Conor's Topfloor Hostel

Conor's Topfloor Hostel is a cheap and friendly hostel in the centre of Auckland. It boasts an outdoor balcony with a free BBQ every Saturday evening (gold coin donation).

The Location

Conor's is in a handy location at the corner of Wellesley and Albert Street next to the City Central Hotel. The Air Bus from Auckland International Airport stops on Queen Street just around the corner. From street-level you need to take the old-style lift to reach the hostel entrance on the top floor. Just a few minutes' walk from the hostel is the main shopping area on Queen Street, and the Southern Hemisphere's tallest building, the Skytower, is also nearby. A fifteen-minute stroll down Queen Street brings you to the harbor, where you can catch a ferry to an uninhabited volcanic island -- a day-trip that is highly recommended.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The hostel provides accommodation for ninety people with both dorms and a range of private rooms available. The budget eight- to nine-bed dorms have little space around the bunk beds and tend to get messy, but they are probably the cheapest places to stay in Auckland. Large lockers are provided in the dorms. The bathrooms are in a good clean condition with an adequate number of showers, toilets, and basins.

Common Spaces

The main common space in the hostel is a large open-plan kitchen/dining area that has all the usual facilities and is kept fairly clean. The adjacent rooftop balcony is a pleasant place to chill out and eat meals when the weather is nice. There is also a rather small TV room with a few sofas. The internet facilities available are wireless access and a computer beside the reception, but it's cheaper to use one of the many excellent internet cafes in the city centre. Other facilities include a laundry room and a telephone with free local calls.

Summary

Conor's Topfloor Hostel is a cheap place to stay in central Auckland, close to all the main attractions. The building is a little rundown and the cheapest dorms are cramped, but on the plus side there is a large kitchen/dining area and rooftop balcony. The atmosphere in the hostel is lively, and the staff are eager to help you find your way around New Zealand's biggest city.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
July 2009