YHA Punakaiki - Te Nikau Retreat Hostel

YHA Punakaiki - Te Nikau Retreat is a YHA, but on looking at the setting it is in, you would think it was a private resort. It is in a gorgeous setting deep in the west coast rainforest and only a couple of hundred meters from the beach. It is three kilometers outside Punakaiki where the bus may drop you off -- but the hostel will pick you up if you make them aware of your arrival time.

The staff are exceptionally helpful and cheerful -- nothing is too much trouble for them. Each dorm room is a separate building. Our dorm room is seven beds without bunks. There are five single beds at ground level and two upstairs. The only drawback is that there are no curtains over the windows, so unless you have an eye mask you may well be awake as dawn breaks and the light comes streaming in. On a similar theme, the place is very quiet and most noise you will hear comes from the crickets in the rainforest.

Adjacent to the dorm room is a kitchen with adequate facilities for seven occupants. Just around the corner from that is a basic bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower. There is also a larger kitchen and more washroom facilities up near the reception block that is very clean. Also in that block is a small lounge area for reading. You won't be watching any television here, as there isn't any. There are however two coin-operated computers for using the internet. Just outside the block containing the lounge area are two washing machines and two tumble dryers, also coin-operated.

One thing you must do before coming here is stock up on food, as there are no shops here. The most you may get is milk and possibly bread. The hostel did manage to supply bread and muffins (to buy) each morning in the kitchen.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review