BUG Review
Crank Backpackers (formerly Base Backpackers) is in the city centre and is clean and well-looked after, sharing a building with a climbing wall and cinema. The kitchen is small but very nicely appointed, and a common room looks directly out onto the climbing wall. The familiar Base red colour scheme is apparent, as are its Sanctuary girls-only dorm rooms featuring fluffy towels and bath products. Beds are fully made-up, and some of the dorm rooms have big windows over the city below. It’s a nice enough place, if a bit on the sterile side. One quirk is that there are ramps between floors instead of stairs; apparently the building used to be a shopping centre.
Pros:
Very central and secure
Cons:
Can get a bit noisy
Amaru
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(5)
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(4)
Ideally located, close to the city center and the Polynesian Spa.
Has it's own bar and also a climb wall. To enter the dorm areas a code has to be entered so it feels quite safe.I stayed in a double room with ensuite and it was clean, comfortable and spacious.The only bad thing about it is that it can be quite noisy due to it's own bar and the bar next door (even though there is an alley in between).
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2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 12208)
Great staff, very clean and welcoming, September 14, 2005
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n/a
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Anonymous
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(5)
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(5)
Base Rotorua is a great place to stay with great CLEAN facilities and very friendly staff who are helpful and make you feel really welcome. Your not treated like just another backpacker.Will definitely recommend this to all travellers.
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(Review ID: 12209)
Nice rooms but no atmosphere, March 8, 2005
Reviewer:
droodle
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
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(3)
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(3)
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(3)
quite a modern hostel the 4 bed dorms were excellent and 24hr facilities which is important to a night owl like me but as with large hostels not a lot of atmosphere there is a bar next door but there was never more than 5 people in it most head to the lava bar
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4 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 12210)
Good, clean fun, July 23, 2004
Reviewer:
impy78
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
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Maintenance
(5)
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(5)
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(5)
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(5)
This very central hostel is spotlessly clean, has great facilities, (HUGE kitchen, games room, sky tv lounge, cinema, bar, rock climbing wall, cheap laundry, internet with groovy dinghy-type chair).It is literally 2 minutes walk from the bus station, 2 mins from the polynesian spa, 5 mins to blue baths.The staff are not only friendly, rather than the usual gloss over of local attractions, they will go into great depth and give you a multitude of ideas. And they will also tell you about the history of the area.The rooms are spotless (and large), the beds are great, the lounges actually feel like somewhere you can relax in.I can't stress how great this place is. And if you are travelling onward, if you book a room at another base hostel at reception, you get a discount.Great value for money, and after the previous horrid experience at another nasty hostel, this was heavenly.P.S. Remember to fill in the Rotorua scrapbook (usually found in the kitchen)
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(Review ID: 12211)
non-stylish, but very clean and nice, July 10, 2004
Reviewer:
Tobias
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
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(4)
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(4)
This hostel was formerly named "The Wall" - it is still referred to under that name in my Lonely Planet (current edition, September 2002). It is none of those themed hostels, not very much of a family atmosphere, but safe and comfy, clean and good facilities, just as all the other base backpackers outlets that I've seen (Wellington, Auckland). I liked it, and would stay there again. If you prefer a cozy themed hostel with a hot pool and maybe a bit less cleanliness, you might want to stay at Cactus Jacks (spelling?) instead of base backpackers.
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3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 12212)
This place is outstanding, April 5, 2004
Reviewer:
KiwiRob
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
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Maintenance
(5)
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(5)
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(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Base is outstanding, I really enjoyed staying here, any hostel attached to a bar is a pretty good hostel as far as I'm concerned. Apart from the obvious attraction of the bar this place is great, clean tidy, excellent friendly knowledgeable staff, central location, good rooms. This is what all hostels should be like, it's a pity more aren't, not all backpackers want to slum it, we do like a bit of comfort and a hot shower.
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4 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 12213)
This is definitely the best backpackers in rotorua!, April 27, 2002
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Anonymous
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Maintenance
(5)
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(5)
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(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
This is the newest, cleanest, best backpackers i stayed at. The games room on the top floor is excellent, the staff friendly and the atmosphere good. stay here!!!
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8 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 12214)
Brand spanking new, November 29, 2001
Reviewer:
Keri
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
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Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
Great new hostel with indoor rock-climbing facilities (hence "The Wall") and a cool onsite bar. Can be a bit noisy if you're trying to make it an early night
