Online booking is not offered for this Hostel. Contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed below).
Please see Westport for other available Westport hostels and accommodations.
Please see Westport for other available Westport hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
The Old Slaughterhouse Travellers Retreat is New Zealand's top-rated hostel for good reason. The lodge is about thirty minutes north of Westport -- get here via bus, hitchhiking, or your own car. The place is well sign-posted on the main Westport-Karamea highway.
A short ten-minute walk takes you up the hill to a quiet hostel nestled amongst native bush and with the some of the most amazing views you'll see anywhere. Owner/manager Dave will make the climb a bit easier by carrying your gear up on the 4WD motorbike. Dave and his wife Ina are very welcoming and have set up a little piece of paradise that they're eager to share with people who appreciate such places.
The retreat is spotless, roomy, and a home away from home. There is no TV, internet/e-mail (the hostel runs on self-generated electricity), or traffic noise. The emphasis is on appreciating the environment -- wake up to bird songs in the comfortable rooms, have breakfast on the deck overlooking the Tasman sea, and go back down the hill and straight across the road to see the world's rarest dolphins. There are loads of interesting walks and places to visit in the area, but guests are just as likely to chill out and relax, socialize, and enjoy the place.
The kitchen is well appointed with two gas stoves, loads of crockery and kitchenware, and views out across the sea. The living area is very comfortable and a good place to socialise. The bathrooms are spotless with great showers. There are nice touches such as a library, music collection, artwork, and comfy sofas and two friendly dogs. It has new facilities and is constantly being improved. The beds are comfortable and clean, and the rooms are airy with great views. The dorm and shared accommodation are set away from the main building and the double rooms are each separate and offer a bit more privacy.
A short ten-minute walk takes you up the hill to a quiet hostel nestled amongst native bush and with the some of the most amazing views you'll see anywhere. Owner/manager Dave will make the climb a bit easier by carrying your gear up on the 4WD motorbike. Dave and his wife Ina are very welcoming and have set up a little piece of paradise that they're eager to share with people who appreciate such places.
The retreat is spotless, roomy, and a home away from home. There is no TV, internet/e-mail (the hostel runs on self-generated electricity), or traffic noise. The emphasis is on appreciating the environment -- wake up to bird songs in the comfortable rooms, have breakfast on the deck overlooking the Tasman sea, and go back down the hill and straight across the road to see the world's rarest dolphins. There are loads of interesting walks and places to visit in the area, but guests are just as likely to chill out and relax, socialize, and enjoy the place.
The kitchen is well appointed with two gas stoves, loads of crockery and kitchenware, and views out across the sea. The living area is very comfortable and a good place to socialise. The bathrooms are spotless with great showers. There are nice touches such as a library, music collection, artwork, and comfy sofas and two friendly dogs. It has new facilities and is constantly being improved. The beds are comfortable and clean, and the rooms are airy with great views. The dorm and shared accommodation are set away from the main building and the double rooms are each separate and offer a bit more privacy.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2007
The Old Slaughterhouse Travellers Retreat Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | Stae Highway 67, Hector, Westport, South Island, New Zealand |
| Website | homepages.paradise.net.nz/oldslaughterhouse/index.html |
| Telephone | 03 782 8333 |
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Unhelpful and Unwelcoming I have recently returned from a 4 weeks trip traveling Fiji, New Zealand and Australia, which was wonderful. As you can imagine I stayed in a lot of Hostels on my travels and this was by far the worst. I booked via e-mail and let the owner know which day I would be arriving and roughly what time. I received confirmation that my room was booked for the night and was asked to call 3 days before to confirm, which I did. On the day I arrived it was torrential rain, which lets be fair, I can't blame the Old Slaughter House for. I parked in the Hostel car park, put my backpack on my back and wanted to get inside ASAP. However I had not realized that the Hostel is a 15 in walk up an extremely steep hill, with a very narrow pathway, next to steep drops down the hill. I can imagine that in the dry, it is pretty treacherous and that many people would struggle, however in the rain, there is an actually stream running down the pathway and it is really muddy! I finally arrived at the Hostel, completely soaked (including backpack and all its contents)and covered in mud. Outside the Hostel I saw a sign saying that the owners had gone out and that I should go inside and make myself a cup of tea. I went inside and did just that and then took a seat waiting for the owners to arrive. Over two hours later, still in wet clothes and no room to go to, the owners had still not arrived. I called the mobile phone number of the owner and he asked to speak to one of the other guests, and asked the other guest to show me my room. It was still another couple of hours before one of the owners actually appeared. No apologies for keeping me waiting for hours. I asked if I could turn one of the heaters on to try and dry some of my clothes but was told no. After making a bit of a fuss, she finally offered to get out a clothes line so I could hang-up some of my wet clothes, but still would not let me turn on a heater. The whole place was pretty cold and unsociable so I headed to bed early. My room was also cold, plus had no lock, which I really did not like. I got up early hoping to hit the road as soon as possible, having been told that the owner can take my bag down for me (god save, would have been nice to know that the day before) but he was no where to be seen. I spoke to the other owner who said he would be back in about 20 mins. An hour later and a few phone calls, he will still no where to be seen so I decided to pay and leave. However even paying turned out to be a big issue. I had never been informed that they only took cash payments and had paid by card at every other hostel with no problems but apparently this was a big problem there. After being made to feel really awkward and having to wait over 20 mins for them to figure out how to take a card payment I walked back down the muddy hill, slipping on the way down! Goodbye Old Slaughter House, I wont be back! — Anonymous , UK (2012-02-14) Just a wonderful place to stay. This was a great place to stay and our group of four had a wonderful time here. Great accommodation and facilities and very clean and well kept. The hosts was wonderful,very helpful and interested in there guests. We will return here and dont hesitate to recommend to anyone. Need to be fit enough for the walk up -- but views beautiful. You must try this place -- good to blob or plenty of tracks, biking areas, remote beaches for the more energetic in close proximity. — Helen , Christchurch,New Zealand (2010-12-05)