416 ReviewsProperty Location City Lodge Accommodation - Backpacker is in the heart of Auckland, walking distance from Myers Park and Auckland International College. This 5-star hostel is close to University of Auckland and Mt. Eden. Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 99 guestrooms featuring refrigerators. Wireless Internet access (surcharge) is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily. Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Make use of convenient amenities, which include wireless Internet access (surcharge) and tour/ticket assistance. Dining Continental breakfasts are available for a fee. Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include high-speed (wired) Internet access (surcharge), a 24-hour front desk, and multilingual staff. Parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
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No.150 Vincent Street,Auckland,NZ,New ZealandProperty Location City Lodge Accommodation - Backpacker is in the heart of Auckland, walking distance from Myers Park and Auckland International College. This 5-star hostel is close to University of Auckland and Mt. Eden. Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 99 guestrooms featuring refrigerators. Wireless Internet access (surcharge) is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily. Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Make use of convenient amenities, which include wireless Internet access (surcharge) and tour/ticket assistance. Dining Continental breakfasts are available for a fee. Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include high-speed (wired) Internet access (surcharge), a 24-hour front desk, and multilingual staff. Parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Rating from 416 reviews
Sleep Quality
RoomsServiceValueCleanliness 
Harris L on 07/02/2018 07:17
Booked City lodge for our couple of days transfer. Weâve enjoyed the stay, fantastic location, very clean, great hospitality but note this is not your typical 3-5 star hotel. This is a hostel style accomodation with private rooms and ensuite. If youâre looking for a budget option City lodge is perfect!
Marinaofthec on 04/02/2018 22:19
Good central location, friendly staff.
Rooms are basic but comfortable for what you pay.
Could do with facecloths and bigger glasses.
Not bad tho, we liked being close to kârd and queen st, aotea square etc
michele200929 on 11/01/2018 16:55
I stayed in a single ensuite room. It was no frills but I knew that going in and it was fine with me. It was clean and located in a convenient area. There was unusually cold weather when I was there and I was quite chilly in the room but they gave me a small space heater to use which helped. I took the airport shuttle bus to get to the hotel and then took a flat rate taxi (called by the hotel) back to the airport.
gorocketdog on 06/01/2018 23:40
There were some things I really liked and disliked about the hostel but all in all, for the price, it's the best value that's not completely filthy!
Stayed here for 3 nights around New Years Eve/Day in January 2017. Oddly, they don't offer a BBH discount but that's alright as it was still a value. City Lodge is close to many bus stations & the neartest Skybus (airport) shuttle is maybe 4 blocks. Definitely walk-able but it will be uphill as we discovered. This is really unavoidable in Auckland since it's built over ~50 volcanoes. To the start of the CBD it's maybe 4 blocks and through the CBD to the marina/ferries you're looking at 8 blocks. Maybe 5 blocks from Albert Park. Wi-fi is not free and is considerably cheaper @ an internet cafe.
WHAT I LIKED: The hostel is SO environmentally-conscious. They recycle every type of material including compost (the only hostel I saw that recycled paper/cardboard) and had a "donation" bin. We were pleased to donate our towels to them versus putting them in trash. Plus, they're non-smoking rooms. Front desk staff was very helpful in looking up the observatory/transport information for us. Likewise, they stored our luggage AND COLD FOOD upon our arrival and check out. Good location as noted above. Plus, all rooms have a private en suite... you would pay a lot of money for that in NZ in general especially in the city. The place felt very secure in the evening as you needed a key to enter/exit.
I would advise you to avoid driving a car in Auckland if you can, as parking is difficult to find and very expensive. City Lodge offered parking for $15 NZD which is crazy cheap because on-street parking -- I looked -- was $6/hour with no daily max. The front desk closes around 18:00 I believe so if you need a concierge/tended to 25/8 I suggest you stay elsewhere.
The basement is the common area with plenty of seating, billiards, table tennis and TV all free. The cooking area is spacious too. We didn't have many groceries so I cannot remember if there was enough food storage. But rooms had mini-refrigerators which was VERY convenient. Only hostel we stayed in on North Island that had a full body mirror. Score. I am so glad the common/cooking area was a separate floor as it was quite loud (read below). Beds and bathroom were all clean. I enjoyed having a TV in the room as well and would guess this is standard. We desperately needed a washer & dryer before flying back and there were plenty here ($4 NZD each). A convenient store is literally across the road.
WHAT I DISLIKED: We were here over summer and the room was stifling hot. No air conditioner nor even fan. It was cooler outside than in because the rooms get no circulation. The 3 windows only cracked and the afternoon sun beat into our bathroom essentially turning it and our room into a sauna. Realizing this, we closed the bathroom door all day which turned it into a hotbox and cooled the sleeping area ~7º so noticeable but not enough to make the room cool down. Rooms are tight but I'd trade space for a private en suite.
Obviously, on New Years Eve the basement was rowdie as were the streets of Auckland in general. The hotel is just down the road from the fire and police station so you may hear more sirens than usual. Like all hostels in NZ, we could hear through the walls (heard the neighboring room's snoring) so definitely bring ear plugs because fireworks went off in the CBD so my mum heard all of those. For this reason I would NEVER stay in a room on the ground floor (the floor above the basement).
Although the beds were clean they weren't terribly comfortable. All 3 beds (1 single, 1 bunk bed) felt like concrete after 2 nights of sleeping. As noted, wi-fi isn't free either.
Anyway, we shopped around before buying and this really was the cheapest, not horrible option that still kept us close to the CBD without breaking the bank.
Rosemeen S on 02/01/2018 18:41
Pros: Location (walking distance to the city centre, we didn't have to use our car), friendly reception, clean room, TV
Cons: Parking issues - reception does not recommend where to park, so we had to find a parking garage on our own, we stayed here 2 nights, and nobody cleaned our room (even though we placed a sign up on the door.. I told the reception and they were confused as to what happened so just gave me new towels which smelled like bleach), AWFUL uncomfortable beds, wifi not included
At the end of it all - you get what you paid for. Next time, I would stay at a proper hotel (especially if you're staying for more than a night)
