HI - YHA Kaikoura Hostel

From the outside, the clean and well-maintained YHA Kaikoura - Maui Hostel looks like a quaint and neat little house in off-white with about nine parking lots at the front, and set against a side of a cliff. The interior has an old style charm and the walls of the rooms are fixed in wooden panels. The dining room, living room, and TV lounge are fitted with large panel windows, perfect for viewing the sea, the cliff ranges, or the star-lit night sky.

The first floor of the hostel consists mainly of bunks while there is a mix of private rooms and bunks on the second floor. Only shared bathrooms (mixed gender) are available on the second level with two toilets and two shower cubicles (which are slightly smaller than the other YHAs in the major cities with no folding bench) while there are separate toilets with shower cubicles on the first floor. There is no hairdryer in the toilets on both floors so you may want to check with the reception to borrow one.

This hostel is overall clean and efficiently run. Sheets and towels are provided and like other YHAs, you need a security code to access the main door in the late hours (after 9:30 p.m.). The reception also stocks a selection of food items and necessities for sale.

The main plus points of Maui YHA is that you can enjoy great views of the sea and the backdrop of the Fyffe Mountains from the hostel's kitchen, dining, and lounge areas. Although it's next to the main road, there is no disturbance from passing vehicles at night.

The only downside is that the hostel is quite a distance (easily a twenty-five-minute walk) from town, where the stores and dining outlets are concentrated. Dolphin Encounter is in the middle of the route to the hostel from town. If arriving by Intercity buses, you are dropped off at the car park opposite The Craypot Café. Then, it is at least twenty minutes' brisk walking (without luggage) to reach the hostel. You might want to consider other traveling buses like Atomic Shuttles, Kiwi Experience, or Magic as they do drop off and pick up from the hostel directly.

A fishery near the hostel that is listed in travel guides as selling fresh fish at the wharf nearby unfortunately is no longer in operation. The other fishery is along the highway opposite BP station if you are traveling south from Picton towards Kaikoura.

Somewhere near the wharf is a dining outlet that is part of the hotel next to it. Just across is a cosy restaurant called Green Dolphin for those who want to pamper themselves a little while in Kaikoura. The restaurant serves French-inspired cuisine, reasonably priced and frequented by regulars. The restaurant is only about five minutes' walk away from the hostel.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review