The Best Hostels in Queenstown for Backpackers, Solo Travellers, Couples, and Skiers

Winner of the Golden Backpack award for New Zealand for four years in a row, this centrally located hostel next to the lake has a lot to offer. First of all, they have dorms with lockers (with plugs IN the lockers!), private rooms which feel like a hotel room (with TVs and a refridgerator!), and larger family suites. There is a shared kitchen, a sauna, ski storage for winter sports, Wi-Fi everywhere, free breakfast, laundry, an onsite restaurant, a game room with TV and a pool table, and so much more. Check out the photos! This hostel continuously receives very high marks from guests, who claim that it is fun, clean, and comfortable.

Great balconies, large common areas, and nightly social activities make this hostel very social, but also relaxing. Located in the middle of town, but in a quiet spot, guests can rest here, meet other travelers, cook their own food in the shared kitchen, and plan the next day's adventures. Dorm rooms are clean and spacious, and ensuite bathrooms are modern, clean, and have everything you need. Hairdryers are even available! Private rooms are also available for couples or larger groups. This hostel receives tons of positive reviews from guests, so check it out!

A refurbished building on the lakefront with spectacular views, everything about this hostel is modern and new (even the noise reducing windows). Offering smaller dorm rooms with ensuite bathrooms, as well as private rooms in a variety of sizes, there is something for everyone. The spacious community kitchen is clean and modern for those that want to cook meals (and it has a great view). The common areas have TVs, a game room, and comfortable sofas and chairs for unwinding with your new friends. The onsite laundromat is also fantastic!

Guests claim that the vibe is social and fun, and that the staff is super friendly and helpful!

This hostels receives "good" ratings, but not "great" ratings from guests. In any other city that would be fine, but compared to the many other hostels in town receiving higher marks, this one seems to be rated slightly below the others.

That being said, this hostel is much more active from a partying and social standpoint than many others. Offering a happy hour at their onsite bar and restaurant helps to keep the atmosphere lively and fun. They offer a free breakfast, a game room with a Wii, hot showers, laundry services, Wi-Fi, and many other standard hostel amenities. Dorms as well as private rooms are available, with and without ensuite bathrooms. An all-female dorm is also available. Rooms and facilities are kept clean, and are modern and well kept.

So, check out the photos and read the reviews for yourself. Negative complaints tend to center around the loud music and basic facilities. But perhaps that's what you're looking for?

With large common areas and a central location, this somewhat new and relatively smaller hostel (with 55 beds) offers a lot of nice features. Lockers, laundry, a communal kitchen, Wi-Fi, BBQ, terrace, TVs, hot showers, and more are just a start with the long list of benefits here at the Adventure Q2. The game room brings people together to meet and mingle, creating a fun, social vibe. Bathrooms are clean and modern, too!

You can't go wrong here. Guest reviews tend to highlight the cleanliness of the modern facilities, the friendly staff, nightly social activities, and comfortable beds.

Most rooms in this relaxed, laid back hostel located on the lake have amazing views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Bumbles offers a lot more than just clean and comfortable beds - they have a large kitchen and comfortable common areas for relaxing and socializing with other guests, too. Typical hostel amenities are available here such as lockers, BBQ, outdoor terrace, laundry, and games. Free parking is also a huge bonus for those cruising around New Zealand in a camper van.

Guest reviewers give this hostel positive marks for pretty much everything all around.

With an overall focus on Maori history and culture, as well as socializing and delicious meals (free breakfast), this pod hostel offers so much more than its long list of standard hostel amenities.

What is a "pod hostel," you might ask? Well, imagine a bunk with everything you could need inside of it, somewhat like a Japanese businessmen's hotel, but much larger and more comfortable. Pods have lights, curtains, and more. While a single bunk might seem normal, they also have larger double-sized pods for couples. It's essentially a double sized bunk bed with a curtain, lights, and power outlets. These pods are modern, clean, and well kept. Check out the photos.

In addition to the interesting sleeping arrangements, they have a shared kitchen, common room with a TV, a balcony, BBQ, Wi-Fi, and more.

This is another clean and modern hostel with a long list of hostel amenities and a huge number of positive reviews. What sets it apart is the location (still walking distance to everything) slightly up the hill, and with great views over town. They have a shared kitchen, internet, laundry, hot showers, and more.

Guest reviews tend to highlight the home-like feeling it has, making everyone comfortable. And the staff gets high marks for helpfulness, too!