I stayed at Wanaka Bak Paka for two nights on my trip down to Queenstown and Wanaka and must say that my first impression of the place was very good.
It is located a short 5 minute walk from the town centre, a nice scenic walk along the lake.
The staff were really friendly and helpful, happy to help with any questions you may have. One of the ladies was so friendly she spent a good 20minutes trying to help a couple with somewhere else to stay, making phone calls and looking up accomodation on the internet since the hostel was fully booked that night.
It’s easy to see why the hostel is fully booked, even on a rainy day the view is fantastic and the large lounge/dining area makes it feel more like a home than a hostel.
A large kitchen with plenty of fridge space will keep the budget traveler happy, small dorm rooms are also a bonus!
One of the first things I noticed however was the fact that quite a few of the people staying here are older than your average backpackers – I would guess in there 50’s – the hostel has private lake view double ensuites as well as the dorms – this is what I’d go for if the b/f came down with me.
Overall I really enjoyed Wanaka Bak Paka, I stayed in a 2-3 bed share room (I think its just luck of the draw what you get unless you ask specifically) which cost $28 per night – $3 per night discount if you are a BBH member.
The only con’s I can see is that it’s a bit out of town but I personally enjoyed the walk, and they don’t have lockers for your bags.
Wanaka Bak Paka
117 Lakeside Road
www.wanakabakpaka.co.nz
Have you stayed in Wanaka? Where did you stay and would you recommend it?