Online booking is not offered for this Hostel. Contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed below).
Please see Great Barrier Island for other available Great Barrier Island hostels and accommodations.
Please see Great Barrier Island for other available Great Barrier Island hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
Medlands Beach Backpackers & Villas is a great spot to get away from it all and enjoy the wild bush of Great Barrier Island. Overlooking Medlands Beach, one of the finest on the island, this hostel is a great pick for travelers looking for a quiet getaway who are willing to forgo some of the amenities of city life and relax in the country.
The Location
The hostel is located halfway up a hill on a gravel track called Mason Road near the Medlands Beach area. It's a half-hour drive from the nearest ferry landing at Tryphena. Since there is no public transportation on the island, you'll need to book a shuttle, hire a car, or hitchhike your way there. There's a large yellow sign near the main road at the bottom of the hill indicating you're at the right place.
Nearby there are several hitchhiking trails, and the beach is only a five-minute stroll down the hill. The nearest food store is a short drive away in Claris, so it's worthwhile to bring as many supplies with you as possible.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are two dorm rooms with a pair of bunk beds, plus private rooms with double beds and a standalone villa with a queen bed. All can be locked and are well appointed with drawers, mirrors, hooks, and shelves. Windows have screens to keep the bugs out, and a single bulb provides illumination. Be advised that the hostel generates its own solar energy, so there are no power points in the rooms. If you have a camera or phone to be charged, you need to leave it overnight with the hostel managers. Hair dryers are not permitted due to power consumption.
The bathroom and showers are located in a separate building from the rooms. The two showers are heated either by solar tanks or from small gas burners, so hot water is in limited supply. Despite that, pressure is good and the water usually lasts for everyone.
Common Spaces
Most of the social interaction at the hostel happens in the small kitchen area, with a gas stove and oven, refrigerator, and outdoor barbecue. The kitchen uses rainwater (which is safe to drink) cold from the tap or heated from a wall-mounted unit. It can get a bit tight during mealtimes in the cooking area or around the four-seat dining table, but outdoor seating can handle the overflow on fine days.
As the only indoor common area, the kitchen/dining room also houses a small library with travel information, a bulletin board with activities, and a few board games. There's a heater for the cooler months, while screened windows open to the breeze in summer.
Outside, the hostel grounds feature lounge chairs and plenty of shady spots to read a book in the sun. It's a quiet place, frequented by people that enjoy nature and good beaches looking for a peaceful patch of land. Aside from some light banter at dinner and a few drinks, the loudest it gets at the hostel is the predawn chorus when all the native birds chirp up. Earplugs are a good idea -- it can really get quite noisy.
Summary
People come to Great Barrier Island to escape the mainland and the trappings of the daily grind. Medlands Beach Backpackers is an ideal spot to slow down a bit and appreciate rural life and nature. The gardens around the property reinforce the closeness of the bush, with fragrant Jasmine flowers bordering property. There's no better spot for the budget traveler on "The Barrier," and despite the need to watch your power and water use, relaxation comes easily in the quiet surroundings. It's worth a stay just for the view.
The Location
The hostel is located halfway up a hill on a gravel track called Mason Road near the Medlands Beach area. It's a half-hour drive from the nearest ferry landing at Tryphena. Since there is no public transportation on the island, you'll need to book a shuttle, hire a car, or hitchhike your way there. There's a large yellow sign near the main road at the bottom of the hill indicating you're at the right place.
Nearby there are several hitchhiking trails, and the beach is only a five-minute stroll down the hill. The nearest food store is a short drive away in Claris, so it's worthwhile to bring as many supplies with you as possible.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There are two dorm rooms with a pair of bunk beds, plus private rooms with double beds and a standalone villa with a queen bed. All can be locked and are well appointed with drawers, mirrors, hooks, and shelves. Windows have screens to keep the bugs out, and a single bulb provides illumination. Be advised that the hostel generates its own solar energy, so there are no power points in the rooms. If you have a camera or phone to be charged, you need to leave it overnight with the hostel managers. Hair dryers are not permitted due to power consumption.
The bathroom and showers are located in a separate building from the rooms. The two showers are heated either by solar tanks or from small gas burners, so hot water is in limited supply. Despite that, pressure is good and the water usually lasts for everyone.
Common Spaces
Most of the social interaction at the hostel happens in the small kitchen area, with a gas stove and oven, refrigerator, and outdoor barbecue. The kitchen uses rainwater (which is safe to drink) cold from the tap or heated from a wall-mounted unit. It can get a bit tight during mealtimes in the cooking area or around the four-seat dining table, but outdoor seating can handle the overflow on fine days.
As the only indoor common area, the kitchen/dining room also houses a small library with travel information, a bulletin board with activities, and a few board games. There's a heater for the cooler months, while screened windows open to the breeze in summer.
Outside, the hostel grounds feature lounge chairs and plenty of shady spots to read a book in the sun. It's a quiet place, frequented by people that enjoy nature and good beaches looking for a peaceful patch of land. Aside from some light banter at dinner and a few drinks, the loudest it gets at the hostel is the predawn chorus when all the native birds chirp up. Earplugs are a good idea -- it can really get quite noisy.
Summary
People come to Great Barrier Island to escape the mainland and the trappings of the daily grind. Medlands Beach Backpackers is an ideal spot to slow down a bit and appreciate rural life and nature. The gardens around the property reinforce the closeness of the bush, with fragrant Jasmine flowers bordering property. There's no better spot for the budget traveler on "The Barrier," and despite the need to watch your power and water use, relaxation comes easily in the quiet surroundings. It's worth a stay just for the view.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2010
Medlands Beach Backpackers & Villas Details
(To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Update Form.)
Map
Location/Contact| Address | 9 Mason Road, Great Barrier Island (Medlands Beach), North Island, New Zealand |
| Website | www.medlandsbeach.com |
| Telephone | +64 9 429 0320 |
| Fax | +64 9 429 0340 |
How is Medlands Beach Backpackers & Villas rated on other websites?
Not listed.
Not listed.
Not listed.
Not listed.
Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
