We love hearing from our guests and learning about their experiences at The Rotten Apple Backpackers. From working holiday travellers finding their feet in Hastings to backpackers making new friends and enjoying the social atmosphere, guest feedback reflects the welcoming community, convenient location, and comfortable facilities that make our hostel a great place to stay in Hawke's Bay.
Fantastic hostel
Best hostel I've ever stayed in. Fantastic friendly staff who are never officially off the clock always available to assist. Themed parties on the weekend and work (gotten through the hostel) during the week.
If you're looking for a good hostel to find work at, make friends and have fun, this is the hostel for you. I'm sad to be leaving!
Saz
Amazing Community
After my time in the Rotten Apple I can say there is an amazing community, good organiced activities and awesome staff in it. Everybody is really open minded, it's really easy to find a job (they will help you with it) and the atmosphere is very familiar.
David G
The Rotten Apple - a place to be
If you are travelling alone or with friends, this is the place to be! Everyone is so welcoming and friendly. There is a common room area with a pool table, big table for dining and a TV. The quiet room has lots of books and is nice to chill out there. In the weekends everyone likes to drink and party to celebrate the weekend! The manager also helps you find work. The bathrooms are clean and tidy and the kitchen gets cleaned every morning and night too! The manager and weekend manager make this place feel like home ❤️
V Mcgee
Great Youthful Atmosphere
Well where do I begin?
ghellewell
I arrived expecting to stay and find work for a couple of weeks and immediately I felt an immense difference in this hostel to every other that I have stayed at in New Zealand.
It's welcoming vibe and ability to enjoy a good drink or a few ;) The amazing people that become family and the entertaining friday and saturday nights where the 'Work Hard Play Hard' ethic really comes into play.
I ended up living here for 4 months in the end as I just couldn't peel myself away from the fun and the people.
Great place to stay/live, I would strongly recommend 'Living' here to benefit its most potential.
The staff were really friendly and quick to connect me with a job and even help organised transport with other lodgers so I could get to and from work.
Loved this place, it will hold a special place in my heart for the family created here :D
Best in the North Island!
The Rotten Apple might just be the best in the North Island! I've stayed here for 8 months while working and saving money. They have the friendliest staff and they help build a real community with people passing through. The manager, Wilna, made me feel like I was at home and there were always people willing to grab a beer, cook a meal or just chill out with. The owner has taken a lot of care to make sure there are clean bathrooms and good living spaces.I would stay here again in a heartbeat!
Helen MacLeod
Great Place!
Reviewed 07 June 2015
Its a lovely working hostel. The atmosphere is very chilled with lots of nice people and the management is very helpful. The room situation is perfect - there are double rooms four bed doorms etc. The weekends at the rotten apple are the best- playing games drinkin a beer and the quiz night with everybody made the group very familiar. The hostel is very very central in Hastings 5 min to the supermarket, free Wifi, directly located to the intercity bus station, the inner city and shops. Love this hostel
Zaire Q
Go for the work, find a family and struggle to leave
I spent 4 years travelling and by far the R.A was the best backpackers stay in, they got me a job and a lift to work but its all about the friends you make, the way the hostel is set up it allows everyone to mingle and has epic parties at the weekend, if your thinking about going to Hawkes bay for work - just go to the R.A. Great Memories
Sean M