Yes "Saffron" aka Annie - we did have a great time didn't we - old school locals staying at the backpackers - loved it and will def stay there again in the future..loved the omeletes for breakfast and the herbal tea was simply YUM... Really enjoyed meeting all of the travellers & woofers! Everyone is so friendly.

After a long drive and walk to the caves and arches we decided to stay in Karamea and stopped at Rongo....I was kinda drawn to it, what a colorful and warm place! Full of different kind of arts and friendly people from all over the world! Our girls connected real quick and loved it as we did. The lovely breakfast... More

Me and my gilfriend did a great one year trip around the world. In the end of this journey, we were staying in Rongo. Its great place with great people, amazing nature, inspirative, We hope, we will visit this place again. Thanx a lot ! David and Hana, Czech rep.

Had a great couple of days here in March. My friends hadn't stayed in a backpackers before and also had not heard of wwoofers (willing workers on organic farms) so it was a new experience for them. I thoroughly enjoyed the Friday evening organic communal meal, this set Rongo apart from other backpackers, it was a great atmosphere sitting around... More

Well, came for 1 day and stayed for 4!!! Fabulous place and great people too. Even for those of us who 'may' be a tad older than your average backpacker, this place was a treat --- welcoming, friendly and fun. Very 'quirky' ---- in an 'interesting, colourful, comfy ' way --- with really good underpinning philosophy supporting conservation and self... More

I just spent a wonderful Christmas at Rongo with Paul, Sanae and Co. I went to check it out because my daughter spent time there on the Wwoof scheme a few years ago and really loved the place. I was made to feel really welcome. The Wwoofers were very friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. Rongo is a... More

Rongo is a hidden gem in Karamea. Comfortable, cozy, warm, artistic, stimulating. There's always something going on over there, whether it's a radio dj show, a campfire, music-making, art-making, farming, etc etc. My partner and I arrived at Rongo with the intent to make a short documentary about Paul's (the owner) larger project -- the Living in Peace project. We... More

We were looking for really any accommodation in Karamea over Easter because we have been very late with our bookings. So we contacted the owner of Rongo backpackers initially for renting one of his holiday homes. They were booked out but he offered us a double room in Rongo backpackers. This was not a given because we were travelling with... More

Hi Paul and Sanae Wonderful to meet you both and spend time with you either side of our Heaphy adventure, thank you for hospitality, friendship and the loaned books and DVD! I think the concept of what you're setting out to do both here and at the Karamea Farm Baches is fantastic and with Dave now newly in charge of... More