Raglan Backpackers, Surf, Kayak, Paddle Board Hire & Waterfront Lodge — Hotel in North Island

Has a lot of potential with quirky design ideas but wouldn't stay again. Wanted to leave as soon as arrived. Place doesn't hire a cleaner, seems other backpackers staying there attempt cleaning but don't know what they're doing and no cares given by owner to check. Staff boom their music and shout and sing like they own they own the place making guest feel like an imposition. Black mould in showers, on ceilings, soap scum around all taps indicating they're never cleaned properly. Icky bathrooms with dirty walls, kind of place you try not to touch anything. No thought to use of facilities, a chair in shower for example, no shelf or hooks though, just balance everything on the chair. Everyone uses same wet towel to dry hands. Towel on floor under rubber bath mat for some reason, never seen that before. Rooms are cheerless, concrete floors, window latches broken so some don't close properly. Linen provided but no top sheet which should be used where multiple people are using the blankets, and didn't see any duvets being changed, of which some are stained. Room not sufficiently clean either with hair ties under bed from previous guests and sand all over heater - at least theres a good heater. Spa is at best luke warm, got cold using it. No staff after 5pm supervising drunks some nights. Fortunately everyone obeys 10pm quiet time. Sign up allowing skinny dipping in spa - for real? Music booming from night club most nights so loud it vibrated in our head and prevented sleep. Why not write to the council about that? Probably because no cares given for paying customers. Reception closed during check out for staff meeting some days, who does that, just another message that guests are inconvenient. As said really great potential and location but not professionally run with focus not on guest experience. Hire a cleaner and consider a manager, or some training to get the best out of this otherwise...

I spend 3 nights at the hostel and it took me some time to think about how to rate this place.

If you are young, like to mingle, party, drink and chat until midnight, like to kayak, surf, swim, slack line, spend your afternoon at the beach, this is the place to go! The vibe in the house and the garden in the middle is really nice and laid back. They have hammocks and a hot tub, many books to borrow and a shared kitchen with everything in it. It is super close to the water, close to the centre of raglan and the people who work (and live) there are all super social and kind.

So why only 3 stars you may ask? 1. I slept on the “city” side. And although everyone stills to the rules of being quite after 10pm in the hostel, I never experienced this much noise. You can hear the people at the parking lot and outside the hostel Talking as if they are standing right next to your head and it made it very hard to get a night of rest. If you are someone who likes to stay up late it is probably not a problem 2. The club is nearby and I could feel the beat of the music in my body while trying to sleep. It kept on going until the middle of the night. I have earplugs to sleep and they didn’t help at all! So I would check the program of the club before booking. The room was very damp and warm and there was mould on the curtains that aren’t very healthy to sleep next to. Nothing that could be fixed right then and there ofcourse but maybe a good idea to change them this summer?!.

I really enjoyed the kayaking towards Rock-it Kitchen and back! I can highly recommend going there for lunch if the tide is right for you. (Has to...

My partner and I spent our first night in a private room. Upon arrival, the guy helping us mentioned he was just finishing the room up, showed us to it and quickly jumped in to give it a quick vacuum, and left us to it. It was quite obvious he hadn’t started vacuuming beforehand as there was loads of hair on the one side of the floor which was disgusting. We looked past it as we are pretty easy going, but we definitely would’ve preferred if he was just honest and said it wasn’t quite ready rather than half a**ing a vacuum. We spent the next few nights in a 3 share which was surprisingly much cozier than the private room. The lounge areas were great, kitchen was very clean and well equipped which was nice. The hot tub was nice but wasn’t the cleanest. When leaving, we asked for proof of address as setting up bank in NZ has been a nightmare. The guy at the front desk said forsure, just email and we’ll get it to you guys. After a week of back and fourth emailing we were told “no, it’s only for guests who are staying here.” We know they don’t have to do that for us at all, but maybe don’t say you can help us in the first place then! Overall a pretty neutral experience, I would stay again if I had to, if you’re in Raglan I’m sure you’ll...