Mainstreet Lodge Backpackers

Mainstreet Backpackers is a large hostel that can accommodate groups en route to Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach. It has most basic facilities, though those looking for quiet or solitude may need to look elsewhere.

The Location

The hostel is located on Commerce Street, the main drag in town. It's easy to find and is well marked. There's ample parking out front or in the rear of the building. It is next store to a KFC if you can't be troubled to walk or drive five hundred meters down the road to the grocery store. The main highway is also close by. Bus tours for the beaches pick up directly out front.

Rooms and Bathrooms

All rooms lock, though they all have glass fronts that look out on the courtyard. If you want privacy you'll need to close the blinds. There are a mix of dorm and private rooms. The dorms are really quite cramped -- you're literally head to toe with the bunk next to you. Other rooms come with basic furniture, including a chair, nightstand, and alarm clock. The rooms have a few power points.

The facilities are a bit lacking. The shower rooms are small, with only a small changing area. The doors don't go all the way to the ground or top of the frame, so on brisk mornings it's a tad chilly in there. There are a few toilets, but there are no vanities. If you want to brush your teeth, you'll need to use the "trough" outside the toilets.

Common Spaces

There is a large, social BBQ area at the front of the courtyard that gathers a good crowd on warm evenings. In the rear, there is a large hall with the main lounge, kitchen, and dining area. There is also a washing and drying machine here, along with a coin-operated internet station. The lounge has a TV and a few books. The kitchen has plenty of the necessary supplies. This is a very social hostel, so expect to mix and mingle.

Summary

This is a large hostel because it has to be -- it's a main stop off for tour groups headed to the Cape, and the hostel is usually full during the high season. It's not uncommon to share the grounds with as many as seventy others. In truth, it feels more like a large, converted motel than a typical hostel.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2009