Name: Chillawhile Backpackers Art Gallery - Age Restricted Hostel
Address: 1 Frome Street, Oamaru, Oamaru, Oamaru, 9400, New Zealand
Rating: 7

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Chillawhile Backpackers Art Gallery - Age Restricted Hostel

Oamaru

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ChillaWhile owner and staff are super friendly with lovely hostel. I had to check in late out of office hours but a lovely note from kelly was welcoming me she arranged everything to give me the best possible stay. Great staff and hosteler. I felt like home. I am looking forward to stay more nights. many thanks for all arrangements. Highly recommended to others for sure.

Wonderful stay

The hostel is nice and a bit unusual, what gives it a special charme.
Not everything match together but that highlight the artist theme of the hostel. 
But it can be bothering that check in should be before the Pinguin "Show" (City is famous for) otherwise it is 5$ extra cost (after 8 pm).
Pay with Cc is additional 5%. 
WiFi? 2$ for 500MB 
It sums up to a not so nice hospitality feeling. 
Parking is free btw ;-) 
Rooms can be cold, even in Summer, there is only a electric heater. 
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A free minded hostel 

I booked this hostel over the phone and specifically asked about the reference too 'over 50 age restriction' (?!) I was told this referred to dorm rooms only
This hostel exactly resembles poor student digs of old. All the facilities really need updating and it was amongst the most expensive hostels we stayed in in New Zealand.  I really wouldn't recommend it for anyone over 30! 
The guy on reception was pretty friendly but one kitchen was messy and  the other tiny.  Only one loo downstairs and that was in the same room as two showers?!It's also a long long walk to the main hub of Omauru. 

I just wish the person taking out booking had been more frank with us and wouldn't recommend this place now. 

Overpriced student digs type hostel

We did not have a stay that we would recommend to anyone. Hopefully the owner takes this as constructive feedback to help improve their business. When booking this backpackers I was drawn to the arty vibe and the old house looks beautiful from outside. It has potential, but the cold, lack of maintenance (and toilet paper) and awkward layout justify this rating.

We booked the private/separate double bedroom which is downstairs. The layout for this bedroom is extremely awkward. The bedroom is off the main reception room which also doubles as the "painting room". This limits privacy as you can hear everyone being greeted in the reception room, and no doubt everyone can hear you. The room is also very small and measures the width of a double bed.

The layout doesn't get any better. There is only one toilet downstairs, serving all the rooms, and this is located in the shower room! This means that it was hard to time a shower in the morning, so we didn't bother waiting too long and just left.

The lack of maintenance is also very evident. Our room smelt of damp. We found that there was major water damage (see photos). The damp set off my asthma. The door on the toilet/shower room had a bolt which was looking like it was about to come off (see photos), and the door did not close properly. Again, privacy was lacking.

I really felt the cold in this backpackers. We went into the lounge area at 6pm and the windows in the lounge were open! It was so cold that my puffer jacket and thermals weren't enough layers. We went out to dinner, and tried to stay as long as possible out of the backpackers.

This backpackers appears to be run by backpackers. Although the backpackers claims to not have wifi in order to foster an environment of getting to know one another, my partner and I had a laugh (as we played Jenga) that all the "staff" were on their devices in the lounge. 

To top all of this off, when we came back from dinner, the toilet had next to no toilet paper!! Simple thing, no excuse, just laziness (or being stingy with expenditure) in caring for guests.... The "staff" had also retreated to their dorm and were having a great time laughing and drinking in their dorm room till late.

We were there only to sleep, as we couldn't leave early enough. For $76, this is not a cheap backpackers.

We just wished that we had stayed elsewhere as it impacted on our experience of Oamaru.

Overpriced and Run Down

How the hell can anyone in their right mind stay here.
Filthy from the ground up.Run by drop kick hippies who dont care about anything.
The worst accommodation in town. For the money you can get a motel room elsewhere.
Art gallery? pigs bum it is. The place is displayed with crap paintings done by drugo's on the move. What a joke. The girl at check in said you can paint on the floor or anywhere you want.
Rooms disgusting and smelly. Kitchen should be closed. Beds are a joke.
Good points: they had a didgeridoo to play.
Filthy shower. One toilet upstairs.
Couldnt wait to get the hell out.
I have slept in some very ordinary places over the years and this is one to remember. REMEMBER TO AVOID IT.
Terrible is being generous. 
Sleep in the car is a better option.

Chillawhile Backpackers Art Gallery - Age Restricted Hostel

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