Southern Laughter Backpackers
Hostel · Queenstown ·

Southern Laughter Backpackers

Hostel · Queenstown ·

Friendly staff, free soup & popcorn, hot tub, great location

Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null
Southern Laughter Backpackers by null

Information

4 Isle Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand Get directions

Information

Static Map

4 Isle Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand Get directions

+64 21 472 947
stayatsouthern.co.nz
@southernlaughterbackpackers

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Last updated

Nov 28, 2025

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The 6 Best Hostels in Queenstown (Updated 2025)

"Within walking distance of Queenstown’s center, I liked Southern Laughter for a few unique perks: a hot tub to relax after exploring, a lively common room with a large flat-screen TV, self-service laundry, a BBQ area, and free soup every night for dinner which saves money and helps you meet other travelers. The dorms are spacious and the mattresses are decent, though the beds are basic metal bunks and lack privacy curtains; the hostel also offers free parking and discounts for bars around town." - Matthew Kepnes

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-hostels-queenstown/
Southern Laughter Backpackers

D

Google
The place is an absolute dump passing 'run down' off as 'old school'. The 10 person room I was in had 2 lockers, so good luck fighting for one to lock up your bags. The beds are unassigned, so when I came back one day someone else was using my bed. Room outlets are sparse and very inconveniently placed. The room I was in was pretty gross (food left out) and the kitchen was even worse (dirty dishes were always left out). Zero enforcement of cleanliness standards here. Parking space is extremely competitive. The staff I dealt with were nice. The place is cheap. It is in a good location. Bearable for a couple days if you're trying to save money but would not recommend for a longer stay.

Alex L.

Google
Worst hostel I've ever stayed in, and I backpacked through the middle of Cambodia. There wasn't even a PowerPoint to charge your phone near the bed, and the other PowerPoint didn't work. Also, no curtains no privacy and no hot water. You are better off paying extra and staying elsewhere

Alessandro Di L.

Google
Worst hostel in the world. Don’t stay here ever. I’ve booked for 5 nights,only stayed 2. Management refused to refund the booking money, even after showing them bed bugs bites on my arm, hand and leg. After two weeks I still have marks on my body. Worst experience ever.

Ben R.

Google
Everything was horrible apart from the location. This place is dated, dirty, and noisy. Besides the location, there is nothing positive about this place. Let's start with the room. Tiny, can barely stand a suitcase up and have enough room to walk around it. The pillows seemed so soft they lacked any density whatsoever. The blinds were roughed up and damaged so they didn't close properly, and the room faced the main road and the entrance, so no privacy at all. The entire place is made of cardboard, so you hear every little noise, and the international people who reside there are loud, slamming doors at all times of the night. The showers are freezing!! The first night, I couldn't get any hot water, the second night, 5 minutes of hot, then freezing. The toilet paper is the cheapest toilet paper they could find, I don't think you can even classify it as toilet paper. I went to heat something up in the microwave, and a pool of old yellow liquid sat in the bottom of it, disgusting. It's like the owners just don't care, they know people will come because it's Queenstown. I would rather sleep on the street than come back here. Owners need to take a drive up to Franz Josef and go see what Wild Kea Lodge is doing because that's how you run a backpackers.

Zalia W.

Google
I loved this place. Super friendly staff, and simply overall nice people! The room was clean, and so were the amenities; they were on the older side, but everything worked and was clean. The location was great, close to everything; walking distance! They had a free of charge luggage storage area which was great as our flight was later at night. Also very cute dog behind the counter. We only stayed one night but i would definitely stay here again ☺️

Aoife van O.

Google
The staff at the hostel are incredibly friendly and helpful, they were very welcoming when we checked in! As many have said, the facilities are on the older side. However, everything works and everything is clean—which is the most important. We stayed in the twin room which was close to the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. The location of the hostel is amazing, within a short 5 minute walk you’re in the centre of Queenstown. Overall, I think the hostel offers good value for what you pay for.

shereeann

Google
This place can only be described as disgusting. Cigarette butts EVERYWHERE. People smoking inside? Filthy towels and sheets. Hair abounded in the shower, which is the size of a shoebox. Green snot on shower walls. People smoking illicit substances right outside our room. Its a cesspit. Needs demolishing. We left in the middle of teh night as we felt unclean and unsafe

Ryan H

Google
Not like in the pictures, this place was an absolute dump. The showers were filthy and smelled like mold, and the rooms were just as bad with stained sheets and towels. To make matters worse, inconsiderate guests made noise till late at night. The wifi didn't work at all, and when I complained to the staff, they were incredibly unhelpful. While the $50 savings compared to other hotels initially seemed like a good deal, I would gladly pay $150 more per night to avoid ever staying in this horrendous place again.