The Brownston Hostel — Hotel in South Island

This place is a hostel and therefore is mainly for people on a budget and traveling - backpackers, bicyclists, etc.

Rooms are clean, but no TV, and you have to ask for a hair dryer at reception if you want one. They have free wifi, and a large laundry room to do washes.

The main advantage of this place is that it is next door to a supermarket and walking distance to the lake and lots of restaurants and shops.

Some rooms even have some views of a little of the lake!

It's about an hour and 15 min north of Queenstown which is a much bigger town and much busier with more things to do. My wife likes it more than I do and I like Wanaka more than she does.

The drive to there is a lot of curved, many you have to do 15 KPH - hairpin turns on the way down the mountain toward Queenstown - not for those who are squeamish or afraid of...

The Brownston was my first hostel experience and greatly exceeded my expectations. The rooms are clean and suited for 3 people so you don’t have to worry about a lack of personal space. Towels for showering provided upon arrival, laundry facilities available, lots of bathroom and shower cubicles, spacious TV and breakout rooms, and cooking utensils provided in the shared kitchen. The hostel is also within walking distance to a shopping centre, supermarket, cinema and cafes/restaurants. My only criticisms are that it was very hot in my room during the day and there was no aircon system to adjust the temperature. The storage for luggage/bags after checkout is also out in the open near the reception desk, I’d have preferred a bit more security for my valuables. Overall, I’m happy to report that I...

Absolutely loved it here! The staff are super friendly and welcoming and we were able to check in early because our room was ready. Excellent shower and very comfortable bed with a set of drawers in the room so you can actually unpack! The amenities are fabulous... Comfy couches all over the place, a massive smart TV in the lounge plus one in the kitchen/dining/social room. Well appointed chill out room with tea and coffee supplied. Fantastic kitchen with gas hobs, microwaves, air fryer, oven, toastie maker. All the pots, pans and cooking utensils you could ever need. Plenty of crockery and cutlery. Ample comfortable tables and chairs. It's a large hostel with quite a capacity, but we never felt crowded or overwhelmed by people. Would stay again in a...