Happy Apple Backpackers

Happy Apple Backpackers descritpion

A 15-minute walk from Motueka Beach, Happy Apple Backpackers offers a guest lounge with fireplace, a large shared kitchen and a hot tub in the garden. Free bikes are available for guests to explore the area. Free parking is provided.
Guests can choose to stay in a lively dormitory room or in the comfort of a private room. Toilet and bathroom facilities are shared.
The property has a large outdoor lawn with hammocks, a vegetable garden and picnic tables. The lounge area has a large TV, a selection of movies, a Wii set and a range of board games. Guest laundry facilities are available.
Happy Apple Backpackers is a 5-minute bike ride from Motueka town centre. It is a 20-minute drive from Abel Tasman National Park (Marahau) and a 40-minute drive from Nelson Airport.

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Facilities of Happy Apple Backpackers

Outdoors ：BBQ Facilities | Grounds

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Internet ：WiFi is available in all areas and costs NZD 2 per 30 minutes.

Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

Reviews for Happy Apple Backpackers

Review 1：it is quite far from the city center

Review 2：Bill and Janet, the owners, are super welcoming and friendly. The hostel has a big garden as well as kitchen and a comfortable common area. Clean and tidy with small rooms where you can rest properly

Review 3：good location, great value for money. Amazing staff - loved the enforced silence time as everybody was able to rest well. Not very common feature around other hostels where some noisy guests can make sleeping impossible.

Review 4：Only 5 mins to shower. Quite a hike to the town. Unisex facilities!

Review 5：It was clean, comfortable, the staff were very friendly and helpful. Free internet if you stayed near the office. Great value. Lots of garden to spread out.

Review 6：The hot tub wasn't filled :-(

Review 7：The hostel has a quite large outdoor area. With some chickens running around. There is a big kitchen and a very good barbecue that suit anyones needs. The owners are a really nice, little bit older but quite young in their minds, couple. They give you a really warm welcome!

Review 8：This hostel is great with an excellent location, heaps of parking, a big tidy kitchen and decent sized rooms. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

Review 9：Heading into the Abel Tasman was a great location to stay in Janet running it was very accomodating for our 1am arrival and 7am departure Booked the day before staying and was easy, clean and comfortable. Great place

Review 10：we loved it so much that we decided to go back to stay there to relax after hiking in Abel Tasman! The lady working at the reception is incredibly nice, the place is nice and tidy, great atmosphere!

Review 11：not being frequent user of back packers little unsure of unisex ablutions etc...

Review 12：solitude, peaceful, quiet despite being populated hardly knew other guests were there..

Review 13：Timer in the shower, extremely far from the bus stop, had a big luggage to carry, took me 40 mins to get to the bus stop in the morning

Review 14：Very clean, and relaxing, has a large garden

Review 15：Super clean, tidy and organised hostel with spacious communal areas, lovely management and extremely comfortable mattresses also a TV in the double rooms and fast wifi is a bonus! Up there with one of the best hostels I have stayed in!

Review 16：Very crowded kitchen in the morning and evening. No free coffee or tea. In the booking it said that check in started at 3pm but when we got there the reception did not open until 4 pm.

Review 17：Nice room (doubble) with tv. Large backyard with nice places to hang out. The staff recommended good walks in the Abel Tasman National park. Location wise it was maybe 30 mins to drive to the entry to the park.

Review 18：Shame that the cooker wasn't working and we weren't told so we had bought items to cook and then couldn't.

Review 19：Free wifi in communal areas. Great lounge with films, books and games. Decent communal shower and toilet facilities that are cleaned well. Room was perfectly adequate.

Review 20：Everything was nice, they mabe should pay more attention on cleaning because of the spider's web around in the bedroom.

Review 21：The staff was really friendly, there is a big kitchen and an awesome outdoor area with couches, garden, a volleyball net, and even a little vegetable garden where you can pick some herbs and stuff for free. The beds were comfy, I slept really well, but they might forget some spider's web here and there.

Review 22：Kitchen wasn't great bit dirty and hardly any utensils to use compared to amount of backpackers there!

Review 23：We stayed for 2 nights and thought this accommodation was good for short length of time. Comfy bed, good showers, free wifi and bikes (if any left!) great garden area for chilling out. Like they say it's bit far out of centre but good location in my opinion to travel to marahou for kayaking!

Review 24：The showers were on a 5 minute timer for hot water. That needs to be changed. I like to take at least a 10 min hot shower. I understand when you have very few showers and a lot of guests you want to limit the time people stay in the shower. But, come on... 5 mins? Also, they need a wifi repeater for the rooms. The wifi was pretty strong in the common area and the kitchen. But it was extremely weak in my room. And given the fact that the guests that were staying there while I was there weren't very friendly I didn't want to stay in the common area.

Review 25：The staff was very friendly and most helpful. They were actually my favorite part of the place. Tons of fridge space. I was very happy to get room in one of their many fridges.

Review 26：That the bathrooms were shared by gender. Should make one for men only, the other for women only. Receptionist should give clearer, actual demonstration on the hot water works in each shower upon arrival & didn't seem to care nor follow up on fact TV in my room didn't work.

Review 27：The most comfy mattress and pillows I have ever slept on, anywhere, including all types of accom. Bill was amazing. He let me use a bike after I checked out and also held my bag for me. A very lovely host & man.

Review 28：The room was a little small, but if we had been able to book earlier, we would have asked for two double rooms, so our fault really.

Review 29：Our hosts went out of their way to be helpful and make us feel at home. They were so kind and friendly!

Review 30：The hostel describes itself as Eco-friendly and that's why they offer only 5 minute "hot" shower. In fact the shower was not even warm, the water pressure was low and it takes one minute already before you get any warm water. One shower was leaking for two days (but water is soo precious...).The room was not very clean and the television was not working.

Review 31：Kitchen well equipped It was very quite in the evening

Review 32：Paid wifi

Review 33：The fact that it was close to city center. But then again, Motueka is so small. We had a long chat with the person who runs the place and that was good. Standard backpacker's place with lots of kids.

Review 34：We had a bit of a snafu at check in, and the lady (Janet I believe?) immediately went on the defensive and clearly really needed the funds. In the end it worked out and she was nice, but just hope you don't have any problems! Customer service is a bit lacking.

Review 35：Great location, quiet at night, great wifi signal. Reasonably clean. The male owner was very kind and provided great advice.

Review 36：Beds creaks, WiFi is bad, just in kitchen, no Access from room or patio, tight rules being ridiculous, if you have a chance go for other accomodation

Review 37：It is clean, have garden where you can grab a fruit or veg,

Review 38：If you dont have a car it is a little far from shops etc. The staff was kind of nice but sometimes it felt they were really suspicious towards the guests - asking around in which room you stay at etc. which we found a little strange.

Review 39：Clean, nice double room and toilets/bathrooms. Nice garden.

Review 40：Kitchen does not provide anything other than utensils and cutlery. Carry your own salt and pepper. Hot showers run only for 5 mins, followed by a 2 min break. Lights stay on for only 5 mins in the bathroom. No wifi coverage in the rooms, got to use the lounge.

Review 41：Nice hostel, the advantage being ease of access to abel tasman coast. Friendly owner.

Review 42：The shower hot water valve was a bit tricky to start with. But this is nitpicking.

Review 43：For a basic hassle free accommodation which we wanted it was ideal. Clean comfortable and quiet.

Review 44：Genuine caring, friendly proprietors. Willing accommodate needs. I would have absolutely no problem recommending this facility in fact I would endorse it :)

Review 45：nil

Review 46：I found this backpackers to be very good value for money. The room was clean and the facilities were good.

Review 47：Being opposite the toilet was a little noisy during the night with people coming and going all night.

Review 48：Very helpful staff. Great Facilities.

Review 49：Bright and colourful, everything looked clean and well maintained.......great hang out area on the main lawn for kids too...10 outta 10

Review 50：Very spacious rooms and super comfortable beds. Large area with lots of seating for chilling out and a free pool table.

Review 51：Wifi not working in room. No cabinets with lock possibility in room Bed very uncomfortable and bad smell

Review 52：Staff very kind.

Review 53：Great couple running a brilliant hostel,4irish guys room 18! Hostel has all u need while backpacking!!

Review 54：The bed has very strong bad smelling

Review 55：Owners have been very helpful, especially when it comes to the Abel Tasman activities and walks. Great garden to chill out

Review 56：Rooms are basic but spa was great and kitchen was useful. Good location, fairly close to centre of Motueka.

Review 57：Free Wifi

Review 58：Bed was squeaky

Review 59：The couple who run it are lovely, everywhere is clean and looked after!

Review 60：Big lawn with plenty of social seating areas, hot tub and decent free Wi-Fi. Clothesline and good, clean air.

Review 61：Mixed shared bathrooms

Review 62：Friendly staff

Review 63：Very clean and the owners were kind. Of course the free wifi is great!! Big kitchen and bikes available! :)

Review 64：not being able to use the tv in the room

Review 65：friendly service

Review 66：Extra charge if you want to use credit, wifi weak in the room (good in common areas)

Review 67：Single beds comfortable, gave you 2.5 hours of free wifi, clean

Review 68：wifi not working

Review 69：It was very crowded in the kitchen.

Review 70：Valuble

Review 71：Friendly staff, quiet setting. Stayed for one night with friends all good for a backpackers, clean long walk to town, with a car couple minutes :)

Review 72：Staff & facilities were fantastic.

Review 73：Half an hour outside the town centre, but very friendly and nice kitchen/lounge and large garden.

Review 74：The office lady was so lovely!

Review 75：Nothing

Review 76：Everything

Review 77：All was great

Review 78：Clean Room look like new earth friendly (hot watter from solar panels) nice toilets, showers

Review 79：It was busy, but that was kind of nice too!

Review 80：Great value, very pleasant, very helpful owner/managers. Would stay there again!

Review 81：Could hear the snoring next door It's quite a big hostel Bathrooms

Review 82：Paid Wifi is not of this world anymore.

Review 83：Friendly reception, informative. Good facilities.

Review 84：Far away from town. Rooms are ok but not very cozy.

Review 85：Nice host, very friendly. Lots of parking space.

Review 86：Lack of drying room , mixed sex facilities, light on timer and difficult shower system so people stuck in toilet and shower without light. Heating only put on after repeated request. Small room.

Review 87：Very helpful and friendly staff. Big kitchen and nice lounge. Good outside area,

Review 88：The hostel is really far from the center. We walked approx. 45 minutes from the nakedbus stop, so if you carry heavy backpacks, that might be a point worth considering. The lady-owner was quite unfriendly and apparently has set up her own cancellation policy (when cancelling via e-mail, it does not matter if you send the mail on time - the only criteria for punctual cancellation she allows is the time she reads your e-mail, which is very, very arbitrary.) You pay some extra fee for booking via booking.com (or for something else, I don't remember exactly - but there was some sort of extra fee we did not have to pay anywhere else). When my friend and I arrived, we were criticised for arriving via nakedbus. Which is the only way to get there, so I didn't get the point of that. Apart from that, I think it is not her business how people get there. All in all, I'd rather stay in any other hostel in Motueka, Happy Apple has a bad location, the facilities are ok but average, and I really found the lady unfriendly.

Review 89：There is a nice large garden area

Review 90：I wasn't expecting to encounter large numbers of fruitpickers using the backpacker as cheap accommodation. Bathroom/toilet cleaners did their routine at 4.00 am daily, and not in silence.

Review 91：Nice clean newish rooms

Review 92：Even though there were nicely worded signs asking for consideration between 10pm and 8am there was constant noise of people talking loudly, banging doors, running in corridors. Nothing to do with management, just rudeness of other guests.

Review 93：Very friendly owners.

Review 94：Having to pay a 10 dollars to stay and use the facilities after checkout. It's not much but I have never encountered this at any of the many hostels I have stayed at. Location was too far out of town

Review 95：Property grounds were nice and spacious

Review 96：Great location next to Toad Hall (cafe and shop selling produce and other bits and pieces) which does great coffee and food - just walk through the gate between the two places. The staff were friendly and accommodating and there are plenty of common areas for hanging out, both indoors and out.

Review 97：Location. 2 k out of center and a very long walk fro and to bus stop, esp at 6.30 in the morning. Option was walk or a taxi for $10. Better to pay $1 extra for yha which is much closer to center. My room smelled really weird, but that happened in more places. And it's a very 'green' hostel which is good, but sucks for showering cause it's only warm for 3-5 minutes. It's an okay hostel, just not worth the price.

Review 98：It was okay. Nice staff, quiet, so sleeping was no problem.

Review 99：Poured with rain so didn't get to enjoy some of the outdoor activities!!

Review 100：Own room but big lounges for mingling. Lots of different areas and things to do. Warm welcome Some free WiFi time.

Review 101：Staff were welcoming, friendly and helpful. Good location for Abel Tasman, bird-watching. Lovely fruit and veg and ice-cream shop next door. Hostel had own garden produce for guests to use.

Review 102：its quite a bit of a walk away from the city center which is a minor inconvenience if you dont have your own transport.

Review 103：everything was well secured (video cameras) and the owner was always there if you had any questions. very clean and efficient.

Review 104：-

Review 105：Good atmosphere, very nice people, great facilities for a solo, mature traveller. Nice grounds. Plenty of space. Location a few kms out of town, but bicycles available to use, great!

Review 106：Only 5 minutes of warm water for the shower, which is ok, except that I couldn't get the shower to work and ended up taking a cold shower.

Review 107：Cheap, easy to find

Review 108：The hostel is 2-3km from Motueka town shops, so picking up something to eat or going out for a drink is a bit of a mission.

Review 109：Fairly quiet and with lots of space to relax. Large kitchen area. The covered outdoor terrace is really nice to relax in when the sun gets too hot!

Review 110：The bathrooms and toilets are a bit lame and dirty... When there are too many people you definitely feel oppressed..

Review 111：Vert nice location if you booked an Abel Tasman trip with the Sea Kayak Company (which is great !) Staff and owners are great

Review 112：If you dont have a car you have to walk about 30 mins from the busstop We paid more than booking.com told us even if we booked it one week earlier Even if im an eco-friendly person: washing long hair is not possible in 5 minutes! Having cold showers is not funny anyway, especially when its not warm outside The friendly staff tells you in form of signs that theyre going to help you booking tours. In fact the nice lady tells you harshly to call there by yourself. And the BEST and only offered tour is ACCIDENTALLY the neighbours By the way i havent been lying on such a bad matress in my life! And i was living in a car for months...

Review 113：Good for camping

Review 114：Bit of a walk from town with your backpacks on, luckily its easy to hitchhike. Could improve on their customer service as we didn't have a tour of the facilities.

Review 115：Great atmosphere from people staying there, fab outdoor area, big kitchen!!

Review 116：Great hostel, friendly atmosphere, good parking, helpful and chatty staff plus lots of space for cooking and relaxing. Each person had their own storage box in the kitchen which was a great idea. Close to the Abel Tasman National Park and a 20minute walk into the centre of Motueka

Review 117：Didn't really use the kitchen but at a glance thought guests couldhave kept it tidier. Door to room shuts too loudly if left to shut onits own (just like in all backpackers) Walls were quite thin so couldhear everything people said after they got home late from concert atRiwaka Hotel.

Review 118：Bed was surprisingly comfortable. Had an awesome sleep. The pool tableThe out door area is impressive Off-street parking

Review 119：the mattress was not really comfortable --> you layed on the duckboard, only cold showers, you have a mouldy smell in your rooms, the kitchen was not clean --> unappetizing, only internet for 30 mins

Review 120：big kitchen, friendly staff

Review 121：Noisy teenagers talking late at night. Light timer at the bathroom, which would go off after a few minutes.

Review 122：Nice clean room, a big outdoor area, big kitchen and dinning area.

Review 123：We were charged extra for using our credit card and also for use of abathroom right next door to our double room because it was"private". Just kind of cheesy...watch this guy. It was notworth making a fuss about.

Review 124：A very patient and caring lady at the front desk who gave us some greattravel tips, provided us with maps and advice. Turned out well.

Review 125：very clean and compfortable for a backbacker hostel ;) like a little hotel... staff was very friendly !!! close to abel tasman and split apple rock :)

The Fine Print

If you expect to arrive outside reception opening hours, please inform Happy Apple Backpackers in advance, using the contact details found on the booking confirmation.