You'll be pleasantly surprised when you arrive at Kiwi Paka YHA, set in the lush landscape of the Waitomo area. If you're lucky you'll get the view we got.
This hostel is quite easy to find if you're driving (free parking!) and the village of Waitomo isn't big at all, with only a handful of places to eat and a few tourist shops. The hostel itself has its own cafe, which serves up great pizza and wine -- and a bonus is that the caves are in walking distance!
The hostel has a great atmosphere -- think log cabin meets now. The hostel has several complexes on the site, with a full range of accommodations. Dorm rooms have a maximum of four beds, and best of all no bunks. At the end of a long trip, the beds are a welcome surprise! There is a huge kitchen that is well stocked, maintained, and clean. Outside there is a BBQ that you can use to cook up some New Zealand lamb, and seating ranges from patios, lush grass, and the regular dining room setting.
A floor beneath the kitchen is a lounge room with a laundry facility and pool table. Each floor has its own bathroom -- showers are clean and there are places to hang your towels while you brush your teeth or wash your face. If you're planning on staying at this hostel it might be wise to take into consideration that this is a hostel that the Kiwi Adventure uses (but we still did have a great couple nights' sleep). Book ahead so that you can ensure you get a bed at night -- it's definitely worth the trip to Waitomo.
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
We do not validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.