you have KiwiPaka. A real let-down to the usually good YHA name.
Bad service killed the experience, customer comes last. 7 January 2007
Pros:
It was easy to find.
Cons:
Worst showers, total lack of respect and customer service.
NZ21215246380
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 1120)
Horrible service and standards. Stayed in a twin private chalet, chalets being the most expensive (assumed best) accommodation on the premises. The shower had no pressure and was either freezing or boiling. I asked the reception staff to fix it. When I returned to the hostel in the evening it wasn't fixed, a lady at reception said she sent the maintenance guy over and the shower's working fine and I just need to learn how to use it. When I said I've been using showers for 25 years she replied she's done her outmost best, that she knows nothing about showers and if the maintenance guy says it's ok there's nothing more she can do (although she never went to check herself). The ceilings are paper thin and sleeping is impossible when people walk or make noise upstairs. The kitchen's much too small for the amount of people staying there, and unlike normal hostels that provide all the utensils and cutlery, you get a tray that you have to pick up and return every time you want to eat something, but, the people at reception will continue answering the phones and doing work on the computer even if you've been standing there for 10 minutes and you were there before the phone rang, they'll just keep answering phone calls and you won't get a chance to speak until the phone stops ringing, which is quite ironic as I've been told to call back later when I originally called to book. I decided not to stay a further night and the staff sneered at me when I was getting my key deposit back. Overall experience much below average compared to most other hostels in NZ, which are great.
Pros:
Decent bar, nice spa pool!
Cons:
Floppy beds and basic rooms
chix
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 579)
I stayed here a few years ago but thought it was a nice enough place. The bar had a decent selection of NZ's finest Monteith's and the tables were slices of tree trunk! Nice spa pool for relaxing in after a hard day's exploring. Stayed in a twin room which was pretty basic but did the job. Possibly a little walk into town but didn't bother me as we'd hired a car. I'd happily stay here again.
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
It was a soulless and dull experience
Justin1
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 36)
Welcome to Butlins.This was a soul-destroying, pile em high, soulless experience masquerading as a modern and efficient chalet-style hostel.It's not as near the town centre as all the guide books state, the reception staff were frosty, the duvet covers and bedsheets were threadbare, a dirty colour, and needed replacing, the room was incredibly small and dark, you had to go outside and down a passageway to find the bathroom (not very pleasant late at night), the on-site breakfast was overpriced, need I go on?Best advice - find somewhere else to stay.
13 of
23 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Melbourne Australia
Wouldn't Go There Again 23 August 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 12237)
After reading these reviews I am some what comforted in the fact that I'm not the only one who's had a bad experience. We did come across young kids hanging around the camp in typical rap like clothes and acting shady and were told that on "weekends" security is there. I don't know how that was meant to comfort us as we were staying during the week! The rooms are aweful and cramped and yes the food is extremely overpriced (perhaps they are taking advantage of the fact that a lot of people won't be able to carry food all the way back to the hostel?) There were a couple of good points like the pool but it's been confirmed to me that you can find hot pools at most of the hostels in Rotorua and at a cheaper price! All in all I wouldn't recommend this place at all!
6 of
15 people found this review helpful
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bluangel_bug02
Vancouver, Canada
Double rooms 12 June 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
bluangel_bug02
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 12238)
My bf and I stayed 2 nights at KiwiPaka this May. We got a double room so I don't know about the dorms. As far as our room went it was pretty basic, a double bed with about 30cm on each side of it and a small table and chair next to the window (basically a bed in a small room.) However it was comfortable and clean, and if you're not spending a lot of time (and don't have too much luggage) the lack of space shouldn't really be an issue. The food at the cafe/bar there is over priced (but this shouldn't be surprising), and they also have a hot pool which is really nice to relax in. The staff when we were there were friendly and helpful, and we booked our zorbing and hobbiton tour through them. As for the gang problem, we were totally unaware of it, we walked around and never once had a problem (the double room did lock so we were never concerned about our belongings being stolen.) The only thing that was a little inconvenient was the closest supermarket was about a 15 min walk from the hostel but nothing major. Over all I would say for us it was a good place, showers/bathrooms were clean/good, and the kitchen we thought was one of the best organized that we had seen. One thing that might have made a difference for us compared to some of the more neg. reviews is that we were there in May a more quieter season (I'm not sure if that would make a difference or not with some of the problems that they had.)
7 of
23 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
UK
god awful 20 April 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 12239)
Iv just returned home to the UK and im now starting to do warning reviews for the worst places i stayed. This is up there with the worst. Nice first impressions. But then you realise that everything is substandard. Poor rooms. Poor facilities. Poor security. Rude management: when we made some complaints to them they just dismissed us outright. like Chris S below we basically got told to go elsewhere. I wonder how they do so well when they keep sending people away? One day it will come back to haunt them.And I am so glad that i didnt realise how bad the threat was from gangs because i would not have felt safe there at night.Maybe this place could start up a new topic... what is the worst YHA around? Kiwi Paka gets my vote. Thinking of it gives me cold sweats!!!
10 of
19 people found this review helpful
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Natalie
UK
Worst hostel ever - especially for security 30 March 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Natalie
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 12240)
Do not stay in this place. I recently stayed there and two Maori teenagers came into our room at 6pm and stole my boyfriends digital camera while we were in there asleep!! Doors do not lock automatically from the outside, I hate to think what would happen if I had been on my own. The rooms are cramped and the bathrooms are no better than a caravan park. It's very strange because their sister YHA in Waitomo was really nice and very secure (you had cards to open the door). That was the reason we stayed there. I wish I had read other people's reviews. It's even worse because the Maori gangs in the area are well known to the police but the security is dire. If you value your belongings definitely stay elsewhere! I would not even give this one star!
13 of
24 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Australia
Worst Hostel EVER! Big theft and Security Problem! 29 March 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 12241)
One thing they don't tell you about when you join this hostel is the problem they have with gangs of theives in that area who literally wait to prey on backpackers. I myself had a stranger come into my room at night whilst asleep to only to awaken with my things stolen.Does this scare me? YES! As it should you. Apparently it's comman knowledge to the police and a lot of the community around that area that these gangs like to steal from the backpackers. Despite this they have the worst security I have ever seen in a Hostel with no self locking doors and windows that you can barely pull shut. (I woke also to find my window pulled open by the theif or theives whom entered my room).As for the place? The rooms are terribly small and cramped. The kitchen is hopeless and the toilets are outside right near where the local gangs hang around at times.YHA should be ashamed of this Hostel!
