The Hostelz.com Review
Le Bons Bay Backpackers is a wonderful place to stay for people wishing to explore the Banks Penninsula and the quaint French town of Akaroa. In fact, it can be a great alternative to staying in Christchurch or for those who are sick of the city.
Set in a restored Scandanavian farmhouse among rugged country roads and hiking trails, the backpackers is a haven for travelers. With a fresh lick of red paint, the farmhouse has clean bathrooms, a loft style dorm, doubles, a characterful kitchen, and common area. There is a huge wraparound porch that is the perfect place to relax, overlooking a photogenic valley and surrounding gardens. Just pick up a book from the library and sit back on the rustic chairs, while friendly staff members feed the chickens and farm animals.
Aside from the main building there are also three cabins housing singles and doubles, all nicely isolated from each other with outstanding views. They do all share a toilet/shower in a stand-alone cabin, so do make sure you bring a flashlight for when nature calls in the middle of the night. And if you happen to be up in the wee hours, look to the horizon where you will see a bright light (think close encounters of the third kind). These are Japanese fishing boats far at sea, using amazingly bright lights to attract squid (not an alien spaceship!).
Of course the best part of Le Bons Bay, is the free breakfast as well as the amazing gourmet dinner the owner cooks himself (well worth it at $10) plus the tours of Le Bons Bay he does in a zippy metal boat. For $20 you get a ride down the valley to an amazing beach where you board a tractor-towed boat and spend an hour zooming around the bay in search of seals and dolphins (and you will see them) as well as touring caves and bird colonies. A definite must for anyone who stays here!
The only downside to Le Bons Bay is its accessibility. If you take one of the later buses from Christchurch to Akaroa, you miss the daily pick up that the hostel makes into town. However, there is a taxi service that a local lady runs. She is the only ride around the area and her rates are fair. Contact the visitors information centre www.akaroa.com and they should give you the details. The visitors info centre will also store your bags for free, perfect for when you have a couple of hours to kill in Akaroa before the bus comes. Do take the time, Akaroa is a charming place to spend an afternoon or two.
Set in a restored Scandanavian farmhouse among rugged country roads and hiking trails, the backpackers is a haven for travelers. With a fresh lick of red paint, the farmhouse has clean bathrooms, a loft style dorm, doubles, a characterful kitchen, and common area. There is a huge wraparound porch that is the perfect place to relax, overlooking a photogenic valley and surrounding gardens. Just pick up a book from the library and sit back on the rustic chairs, while friendly staff members feed the chickens and farm animals.
Aside from the main building there are also three cabins housing singles and doubles, all nicely isolated from each other with outstanding views. They do all share a toilet/shower in a stand-alone cabin, so do make sure you bring a flashlight for when nature calls in the middle of the night. And if you happen to be up in the wee hours, look to the horizon where you will see a bright light (think close encounters of the third kind). These are Japanese fishing boats far at sea, using amazingly bright lights to attract squid (not an alien spaceship!).
Of course the best part of Le Bons Bay, is the free breakfast as well as the amazing gourmet dinner the owner cooks himself (well worth it at $10) plus the tours of Le Bons Bay he does in a zippy metal boat. For $20 you get a ride down the valley to an amazing beach where you board a tractor-towed boat and spend an hour zooming around the bay in search of seals and dolphins (and you will see them) as well as touring caves and bird colonies. A definite must for anyone who stays here!
The only downside to Le Bons Bay is its accessibility. If you take one of the later buses from Christchurch to Akaroa, you miss the daily pick up that the hostel makes into town. However, there is a taxi service that a local lady runs. She is the only ride around the area and her rates are fair. Contact the visitors information centre www.akaroa.com and they should give you the details. The visitors info centre will also store your bags for free, perfect for when you have a couple of hours to kill in Akaroa before the bus comes. Do take the time, Akaroa is a charming place to spend an afternoon or two.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2005
Their Description
Location/ContactHow is Le Bons Bay Backpackers rated on other websites?
Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Only one word -- amazing! Go there! Le Bons Bay backpackers is one of those places that is so good you can't believe it's real. The hosts are incredibly friendly and down-to-earth, and the location is just so special. At capacity this place sleeps twenty, but you wouldn't think so. The dorm is upstairs (I didn't go there), there is a double and a triple room downstairs, and the other beds are out in the cabins. Lovely comfy beds and the rooms in the house are decorated really nicely. We spent our first night out in a cabin (that's all that was available when we booked). They are cute as anything, and lovely and quiet and private, but if you need to make midnight toilet trips I can't really recommend them. Also if you have suitcases do not book a cabin. Guests' food is not stored in the kitchen, which felt a little strange to us initially, but then you realise that breakfast is provided and you're going to partake of the nightly gourmet dinners (why wouldn't you, at only $14 and such amazing food), so it doesn't really matter that you have to walk down the corridor to get to your food. The garden has all manner of lovely little nooks where you could relax with a book or magazine (and the place has many of both) in the sun. The absolute peace and quiet of the place is conducive to chilling out to the max! There is also a hammock, which I didn't try. The drive to the hostel is, well, "interesting." Very windy and reasonably narrow road (for NZ). However, if you just take it easy you'll be fine. We arrived in pouring rain and practically zero visibility -- not fun, but certainly doable. The roads are all sealed. When you arrive, make sure to book a bath. There are two -- one inside the bathroom in the house, and one outside -- al fresco! This latter is heated by a series of three gas burners underneath. Just be aware that it takes literally about an hour to fill and heat (water at LBBB is from an artesian well, so the water pressure isn't that great), so factor that in to when you start filling it. The bath itself is a full-length old-fashioned bath, so no matter the season you will be lovely and warm while you gaze at the stars! While you are there you absolutely must go on the boat trip. The sign-up sheet is handed around every evening at dinner. It's only $35 and absolutely worthwhile doing. The day we went we didn't see any dolphins, but that didn't matter at all. It was just the eight of us, zooming around on the ocean in this little boat, looking at the most incredible scenery, seals, birds, caves, with not another soul in sight. Fantastic. The nightly gourmet dinners are also not to be missed. Everyone sits around this big farmhouse table which is literally covered with food dishes. Conversation is started each night by the host, who instructs you all to introduce yourselves and answer a simple question. This last item changes each night, so there is always something new. The questions we had were "Who would you most like to meet if you possibly could, dead or alive," "What is your home city known for," and it's always interesting to hear the responses as the introductions wind their way around the table. In all, it is an amazing place. On my month-long trip I stayed in five backpackers places. Most of them were top-notch, very well run, and I'm looking forward to going back. But only one was as good as this place -- where I can't wait to go back. The only negative I would say about this place is that the rooster crows at dawn! I heard it from the cabin the first morning, but did not hear it in the house. Just go, and be amazed at what down-to-earth, friendly people can achieve. — KiwiSkier, New Zealand (2008-03-25) I did not stay overnight here ( set up my tent over at Onuku Farm, which I also enjoyed ) but did come for dinner. If I could hit the road from the United States right now and go to New Zealand, I would head right for this place and stay awhile. The dinner was superb and a wonderful bargain. I remember five of us sat around the table that evening, including a newlywed couple from Israel, and it was really special. — Eric (2005-12-14) I stayed here about two years ago for one night, and would have stayed longer if we had the time. Excellent place to stay, with friendly hosts, good food, and a relaxing atmosphere. Not your typical backpackers' hostel, more like staying overnight at your friend's holiday house. I just recommended it to my friends who will be visiting New Zealand from Japan this month. They will definitely be staying there for a night or two on my recommendation despite their tight schedule. — Anonymous (2005-03-06) A wonderful hostel. At the end of a long, slightly frightening drive through thick fog and driving rain I eventually found the hostel. Arriving just before dinner I found a log fire was burning and the kitchen buzzing with busy cooks. The meal was the embodiment of a smile. There were lovely people, great conversation, and great food. I slept in a little wooden hut on the grounds, and awakened to awe-inspiring views. I sat and sketched on the veranda in the morning with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and home-baked bread. During the night my car wheels got stuck in mud (a perfect reason to stay longer) but unfortunately in spite of my pleas they wouldn't kick somebody else out so I could have a bed. However, I did have five people help me push my car up the driveway (sorry about the mud splashes!!). — Anonymous (2005-01-12) This is the best! Garry and Heidi are the ultimate hosts! We stayed for 28 days, left, and returned for another three weeks. We traveled around the world for 1 1/2 years. Le Bons Bay Backpackers and the experiences we had there were the highlight of our trip! We can't wait to return (with our kids this time to meet the new Brittenden kids)! See you again soon Garry and Heidi! — Jacqueline Glasgow (2004-12-12) This is by far the best hostel I've ever stayed at. The owners are absolutely lovely, and they have created a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. The dinners each night are to die for, and the boat trip they offer is fantastic. You can see dolphins, penguins and seals. The rooms are beautiful — especially the cabins out back! Because of the special "home away from home" quality of this place, everyone gets to know each other while staying here. And it seems that because everyone has shared this special place, they all keep in touch. It's not to be missed! — Anonymous (2004-10-25) This is the best backpackers in New Zealand! It has the best dinners (salad, fish or meat, veggies and homemade dessert) for cheap! And it has friendly owners! — lievekiwi (2004-10-19)