With a stay at Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers, you'll be centrally located in Wellington, within a 5-minute drive of Interislander Ferry Terminal and Lambton Quay. .This hostel is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Wellington Central Business District and 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Old St Paul's.
Wellington Central Business District - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
Lambton Quay - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
Archives New Zealand - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
New Zealand Parliament Buildings - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
Sky Stadium - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
Getting around
Wellington Station - 1 min walk
Wellington Intl. Airport (WLG) - 19 min drive
Restaurants
Mojo Featherston - 2 min walk
Concorde Café - 5 min walk
Coffee Supreme Midland Park - 6 min walk
Trax Cafe & Bar - 2 min walk
Master Kong - 4 min walk
About this property
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers offers 108 accommodations with safes. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided daily.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 108 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include safes, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless internet access and a vending machine.
At Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers, enjoy a satisfying meal at the restaurant. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge.
Featured amenities include express check-out, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities.
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers has a restaurant on site.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
No onsite parking available
Food and drink
A bar/lounge
A restaurant
Family friendly
Laundry facilities
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
ATM
Laundry facilities
Lockers
Safe at front desk
Vending machine
Guest services
Housekeeping (daily)
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Elevator
Front entrance ramp
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible lounge
Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
More
Art Deco architecture
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Towels provided
Entertainment
Cable/satellite channels
More
Heating
Safe
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: NZD 10
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
At check-in, guests must provide a record of full COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccination record requirement applies to all guests aged 12 and up; guests must have received complete COVID-19 vaccination at least 30 days prior to check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Deposit: NZD 20.00 per stay
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
Late check-out fee: NZD 10 (subject to availability)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
National rating
Property class, provided by our rating system, is based on property type, amenities, and services.
Property is also known as
Downtown Backpackers
Downtown Backpackers Hostel
Downtown Backpackers Hostel Wellington
Downtown Backpackers Wellington
Hotel Waterloo Backpackers
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers Wellington
Hotel Waterloo Backpackers (formerly Downtown Backpackers)
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers Hostel/Backpacker accommodation
Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers Reviews
Reviews
7.4
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Hotel rooms are not the same that are shown in photos it’s a old rooms with dirty smell, no trolly at reception to carry bags to room. No parking for cars available on site. Everthing is fake photos that are shown when we are booking on site. Windows are single glass old frame to much noise can’t sleep with kids. Overall i thought expedia is a good site to book good hotels but i thought i am not using expedia in future for booking.
Gurpreet
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
8/10 Good
Paul
Nov 24, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
For the price, it was good. Very old building with single pane windows, in a windy city like Wellington, you can really feel the draft in some places.
Overall however I would stay in a private room here again.
Paul
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
10/10 Excellent
Mayette
Traveled with group, Business traveler
Nov 24, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Mayette
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
8/10 Good
Daniel
Nov 24, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The staff was friendly and helpful. The building was vintage but in decent repair. The location is excellent.
Clean room with broken window so very cold. In need of an update. Staff all friendly and helpful. Great location. Fridge and microwave and kettle in room plus shared kitchen
Dawn
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
8/10 Good
Colleen
Nov 13, 2025
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Colleen
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
8/10 Good
Elise
Traveled with family
Nov 11, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
The room was very clean and well laid out. The cleaning staff that I bumped into in the hall were so lovely.
I wouldn’t recommend this place for someone that is a light-sleeper - as the building is very old, the sound proofing on the windows is non-existent so you can hear everything from the road below.
Elise
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
6/10 Okay
gaelle
Nov 9, 2025
Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
You get what you pay for.
That said, great location.
We really enjoyed our stay at Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers. The place felt welcoming from the start. Solid facilities, and genuinely warm, attentive staff all contributed to a relaxed and pleasant experience.
Do not stay here!! Pictures on websites are deceptive to what the actual rooms and facilities are. Place stinks, is old and terribly outdated. Beds and beddings have stains and smelly. Floor carpet is filthy and smells. Overall stay was a nightmare. Staff unhelpful.
anish
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
6/10 Okay
Gordon
Traveled with family
Oct 3, 2025
A 2 star hotel so it's a bit old and tired, but has comfortable beds and hot showers.
Close to public transport, eateries and within walking distance of the CBD