The Black Sheep Backpackers

8 reports · 6 recent reports · 372 text reviews scanned

These are reports in traveler reviews, not independently verified incidents. Duplicate review text and strong repeat-reviewer identities count once.

Category matches are automated. Relevant passages are exact review quotes selected from concrete incident wording, not hidden model rationales. If none appears, treat the match as suspect and check the full review.

Evidence reviews

1. Review 1 Google Maps 6 months ago

   Automated category matches

   • Booking / payment / trust

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   Show full review

   Full review

   Booked with Hostel World. Got a call at 11 saying we needed to pay the full bill before mid day to reserve the room. I say but you've get a 15% deposit as security that we show up. I let them know we are both at work and is it possible after work. They let me know no. Great. My friend who I am staying with takes his lunch break early to head down and pay. He is there from 11:30 to 12:15- noone at reception. Apparently they all just dissappear. Then as I go to check my booking to call them. I see that my booking is canceled. We can't rebook because they already sold the room on. We are now homeless because accommodation throughout the whole of QT is sold out. We are now without any accomidation for the next two nights. I'm absolutely livid.

2. Review 2 Google Maps 9 months ago

   Automated category matches

   • Theft / access / security Relevant passage Belongings got stolen in luggage storage.

   Show full review

   Full review

   Room smells like body odour. Belongings got stolen in luggage storage. Management was not bothered by this. Bathrooms are horrible. Hard to see in, all black showers and shiny roofs you can see people on different parts of the bathroom.

3. Review 3 Google Maps 9 months ago

   Automated category matches

   • Theft / access / security

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   Show full review

   Full review

   People are stealing belongings from bags and boxes, and management shows no concern. The bathrooms in both the men’s and women's facilities are disgusting.

4. Review 4 Google Maps 10 months ago

   Automated category matches

   • Boundary violations / harassment Relevant passage Most concerning, a male housekeeper twice entered the women’s bathroom while I was undressed or showering, without knocking or announcing himself.
   • Violence / coercion / drugging

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   • Theft / access / security

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   Show full review

   Full review

   I would not recommend this hostel, especially for female travelers. The check-in process was confusing, amenities were misleading (no hairdryer, limited laundry hours, no coin exchange, unclean common areas), and the staff were unhelpful and dismissive. Laundry was advertised, but guests aren’t told that the machines only operate between 5pm–11pm. When we returned from a late tour, we tried to do one quick load around 9pm. The machines only take coins, and the front desk doesn’t provide change — meaning we had to walk 10 minutes into town to find some. When we got back, we had to rush through the cycle, and the washers were older didn’t even include a spin option, so our clothes were soaking wet. At 10:15pm, we asked if we could wait a few minutes past 11pm for the dryer to finish, and were told no. The staff member named Denise, came in at 10:58pm, joked that we were “there until the last minute,” then awkwardly backtracked, saying she was “only joking.” When we asked if there was another laundromat nearby, she told us to “ask the morning receptionist.” We ended up outside in the cold trying to rinse the moisture by hand in the dark for about 40 minutes. Most concerning, a male housekeeper twice entered the women’s bathroom while I was undressed or showering, without knocking or announcing himself. When I reported it each time after it happened (within a 20 minute window) the staff, Nicole, she offered no apology, downplayed the situation, told my husband I didn’t offer the correct facts and changed their tone when I returned with him and only suggested we check out early and reimburse us for the night we already paid for. The lack of accountability and disregard for guest safety was unacceptable—the only positive thing about this hostel is its location.

5. Review 5 Google Maps 1 year ago

   Automated category matches

   • Violence / coercion / drugging

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   • Theft / access / security

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   Show full review

   Full review

   Terrible. Just terrible. Missed the bus because they locked my stuff in the storage room and no one would open it for me after 8pm or something, no one you can call after reception hours, they don't care about you and charge 50 for a horrible bunk bed where you'll hit your head just by sitting up slightly. Worst value for money I've seen in my life and unhelpful personnel

6. Review 6 Google Maps 1 year ago

   Automated category matches

   • Theft / access / security

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   Show full review

   Full review

   The check in process was disappointing; we were there in late afternoon, but no one available at the "check-in desk". There was a sign that said you had to download a phone app in order to check in. (what if someone doesn't have a smart phone with local New Zealand and Queenstown service, they can't check in???) Meanwhile after long 5 hour journey was anxious to use the restroom, but the doors locked and we didn't have the key code. Downloaded the app, required typing in a lot of info on a tiny phone screen, finally got it done, said it would email me the key codes ... but I never got the email. Finally someone showed up, got us manually checked in, was able to finally use the restroom and checked into our shared room. . The rooms were fairly nice, bathrooms fairly nice (though lacking in shelves or places to put your toiletries, shampoo etc except on floor), and the features at the place very nice, sauna, hot tub, nice kitchen, and location GREAT right near downtown beautiful park). . Parking is challenging, but found limited free spaces on nearby side streets. . Check in desk staff "Juan" and "Telisha" were GREAT help when they were on shift. Seems the facility is maybe understaffed. . Overall a pretty decent place, just that check-in only caters to folks that have smart phones with access in that country and location (and the check-in app that supposedly emails you the security door locks doesn't work reliably, and thus can't even use the restrooms when you arrive). Still the location and some of the other nice features of the place are very nice.

7. Review 7 Google Maps 1 year ago

   Automated category matches

   • Booking / payment / trust

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   Show full review

   Full review

   WARNING DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOSTEL My friends and I booked beds at the hostel via hostelworld and paid the deposit. According to HostelWorld only a deposit was required and the remaining balance was to be paid upon arrival. On the day of check in we called to inform of a late check in and were told on the phone our reservation had been cancelled as the full balance wasn’t paid. We received no communications from Black Sheep Hostel about the payment required or cancellation. This is the worst hostel I have ever had to deal with. The worker on the phone Juan was absolutely useless and said he will talk to his manager and get back to us which he never did.

8. Review 8 Hostelworld 1 year ago

   Automated category matches

   • Theft / access / security

     No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.

   Show full review

   Full review

   Amazing community, hot tub and sauna were so nice. Room security wasnt the best as often the door wasnt shut properly and could be opened without needing a code and the kitchen was a but cramped but overall i would definitely recommend