Bay Adventurer Backpackers
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Bay Adventurer Backpackers
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About
#9 of 14 hostels in Paihia
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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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, Spanish, Swedish
Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Beach
Bicycle rental
Car hire
24-hour security
BBQ facilities
Street parking
Wifi
Hot bath
Outdoor pool
Fence around pool
Tennis court
Canoeing offsite
Board games / puzzles
Baggage storage
Outdoor furniture
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun loungers / beach chairs
First aid kit
Self-serve laundry
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
26-28 Kings Road, Paihia 0200 New Zealand
Getting there
Good 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: 85 out of 100
85
12 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore 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.
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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.
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.
Traveller rating
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Detailed Reviews
My b/f and I are in our mid twenties and we stayed at the Bay Adventurer for 2 nights in April of 2008. We booked a studio room though the hostel's website. This was the best backpackers we stayed at during our trip in New Zealand.
RECEPTION: No problems here. Our reservation was as we had requested and we actually ended up with a slightly cheaper rate - always a bonus.
ROOM: Great room on ground level. Big, clean, and private. Room had bunk beds (double on bottom single on top type), a sofa, table with two chairs and a kitchette. Kitchette had everything you'd need to prepare meals - stove top, microwave, kettle, etc. Lots of dishes and shelf space. Flat screen TV with thea couple free to air channels. Great for news/weather reports etc.
BATHROOM: Very nice. Clean and large. Nice shower with good pressure. Window and fan.
LOCATION: Great location. Easy walking distance to restaurants, the pier/beach, and a liquor store right on the corner.
OTHER: Did not use the common area so I cannot comment on it other than it looked clean. They also have laundry facilities available and off-street parking. There is a hot-tub and bbq for guest use.
RECEPTION: No problems here. Our reservation was as we had requested and we actually ended up with a slightly cheaper rate - always a bonus.
ROOM: Great room on ground level. Big, clean, and private. Room had bunk beds (double on bottom single on top type), a sofa, table with two chairs and a kitchette. Kitchette had everything you'd need to prepare meals - stove top, microwave, kettle, etc. Lots of dishes and shelf space. Flat screen TV with thea couple free to air channels. Great for news/weather reports etc.
BATHROOM: Very nice. Clean and large. Nice shower with good pressure. Window and fan.
LOCATION: Great location. Easy walking distance to restaurants, the pier/beach, and a liquor store right on the corner.
OTHER: Did not use the common area so I cannot comment on it other than it looked clean. They also have laundry facilities available and off-street parking. There is a hot-tub and bbq for guest use.
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Date of stay: April 2008Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk
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.
WOW! We must say we really enjoyed our stay here. We stayed in a double room and found it was the best hostel accomadation we experienced in NZ. The staff were friendly, but not THE best we'd experience however this wasnt a problem. The kitchen wasnt that great either and I'd seriously recommend they replace their hobs as they dont really get that hot but the atmosphere and area is great. Swimming pool, hot tub, bike and tennis court use are also a bonus!
The hostel was spotless during our stay and remains its standards since it won best BBH hostel in 2005. Keep it up
The hostel was spotless during our stay and remains its standards since it won best BBH hostel in 2005. Keep it up
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Date of stay: December 2006Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Check-in / front desk
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 stayed in a ensuited room, The bed was like a jumping castle (too soft and bouncy) and the pillows were basically too thin (and i know that this could be just a personal thing and it might be ok for others). The room itself was clean and so was the bathroom. We did not use any of the other facilities so I cannot comment on them.
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Date of stay: June 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
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 loved my stay here, it has a good location to the town centre and to the backpacker part of town. Room was great, kitchen was to be expected of a hostel, pool and common areas were good too, but the staff were so amazing. Let us borrow some towels, some salt when we were cooking, such nice people. But especially when friends and I asked at 10:30am what we could do that day because we didn’t have any plans and a lot of tours had left early, and the wonderful woman at the reception/travel desk booked us in for an island cruise and then sunset kayaking, ringing around for us, extending our time on the island, and she got us a great price too. I loved this hostel!
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
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.
Very average hostel completely spoilt by dishonest managment. We were last in the kitchen one night cleaning up and the staff came in to close up. We left a couple of plates and a pan with our groceries to clean up the next morning before checking out. However, by morning someone had done them. On check out we were told they had played the video camera back to see who hadn't finsished washing up (are we school children?). I explained why we had left them and that we were to finish them off the next morning but they said they would have to fine us. I told them that this was disgraceful and that I was not paying.
A week later $50 was taken from my bank account by this hostel. I contacted the trading standards commission in NZ and although they stated that the money should not have been taken without consent they had no power over this sort of issue. They also said we were not the first to complain about money being taken from our bank accounts by this hostel. Maybe this is an issue for the Police.
If you really have to stay here make sure you use a credit card so that you can claim back on the cards insurance scheme if they rip you off. But really, there are much nicer places to stay if you book in time.
To the management: theft aside, I can not understand what sort of business risks losing repeat customers and recommendations, especially in these times were internet review sites are readily used. How desperate are you?
A week later $50 was taken from my bank account by this hostel. I contacted the trading standards commission in NZ and although they stated that the money should not have been taken without consent they had no power over this sort of issue. They also said we were not the first to complain about money being taken from our bank accounts by this hostel. Maybe this is an issue for the Police.
If you really have to stay here make sure you use a credit card so that you can claim back on the cards insurance scheme if they rip you off. But really, there are much nicer places to stay if you book in time.
To the management: theft aside, I can not understand what sort of business risks losing repeat customers and recommendations, especially in these times were internet review sites are readily used. How desperate are you?
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Date of stay: January 2012Trip 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.
When I googled this place, I was very excited to stay there. It just looked great!
But the reality was far different from what the website said.
I stayed in a 6 person dorm. Though clean, the room for 6 was the size of my average sized bedroom at home for just me.
The common room/kitchen was TINY. There was plenty of people trying to watch television and struggling to even find a place on the floor to sit. Also, common room/kitchen closes crazy early in the night. They lock it and you cant get back in. Even for a glass of water or something to eat!
They also dont let you sit outside in the courtyard at night and anything more than a tiny whisper, you are told off.
The showers/toilets were clean but it was a long outdoor walk from my room to get to it.
The pool area also closes very early.
Because of all of these restrictions, nobody sticks around the place to socialise so there is NO atmosphere. I spent all my time in Base Hostel (Next Door) Where they have a bar, great atmosphere and none of these restrictions.
If your under 40, DONT STAY HERE.
I'm not a mad party person, I was in Paihia to see the wonderful scenery, wildlife and meet new people. It would just have been nice to have stayed somewhere enjoyable while I was at it. It actually felt like being in boarding school....
But the reality was far different from what the website said.
I stayed in a 6 person dorm. Though clean, the room for 6 was the size of my average sized bedroom at home for just me.
The common room/kitchen was TINY. There was plenty of people trying to watch television and struggling to even find a place on the floor to sit. Also, common room/kitchen closes crazy early in the night. They lock it and you cant get back in. Even for a glass of water or something to eat!
They also dont let you sit outside in the courtyard at night and anything more than a tiny whisper, you are told off.
The showers/toilets were clean but it was a long outdoor walk from my room to get to it.
The pool area also closes very early.
Because of all of these restrictions, nobody sticks around the place to socialise so there is NO atmosphere. I spent all my time in Base Hostel (Next Door) Where they have a bar, great atmosphere and none of these restrictions.
If your under 40, DONT STAY HERE.
I'm not a mad party person, I was in Paihia to see the wonderful scenery, wildlife and meet new people. It would just have been nice to have stayed somewhere enjoyable while I was at it. It actually felt like being in boarding school....
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Date of stay: October 2011Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Dont stay here.
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 good:
It has a pool. There is good parking and its close to some bars and restaurants.
The bad:
The staff were very standoffish and not welcoming AT ALL.
The room smelled of pee.
There are passive aggressive rules plastered everywhere about how they "have great CCTV".
Worst of all the rude manager would not return our key deposit, because our dorm room-mates (who we did not even know) were making noise outside. We managed to sleep, but apparently someone "complained".
Turns out the angry manager lives upstairs...
Overall:
This place is run with an iron fist. I've stayed in loads of backpackers, and this was by far the most unpleasant.
It has a pool. There is good parking and its close to some bars and restaurants.
The bad:
The staff were very standoffish and not welcoming AT ALL.
The room smelled of pee.
There are passive aggressive rules plastered everywhere about how they "have great CCTV".
Worst of all the rude manager would not return our key deposit, because our dorm room-mates (who we did not even know) were making noise outside. We managed to sleep, but apparently someone "complained".
Turns out the angry manager lives upstairs...
Overall:
This place is run with an iron fist. I've stayed in loads of backpackers, and this was by far the most unpleasant.
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Date of stay: January 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
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.
Response from MarkHarnden, Owner at Bay Adventurer Backpackers
Responded 18 Jan 2012
I am the owner of this hostel and must first of all apologize for the bad experience this guest had. We have now changed our night manager and trust that the problems experienced by a few reviewers has been solved. We do have a few signs around, as do most hostels, encouraging guests to clean up the kitchen after them selves- always a problem-but we are certainly not over zealous in our attempts to have the place kept clean. We have cleaners who do the job upto 4 times daily. Once again, sorry, and our new manager will, I am sure, be much more focused on good customer service.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked to stay here as a group for the State Ocean Swim. This was our second time staying at the Bay Adventurer and our last.
The good - the accommodation is clean & tidy, great location with adequate facilities, BBQ's, pool etc.
The bad - unfortunately the manager lacks customer service skills of any kind. We booked a unit for 7 people. The fold out couch was to come with linen but it didn't. We didn't realise this until we went to make up the bed later that night. We called and asked for linen. The manager came up and said "you should have sorted this earlier, I had to get out of bed!" (said with major attitude), ummm hello lady its not our fault you didn't provide us with all the required linen!
The following night the owner came up and apologised for the incident that happened in the morning??? We hadn't complained about the managers attitude so we suspect that another unit of 7 had made a complaint (Clearly we weren't the only ones who had issues with the managers attitude). We did however take the opportunity to tell the owner about our experience. She was very apologetic and we were happy with her apology, but this wasn't the end......the following morning we were busy getting ready to depart, check out time was 10am. We were carrying our luggage to our cars and tidying the room when the manager came up at 10.02am yes 10.02am and started barking orders that we had to get out of the room so her cleaners could come in! It was 2 minutes past 10am!
So all in all not a pleasant experience which is a shame as the accommodation is perfectly adequate for a cheap weekend away but the manager lacks any form of customer service skills. She tends to sit around smoking cigarettes and chatting on the phone. It's almost as if she'd prefer to not have any guests and given our experience we'll grant her that wish cos we won't be staying next year!
The good - the accommodation is clean & tidy, great location with adequate facilities, BBQ's, pool etc.
The bad - unfortunately the manager lacks customer service skills of any kind. We booked a unit for 7 people. The fold out couch was to come with linen but it didn't. We didn't realise this until we went to make up the bed later that night. We called and asked for linen. The manager came up and said "you should have sorted this earlier, I had to get out of bed!" (said with major attitude), ummm hello lady its not our fault you didn't provide us with all the required linen!
The following night the owner came up and apologised for the incident that happened in the morning??? We hadn't complained about the managers attitude so we suspect that another unit of 7 had made a complaint (Clearly we weren't the only ones who had issues with the managers attitude). We did however take the opportunity to tell the owner about our experience. She was very apologetic and we were happy with her apology, but this wasn't the end......the following morning we were busy getting ready to depart, check out time was 10am. We were carrying our luggage to our cars and tidying the room when the manager came up at 10.02am yes 10.02am and started barking orders that we had to get out of the room so her cleaners could come in! It was 2 minutes past 10am!
So all in all not a pleasant experience which is a shame as the accommodation is perfectly adequate for a cheap weekend away but the manager lacks any form of customer service skills. She tends to sit around smoking cigarettes and chatting on the phone. It's almost as if she'd prefer to not have any guests and given our experience we'll grant her that wish cos we won't be staying next year!
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Date of stay: December 2011Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Response from MarkHarnden, Owner at Bay Adventurer Backpackers
Responded 18 Jan 2012
I am the owner of this hostel and must first of all apologize for the bad experience this guest had. We have now changed our night manager and trust that the problems experienced by a few reviewers has been solved. I am very sorry for the previous managers behavior which was clearly unacceptable. Our new Manager has been trained by the best, and we trust that he will raise the level of customer service and satisfaction to very high levels.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
terrible place was unclean , with large rats seen around the rooms. bed had mites also. It is also very noisy as its quite close to bars and on the road, with a lot of people drinking outside
Dorms are also damp and cold
Dorms are also damp and cold
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Date of stay: September 2015Trip 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.
In short, we booked a room for $75. We got there and were charged $95 for a lesser/different room. We did get a $35 refund, however we later found out we were just charged the price of the lesser room
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Don't count on getting the room you booked
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.
"Good for young people wanting to party and meet other people. Probably not so much for families or couples over 30."Read full review
"The double rooms are a bit quieter than the dorms (obviously) but if you're solo traveling, I recommend the dorms to meet others!"Read full review
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandNorthland RegionBay of IslandsPaihia
NUMBER OF ROOMS
20
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 ListingBAY ADVENTURER BACKPACKERS | Hostel Reviews (Paihia, New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Bay Adventurer Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include St Paul's Anglican Church (0.3 km), Sandpit Poolroom & Bar (0.09 km), and Salt Water Bar (0.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, free parking, and a hot tub.
What food & drink options are available at Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
Yes, free parking and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include JFC Paihia, El Cafe, and Tipsy Oyster.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is Bay Adventurer Backpackers located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.6 km away from the centre of Paihia.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Swedish.
Are there any historical sites close to Bay Adventurer Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Pompallier Mission and Printery (3.4 km), Waitangi Treaty Grounds (2.4 km), and Flagstaff Hill (4.1 km).