Purple Cow Backpackers

A beautiful place to stay in the middle of one of the most spectacular places on earth. The large windows in the front of the Purple Cow capture the spectacular view into a warm and friendly place to relax in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It is hard to find fault with the Purple Cow. Even the location is optimal. It is easy to find the Purple Cow on the corner of the main downtown section of Wanaka. A large grocery store is less than two blocks away. Although many restaurants are also in the area, you can visit the grocery store and cook a meal in the large, efficiently arranged kitchen at the Purple Cow. The kitchen is one of the best, designed for multiple cooks without stepping on any culinary toes.

The bunk rooms only sleep four or six, and each room has its own bathroom with a hot shower. The bathrooms are simple, modern, and clean. Each bunk has a comfortable mattress, clean sheet, and pillow with clean pillowcase. Bring your own sleeping bag or you can opt to pay an extra $NZ 3 for a duvet (comforter). You can also get a towel for $NZ 1 if you forget yours.

The main room of the Purple Cow is usually active with people talking, playing billiards or eating. A smaller room is quiet for those who want to read. A third room has the big screen TV. The eight o'clock movie always seems like a treat when activities dwindle.

If you stay at the Purple Cow while skiing or snow boarding at the local resorts, you will find secure rooms to warm and dry your boots or gloves. This is not just a room out-back with a place to set your boots. This is a room with pegs to hold your inverted boots and over-heated to assure that your boots dry quickly. While skiing and snow boarding dominate the winter visitors, in the summer Wanaka is active with people tramping, hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking. The area is known for jet boats, paragliding, and bungy jumps.

While the staff is helpful and friendly, there is one aspect of the Purple Cow that could be improved. Many hostels offer guests a free cup of coffee or tea when they arrive. The Purple Cow has an espresso/coffee machine that charges you $NZ 2 for a cup. While the coffee from the machine is good, the lack of hospitality was definitely missed.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review