Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers

2.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers

Twin, Double & Single Ensuite | In-room safe, free WiFi, bed sheets
Terrace/patio
Exterior
Interior
Breakfast area

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Laundry room
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk

Explore the area

View in a map
1 Bunny Street Wellington Cbd, Wellington, 6011
  • Place, Wellington Central Business District
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Lambton Quay
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Archives New Zealand
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Airport, Wellington (WLG-Wellington Intl.)
    ‪12 min drive‬

Room options

Double Ensuite

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(24 reviews)
  • 18 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Double Room, Private Bathroom

  • 18 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Single (Shared Bathroom)

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(17 reviews)
  • 15 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bed

Bunk Style Twin (Shared Bathroom)

  • 16 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Shared Dormitory, Shared Bathroom (4 Beds)

  • 22 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Shared Dormitory, Private Bathroom (6 Beds)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 24 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Shared Dormitory, Private Bathroom (8 Beds)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • 26 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Shared Dormitory, Ensuite (6 Bed, Female Only)

  • 24 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bed

Twin, Double & Single Ensuite

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(18 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Double Shared Bathroom

7.6 out of 10
Good
(4 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Single Room, Ensuite

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(14 reviews)
  • 19 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bed

Premium Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm

  • 24 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Single Bunk Bed

Double Room with Private Bathroom

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 2

Twin Double&Single Ensuite

  • Sleeps 3

Ensuite Twin Room

  • Sleeps 2

Single Room With Bathroom

  • Sleeps 1

Double Room with Shared Bathroom

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 2

Single Room with Shared Bathroom

  • Sleeps 1

Bed In 4-Bed Dormitory

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 1

Bed In 6-Bed Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1

Bed In 8-Bed Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1

Bed In 8 Bed Dormitory

  • Sleeps 1

Premium Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm

  • Sleeps 1

Similar properties

About this property

Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers

Art Deco hostel with 24-hour front desk and restaurant
This smoke-free hostel features a restaurant, a bar/lounge and laundry facilities. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include a 24-hour front desk, express check-out and a front desk safe.
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers offers 108 accommodations with a safe. Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided on a daily basis.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.
Our customers tell us they can't get enough of Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers's great location. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Wellington Central Business District. You'll find features such as free WiFi in public areas, plus a restaurant and a bar.
  • Free WiFi
  • Grab something to eat at the restaurant or stop for a drink at the bar/lounge
  • Amenities include a front desk safe, locker space and laundry facilities
  • Guests have great things to say about the helpful staff and the location
  • Just a 2-minute drive from Te Papa and a few minutes from Interislander Ferry Terminal
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces. Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers also features a vending machine, laundry facilities, and express check-out.

This Art Deco Wellington hostel is smoke free.

Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers has a restaurant on site.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Laundry facilities
  • Lockers
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Lift
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

More

  • Art Deco architecture
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Cable/satellite channels

More

  • Heating
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: NZD 10
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
At check-in, guests must provide a record of full COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccination record requirement applies to all guests aged 12 and older; guests must have received complete COVID-19 vaccination at least 30 days prior to check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed, but service animals are welcome

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Deposit: NZD 20.00 per stay

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Late check-out fee: NZD 10 (subject to availability)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.

National rating

Property class, provided by our rating system, is based on property type, amenities and services.

Property is also known as

Downtown Backpackers
Downtown Backpackers Hostel
Downtown Backpackers Hostel Wellington
Downtown Backpackers Wellington
Hotel Waterloo Backpackers
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers Wellington
Hotel Waterloo Backpackers (formerly Downtown Backpackers)
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers Hostel/Backpacker accommodation

Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 243 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 406 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 222 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 71 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 59 out of 1001 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

7.2/10

Amenities

6.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Jordyn

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Very friendly staff
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jamaica

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We really enjoyed our stay at Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers. The place felt welcoming from the start. Solid facilities, and genuinely warm, attentive staff all contributed to a relaxed and pleasant experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

anish

Travelled with family and small children
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Do not stay here!! Pictures on websites are deceptive to what the actual rooms and facilities are. Place stinks, is old and terribly outdated. Beds and beddings have stains and smelly. Floor carpet is filthy and smells. Overall stay was a nightmare. Staff unhelpful.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Gordon

Travelled with family
A 2 star hotel so it's a bit old and tired, but has comfortable beds and hot showers. Close to public transport, eateries and within walking distance of the CBD
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were lovely. Accommodation was average but i was solo travelling so for price i couldnt complain.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Trish

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Customer service was excellent - ensuite room clean and warm - close to train and BlueBridge ferry. Perfect, thank you.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Close to railway and bluebridge
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

KAREN, Greymouth

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to all shopping needs
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Joe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Convenient, central location.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Ning

Disliked: Amenities
Too old building
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Shama Rolyn

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Liked the friendly staff but the overall hygiene of the room not up to standard. The beddings were stained white sheets. The windows glasses cracked.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katina

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I have stayed 3 times. I enjoyed the whole stay. Loved the views from recent stays. Look forward to staying again
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Ben

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
It's a real propper dive. Booked here as it was the last available place in town with space. Now I know why. Staff were friendly enough but there's no getting around the dire facility.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

William

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

William

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Alan

Travelled with family
Y
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Mohamed

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Although it's not so bad about that hotel in general, it was so bad to stay one night at a place that offers no internet connection. Also, the staff did not advise on how I could access the network. The room was so noisy because of the severe wind that day as well.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Ken

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Excellent location… right across the street from the RR station
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Robert Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Two things in room i stay need get fix one is window don't close alway and light was flickering be on. But is great place to stay at.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Isoa

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Isoa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Convenient location to catch ferry, train and to go to the airport.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Furqan Haider

Dirty towels, Broken bath room without soap.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Hala

Business traveller
Liked: Staff & service
This is a decent place for a quick stay and to be close to the station. I chose it for the location as I needed to be near the university and the station - otherwise, I'd say it's better to stay close to Cuba St or Willis St - other end of town. On the weekend it was really hard to find places that were open to eat. The carpet was dirty, the towels were stained and the room is very basic. So if you're not looking for anything flash, this place is convenient. The staff were super friendly!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

William

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent option, private and a fair price
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Coen

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025