Haka Lodge Bay of Islands - Hostel

Great staff (thanks Martin) and a very comfortable bed. BUT ... most main showers had no liquid soap, and all of the ventilation fan inlets above those showers were blocked solidly with lint. The hand soap dispenser in our room was so high on the wall it was virtually impossible to use properly, plus the washhand basin is stupidly installed. We do not recommend this accommodation.

It’s a worn down hostel, and since it is a part of the Haka Hostel chain, where I have stayed at other locations, I was surpriced at the low standard. The staff is very serviceminded and friendly, but that doesn’t outwieght the small and badly ventilated rooms.

The hostel is so central in Paihia it makes walking around to the many eating and shopping locations easy. We were in room 11 which was at the end of the hallway and did not get a lot of AC and the window didn't open. The small TV which is steictly facing one of the beds and cant rotate, also doesnt have cable or casting abilities. There was a DVD player so we grabbed a couole movies from the lounge just to find out the DVD player was broken so we ended up watching a movie on a laptop. I had messaged, emailed, and done the online check in to say I was going to be arriving late and still got a bit of sass from the staff when I called looking for check in instructions. The email with the info came through an hour after we checked in. Otherwise, it was average at best, but you get what you pay for!

Very central location for activities, food, buses, wharf. Some areas of the hostel are looking a bit tired.

BEWARE! BEDBUGS! More concerning lack of accountability! No accountability or support at all. Oh yes…No staff on premise or stationed on property after 9pm… so I had to spend the night in the common area lounge that night due to infestation nevertheless. Seasoned traveler here (visited over 75 countries) and after reporting being bite by bedbugs in the room (with provided proof of photos of bites and stained blood sheets after killing on the bugs) managed refuses to accept any responsibility and claims they “were” mosquitoes bites! It was 15Degrees at night and I didn’t even open the bedroom windows?? And how to explain all the bites on the legs and areas of my body covered under the blankets… or would “mosquitoes “ get to me there too ?? Furthermore, we all well know and recognise bed bug biting patterns that was evident in the photos provided. Stay stay clear away! Imagine. Did or will they even fumigate /look into this seriously?? Decide for yourself… Worst experience ever!

Haka House is a fantastic hostel, I can’t imagine there’s a better option for a stay in Paihia, especially on a budget. Great location, spectacular views from dining and main area. Excellent service with terrific front desk support, Byron deserves a raise. I highly recommend this place, and will stay here again if the opportunity brings me back.

Prima verblijf midden in het centrum van het dorp. Parkeren net buiten centrum.

One of the best hostel I’ve stayed. Beautiful view from kitchen/lounge. CLEAN and great staff from manager Pablo to Martin, Marika and unsure of name but a female staff from France. Friendly, professional and engaging.

It was way to hot in the rooms - No air-con or windows to open definetely the worst sleep ever. My other room-mates couldn’t handle it either.

Good for backpackers accommodation. Rooms with ensuite available which is good

Lovely private room with ensuite. Staff were eager to help

駐車場は離れていますが、施設はとても快適でした。最初入り方を見つけるのに苦労しましたが、お店が周りにたくさんあり楽しい場所です。 ベッドがかなり揺れます。また、他の方のアラーム？音楽？が夜も流れていて気になりました。

Pros: Mostly clean, very quiet (I was there during winter), friendly staff, good location, large lounge area, strong wifi. Cons: Very loud cooling system in private room; bitten by insects/bugs overnight; clutter (unneeded fans) in private room; uncomfortable pillows; sheets feel old and stained; odd cleanup rules in kitchen (everything has to be hand dried and put away right away, so you're essentially using the same set of crockery/flatware as others throughout the day). I slept very badly and had to check out two nights early.

Uptodate and secure facilities, in a modern building with lift access. Well stocked except for a clean towel which I would have appreciated.

Had a fantastic stay, nice private curtains in dorm but my one qualm was the bed was very hard and the room was hot, making for an uncomfortable sleep. Other than that I loved the hostel

Great place to stay. A calm and clean place. Only thing I can think to complain about is the shower pressure. One time it was fine, then the next time it was barely a dribble, despite no one else using the showers at the same time. Otherwise was a perfect stay.

It was my first time in a very long time in a back packers sharing all common areas. I feel a cleaner should be on hand to clear the areas left messy by alot of people with low cleanliness standards. The kitchen shared equipment needs to be update ie fridges & cupboards. The room I shared was stuffy with no windows and a noisy air vent humming all night so this was uncomfortable. A lovely senior staff member helped with our non working room facilities. Air con should be in every room esp with 2 or more people sharing. The view and location was amazing. Linen clean and comfy beds. I would request a room with windows next time. As we were on a road trip parking was an issue when unpacking our personal effects. possibly obtaining a few spaces in the back of the complex would be convenient. all in all a pleasant 2 day stay.

Nice view

It's all about location and staff here, particularly Gillian. (And, they answer their phone!) She was extremely helpful, professional, and kind. It's thanks to her and her knowledge of the North Island that I found some cool spots to hang out in. The kitchen and common room have a beautiful (although somewhat obstructed) view of the ocean, and are spacious. There were enough showers to go around, although I think some additional common toilets could be added--two per gender weren't enough. I stayed in a private room two nights and a dorm for one. Both were comfortable stays. When I moved to the dorm, I was worried about noise as it was right next to the common areas. But staff were good about closing the door at 10:30pm. Some hooks or additional racks would be handy in the private room bathrooms. I would have no hesitation in recommending this property.

Very clean and functional. Well suited to a young person/people. I did feel I get get better value for money by spending a little bit more and staying else where.