Mountain Jade Backpackers
Hostelz.com Overall Score
8.9
9 = Extraordinary
7 = Good
3 = Not so good
1 = Run away
Based on 151 guest ratings.
Features & Details
Free Amenities
Airport Pickup
Bedsheets
Parking
Fee Services
Towels
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Other Features
Credit Card Payments
Hair Dryers
Hot Showers
Kitchen
Laundry
Lounge Area
Movie Library/Rental
Wheelchair Accessible
Details
Checkout:
10:00 (10 AM)
Curfew:
No Curfew
Open Dates:
All Year
Booking
Photos
+4
Description
The Hostelz.com Review
Mountain Jade Backpackers, a BBH-registered hostel, is a subdued, comfortable hostel centrally located in the quiet town of Hokitika. It's a great place to explore the town and relax between bigger, busier towns and hostels.
The Location
This hostel is located right next to the clocktower, right where the highway hits the town. The bus stops a few blocks away, but it's only a five-minute walk right down the main street. It's on the second floor of a business complex, and the interior overlooks the jade shop below. It's also right next to the library (free Wi-Fi) and has plenty of parking.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are kept very clean, and have secure door locks. There are no in-room lockers, but the hostel seems relatively quiet so it's not a big concern. The biggest dorm has eight beds, but there is also a smaller dorm and doubles and triples are available. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, but the top bunks can feel a bit insecure, since the wood beneath the mattress isn't completely secured to the frame. Otherwise, it's comfortable. And the fact that several of the rooms are actually very nicely decorated makes it even more so.
There are male and female bathrooms, with two stalls each, which are very modern and clean, and offer cloth hand towels. The shower room is a very large room made up of about eight showers. Each shower stall is very large, with plenty of space to change and shower and place your things. The showers have good water pressure and plenty of hot water.
Common Spaces
There is one large common space next to reception, which has games, a TV with DVDs and SkyTV, a book exchange, and several comfortable chairs and couches. It's quite large, and overlooks the jade shop downstairs. It's fairly common to see the hostel operator and some guests eating dinner and watching TV in here. This room also has a computer that can be used for a fee (IAC provides the wireless internet). The staff will let you leave your luggage in this room if you need to.
The kitchen is a bit small, but very well organized. They offer several spices, such as cinnamon and curry powder, as well as tea. There are individual cubbies labeled by room for dry food, and plenty of space in the refrigerator. The better part of the kitchen is taken up by a large table, where people will often eat their food. While the kitchen is small, the hostel doesn't seem to get too crowded, so it isn't much of a problem.
This hostel remains pretty quiet, since Hokitika is a relatively quiet town. It doesn't get very full, but the people who are there are friendly. It seems like people are more likely to want to chat over a cup of coffee than go out and party at a bar, but the subdued atmosphere of the hostel matches the subdued atmosphere of the town.
Summary
This hostel feels like a good place to go when you need a break from the big, busy cities and hostels. It's quiet, clean, and comfortable with a friendly staff and a great location.
The Location
This hostel is located right next to the clocktower, right where the highway hits the town. The bus stops a few blocks away, but it's only a five-minute walk right down the main street. It's on the second floor of a business complex, and the interior overlooks the jade shop below. It's also right next to the library (free Wi-Fi) and has plenty of parking.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are kept very clean, and have secure door locks. There are no in-room lockers, but the hostel seems relatively quiet so it's not a big concern. The biggest dorm has eight beds, but there is also a smaller dorm and doubles and triples are available. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, but the top bunks can feel a bit insecure, since the wood beneath the mattress isn't completely secured to the frame. Otherwise, it's comfortable. And the fact that several of the rooms are actually very nicely decorated makes it even more so.
There are male and female bathrooms, with two stalls each, which are very modern and clean, and offer cloth hand towels. The shower room is a very large room made up of about eight showers. Each shower stall is very large, with plenty of space to change and shower and place your things. The showers have good water pressure and plenty of hot water.
Common Spaces
There is one large common space next to reception, which has games, a TV with DVDs and SkyTV, a book exchange, and several comfortable chairs and couches. It's quite large, and overlooks the jade shop downstairs. It's fairly common to see the hostel operator and some guests eating dinner and watching TV in here. This room also has a computer that can be used for a fee (IAC provides the wireless internet). The staff will let you leave your luggage in this room if you need to.
The kitchen is a bit small, but very well organized. They offer several spices, such as cinnamon and curry powder, as well as tea. There are individual cubbies labeled by room for dry food, and plenty of space in the refrigerator. The better part of the kitchen is taken up by a large table, where people will often eat their food. While the kitchen is small, the hostel doesn't seem to get too crowded, so it isn't much of a problem.
This hostel remains pretty quiet, since Hokitika is a relatively quiet town. It doesn't get very full, but the people who are there are friendly. It seems like people are more likely to want to chat over a cup of coffee than go out and party at a bar, but the subdued atmosphere of the hostel matches the subdued atmosphere of the town.
Summary
This hostel feels like a good place to go when you need a break from the big, busy cities and hostels. It's quiet, clean, and comfortable with a friendly staff and a great location.
by Tyler-Rose Veguez
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
2012-02-08
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Map
(Location is approximate. You may need to pan/move to find "Mountain Jade Backpackers" at 41 Weld Street.)
Location/Contact
- Address
- 41 Weld Street, Hokitika, New Zealand
- Coordinates
- -42.718451, 170.963830 (accuracy not guaranteed)
- Location
-
- Website
- www.mountainjadebackpackers.co.nz
- Telephone
- 0800 685 185
To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Correction Form.
How is Mountain Jade Backpackers rated on other websites?
| Cleanliness | Staff | Location | Atmosphere | Security | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostelworld |
84%
|
94%
|
83%
|
87%
|
||
| HostelBookers |
96%
|
98%
|
89%
|
94%
|
||
| HostelsClub |
Not listed on HostelsClub.
|
|||||
| Hostels.com |
100%
|
100%
|
80%
|
87%
|
||
| Average |
93%
|
97%
|
84%
|
89%
|
||
Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Not Clean, but in the city center
The hostel is not very clean. The sofas are rocked down. But you are in the middle of the city center. The beach is just down the road, the library for wifi also just around the corner and you have huge common areas. John the manager was really friendly.
Abigale
2014-12-19
Warm and friendly hostel!
The Mountain Jade Backpackers is a very nice hostel. Well located and equipped. The manager is great, caring and helpful and it's easy to know everybody in the hostel as it's not a big one. The beds are not the best ever but I was still able to sleep well. The atmosphere is very friendly!
Melody
(French)
2013-02-18
Warm, friendly place
We turned up here and it was raining so we thought we wouldn't have anything to do but there have thought of this when they set the hostel up games, DVDs, and an awesome balcony to look out from over the town. Woke up the next day and it was warm and sunny heaps of walks to do around Hokitika as well would recommend instead of Greymouth. Warm hostel that is nice, clean, and a friendly atmosphere.
craig
(New Zealand)
2010-10-10
Clean and spacious
We only stayed one night but it's over the road from the information centre in the middle of town so very handy. Games and things to do when it's raining (wet Coast). Nice clean place and lots of room just to hang out, nice owners that help you with bookings and information about the west coast. Would recommend to all.
David
(Australia)
2010-08-31
Clean, but uncomfortable beds
Overall, the tile flooring and good housekeeping made a very clean environment throughout (rooms, bathrooms, kitchen). Note that the shower room is unisex/mixed-gender, but there is a locking door like on a bathroom stall for ensured privacy (though showers next to each other drain into a common drain. We had a double. The double bed was very uncomfortable and pitched both of us toward the middle. It was an odd arrangement -- double bed with a twin bunk overhead. We needed to separate and use the twin, because two people could not be in the double. It was old foam and bad for the back/neck. Otherwise, we were very pleased with this hostel and would recommend -- quiet, clean, parking lot. It is upstairs with no elevator.
Stacey
(United States)
2007-12-04
Nice place, new equipment. Doubles have bunks though as do most hostels. Nice sitting area and a great place to spend a rainy night. Reception closes at 10 p.m. Nice ladies working there remind you of your Mom. discount in jade shop downstairs.
Lou
2007-02-12
This place is great and a newer hostel. It is also very easily missed. It is located in downtown in Hokitika above a café and next to a jewelry store, three blocks from the beach and easily missed if you’re not looking for it.
The facilities are clean and this may sound weird, but our first impression coming up the stairs was that this place smelled good -- not the stale gym sock odor or old soggy carpet odor that emanates from some hostels (you know what I’m talking about!). Most of the facility is tile and the only carpet is in the TV lounge, but it works well. The kitchen, bathrooms, and dorms were clean and in great repair and well stocked.
While their facilities include a comfortable TV lounge and a balcony with tables, it does not have internet access on the premises. The configuration of the kitchen with a large eat-in table makes it feel a bit cramped when people start trying to work in there. Separate men’s and women’s toilets and shower room make for plenty of room in that area.
Sara Tyler
(USA)
2006-04-14
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