Piwaka Lodge and Backpackers

We were able to check into our room as we had been left instructions by Caitlin as she was not onsite at our time of arrival. We had to change rooms a couple of times due to separate issues, and this resulted in having a more spacious room. The Lodge can be a bit noisy at nighttime with multiple residents walking along the corridors.

Great service and very enjoyable time there

Good central overnight stay. Clean and easygoing

Ver cosy, friendly owner.

I had a noisy neighbour but the host changed me to a quieter room which was an upgrade. Many thanks.

Great value for the money. Would recommend especially if on a budget.

This place was very welcoming, the host and the ambiance made me feel immediately at home. Everyone was friendly and kind. Right on the harbor so really pretty little walks right around the place. And the room was great. Breakfast was just toast and cereal, but can’t complain about a free breakfast.

Small room. Good to stay 1 night. Windows leaky - put a towel there and to the door slit.

What you would expect for what was paid.

Felt very welcoming and homely. Nice to have breakfast to help yoirself to and tea and coffee available all day. Good location. Would stay here again.

Property condition was not very good. Room was adequate fir one night

The owner lady so lovely & friendly. The place is a bit noisy.

Close to the ferry to the north island

Neat place, Everone was friendley ... right in town

Beautiful

I liked the genuine help i was given after problems with the boat crossing delays, the room was clean the tidy, the eating area was clean and well equipped for easy makeing food breakfast was good, the lady was friendly and helpfull, i would recomend it it others .

Excellent value. Everyone (staff & guests) really friendly. Owner was wonderful allowing us to leave our bags until we were ready to check in for ferry

Nice warm, comfortable homely feel. Nicci and the staff are very friendly & having a free breakfast was a pleasant surprise AAA

Nicci is an amazing host. She reserved a double suite with built-in bathroom. She kept the place tidy and clean and inviting. We had a wonderful time in Picton.

No comment

I absolutely loved, my family and I will come back for sure. Very comfy, clean and homie place! Great and positive energy!

I absolutely loved, my family and I will come back for sure. Very comfy, clean and homie place! Great and positive energy!

Great value for money, lovely host. Clean and we will return when back in Picton

Dodgy as. Walked through the facilities and then left.

Friendly staff, easy to locate and get to from Ferry terminal. Well worth the money.

The room wasn't lockable which was concerning, but overall the room was as expected and sheets etc clean

Nicci and her staff were very accommodating. Excellent customer service. Value for money. Well done.

Great deal

Value for money

Nicci is a wonderful host. The property is conveniently located—easy walk from the ferry and from restaurants and shops. Common areas are lovely and well stocked. Definitely recommend.

Our stay at Pewika was nothing short of wonderful. From the moment we arrived, Nicci, the owner, welcomed us with open arms and made us feel right at home. The accommodation was immaculate, cozy, and full of character. It was evident that a lot of care and attention to detail went into making Pewika a warm and inviting place to stay. One of the highlights was the delightful Christmas dinner that Nicci prepared for us. It was a beautiful gesture that made our holiday extra special. The following morning, the continental breakfast offered a great selection of cereals, spreads, and a delicious fruit salad, which was the perfect way to start the day. What made our stay even more memorable was the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world. The atmosphere at Pewika fostered enriching conversations and a sense of community that made us feel connected and appreciated. Although we only spent one night at Pewika, it left a lasting impression on us. We found ourselves wishing we could stay longer but had to continue our journey. We look forward to returning to Picton, and Pewika will definitely be our go-to place to stay. Nicci's incredible hospitality and the welcoming environment she has created make Pewika a truly special place. Thank you, Nicci, for making our stay so wonderful. We can't wait to visit again. Arohanui Brunella & Mehdi

The staff were next level awesome, friendly family environment, loved the free range pets.. a very good experience!

Very friendly service! We arrived late at night and the nice manager was very accomodating. I wish we didn’t have to rush off in the morning due to my schedule as the manaaki was impeccable

We traveled with a dog and were grateful to find somewhere for the night. The room was very cheap. The lady manager is very lovely. By the photos on the website i thought the lodge was close to the water but its right in the Picton township. There were a few...interesting characters staying at this lodge, possibly in long term living situations there? There were loud exchanges in the halls at about 2am by men obviously under the influence of something. This didnt bother us as it made our stay interesting but could concern others? One man tried to get into our locked shared bathroom quite loudly but was unable to. I didn't feel unsafe, but we did have a dog with us in our room. If i were a single female i wouldn't have liked this situation. The hostel is tired but fit for purpose.

Good

The lady who runs it was very friendly. Our room was fine and had a very comfy bed. Our room didn't have a key which was really annoying. We were kept up at night by two men talking loudly and hammering away, building something on the wall next to us. It was very weird and so annoying. Not your typical backpackers vibe.

Ambience

Was expecting a room with shower turned out there were only 4 communal shower/toilet combined for up to 52 people. Included continental breakfast was good though. There are only 5 onsite carparks although you can park on the roadside.

We arrived after midnight and still got an incredibly warm welcome. Superb room, really clean and comfortable and super friendly staff. Highly recommend.

Absolutely my favourite place to stay in Picton. The unique configuration of the buiding and the personality of Nicci and the staff make it feel safer, warmer, and more like home than any other backpackers' I've stayed at, anywhere in the world.

Clean, bright, big kitchen, breakfast, plenty of hot water in showers, staff were great !!

The owners and staff are truly fantastic! Hospitable, helpful, and caring. Building itself is a bit run down, but I think that's somewhat typical for hostels in the area. everything was in working order. One thing to note is the property is entirely pet friendly, which makes me really happy because I LOVED having their dog around. Unfortunately I'm allergic to cats, so had some trouble but the staff helped keep me away from them and allergies at bay the best they could.

Nicci was super friendly and helpful. The location is very convenient. The property was very clean and tidy

Great people and location!

It was quiet clean and quite private you had the choice to mingle or stay in your room. I travelled with my dog and the room I was given made it easy access inside and outside. Donot judge a book by its cover.

We stayed at Piwaka lodge for one night prior to doing the Queen Charlotte track. The location of the accommodation was great but otherwise we were disappointed with our stay. Once we arrived we found out that our advertised "ensuite" bathroom was shared with another room. Then we found out that there's no key to our room, apparently the previous guest took it with them. As a result of that we had to move to another room that had shared facilities. The property needs an overall upgrade as it's quite run down and the cleanliness of the property wasn't great either.

Relaxed atmosphere. Nicci was lovely

The lady that greeted us at 10.30pm with our sleeping children was the loveliest lady I have ever met at a hotel/backpackers. So helpful and kind and super homely. Definitely going back. Thanks I never got to thank her properly.

Friendly. Easy walking distance to town. Great breakfast.

Our stay at Piwaka Lodge was excellent and our hostess was awesome. It was a lovely warm family setting in a beautifully set up facility. We will definitely recommend Piwaka Lodge to those wanting a top notch stay in Picton. 5 Star accommodation...

Friendly host nicci

Unique atmosphere, accomodating staff to arriving late.

Very nice location, walking distance from the store and restaurants. The facility has only few showers, so the wait time to take a shower may be long.

Great location, staff, outdoor seating area and breakfast

Lovely staff that go above and beyond what you expect. Free, GIANT, breakfast with freshly made scones and muffins. Free, unlimited, strong WiFi. The beds were clean and comfortable and the bathrooms were as well. Location is very central to Picton; short walking distance to hikes, bars, cafes, and rental car companies. The best part, however, was definitely the staff :) would 10/10 recommend this place!

Lovely stay before we caught the ferry the next day. The host was so nice, giving instructions on where to catch the ferry and the special porridge she makes is yum! Highly recommend

Conveniently located with off street parking, the bunk in the dorm wasn't the most comfortable but typical of a hostel (I was a little concerned I'd fall out as there was no safety rail), the dorm room did have a wash basin which was handy, but the winner was the welcoming host and her amazing breakfast! I am already planning to stay again

Nikki was an excellent host, breakfast was amazing and the rooms were super clean and tidy lots of amenities close by. Had a great stay

we arrived on Christmas eve and they were awesome and welcoming , mixing us in with the family and others. we had a room that was quite comfortable and away from the action. we want them to know how we aprreciated the C. morning breakfast and hospitality in the bustle of it all.

It's the only hostel where I felt like home, and belongs to the list of hostel that I wish I had stayed more !

For a backpackers lodge this was excellent. Ideal for travellers of all ages. Nicci was a super host really taking care of all her visitors - home made muffins for breakfast every morning!

The host was fantastic. I really enjoyed my stay there. This is the best place I’ve ever stayed at. She makes dinner and breakfast everyday. She makes you feel at home. It was clean, cute and cozy.

Having never stayed at any backpackers site before the staff and guests were friendly and helpful. Very clean, organized and lovely accommodation close to everything.

Very friendly staff. I knew we had share bathroom, but didn't really like the Jack & Jill style, as one could hear everything through to the adjoining bedroom. Lovely owner. I wish her well.

Very convenient location and a reasonable price. Owners recently taken over property and working to get all rooms up to scratch. Owners are very helpful and trying to ensure guest stays are satisfactory. No issues with our stay.

Second time in this little hotel. Does the owner ever sleep? She is always available, always very helpful, making people breakfast, whilst cleaning and tidying....

We stayed in one of the Queen-Bed rooms with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. We overall enjoyed our stay, and the location was great! The new owners were great and super friendly. While we were there, we heard someone tell the owner they wouldn't be having breakfast because they were gluten-free and the owner went out to the grocery store and picked up some stuff just for them!

Good

Within walking distance from ferry. Large place with plenty of space and facilities. Unlike in other places towels and breakfast are provided!

Nice/clean backpackers, with all the necessary facilities and seperate rooms for families. Ideal for an overnight stay. The bonus is a free continental breakfast is provided (basic cereals, milk, toast, butter & spreads).

Great location near cafes, shops, bakery and port. The decor and hosts had real character and made our stay memorable and enjoyable. We certainly were not expecting a 4 poster bed and a chandelier in our bedroom. The kitchen had everything we needed and plenty of space for everyone. One of the best backpackers we have been to.

Very pleasent and acomadating.went out of there way to let us in off a midnight ferry sailing.

I stayed a night there on my way south of NZ. The decor in the main hallway is a charming mix of California lifestyle meets Cowboys out West meets The Outback. The staff was also charming and greatly hospitable, leaving no doubt about how much the place was to be a home for travellers and themselves not just a temporary place to crash for a night or so. The room I booked was for sharing, 3 beds in one. I got the room all to myself thanks to good timing and a low peak season. The bed was comfortable; and considering I took the one next to the window on a winter night, I didn't even need the space heater. The WiFi was fast. They had electric sockets conveniently placed for tech junkies to charge without letting go of their phones. The common lounges were adorable, filled to the brim with board games and books and information. The Kitchen and dining area were immaculate and they kept they're complimentary foods and basics well stocked. Bonus tip: if you're assigned to a room by the patio area and get up early enough doggies are let out and will let you pet them through your window. A definite mood booster to appease being awake before the sun is. Loved that hotel.

Perfect spot for a one night stay.

Very clean and tidy. Better than many backpackers and motels.

Nice place to stay. Everything in short walking distance. Kitchen was cleaner than any other place I’ve stayed. Showers had plenty of hot water and WiFi worked well.

Nice hotel , nice room , great owners very welcoming , good amenities . Very nice place and comfortable .

Owners were very friendly and helpful. We stayed in a double room and shared a bathroom with one other room. The room was beautifully decorated, not what you expect from a backpackers and bed was very comfortable. Free breakfast was also provided which was much appreciated. Short walk to many bars and restaurants. Highly recommended

My partner and I were met by the lovely Bob and Glenda they are so warm and inviting. And Bob loves a good natter and has a funny story to tell. They really looked after us especially as I got sick during our stay but I couldn't ask for more caring hosts. Fortunately I recovered quickly and so our holiday was thoroughly enjoyable

Easy check in. Convenient location. Kitchen a little small but kept clean and orderly.

The location is great. The hostel is clean and comfortable. Bob is so friendly, pleasant and eager to help with any needs you have. We had a wonderful stay.