Hotel 2-Star di Otago, New Zealand

Great location, nice staff and clean room service. The facilities are quite old, not that solid bed, the sockets are quite away from your bed, the lockers are mini and some of them are broken. But the toilet and bathroom are separate, which is useful in busy time. It is kind of noisy but my ear plugs works. This is not a problem for me. So it could be a good choice if location is important for you.

- great accommodation for backpackers - room is spacious (can open both luggage and keep them under the bed), great view of Lake Wakatipu to - street parking just outside of Haka House is free but very limited. ended up paying $15 per night for parking within Haka House (there’s limited lots as well) - there’s stairs from reception area to the first floor. have to carry luggage up a small flight of stairs before being able to access the lift - communal kitchen is big and spacious for 6 groups to cook at the same time

Location was honestly excellent and unbeatable, it’s right next to a bus stop where coaches pick you up for the Milford sound day tour. It’s also a short walk to the steamer wharf area, ＜5 mins. The girls at the reception were friendly. We had no issues with only being able to access the room after 2pm. The room itself was cosy. This seems to be one of the only rooms with a king bed and private toilet - it’s called Lucy’s room. However, it was really dusty - see the dust we cleaned off the window ledge. I am allergic to dust, so I had to wipe it down myself.. There is a pub nearby so music can be heard all the way till 3/4am on Saturday night, so not recommended if you are a light sleeper. We had a quieter night on Sunday though! If I could do it again, I would have topped up the $50-$60 to book Crowne Plaza, which was also in an equally prime spot.

Cost-effective accommodation, old facilities

Leviathan Hotel is a classic hotel with a nice interior of the common areas (wooden stairs, old fashioned furniture etc.) and an old style elevator and keys for the doors. The staff are very friendly and helpful. My rooms is in the small side and if your want a super new and spotless hotel this one is a little bit old and worn which is part of its charm.

Unbeatable location, with only few minutes of walk to pretty much most of the meeting points. There are fridge and a clothes hanging place in the room (some perks that are not frequently available in share dorms). The only downside is that the kitchen is small and very crowded during mealtime, and the ventilation for the kitchen is a bit not enough. Though overall speaking, it was a great stay.

The motel's location is a bit out of the city center, so a car is essential for getting around. You can park right in front of your room. The kitchen is well-equipped with everything you need, including pots and pans. The male owner was very responsible. On our first night, the AC wasn't blowing hot air, and we woke up freezing at around 5 AM. We talked to the owner the next day, and he explained that the thermostat was set too high, preventing the AC from kicking in. He then restarted the outdoor unit and got it working. He even proactively knocked on our door to check if it was working correctly and brought us a small space heater. The owner also provided a small map, showing us places to visit in the city and how to get there.

While the room was on the smaller side, this was anticipated given that it doesn't offer a private bathroom. The listing indicated a 'separate toilet,' but in reality, it was just a washbasin within the room, and the toilet itself was shared. If privacy for facilities is important to you, I'd strongly advise against booking. Parking was also a significant challenge. The hotel lacks its own car park, requiring guests to find street parking. There are only two spots directly outside the hotel, which are rarely vacant and can be used by non-guests too. The whole street is usually packed with parked cars, making it extremely difficult to find a space. Opposite the hotel are private residences. We found the occupants to be quite rude; they aggressively told us not to park in any seemingly empty spots in front of their properties. This was the only instance of rudeness I encountered during my entire trip to New Zealand; every other local I met was incredibly friendly.

This hotel is really amazing. The golf driving range is behind. Although it is very partial, it retains the tradition. You don't have to worry about it in the hotel. The waiter is very friendly.