Although it's a little out of the way, Ahipara is well worth a visit, even if it's just so you can stay at Endless Summer Lodge. In a beautiful setting at the south end of 90 Mile Beach, Endless Summer has charm in abundance and killer views. The building dates from the 1880s but has been lovingly restored and maintained over the years and is meticulously clean. The polished wooden floors and comfortable sofas all help to make for a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
The dorm rooms are all small dorms with no more than four beds per room. The rooms themselves are very spacious and include period features such as ornate fireplaces. The beds are a mixture of bunks and non-bunks and are solid wood construction which reduces creakiness. Double and twin rooms are available and the price for these includes duvets and towels. The long-narrow kitchen can get crowded at times. However, it is well equipped and the dishwasher is a big bonus. The small living room has comfortable sofas and cushions and a great view of the sea.
Though the kitchen and the living room are on the small side, the large, undercover external area at the back houses a BBQ and a huge table, which encourages sociability. The bathrooms are clean, but there could be a few more of them. As the downstairs bathrooms are off the communal areas, you have to walk through either the kitchen or living room to get to them. The hostel has two friendly dogs who you hardly see, but if you have a particular fear or allergy this might not be the best place for you.
The closest large town to Ahipara is Kaitia, about twenty minutes drive away. Though there is a small selection of shops around ten minutes' walk from the hostel, the nearest supermarket is in Kaitia.
-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
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