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Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers
102 Albert Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
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Avg. $59 /night, 1/17 - 1/18
$73
per night
$65
per night
$57
per night
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About
#41 of 41 hostels in Auckland Central
Location
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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
Languages Spoken
English, French, Arabic, Chinese and 5 more
Property amenities
Parking
Wifi
Coffee shop
Taxi service
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Express check-in / check-out
Paid wifi
Vending machine
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
Shared kitchen
Self-serve laundry
Location
102 Albert Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
Getting there
Great for walkers
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: 100 out of 100
100
Auckland Intl Airport
18.4 km•
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404 Restaurants
within 0.5 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
Don’t stay in this hostel even though it’s the cheapest around!!
We had to stay here because our old hostel was fully booked (Attic backpackers, waaay better !!!)
It’s really disgusting everywhere (food all over the floor and elevator)
The beds were broken and they fixed a whole dorm bed at 10pm when we wanted to sleep!
There were people eating in the room and the smell was disgusting. When we asked if they can please eat outside, because it was 1100 and we wanted to sleep, they said really rude that we should get a private room.
Maybe the hostel needs to make rules that people can not eat in the rooms. When we said that to the reception, they said that people come from different culture and they can not do anything about it. Well, in other hostels they have rules to not eat in the room. So yes you can do something about it and make that rule as well!
The showers are freezing cold
The kitchen is too small and no storage in the fridge.
Wifi is only available at reception and not even working.
We had the feeling the reception doesn’t take our complaints serious. They also said that this hostel is the cheapest around. That’s true but that doesn’t mean that it has to be dirty???
We had to stay here because our old hostel was fully booked (Attic backpackers, waaay better !!!)
It’s really disgusting everywhere (food all over the floor and elevator)
The beds were broken and they fixed a whole dorm bed at 10pm when we wanted to sleep!
There were people eating in the room and the smell was disgusting. When we asked if they can please eat outside, because it was 1100 and we wanted to sleep, they said really rude that we should get a private room.
Maybe the hostel needs to make rules that people can not eat in the rooms. When we said that to the reception, they said that people come from different culture and they can not do anything about it. Well, in other hostels they have rules to not eat in the room. So yes you can do something about it and make that rule as well!
The showers are freezing cold
The kitchen is too small and no storage in the fridge.
Wifi is only available at reception and not even working.
We had the feeling the reception doesn’t take our complaints serious. They also said that this hostel is the cheapest around. That’s true but that doesn’t mean that it has to be dirty???
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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.
We were planning to spend 2 night in this accommodation. The first night, most of the people in our room kept going in and out all the night until 4:06 in the morning. The the first ones woke up 6:30 , then 8:30 so we could sleep only 2h and a half, plus may be one our in the morning. Plus it was a mess inside, difficult to cross the room at night, smell of shoes and socks, horrible !!! No curtains on the windows, so there is light all the night. The check out is 10 Am so you can even got some sleep back in the morning otherwise, you loose your deposit or they might keep your passport until you pay extra money. The check in is 1 AM, but the staff came 9:30 to take the covers. Dirty toilets. We decided to leave the next morning to another place.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: Dont go into this hotel if you have a jet lag, you will never sleep !!!
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.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
Rip off for what you get, staff very rude and asked to have my passport over night which i’ve never been asked for in other hostels. It smelt very odd almost like urine. Was given a key even though all rooms were unlocked, beds were very uncomfortable and dorms very noisy. someone started making food in my dorm at about 12 at night so had to put up with the smell of that! toilets were dirty and if your traveling solo especially as a female i felt very uncomfortable, lots of men stood outside drinking and looking people up and down- felt very scared. I was asked if i had brought my pillow case down when i checked out which i hadn’t been asked to do the night before the woman then proceeded to roll her eyes at me and then huffed. Personally would have preferred to stay in a tent than ever go back here. only helpful thing was the free wifi, other than that it was probably the worst hostel i’ve ever stayed in, very dirty and rude staff.
Rip off for what you get, staff very rude and asked to have my passport over night which i’ve never been asked for in other hostels. It smelt very odd almost like urine. Was given a key even though all rooms were unlocked, beds were very uncomfortable and dorms very noisy. someone started making food in my dorm at about 12 at night so had to put up with the smell of that! toilets were dirty and if your traveling solo especially as a female i felt very uncomfortable, lots of men stood outside drinking and looking people up and down- felt very scared. I was asked if i had brought my pillow case down when i checked out which i hadn’t been asked to do the night before the woman then proceeded to roll her eyes at me and then huffed. Personally would have preferred to stay in a tent than ever go back here. only helpful thing was the free wifi, other than that it was probably the worst hostel i’ve ever stayed in, very dirty and rude staff.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: AVOID WORST HOSTEL IVE STAYED IN
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.
In hindsight I will be reading reviews from now on because it was filthy. I can’t even give this -10 stars which it should be. We booked a room with an ensuite they didn’t have any gave us a noodle box with no ventilation except a hole in the floor! There was vomit on the walls and the door, crumbs on the side table that looked like it was picked up off the side streets of Dunedin. Walked in elevator wasn’t working smelt disgusting. I emailed the hostel with photos of the room and they came back with “In our records it shows it had been cleaned and if it was not to your satisfaction then we are more than happy to give you two nights free accommodation with us”. First of all if you call vomit on the walls sanitary and your level of cleanliness you should not be in this industry. Secondly why would I want to stay there again when the first impression we get is holy god this room is atrocious has this even been cleaned! Do not stay here.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip 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.
I regretted not checking the reviews before I booked here. I’ve stayed in a lot of cheap accommodation but like everyone has stated below, this place is terrible. Damaged walls, stained sheets, carpet that has never had a vacuum in its life. Was on level 3 and could smell burning toast from the basement kitchen. (Who’s puts a kitchen in the basement?). Honestly, the reason why no has any photos up of this place is because you’re in such a hurry to leave it doesn’t even cross your mind.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip 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.
" Surf ' N' Snow " Backpackers is situated in prime downtown Auckland on Albert Street just across the Sky Tower situated on d Federal Street.The entire "Armishaws Building" was leased by " Surf ' N' Snow " backpackers whose proprietor was a Japanese ,a bluest of blue chip piece of property in one of the World's costliest city's. This is also one of the cheapest Backpacker hostels in Prime Downtown Auckland with a majority of Auckland's prime sight-seeing locales within walking distance from this hostel. A excellent reception lounge and the staff extremely helpful. Excellent Free WiFi system. Toilets and showers are reasonably well maintained and definitely worth the rentals charged. Countdown Supermarket, ideal modestly priced supermarket is a short walk from the hostel which also has a large pantry and fridge along with cooking appliances .
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Date of stay: March 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 will try to be as constructive as possible with my review, but before all that, I will say this was probably the worst hostel I have ever stayed in! If I could give it zero stars, I would.
I have stayed in many hostels around the world, and I understand that not all hostels are perfect. You get what you pay for with hostels. But I've never stayed in a hostel so bad that I checked out 2 days early!
The roof of the rooms was absolutely disgusting to look at. The ensuite bathroom was filthy as well. I arrived late in the evening on my 1st night, and there wasn't even toilet paper in the bathroom! I had 2 horrible nights of sleep on a horrible mattress, a wafer thin pillow, and a blanket that you wouldn't throw over the back of a couch! On my last night, I actually had to wear a hoodie to keep warm! And when you climbed into the top bunk, if there wasn't somebody lying in the bottom bunk, the bunk beds nearly leaned over! Not exactly safe! You couldn't relax on the bed either it was so uncomfortable!
There is no breakfast provided! At the very least, the most basic of hostels will provide cereal and toast! Not here, unfortunately. There are only plugs on the bottom half of the rooms as well, which means you have to plug your devices into a plug on the floor in the middle of the room! In a room full of strangers!
And while there are lockers available, they're light, so if someone wanted to pick it up and steal it, they could.
A few tips for this hostel:
1: Comfortable mattresses, proper sheets and duvets, and proper pillows.
2: Deep clean the rooms every so often.
3: Charging points that are easily accessible to people on top and bottom bunks.
4: No lights out at 10 pm! While this didn't affect me as I stayed away from the hostel as long as possible until I wanted to go to bed, lights out at 10pm is a load of b******s! Remember, it's a room full of adults.
5: Clean the communal bathrooms and showers! They weren't exactly the cleanest places in the world. Do a deep clean on them every so often. And fix some of the doors on the communal toilets because some of them don't lock.
0/10 guys, unfortunately. This place really needs to get its act together.
I have stayed in many hostels around the world, and I understand that not all hostels are perfect. You get what you pay for with hostels. But I've never stayed in a hostel so bad that I checked out 2 days early!
The roof of the rooms was absolutely disgusting to look at. The ensuite bathroom was filthy as well. I arrived late in the evening on my 1st night, and there wasn't even toilet paper in the bathroom! I had 2 horrible nights of sleep on a horrible mattress, a wafer thin pillow, and a blanket that you wouldn't throw over the back of a couch! On my last night, I actually had to wear a hoodie to keep warm! And when you climbed into the top bunk, if there wasn't somebody lying in the bottom bunk, the bunk beds nearly leaned over! Not exactly safe! You couldn't relax on the bed either it was so uncomfortable!
There is no breakfast provided! At the very least, the most basic of hostels will provide cereal and toast! Not here, unfortunately. There are only plugs on the bottom half of the rooms as well, which means you have to plug your devices into a plug on the floor in the middle of the room! In a room full of strangers!
And while there are lockers available, they're light, so if someone wanted to pick it up and steal it, they could.
A few tips for this hostel:
1: Comfortable mattresses, proper sheets and duvets, and proper pillows.
2: Deep clean the rooms every so often.
3: Charging points that are easily accessible to people on top and bottom bunks.
4: No lights out at 10 pm! While this didn't affect me as I stayed away from the hostel as long as possible until I wanted to go to bed, lights out at 10pm is a load of b******s! Remember, it's a room full of adults.
5: Clean the communal bathrooms and showers! They weren't exactly the cleanest places in the world. Do a deep clean on them every so often. And fix some of the doors on the communal toilets because some of them don't lock.
0/10 guys, unfortunately. This place really needs to get its act together.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip 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.
I stayed at this backpacker 5 years ago.I was turned away stating that I do not have good behaviour history...even after 5 years....I took my bags and left..But there is one Bangladeshi manager with White hair and glasses who shamelessly looted me of $62 booking money stating that due to my past behaviour 5 years ago he cannot refund me my money.
It says clearly on the website that there is free cancellation.
The hostel is struggling due to Covid and they are desperate for looting money.
Thick skinned fellow openly saying he will eat out of my money due to my past behaviour.
Shameless behaviour...The reviews about this backpacker are horrible.
Third world fellow from Bangladesh needs to be deported for looting behaviour.
Please stay away
It says clearly on the website that there is free cancellation.
The hostel is struggling due to Covid and they are desperate for looting money.
Thick skinned fellow openly saying he will eat out of my money due to my past behaviour.
Shameless behaviour...The reviews about this backpacker are horrible.
Third world fellow from Bangladesh needs to be deported for looting behaviour.
Please stay away
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Date of stay: April 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 changed our plans and booked this place for two nights as our other hotel couldn’t extend our booking. We checked in and everything seemed sort of normal. Went down to eat our lunch in the kitchen (you can’t eat in your room) and the kitchen was disgustingly dirty. We had to look at either our food or each other so we could get the food down. Every corner you looked was awful it just got worse and worse. The room we booked was private and it was small with the bare minimum bedding (which ok you get what you pay for). The bathrooms were extremely dirty, hair everywhere, mould and an awful smell. There wasn’t even a fire alarm in our room…it had been ripped out.
As soon as we’d finished our lunch we grabbed our things and left. Only took 1 photo but look at the other photos on trip advisor and you’ll see what I mean.
As soon as we’d finished our lunch we grabbed our things and left. Only took 1 photo but look at the other photos on trip advisor and you’ll see what I mean.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Avoid unless you’re down to stay in gross conditions
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.
Perfect for a little overnight stay.
Reception was a nice guy whom gave us a good tip for the best shower and did not disappoint.
My dorm was mixed and I had a great sleep, apart from the noise on the street as it was a Saturday night and the window was slightly ajar and could not close.
My Amigos Room in 216 was a mixed 12 bedder that hosted mostly long termers. The room was quite dark and not very well ventilated and you could hear the water running through the pipes throughout the day and night. For an individual night it was fine, however I would not recommend a long-term stay. Location was central and near a shopping mall, groceries and a few local pubs. It was just off the bus route which made it convenient to get to.
The overall appearance was rather dirty and all it needed was a decent vacuum. All in all, if I hadn’t had slept in the bushes the previous night at the airport I don’t think this hostel stay would’ve been as good
Reception was a nice guy whom gave us a good tip for the best shower and did not disappoint.
My dorm was mixed and I had a great sleep, apart from the noise on the street as it was a Saturday night and the window was slightly ajar and could not close.
My Amigos Room in 216 was a mixed 12 bedder that hosted mostly long termers. The room was quite dark and not very well ventilated and you could hear the water running through the pipes throughout the day and night. For an individual night it was fine, however I would not recommend a long-term stay. Location was central and near a shopping mall, groceries and a few local pubs. It was just off the bus route which made it convenient to get to.
The overall appearance was rather dirty and all it needed was a decent vacuum. All in all, if I hadn’t had slept in the bushes the previous night at the airport I don’t think this hostel stay would’ve been as good
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022Trip 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.
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PRICE RANGE
$45 - $78 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
surf `n` snow backpackers hotel auckland central
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandAucklandAuckland Central
NUMBER OF ROOMS
50
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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Frequently Asked Questions about Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include Escapade NZ (0.2 km), Great Escape (0.3 km), and Escape Masters (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include paid wifi, self serve laundry, and baggage storage.
What are some restaurants close to Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Grove, Culprit., and Cooke's.
Is Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.3 km away from the centre of Auckland Central.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, French, German, Chinese, Portuguese, Hindi, and Japanese.
Are there any historical sites close to Surf 'N' Snow Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Parnell (2.1 km), Eden Park (3.4 km), and Eden Garden (3.2 km).