Black Sheep Backpackers

Great facilities for a backpackers and a chilled atmosphere. Location is great being out of the hustle of the town but only a 2 minute walk away. Sauna and hot tub are awesome bonuses which are free to use. Private room was great with a wee fridge and jug which made my stay convenient. Kitchen is stocked with everything you need to cook. Enjoyed my stay here!

I was staying here for a few days back in April and had some issues with the place. My biggest issue was with the design of the toilet/shower rooms. At least one of the women's shower rooms is very tightly packed (If I remember correctly, the one on the 2nd floor). There's not enough space to brush your teeth when other people have used the toilet and need to wash their hands. There was nowhere to put your belongings while in the shower. I even mean nowhere to hang a towel, never mind a place to set soap. The sink counter would get so wet because they weren't well designed so even if people were being careful, they were super wet. My next complaint is about the key system. I do not like being required to download an app in order to access my room. Or needing to bring my phone to the bathroom, especially when there's nowhere dry to put down my phone when I shower. The facilities were not worth the price I had to pay for being in Queenstown. The staff were very nice, especially Nicole.

Pleasant staff, the venue was tidy and had a nice feel. Our room was small but beds were comfy enough to have a decent sleep. Shared bathrooms were pretty tidy, although small stalls. It took some time to get shower temperature right, very very fine line between too hot and cold. Great location, handy to town but down side was trying to find a car park near venue. The keyless entry was handy didn't have to worry about a physical key. Phone app worked well but tended to just put in the passcode.

If you’re looking for a long term stay black sheep might not be it. The people of black sheep are wonderful, the management is incredibly hostile. They constantly change the rates to make more money with no regard for the people living there. They close the kitchen at 11 and the lounge at 12 so if you work late shifts you have no where to eat or relax after work. It is run like a hotel not a hostel. There’s no regard for building community, for nurturing good relationships with guest, or even an ounce of mutual respect between the management team and the guests. The reception team is fantastic, they deserve the world. It’s the management and owners who ruin this otherwise wonderful place.

Notice for long-term residents As many former residents of the Black Sheep have already described, this hostel owes all its positives to the staff, and all its negatives to the management. Let me start with the positives: 1) The community here is very welcoming, and it’s really easy to make great connections! 2) The staff always does their best to respond to any request, with a good dose of kindness and patience! Now, the negatives: 1) Prices that change overnight. The strategy of this hostel is simple → Raise the weekly rate by $50 each week, while making sure to stay just slightly below the price of other “acceptable” hostels. This constantly leaves residents facing the same dilemma: either stay at the Black Sheep and end up paying drastically too much compared to the quality of services offered, or move to another hostel—choosing between those that are good but way too expensive, or those that are affordable but lacking in quality. The feeling of being considered only as wallets by the management is unbearable. 2) Cleaning times and the opening hours of the kitchen (and lounge). The kitchen is cleaned at 10am, 1pm, and 11pm. For me, that’s way too many times when the kitchen is inaccessible because of cleaning. On top of that, it is completely closed after 11pm. So, if you happen to work in hospitality, or have any other late-night occupation, you simply can’t feed yourself. Same goes for the lounge, which closes at midnight—and since the hostel is connected from the outside, that leads me to the next point... 3) ...which is that it’s difficult to have meaningful social moments with other residents, as the constant feeling of being “kicked out” by restrictive rules is exhausting. And that’s such a shame! 4) The beds—especially the bottom ones—that look more like coffins because of their size than an actual personal space. Add the previous points to this, and you end up in a hostel charging you $350 per week while leaving you no space to actually exist. 5) Anyway, I’ll stop here, but if you’re looking for a place to stay, while the Black Sheep can definitely be fun as a tourist—especially in summer—I strongly recommend checking out other hostels that show more respect toward their guests. PS: Huge love to the rest of the team who have nothing to do with these negative points ❤️

We stay at the double room on ground floor for a night. I like: 1. The whole place, including the room, is kept clean and tidy. 2. It has sauna and outdoor hot pool. 3. The bed is firm and the pillows are soft and comfortable. 4. Short distance to the town I dislike: 1. The bathroom is not connected with the rooms indoor, which means you have to walk in the freezing cold weather in the winter to get to the bathroom, even though it’s a short walk. 2. There are no shelves in the shower of ladies’ bathroom on ground floor. Where should I put my clothes, towel, and toiletries? 3. Thin walls and floor + non-soundproofing windows = Poor sound insulation. I could clearly hear people talking outside, throwing trash, people walking upstairs, and neighbors closing doors. To stay at this room, you have to be either really tired or easy to fall asleep.

I would never stay here again. On arrival there are no staff around for check in but instead a sign to do it yourself. The quiet hours are from 9pm but there is absolutely no quiet hours in this place - constant noise throughout the day and night. No other guests have any consideration and with the paper thin walls you can guarantee you’ll be having no sleep. The parking is non existent on and off street as the off street parking is tiny and reserved for camper vans. The sheets are dirty with yellow stains. And if you “upgrade” to a twin room that says the benefits of having a tv etc, well no because the TV has no plug. Everything’s old and creaky. If you’re lucky enough to stay next to the kitchen like us then you’ll feel like you’re IN the microwave. The only good thing was the heater since it was cold and the location is pretty close to town so we could avoid coming back all day.

Hello there.. let me share my experience at Black Sheep Backpackers for a couple of days and if you have liked this property or still in two minds then this review might help clear it, I guess. I do not have any pictures as I don't picture pocket everything but I didn't find the property anything less than the pictures on their web page. I would say it is better than the pictures. It is one of the best shared properties that I've come across and it is on top of my go-to list whenever I'm solo in Queenstown. They have simple and fair rules which is highly recommended for smooth management, you may just have to align your timings with theirs, trust me this only brings a good order in taking care of everyone and everything at the same time. Next, I loved the staff who is friendly and helpful, I would say it is always good to speak to them prior to your stay about whatever your needs are and as per availability they may consider your requests. In my case, they provided me a preferred choice of bed and a safe space for luggage storage even after my checkout timings. I must say, the availability is the prime factor and it is solely up to them to fulfill your request. Lastly, few pointers below for quick read through:- Pros: 1. Supportive and friendly staff. 2. Great property to hang back n do nothing outdoors. 3. Very handy kitchen. 4. Clean bathrooms on all floors. 5. Decent beddings and rooms. 6. Personal security for luggage is available. 7. All bathrooms and your room are accessible with your passcode only. So you have your peace of mind that your things are safe. 8. Heaps of common spaces to sit, dine, chill etc. The place has safe & friendly vibe to it. 9. Outdoor tub and sauna and other amenities. 10. Close to city centre. 11. All time surveillance. Cons: 1. Carry your ear/headphones if you want to cover your sleep from travel. 2. Kitchen cookware are beyond worn out. Good if you want to carry your owns for longer stay. My 2 days were perfect with what was available. 3. Your nearest drinking water supply can be a bit away for midnight drinkers especially when it is cold. 4. No car parking. I definitely love Black Sheep Backpackers.. I wouldn't write this long if I didn't like it 😀 and thank God found before the summers. Haha. Thanks for being there. See ya 😊