Stewart Island Backpackers
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Stewart Island Backpackers
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About
#1 of 1 hostel in Oban
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Conveniently situated in the heart of Halfmoon Bay. No bunk beds and a maximum of 4 people per dorm room. A communal kitchen and lounge, shared toilets and showers We offer: Recycling Pool Table Well-stocked kitchen Laundry, Dryer Outside clothesline FREE WIFI vouchers BOOKS & JIGSAWS FREE BBQ use FREE luggage storage FREE Hairdryer
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Billiards
Board games / puzzles
Books, DVDs, music for children
Highchairs available
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Street parking
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Family
Location
18 Ayr Street, Oban, Stewart Island 9818 New Zealand
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 74 out of 100
74
10 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews
Overall, a fantastic place to stay! Whether you're a backpacker or just a budget traveler, this is a great hostel. The common area was large with ample seating and power plugs. The kitchen was extremely well stocked and built to handle the capacity of guests- 3 fridges, multiple sinks, stove tops, microwaves etc. Shelves upon shelves full of cutlery, crockery, pots, pans, cups, and more to use! And I also appreciated the designated free food space that cultivated a very communal and warm environment. The staff at reception and around the accommodation were all so great and kind and friendly. There were tons of pamphlets and informational posters around about happenings in Oban, recent kiwi sightings, trail info, and more. Plenty of bathrooms. Luggage storage available. Close walk to town and to many nearby walking/hiking trails. The beds were comfy and had plenty of blankets if it got cold. There wasn't a lot of space for belongings (one coat hook per bed...that's it). Walls were thin enough that I could hear someone snoring in one of the neighboring rooms. Bring ear plugs if you're a light sleeper! Excellent place for anyone visiting Stewart Island.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am a solo traveller, and I had a great experience staying at the Stewart Island Backpackers for 9 nights.
The crew are lovely people, very helpful and there's always someone on site for if you need them.
Central location to town (5min walk from ferry terminal), Golden bay wharf (swimming! and Ulva island ferry), the rugby grounds (kiwi spotting!) and the Kai cart (cod!).
I stayed in my tent on the backpacker grounds, plenty of space and nice flat grass surrounded by native bush.
The kitchen was well equipped with plenty of fridge space, cooking space (gas hobs) and utensils. The lounge is cosy and pool table is a nice touch! The facilities are set out in such a way that you can be social and meet people (my kinda thing) or keep to yourself. My experience was that the guests were very respectful of each other and not too noisy, but be aware most people are down there to go hiking so of course there will be some early risers. Bring ear plugs if that's not you.
Daily cleaning meant the kitchen and bathroom were always in a presentable state.
Basic, but clean, homely and has what you need. I guess the price may seem a bit steep compared to other places around the country, but fees and bills/power/water etc has to be accounted for so I believe they are reasonable.
I will definitely be staying here again when I return. Thanks to Aaron, his whānau and the team (shout out to Tom, u da man) for making me feel so welcome, it was truly a home away from home.
The crew are lovely people, very helpful and there's always someone on site for if you need them.
Central location to town (5min walk from ferry terminal), Golden bay wharf (swimming! and Ulva island ferry), the rugby grounds (kiwi spotting!) and the Kai cart (cod!).
I stayed in my tent on the backpacker grounds, plenty of space and nice flat grass surrounded by native bush.
The kitchen was well equipped with plenty of fridge space, cooking space (gas hobs) and utensils. The lounge is cosy and pool table is a nice touch! The facilities are set out in such a way that you can be social and meet people (my kinda thing) or keep to yourself. My experience was that the guests were very respectful of each other and not too noisy, but be aware most people are down there to go hiking so of course there will be some early risers. Bring ear plugs if that's not you.
Daily cleaning meant the kitchen and bathroom were always in a presentable state.
Basic, but clean, homely and has what you need. I guess the price may seem a bit steep compared to other places around the country, but fees and bills/power/water etc has to be accounted for so I believe they are reasonable.
I will definitely be staying here again when I return. Thanks to Aaron, his whānau and the team (shout out to Tom, u da man) for making me feel so welcome, it was truly a home away from home.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: End of the deck doom rooms would be quieter I'm sure.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Having never stayed at a backpackers place before, I was pleasantly surprised with this option (it was the last place in Oban to have vacancies).
I had a room to myself, although had to share toilets and showers with the other guests, but these were both clean and more than acceptable.
The little room had a comfortable bed and good linen, and caters for the mobile phone generation with two USB points. I didn’t hear any late night noises.
I didn’t use the communal kitchen and lounge, but both looked ok and had cooking and refrigeration facilities.
I had a room to myself, although had to share toilets and showers with the other guests, but these were both clean and more than acceptable.
The little room had a comfortable bed and good linen, and caters for the mobile phone generation with two USB points. I didn’t hear any late night noises.
I didn’t use the communal kitchen and lounge, but both looked ok and had cooking and refrigeration facilities.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent 3 nights at Stewart Island Backpackers. One before our Rakiura tramp and two after. The staff were excellent. Really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. All the facilities were well catered, clean and tidy. We were able to leave our bags and any un-required items in secure storage while we ere tramping, at no charge. But the best bit of the stay was having a resident kiwi that many of us saw after dark. A great stay, with lots of other like minded holiday makers from all walks of life. Such a magical experience. Definitely highly recommended. Mark, Phil, Dylan and Matilda. Nelson, NZ.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Worth staing up until after dark to see the resident kiwis.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stewart Island Backpackers Hostel is AWESOME. The owners are wonderful. When our son failed to see a Kiwi on the only night we had booked, the owners found a way around "no vacancy" in their rooms the second night by finding us a large family tent, sleeping bags, and pads, which we pitched in the very field where Kiwis roam. That night, Aaron insisted on driving us on an excursion to find the elusive Kiwi - at no charge - which ended up becoming a two hour hunt in his Ford Explorer. He wouldn't even accept my offer of gas money. My son saw two Kiwis and for the remainder of that night another ended up roaming around our borrowed tent, singing. The facilities are good and clean, with all you need to cook, clean, etc. The location on the edge of Oban, a block from the beach, is perfect. Great spot owned by great folks.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Great owners who go the extra mile to ensure you have a great stay
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I spent two nights at the backpackers in a twin room. The bed was comfy and the facilities were great. Plenty of toilets, no queues for the showers, large kitchen with lots of plates, pots, cutting boards etc. There are lots of tables and couches in the dining/lounge area so plenty of room for everyone to relax. There are lots of extra little touches too like hot water bottles, daily weather reports on the wall, a kiwi spotting log book, etc. The staff were awesome - very forthcoming with information on kiwi spotting and other attractions, and happy to let people leave bags in a storage room once they check out. It was incredibly cold when I was in Oban but the central heating in the room ensured I was toasty warm, and helped my wet clothes dry fast.
The backpackers is in a great location - a very short walk to the foreshore where you’ll find the Four Square, hotel restaurant, water taxis, travel centre etc. It’s also a short uphill walk to Traill Park where you can spot kiwi at night - and one night I heard the piercing shriek of a kiwi seemingly right outside the backpackers!
The one and only negative about this backpackers is that the walls are super thin so you can hear every little sound in the adjacent rooms. Fortunately most people are there to hike etc so they aren’t up partying all night, but if you did end up in a room next to someone really inconsiderate it would make it hard to sleep if you’re a light sleeper.
The backpackers is in a great location - a very short walk to the foreshore where you’ll find the Four Square, hotel restaurant, water taxis, travel centre etc. It’s also a short uphill walk to Traill Park where you can spot kiwi at night - and one night I heard the piercing shriek of a kiwi seemingly right outside the backpackers!
The one and only negative about this backpackers is that the walls are super thin so you can hear every little sound in the adjacent rooms. Fortunately most people are there to hike etc so they aren’t up partying all night, but if you did end up in a room next to someone really inconsiderate it would make it hard to sleep if you’re a light sleeper.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We enjoyed staying here and soaking under hot water showers after tramping the frigid & muddy Southern Circuit. Great facilities only gripe is that rooms don't have enough (or any) clothes hooks.
Helpful staff nicely changed our booking at the last minute due to gale force weather, no worries!!
Highly recommended.
Helpful staff nicely changed our booking at the last minute due to gale force weather, no worries!!
Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We needed a place to sleep before setting out to complete the Rakiura Great Walk, and were very pleased with this find. Our room was very clean and the bed was comfortable. The kitchen was well set up, and there was plenty of room to eat and relax. The bathrooms were immaculate. The team were all very friendly and welcoming.
Oban is not a large village but the backpackers is very handily situated to all arrival points and other facilities (no hill walking involved).
Oban is not a large village but the backpackers is very handily situated to all arrival points and other facilities (no hill walking involved).
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff were incredibly warm and helpful. We had booked during school camp season, thus had to tent but we were given everything we needed to make our stay easy. On our return from the 3day great walk the staff had made sure that the school kids knew to be quiet and give us room to recover. We were offered space to dry out our gear. Even store our stuff after check out time until the boat came on the day we left. I will be making a return in the near future.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Book well ahead
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovely friendly people.
First off if you want a room I’d advice booking a few weeks in advance especially around the busy school holidays etc .
every room was booked so we booked a tent spot. we have a tent so why not!
After the first night we realised it may be a bit cold so the lady carol was super helpful and offered us some extra blankets
After staying in the tent 2 nights one the rooms became available and carol offered it to us and of course we took it.
Thank you so much.
Everyone there was super helpful.
The rooms are basic but have everything you need no complaints from me anyways !
They have a pool table and heaps of games for rainy days.
The kitchen stays open which is nice.
Most of the showers work really well with a great pressure.
Although there is one that isn’t the best so if you get that one try another one a different day hahah !
Honestly couldn’t have asked for nicer hosts
Highly recommended getting up early and watching the sunrise from the Oban sign hut down the road
Last photo is from a walk up the hill past 4 square think it’s called bathers beach
First off if you want a room I’d advice booking a few weeks in advance especially around the busy school holidays etc .
every room was booked so we booked a tent spot. we have a tent so why not!
After the first night we realised it may be a bit cold so the lady carol was super helpful and offered us some extra blankets
After staying in the tent 2 nights one the rooms became available and carol offered it to us and of course we took it.
Thank you so much.
Everyone there was super helpful.
The rooms are basic but have everything you need no complaints from me anyways !
They have a pool table and heaps of games for rainy days.
The kitchen stays open which is nice.
Most of the showers work really well with a great pressure.
Although there is one that isn’t the best so if you get that one try another one a different day hahah !
Honestly couldn’t have asked for nicer hosts
Highly recommended getting up early and watching the sunrise from the Oban sign hut down the road
Last photo is from a walk up the hill past 4 square think it’s called bathers beach
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
it is OK. He answers me. Sorry to disturb you.
"Gorgeous food at every cafe and restaurant in town. 4 square has everything you may have forgotten. Part used gas canisters left at bckpcker"Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
stewart island backpackers hotel stewart island
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandSouthland RegionStewart IslandOban
NUMBER OF ROOMS
28
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingSTEWART ISLAND BACKPACKERS | UPDATED 2025 Hostel Reviews (Oban, New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Stewart Island Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to Stewart Island Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include Beaks And Feathers (0.7 km), Ulva Island (3.0 km), and Rakiura Museum (0.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Stewart Island Backpackers?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and laundry service.
What food & drink options are available at Stewart Island Backpackers?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Stewart Island Backpackers?
Yes, free parking and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Stewart Island Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include KaiKart Takeaways, Church Hill Restaurant, and South Sea Hotel dining room and pub.
Are any cleaning services offered at Stewart Island Backpackers?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Are there any historical sites close to Stewart Island Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Bunkhouse Theatre (0.2 km).