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Kiwi Paka YHA Hostel

Waitomo (Waitomo Caves Village), North Island, New Zealand

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Address
School Road, Waitomo (Waitomo Caves Village)   Map
Price
$24 4 share dorm $28 twin $54 single all with shared bathroom Check Current Prices by Date Here
Location/Contact
Details
Their Description

Features

  • Kitchen
  • Lockers
  • Phones (public or in room)
  • BBQ
  • Travel information provided
  • Bar
  • Washing Machine (laundry)
  • Food/Restaurant
  • Lounge / Common space
 
The Hostelz.com Review
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


Your Comments
This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites, we don't censor out the negative comments.
We do not validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.
Comment by Gillian, Belfast
May 2007
This is a large hostel and is used by several tour bus companies. The night I stayed three tour buses were also staying which made it very noisy both in the night and in the morning. The reception was helpful and the bathroom was fine, I didn't use the kitchen. There is not much to do in Waitomo beside the black-water rafting so I doubt people stay here longer than a night, which would explain why the hostel had no atmosphere.
Comment by Alex , Australian
April 2007
I dont know what is meant by "be warned kiwi experience uses it"! i was on kiwi experience and we caused no problems. This hostel is one of my favourites because of the location, there is this amazing walk through the forest and local farms you can do if you walk down to the park at the end of the road -- breathtaking. The rooms are nice, the bathrooms not so nice. the view from the room makes up for this though. The pizza place is awesome but quite expensive! about $28 for a large pizza, i mean we are backpackers!
Comment by teddy bear, Hong Kong, China
March 2007
Wonderful place! We had a twin room. Quiet, relaxed among the countryside. Clean toilets, great kitchen and outdoor/indoor dining area. The restaurant has nice pizzas.
Comment by Anon
October 2006
Fleas! had to get a refund for the night as was eaten by fleas!
Comment by Mark and Debs
July 2006
Stayed here in Feb 2006 to see the famous glow worm caves nearby. The room was huge and the hostel within walking distance of the caves. Ate in the restaurant attached (Morepork) which was quite nice also. Plenty of room for parking. Although, be warned, Kiwi Experience use this hostel.
Comment by Anon
April 2006
Clean and friendly. Great place to meet people before or after doing a spot of caving.
Comment by Sam
May 2005
Lovely hostel, well worth a couple of nights stay. Great downstairs cafe as an added bonus. The black water rafting wasn't really my thing but I'm glad I gave it a bash!
Comment by Jodie
January 2005
SO QUIET!!! This hostel is really clean and relaxing. We had planned to stay in Waitamo for two nights but after doing the caves, that was it!! There was nothing else to do at all. The hostel was really nice.
Comment by Monkey
December 2004
Excellent hostel. Everything seemed brand new and barely used, probably because people are just passing through. No one really stays longer than a night or two because as soon as you've done the caves there's nothing much else there. Anywhere else this place would be packed all the time.
Comment by Anonymous
December 2004
THE best hostel in New Zealand! It's in a small town but it's beautiful and relaxing with a bar just a short distance away. Great location for going caving at the Waitomo Caves — a MUST-do activity in New Zealand.
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