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This place is a little gem, Agra is a lovely hostess who will go out of her way to ensure you have a good time in Oamaru. The Backpackers is a few blocks uphill from the main tourist centre of town, so very close to the action with a little built-in exercise to help you work off a few calories at the end of the day :) Kitchen facilities are modest, but have everything you need. There are two double rooms, one is in the pain house and one is a room built off the garage out back, so if you prefer to have the bathroom next door then you should request the inside double. Or, if you prefer more privacy, you should request the sleep out double. There are also two dorm rooms with bunk beds. The resident dog is a lovely companion, she likes a good game of fetch while you sit out on the deck in the morning sun.
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Date of stay: November 2014
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â There are two double rooms, one is in the pain house and one is a room built off the garage out...
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.
My daughter and I stayed one night jere on our way down to Dunedin and absolutely loved it. Our host Agra was an awesome character. So helpful, she took us on a tikki tour of the town and showed us all the penguin hiding spots ! Our room was really lovely and clean and the house is perfectly situated ! We really enjoyed our stay here !!! And was excellent value for money.
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Date of stay: April 2015Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
My girlfriend and I stopped here on our tiki tour of the South Island to see some penguins, and we were NOT disappointed!! Our host Agra was nothing short of wonderful, we were made to feel instantly welcome. The hostel has a wonderful homely feel and our double room was the best we stayed in for the whole trip. It felt like we were staying over at a friends house, books on the bedside table, just wonderful. Can't rate this place enough. Ask Agra (or any local) where to find penguins, we wish we did... It would have saved us a few bucks paying to go and see them earlier that night!
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Date of stay: August 2014
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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.
"host mum" shot the door in front of me because of my appearance... like what the...?! just because I travel by hitch hiking and therefore had no booking? couldn't even give me a real reason not to sell me a bed for one night. She even admitted that there were beds avaiable. First unfriendly kiwi in six months... WOW
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Date of stay: March 2015Trip 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 booked a doubleroom for 3 nights through their website which said the price would be $73 per night. When we arrived and got all our stuff inside she suddenly sais the price is $80 per night. After an argument she went down to $75 which is still more than expected but we decided to stay because otherwise it seemed OK. But it's all not worth it when the owner just doesn't let you be. She was very bossy and tried to tell us what to do, with whom to do it and when. We were more than once reminded that she doesn't actually want us there, that she only let us in for the money and how expensive it is for her to have backpackers. Furthermore the next day when we were sitting in the common room she threw us out of the hostel, because she needs to clean and wants some alonetime without backpackers and again she tried to boss us around to tell us what we have to do. Yes sure, it is alright to close the kitchen and living room for cleaning but it is not OK to throw you out of the whole hostel trying to tell you what to do. She wasn't giving tips she really bosses you around and tries to force things on you. This is just unacceptable!! we have never been treated more unfriendly, rude and unwelcoming by any host or owner before. We checked out immediately!
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Date of stay: April 2017Trip 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.
This place is quite different to any other hostel I've stayed at, since I actually felt like I was staying at a friend's. Agra, the owner, is an incredible woman, who you can great talks with! When I went there, I was feeling rather lonely and blue, and this place gave me all the good vibes I needed to keep travelling! Agra gives you so much info about Oamaru that you wouldn't get anywhere else. One thing I especially remember: after going on a midnight penguin sightseeing, I was nearly freezing to death....and when I went back to the hostel, Agra had turned the electric blanket on in my bed earlier on so that I would warm up quickly. Because that's just what this hostel is about -- making you feel at home!! Go there with an open mind, and you will be rewarded!
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Date of stay: January 2015
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip 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 really enjoyed staying at Swaggers - a quirky place with the best view in town. A little way up from town but close enough to get to all the important places easily. Agra works hard to make sure her backpackers experience the real Oamaru. Good wifi and the memory of breakfast at the table outside will sustain us through dull and gloomy days.
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Date of stay: February 2015
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Both the double rooms are lovely - the outside one is more private but the inside one has amazing...
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.
Spent 2 nights here. Agra went above and beyond anything I've experienced traveling. Took me on a drive pointing out what to do where. Took some to beach to see penguins at night. Dropped me at bus stop on last morning. Offered tea in her room when I arrived. Etc etc. Amazing woman! And I'm very grateful.
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip 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.
Agra is quite a character. She was even a bit worried as we arrived later than told before. She was caring nicely about us and made sure, that we were warm, came in closed the curtains and even put a hot water bottle in our beds. There are only three rooms in the hostel, one double and two dorms, so there are not more than 15 people staying there which makes it really cosy. Agra lives in the same house and you feel that the whole premise is somebodys home, which makes it even nicer. She likes to give you advice where to find the little blue penguins (even though we didn't see any in the end) and the beautiful harbour street of Oamaru is just a 5min walk away, so is the beach and wharf.
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Date of stay: March 2018
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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.
Swaggers Backpackers is the best hostel I've ever stayed at because it doesn't feel like a hostel, it feels so much like home, the atmosphere there is wonderful. Location is close to the penguin place, Harbour street, Steampunk museum, grocery shops. Oamaru is small an easy town, everything is walking distance from the hostel. Agra runs the place by herself and takes care of everyone and makes hostel guests feel as old friends rather than customers, she can give advice about Oamaru and surroundings, take you to the best spots to see penguins and there's a cool dog named Laika (prob spelled wrong). It's a very small hostel so it was very easy to make friends with other guests who were mostly mature solo travellers, not the typical backpackers crowd. It was a lovely stay and I would to stay there again if life brings me back to Oamaru :)
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Date of stay: February 2018
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
Christchurch, New Zealand122 contributions83 helpful votes
"There are two double rooms, one is in the pain house and one is a room built off the garage out back, so if you prefer to have the bathroom next door then you should request the inside double. Or, if you prefer more privacy, you should request the sleep out double. There are also two dorm rooms with bunk beds."
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LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandOtago RegionOamaru
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