Don’t be put off that this is a hostel. This is not just any hostel, this is the Adventure Queenstown hostel, the one that has consistently been voted the best in Oceania. Run by experienced travellers who know from personal experience what visitors need, this accommodation ticks all the boxes – location, comfort and facilities – yet still manages to offer private rooms at NZ$100 per night and dorm beds for a bargain NZ$30.
Terrace view of Queenstown city from Adventure Queenstown HostelPerfectly located
Adventure Queenstown hostel occupies a prime site in Camp Street, right in the heart of Queenstown’s central business district. Just across the street from the Athol Street bus station and a short walk from the many shops, cafes and restaurants Queenstown has to offer, this hostel couldn’t be better situated. An absence of noisy bars and clubs in the immediate vicinity means you are assured a decent night’s sleep to boot. The hostel features a wrap-around balcony terrace with café tables and benches, enabling you to enjoy the views right across town. Watch the world go by on Camp Street or check out the Skyline Gondola as it makes its way up Bob’s Peak all from the comfort of your chair.
Family feel
Adventure Queenstown hostel is small which can accommodate around fifty people at a time. Knowledgeable staff who have travelled extensively themselves are able to offer a level of personal attention that just wouldn’t be possible in a larger place. Nothing is too much trouble, from the regular business of checking you in to helping you access the freebies on offer. As well as the usual towels, luggage storage and printing services, this hostel offers free calls to up to 30 countries. I was a bit sceptical about this offer, thinking that there must be a catch; the guy on reception assured me that there was no catch, I could take the phone back to my room, but could I please return the phone within the half hour? Hearing Mum’s voice for free after being away a while was priceless in more ways than one.
Hostel RoomAdventure Queenstown hostel is for all ages
Older travellers might be a bit dubious about staying in a hostel, worrying that they might be the only person over 25. There’s nothing worse than being Billy-no-mates when the gang’s twenty years younger than you. Adventure Queenstown hostel appeals to a range of ages making everyone feel welcome: solo travellers, families and groups of friends. The rooms are well furnished, with comfortable beds, enough soft furnishings to make the private rooms feel like a boutique hotel rather than a stark hostel and clean, smart bathrooms with decent water pressure.
At the Adventure Queenstown hostel, Dorm rooms also offer decent beds plus little touches that make a lot of difference – having a charging point inside your own locker for example, meaning that you can charge your phone overnight without waking up in the morning and finding it’s gone missing. All guests can borrow a range of items to make their time in Queenstown, New Zealand more enjoyable – from bicycles to explore nearby Lake Wakatipu to electrical items like hairdryers, straighteners and phone chargers. In the evenings, movie nights, quiz nights and a weekly roast are on offer, unless you prefer to curl up in front of the fire with a book of course.
Yes, this is a Queenstown hostel that works hard to make you happy. In fact, the only time you won’t be happy with this hostel is when you have to leave.