--- title: "Oamaru Backpackers vs The Criterion Hotel | StayVersus" description: "Pick Oamaru Backpackers. It comes out ahead on 4 of 5 compared facts. Oamaru Backpackers or The Criterion Hotel in Oamaru? Compare guest ratings, location…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/oamaru-backpackers-oamaru-vs-the-criterion-hotel-oamaru/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-14 --- # Oamaru Backpackers vs The Criterion Hotel Both are in Oamaru, 320 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hotel · South Hill ## [Oamaru Backpackers](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/oamaru-backpackers-oamaru/) - **Guest rating:** 9.4 · Exceptional - **Location score:** 7.4 - **Score by category:** 4 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1909459/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★★ · South Hill ## [The Criterion Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-criterion-hotel-oamaru/) - **Guest rating:** 10.0 · Exceptional - **Score by category:** 1 of 5 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2195097/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick Oamaru Backpackers It comes out ahead on 4 of 5 compared facts. 320 m apart. ### Choose Oamaru Backpackers if you want - the more consistently praised stay - more restaurants on the doorstep ### Why is Oamaru Backpackers better than The Criterion Hotel? 1. More guest reviews (86 vs 1), so the rating is more reliable (×86) ### Why is The Criterion Hotel better than Oamaru Backpackers? No clear advantages in our data. ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Oamaru Backpackers | The Criterion Hotel | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 9.4 | – | | Location | 7.4 | – | | Beach access | 9.2 | – | | Public transport | 9.7 | – | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 9.1 (+0.7) | 8.5 | | Guest rating | 9.4 | 10.0 (+0.6) | | Number of reviews | 86 (+85) | 1 | | Google rating | 4.6/5 | – | | Google reviews | 206 | – | | Rank in Oamaru | top 7% (+43%) | top 50% | | Location | | Location score | 7.4 | – | | Distance to South Hill centre | 670 m (−280 m) | 950 m | | To the beach | 330 m | – | | To public transport | 210 m | – | | To the airport | 91 km | – | | Restaurants within 500 m | 11 | – | | Sights within 1 km | 3 | – | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | – | ★★★★ | | Rooms | 9 | – | | Floors | 2 | – | | Newest building or renovation | 2021 | – | | Listed amenities | 4 | – | | Policies | | Check-in from | 15:00 | – | | Check-out until | 10:00 | – | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – | | Free parking | ✓ | – | | Free breakfast | ✓ | – | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-criterion-hotel-oamaru-vs-oamaru-backpackers-oamaru/) ## Location 320 m apart ## Oamaru Backpackers or The Criterion Hotel: common questions ### Which is better, Oamaru Backpackers or The Criterion Hotel? Oamaru Backpackers leads in 4 of 5 categories, including StayVersus score, number of reviews, rank in Oamaru. The Criterion Hotel is stronger in guest rating. ### Which is cheaper, Oamaru Backpackers or The Criterion Hotel? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### Which hotel is closer to the centre? Oamaru Backpackers is closer: 670 m from the centre, against 950 m for The Criterion Hotel. ### How far apart are Oamaru Backpackers and The Criterion Hotel? The two hotels are 320 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Oamaru Backpackers vs Brydone Hotel Oamaru](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/brydone-hotel-oamaru-oamaru-vs-oamaru-backpackers-oamaru/) - [Oamaru Backpackers vs Eden Gardens Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/eden-gardens-motel-oamaru-vs-oamaru-backpackers-oamaru/) - [Oamaru Backpackers vs Bella Vista Motel Oamaru](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bella-vista-motel-oamaru-oamaru-vs-oamaru-backpackers-oamaru/) - [Oamaru Backpackers vs 289 Midway Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/289-midway-motel-oamaru-vs-oamaru-backpackers-oamaru/) - [The Criterion Hotel vs Brydone Hotel Oamaru](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/brydone-hotel-oamaru-oamaru-vs-the-criterion-hotel-oamaru/) - [The Criterion Hotel vs Bella Vista Motel Oamaru](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/bella-vista-motel-oamaru-oamaru-vs-the-criterion-hotel-oamaru/) - [The Criterion Hotel vs Eden Gardens Motel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/eden-gardens-motel-oamaru-vs-the-criterion-hotel-oamaru/) ## 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/oamaru-backpackers-oamaru-vs-the-criterion-hotel-oamaru/. 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/