A lot of effort has gone into making this a comfortable, modern and homely place to stay. Good facilities and lovely outdoor area.

It's a shame it was tarnished from before we arrrived by the distinctly unhelpful couple managing the place. Their grasp of the English language was problematic and they worked on the theory that their responsibilities ended at 7pm and started at 10am. We found milk more than a month out of date in the fridge and when we asked if we could throw it away the response was, it's after 7, put it back in the fridge I'll deal with it at 11am tomorrow. They initially claimed the wifi wasn't working after 7pm, seemingly to avoid selling us a code (even though people were busy skyping on their laptops!). And when asked for change to use the coin operated internet they complained and said it wasn't their responsibility at 7pm.

Finally on departing, when we handed the key back and said thank you very much, they totally ignored us and carried on speaking to another guest in German.

All relatively small issues but spoilt what could have been a pleasant stay.

This Backpacker COULD be a wonderful place to stay and relax (nice rooms, kitchen and lounge area, beautiful garden) but the German couple who runs it at the moment is a complete disaster and it was the most unpleasant stay we have had so far.
On our arrival at 4 pm we had to wait for nearly two hours before we could check in our room, because there was nobody there, they couldn't be contacted on the phone and hadn't left keys for us as the hostels usually do when there is noone at the reception. On booking they told us they would be there at 4 pm, but they just showed up until much later and didn't even apolpgize. Besides us there were a coulpe of other people waiting and wondering. By the way, working hours from 9 -12 and 4 -7 pm are quite bizarre and we wondered that we had reached someone on the phone when we made our booking.
They have no clear concept of what and how they charge for the internet and they didn't seem to clean the toiltes as we saw the same stains throughout our stay.
Further, they are not well informed about the tours they offer, although several advertisments in the place claim that Riverstone Backpackers are experts on Tongariro Crossing. There are oneway and return shuttles and since we had a car we asked how the oneway shuttles worked, but Robert (the German guy in charge) didn't know about it and said that he doesn't think it works at all, so we booked the much more expensive return shuttle. But the next morning we found out that the same shuttle that picked us up, also picked up other people with their own car at the car park and then drove us to the starting point. So we could have done the same, had only somebody been able to tell us. So we found out about it within a day, the couple has been working there for over a month and is not informed!
Maybe all this could still have been excused, if they hadn't been so impertinent and narrow-minded.
Check-out time is 10 am and at 2 minutes past ten they started to remind guests of the check-out time!
We were in our room at 3 minutes past ten, the linen already removed and ready to grab our packed lugguge when Robert came into our room with his own key without knocking at the door, although he knew we hadn't checked out yet (there are not many rooms, so they knew). This is really a provocative and narrow-minded way of telling your guests that they should leave. As we did so and were already about to get into our car, Robert even came after us reminding us of one single plate we had forgotten to clean after breakfast!
Last but not least their English is the level of a 7th-grader; if you make a booking via phone make sure you have some time and patience.
And someone working at a hostel should know what an expiry date on a credit card is.

If you want to stay at this hostel make sure these two have left; then it could be a really great place.

Riverstone Backpackers = Pure Magic!

It's like Riverstone itself is integral to the scene!
When we're down in Turangi & National Park, we always check ahead before coming, the trip isn't the same if we can't lodge there- we've stayed there 5 separate occasions over a few years and it's always been excellent - both as a venue to chill out and as a great location for a day (or three) hiking trails, fishing, being on the lake -well you get the picture! Close to basically everything.

Rich Carthew
New York.

We were pleasantly surprised by how cosy and funky this backpackers is. Really cool double bedrooms, great outdoor area and cosy kitchen and living room. Laidback and just a comfortable, nice place to stay. Would highly recommend.