Online booking is not offered for this Hostel. Contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed below).
Please see Punakaiki for other available Punakaiki hostels and accommodations.
Please see Punakaiki for other available Punakaiki hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
YHA Punakaiki - Te Nikau Retreat Hostel is divided among three different buildings -- the main building for check-in is down the road from the other two buildings with lodgings. Each building is fully equipped with a kitchen, bathrooms, and common spaces.
The Location
Punakaiki doesn't have a town, it is just a couple shops around the Punakaiki rocks. Walking isn't really an option since there are no sidewalks and would take around thirty minutes. There is a parking lot in front of each building but it only equipped for a couple of cars, not enough for the amount of people staying in the hostels. You can count on your car being blocked by the last person getting to the hostel and having to ask someone to move their car.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The two buildings away from the main building each house one room with six beds in them. In the Rata house, the dorm beds are laid directly on the floor on the top level where the roof is less than five feet from the floor. The bedroom is not separated from the common area except by a curtain, which will block out the light but not the noise of other guests. There are no lockers in the building. The private rooms are on the second floor and have doors with locks. There are three bathrooms on the bottom floor, two with showers and a toilet, one with just a toilet. The showers are larger than a normal stall with shelves, and there is some sink space for toiletries and clothes.
Common Spaces
In Rata there is a common space on the bottom floor and on the top floor. The bottom floor has a decent kitchen, equipped with basic dishes and cooking equipment as well as spices for everyone's use. There is only one stove/oven with four burners and one sink. There is not enough room for more than one person to cook in the kitchen at once. There is a table on the bottom floor with four chairs as well as two couches to sit on in a small open living room.
At the top floor there is a small kitchen outlet -- no more than a counter with a sink and stove burners as well as a small table with four chairs. But there is a decent sized living room to seat several people at once centered around a coffee table and a TV.
In the main building there is a laundry facility, but it is not convenient to the two outer buildings.
The size of the living spaces sort of forces the guests to interact but you are not likely to meet more than ten other guests if all the beds are filled. It is very quiet and secluded.
Summary
The hostel feels secluded, especially in the other two auxiliary buildings, which are on a different road from the main hostel. There is an excellent hike to a small beach called Truman at the end of the main road, but it is a little difficult to find. This is not the hostel you want to stay in if you are looking for lots of interaction with many different guests.
The Location
Punakaiki doesn't have a town, it is just a couple shops around the Punakaiki rocks. Walking isn't really an option since there are no sidewalks and would take around thirty minutes. There is a parking lot in front of each building but it only equipped for a couple of cars, not enough for the amount of people staying in the hostels. You can count on your car being blocked by the last person getting to the hostel and having to ask someone to move their car.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The two buildings away from the main building each house one room with six beds in them. In the Rata house, the dorm beds are laid directly on the floor on the top level where the roof is less than five feet from the floor. The bedroom is not separated from the common area except by a curtain, which will block out the light but not the noise of other guests. There are no lockers in the building. The private rooms are on the second floor and have doors with locks. There are three bathrooms on the bottom floor, two with showers and a toilet, one with just a toilet. The showers are larger than a normal stall with shelves, and there is some sink space for toiletries and clothes.
Common Spaces
In Rata there is a common space on the bottom floor and on the top floor. The bottom floor has a decent kitchen, equipped with basic dishes and cooking equipment as well as spices for everyone's use. There is only one stove/oven with four burners and one sink. There is not enough room for more than one person to cook in the kitchen at once. There is a table on the bottom floor with four chairs as well as two couches to sit on in a small open living room.
At the top floor there is a small kitchen outlet -- no more than a counter with a sink and stove burners as well as a small table with four chairs. But there is a decent sized living room to seat several people at once centered around a coffee table and a TV.
In the main building there is a laundry facility, but it is not convenient to the two outer buildings.
The size of the living spaces sort of forces the guests to interact but you are not likely to meet more than ten other guests if all the beds are filled. It is very quiet and secluded.
Summary
The hostel feels secluded, especially in the other two auxiliary buildings, which are on a different road from the main hostel. There is an excellent hike to a small beach called Truman at the end of the main road, but it is a little difficult to find. This is not the hostel you want to stay in if you are looking for lots of interaction with many different guests.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
May 2011
Their Description
YHA Punakaiki - Te Nikau Retreat Hostel Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | Hartmount Place, Punakaiki, South Island, New Zealand |
| Website | www.yha.co.nz |
| Telephone | +64 3 731 1111 |
| Fax | +64 3 731 1102 |
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Beautiful! I stayed there because the other hostel was full, and man what was I lucky! In a tropical Rainforest and when I walked to the beach I expected a sandy beach, but when I arrived it was a spectacular view of waves on dramatic rocks! The beds were simple, but the feel of the hostel was great! — Jeroen Eefting , Netherlands (2009-06-04) Our best in NZ This place deserves more attention as we found it to be our best hostel stay in NZ. There are a lot of trees in the area and you could feel the freshest air during your stay. The buildings are nicely decorated and the facilities are spotless clean. The hostel lives up to its name as a place to really relax and retreat. We wished we could stay longer. the muffins (for sale at $2) are really great. The lady who hosted us was really nice. Highly recommended! — PB (2008-04-24) This hostel was amazing! A series of individual houses within what felt like tropical rainforest and only minutes from the dramatic western NZ coastline! The hostel "houses" were just so different -- we were in one, sharing with a few other people, and the kitchen was so quaint with everything you would ever need, a spacious lounge equipped with numerous board games and a record player with so many classic records to play! It was like going into a house full of treasures that were just waiting to be rediscovered -- it felt really homey and a real peaceful place to chill out. If you want serenity then this place is for you and is most definitely worth a visit! — Ellie , England (2007-04-17)