I had an awesome time at this hostel. The people were great. It's a 20 min walk from the city centre in a residential neighborhood. Warm lounge, cosy atmosphere

Fellow traveller recommended us City Garden Lodge, and we were not disappointed. Good value. Nice location close to Parnell Road, where you can find several good restaurants and cafes, and an uforgettable Chocolaterie.

Some say the common areas are run-down. In our opinion the kitchen was well-equipped and clean and we found the whole place charming. We started our 2 week NZ trip in Auckland, and got helpful advice from the owner.

The rooms might not be very fancy but the whole feel to this place is just great! The manager is friendly and helpful, location is great, nice outside area's and kitchen has everything you need (including spices, sauces and all those things that are hard to carry around when backpacking). It's not too expensive, so very much worth the money!
The first double room we stayed in had an old matras which wasn't that comfy, but when we got back the second time the double room was better.

so this place could be such a lovely spot if 1) they would put some money in fixing and renovating some things and 2) if there would be a different management. brenda, the wife is simply completely crazy. she treats people not like guest. just a few examples.
one day a girl was baking cookies and took some sugar which is provieded for free there, suddenly brenda started to yell at here, asking her if thats normal what shes doing? the girl obviously didnt know what she means. well the sugar is JUST for tea and coffee (maybe you should write that down somewhere). I also have to mention this girl was a guest and paid over 30 dollars to stay there! another incident was with the dishes. somebody didnt dry their dishes, brenda started to yell at everybody at athe kitchen "im gonna install a camera and will find out who that was, then ill put the dirty dishes in his bed and kick him out". I also have to mention that people book rooms for 80 dollars there (as they also have singles and double ans its not just a hostel) and those people were also in the kitchen and had to listen to that. one time i heart ian talking about a guest to another guest saying "he is such a freak and im happy when he leaves" - aehm your a manager and that a paying guest.

so the management is one thing. also the sheets are disgustingly dirty, as they wash them in coild water with broken machines. they actually smell like other people gross. they bathrooms are quite dirty. and the rooms smelly and yacky.

well the house itseld ist beautiful and the area, parnell is heavenly. too bad that the management obviously doesnt know how to run a place like that and how to treat guests, too bad really cause there is so much potential