--- title: "Geeky Gecko Backpackers vs UpTown Backpackers: which hotel is better?" description: "Geeky Gecko Backpackers or UpTown Backpackers in Dunedin? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side." url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/geeky-gecko-backpackers-dunedin-vs-uptown-backpackers-dunedin/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-11-13 --- # Geeky Gecko Backpackers vs UpTown Backpackers Both are in Dunedin, 900 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · Dunedin Central ## [Geeky Gecko Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/geeky-gecko-backpackers-dunedin/) - **Guest rating:** 7.0 · Good - **Location score:** 6.8 - **Score by category:** 0 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1440614/agoda/?lang=en) Hostel · Dunedin Central ## [UpTown Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/uptown-backpackers-dunedin/) - **Guest rating:** 9.0 · Excellent - **Location score:** 8.8 - **Score by category:** 3 of 3 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2259344/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick UpTown Backpackers It leads in 3 of 3 categories. 900 m apart. ### Choose Geeky Gecko Backpackers if you want - a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 14 / 1) ### Choose UpTown Backpackers if you want - the more consistently praised stay (9.0 / 7.0) - to walk to the sights (120 m / 830 m) - more restaurants on the doorstep (142 / 36) - a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 1 / 14) ### Why is Geeky Gecko Backpackers better than UpTown Backpackers? 1. Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00) (−1h) ### Why is UpTown Backpackers better than Geeky Gecko Backpackers? 1. Higher guest rating (9.0 vs 7.0) (+2.0) 2. 450 m closer to public transport (−450 m) 3. More guest reviews (309 vs 102), so the rating is more reliable (×3.0) 4. 106 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+106) 5. More walkable surroundings (walk grade 92 vs 70) (+22) 6. 5 more sights within 1 km (+5) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Geeky Gecko Backpackers | UpTown Backpackers | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 7.0 | 9.0 (+2.0) | | Location | 6.8 | 8.8 (+2.0) | | Public transport | 5.8 | 8.2 (+2.4) | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 7.4 | 9.0 (+1.6) | | Guest rating | 7.0 | 9.0 (+2.0) | | Number of reviews | 102 | 309 (+207) | | Google rating | – | 4.3/5 | | Google reviews | – | 95 | | Rank in Dunedin | bottom 2% | top 25% (+73%) | | Location | | Location score | 6.8 | 8.8 (+2.0) | | Distance to Dunedin Central centre | 400 m (−210 m) | 600 m | | To public transport | 930 m | 480 m (−450 m) | | To the airport | 24 km | 25 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 36 | 142 (+106) | | To the nearest food shop | 280 m | 240 m | | Shops within 500 m | 2 | 9 (+7) | | Sights within 1 km | 10 | 15 (+5) | | Rooms & building | | Rooms | 14 | 1 | | Newest building or renovation | 1853 | – | | Listed amenities | 4 | 10 (+6) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 (−1h) | 15:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 10:00 | | Amenities | | Car hire | ✓ | – | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | ✓ | | Free Wi-Fi | – | ✓ | | Parking | – | ✓ | | Laundry | – | ✓ | | Wheelchair accessible | – | ✓ | | Smoke-free | – | ✓ | | Air conditioning | – | ✓ | | Blackout curtains | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | – | ✓ | | Business trips | – | ✓ | ## Live prices around both hotels Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer. ## Location 900 m apart Geeky Gecko Backpackers: city centre: 830 m, nearest station Train Station Dunedin: 930 m, Dunedin International Airport (DUD): 24 km, 36 places to eat within 500 m, 10 sights within 1 km. UpTown Backpackers: city centre: 120 m, nearest station Train Station Dunedin: 480 m, Dunedin International Airport (DUD): 25 km, 142 places to eat within 500 m, 15 sights within 1 km. ## Weather in Dunedin [Dunedin weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/new-zealand/otago/dunedin/weather) ## Geeky Gecko Backpackers or UpTown Backpackers: common questions ### Which is better, Geeky Gecko Backpackers or UpTown Backpackers? UpTown Backpackers leads in 3 of 3 categories, including guest rating, location, public transport. ### Which is cheaper, Geeky Gecko Backpackers or UpTown Backpackers? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Geeky Gecko Backpackers is closer: 400 m from the centre, against 600 m for UpTown Backpackers. ### How far apart are Geeky Gecko Backpackers and UpTown Backpackers? The two hotels are 900 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [UpTown Backpackers vs On Top Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/on-top-backpackers-dunedin-vs-uptown-backpackers-dunedin/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/geeky-gecko-backpackers-dunedin-vs-uptown-backpackers-dunedin/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/