BUG review
This hostel is a centrally located motel-style building. Facilities are limited to a kitchen and a small common area with books, a TV, log fire and great views of the lake and mountains. The dorm rooms have en suite bathrooms and some rooms (on the top floor) have a beautiful mountain view; others (on the ground floor) are less impressive.
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Price Dorm bed $24 Prices are in New Zealand dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Paid $60 to stay in shed with a bed- quite cold and very unsafe. Door locks from outside. Woke up in morning to find that someone had locked us in-severe fire hazard.
Facilties good enough and central to town.
Murray and his team were friendly, we had a good time. 9 November 2006
Pros:
Friendly, relaxed close to town
Cons:
No spa pool to relax after a hard days adventures.
Kiri
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 949)
The owner has been there 12 months , he was helpful in showing us , what are the best value for money tourist attractions. We all had a good time round the BBQ at night. Relaxed, give the new owner another shot, well worth your time.
Kiri NZ
The Owner operator made us feel like family from the start. 4 September 2006
Pros:
Friendly place right next to everything you need in Wanaka
Cons:
no cons
brucem
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 803)
We had the best time in Wanaka at the Matterhorn. Murry the owner provided us with everything we needed and even joined us with some of our activities. The atmosphere we were able to create at the Matterhorn, with its semi-private lounge and kitchen, alowed our team to competed to the best of their abilities as well as encourage team spirit.I would recommed this place to anyone
11 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
New Zealand
Rude new owners - such a pity! 7 September 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 12374)
I too stayed here about three years ago when Nicky and Craig ran the place. They were a fantastic couple, the place was clean and although old, it was bright and happy. I stayed here for 6 weeks back then and had an awesome time. SADLY and proving you can never go back again, I went back to stay again this winter. The woman who ran the place (I dont know if she was the owner or staff) was so incredibly rude, I will never go back again. When my plans changed necessarily (due to work) and I had to leave two nights early she just about had a fit, telling me off (I am a grown up in my mid-30s and a New Zealander!!!) and refusing to refund the money I had paid up front...I told her I'd be happy to pay for the one night I wasn't staying but would have liked the second night back, especially as at this stage I was giving her 48 hours notice. Ridiculous really - I got the feeling she treated all the guests as though they were a nuisance! All I can say is that this person's terrible attitude really soured my happy memories of the place, annoyed me no end and I wouldn't reccomend anyone stay there. I meant to write a review ages ago but it was only reading these other comments that has prompted me to write this. The woman's attitude combined with the fact that the facilities are also getting a little scruffy, makes this a pretty unpleasant prospect. And although the Purple Cow is a little more impersonal, it would be a much better idea to stay somewhere like that!
8 of
9 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
USA
Rudest Staff of any hostel I've ever been 15 May 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 12375)
Please do not stay at this hostel. You are treated like shit. After a long morning hike, we returned to the kitchen to make some food, planning on staying another night. The lady who runs it stormed in and asked us what we were doing there. Like many other hostels I've been to, I said we were using common areas that we paid for. She looked at us like we were stealing everything she had. We were told we had NO MANNERS and got kicked out before we could even tell her we were planning on staying another night (b/c it was convenient not to haul our bags around). I've never been treated like this before and I beg, DO NOT STAY HERE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
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11 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
usa
Very tidy, loved it 25 April 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 12376)
I felt sorry for the lady that works there, as the owner doesn't have anything to do with running the place.The lady had people breaking things, taking stuff, climbing in thru windows.I think the people that are writing bad stuff, got caught and didn't like it, so don't be put off by them.
10 of
10 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
USA
HORRIBLE hostel 22 February 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 12377)
I never review hostels on here, but this experience just prompted me to write and inform others. This is, by far, the worst place I've stayed in my entire Aussie/NZ trip. I stayed at the Matterhorn South hostel with 2 friends earlier this week and had a horrible experience. We had originally booked for three nights. The hostel itself is beautiful, but the owner is just terrible. I should have known when the people outside the hostel guarding their bags (because she refused to store them for two hours) while waiting for the bus told us to run away...fast. We checked in and the owner was incredibly rude. She then showed us around hastily and pointed out the 1000s of "Do Not" do anything at all signs. She then informed us that, when we check out, we would have to check out at 10 and be "off the property entirely" by then. The next morning, one of my friends got into a argument with her because apparently you are not allowed to be ANYWHERE in the hostel from the hours of 10-12 so they can clean. This includes the kitchens, the bathrooms, and your dorm room. My friend wanted to eat her breakfast before leaving so the owner started yelling at her. When I went to cancel our last night because we couldn't take it any more, she accused my friends of stealing her pen. At 9:45 on the morning we checked out, another employee came in as we were cleaning up and packing our stuff, and she harrassed us to get all our stuff off the beds immediately so she could get the sheets to the laundry in time. During the time we were there, 4-5 other people were so disgusted by the owner's attitude that they contemplated or did cancel their reservations and move on. This woman obviously does not repspect backpackers and it's just a mystery why she's running a hostel. LP calls this place "friendly" and it just isn't...at all. This is just too bad because Wanaka has been, by far, the most amazing stop on my South Island trip. Stay at the Purple Cow which is equally as beautfiul but with nice employees. In fact, stay anywhere but the Matterhorn South. Horrible horrible place.
5 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
US
OK, not outstanding 4 January 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 12378)
Good location. Clean room. Had to go outside to use the showers and it was a bit chilly so that was not too good. Didn't use the kitchen so can't review it. Be sure to rent bikes and take a ride around the lake!!
11 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Sarah
UK
Loved it ! 18 November 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Sarah
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 12379)
We stayed here in Nov 2004 and we loved it. The place has a great atmosphere, very good facilities and a fantastic location, check the morning mountain view. We found the owners (Kris and partner) to be very friendly and cheerful. Wanaka itself is beautiful, I'd recommend the river kayak trip too, a gentle float down mystical rivers, beautiful. Oh, and the cinema for the cookies.
1 of
7 people found this review helpful
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Katherine
New Zealand
Sad changes! 26 September 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Katherine
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 12380)
I stayed here 3 years ago for 6 weeks with Nicky and Craig and this was the most awesome hostel.However stayed here last week (Sep 2004) and the place has changed hands - I'm sorry to say that the facilities are getting downright scruffy and the new management were rude and unhelpful.
