Ducks & Drakes

Shoestring Backpackers is a good size hostel situated about a 5 minute walk from the town centre of New Plymouth. It's about a 15 minute walk from the Intercity bus stop. If you are nice to the Intercity driver he may even drop you outside the hostel on his way out of town.

The hostel kitchen has every appliance under the sun, from toasters, kettles, sandwich makers, three large fridge freezers, and enough utensils for a world BBQ championship tournament. The dining area has plenty of seating areas, a large bench and round tables make it a delight to eat at the hostel without fighting for a space. At the back of the building there is a quaint patio with BBQ facilities, creating a vibrant atmosphere perfect for chilling out during those long summer evenings.

The dorm rooms are a little cramped and there are no lockers. The beds are a little squashy and could do with an update. However the rest of the hostel facilities make up for the somewhat modest rooms.

The bathrooms are clean and there is plenty of room to hang your clothes although there are only two to go around the dorm rooms.

For those who prefer to stay in at night rather than going out on the town, there are several common areas to socialize. The lounge is a home away from home with very comfy and new sofas with a wide screen TV. There's the reading / games room out the front with ample amounts of games to keep you amused in the evening. A delightful balcony at the front full of hanging baskets makes this an ideal place to watch the sun go down.

Shoestring Backpackers a fantastic hostel to base yourself if you want to climb Mount Terannaki, go surfing and explore the surrounding area of New Plymouth or just hang out for the day.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2007