Finlay Jack's Backpackers

Nice spot to explore Taupo. Centrally located, nice big pods and a roomy private bathroom if your staying in a dorm room. Front desk was helpful and professional. Large inner courtyard with hammocks, couches, bean bag seats and chairs to relax and socialize in. The only drawbacks are it's not the cleanest hostel (clean but not sparkling)!the mattresses were a bit worn and the bed sheets were of average quality. But for the price it's a solid choice for a stay in Taupo. Recommended.

In general, the hostel needs better cleanliness. It seems to be more suitable for people in their 20s. I had a bad night — the girl above me was having sex, and in the early morning there were two hours of shouting, vomiting, and a drunk guy passing gas. It’s unfortunate because you could potentially have a good night there. Personally, I would look for another option. My recommendation for the hostel would be to have 24-hour reception, or at least a phone number available to report issues immediately, and to improve the overall cleanliness. I stayed on March 28th and March 1st, 2026. Kind regards.

We really enjoyed our stay here. Shared a bathroom with 2 other rooms so max 6 people. It was the nicest bathroom we’ve had across all the hostels we’ve stayed in. Well-equipped main kitchen downstairs that we liked cooking in. We also appreciated that we were able to store food in the fridge attached to the area we were staying in and make tea and coffee in the morning. Enjoyed sitting on the balcony too with a beautiful view. Comfy stay overall and great value for money.

Stayed here three days and enjoyed the whole experience. The hostel is spotlessly clean, the most important thing for me and the double room though sparse was very comfortable and cosy. Great bed. The bathrooms are modern and kept very clean. Also plenty available on both floors. The kitchen is well equipped with plenty of crockery and cutlery etc. Lots of local information on 'what's available' posted on the walls in the dining area. Small TV lounge. A few stairs that may be a problem for some people, check before booking. I loved meeting some of the other stayers and swapping stories. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here a gain for a few days. Thanks to the helpful staff.

I’ve booked the female dorm. Room was big. I’ve appreciated the space inside the pod. Thank you for well cleaning. Even the kitchen was well cleaned with a real dish soap 🥹and cleaned towels. Staff were nice and very helpful. Location is not that bad. Plenty space for car park for free. There is a pak n save next to the hostel. Very convenient. And I saw and heard that there is a bus stop front of the hostel.

Very close to the centre. Clean Hostel and had our own privacy. Cool TV room with Piano, lots of games to play with and push bikes for hire. Really useful since Taupo is bike friendly. However most of the stove tops were not working and found it a bit difficult to cook food. I get that a lot of people cook all the time but this should be maintained frequently. All in all still liked it!

The hostel is decent. I stayed in a six-person dorm, and the pod-style beds were a highlight. They provided privacy and had enough space for storing personal belongings. However, the kitchen was often messy, more so than in other hostels I have visited. The shared bathrooms were frequently unclean, with only two showers for males and three washbasins for everyone. The atmosphere was relaxed, making it suitable for a short stay, but the facilities could be better maintained.

Great beds and the atmosphere is amazing. Good kitchen and facilities