YHA Hostels in Australia and NZ
Apr 19th, 2004, 11:54 AM
#1
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YHA Hostels in Australia and NZ
Hello,
Has anyone stayed at the YHA hostels in Australia or New Zealand? Does anyone recommend any other hostels that are good, clean with friendly service and in a good location?
Thanks!
Has anyone stayed at the YHA hostels in Australia or New Zealand? Does anyone recommend any other hostels that are good, clean with friendly service and in a good location?
Thanks!
Apr 20th, 2004, 01:29 AM
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Yep, my girlfriend and I spent six weeks in Australia and five in NZ staying almost always in YHA hostels.
If you can be more specific on the regions of both countries that you plan to visit I can give you a review of every hostel you could use (assuming I've stayed there!!).
Cheers for now
Jimbo
If you can be more specific on the regions of both countries that you plan to visit I can give you a review of every hostel you could use (assuming I've stayed there!!).
Cheers for now
Jimbo
Apr 20th, 2004, 03:49 AM
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Hi Jimbo!
Thanks for replying! I forgot to mention where we will be staying...Sydney and Cairns in Australia and Rotorua, Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown in New Zealand.
I'm travelling with a friend (so we're two women) and would really appreciate any advice you can give! Do the YHA's have curfews? Also, can we buy the membership card once we arrive there?
Thanks!
Thanks for replying! I forgot to mention where we will be staying...Sydney and Cairns in Australia and Rotorua, Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown in New Zealand.
I'm travelling with a friend (so we're two women) and would really appreciate any advice you can give! Do the YHA's have curfews? Also, can we buy the membership card once we arrive there?
Thanks!
Apr 20th, 2004, 04:39 AM
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Okay, well I was luxurious in Sydney and stayed in the Lord Nelson Brewery (not particularly cheap and definitely not a YHA but a great place to stay) and I avoided Cairns to stay in Port Douglas instead, so I'll concentrate on the Kiwi YHAs and give someone else the chance to answer your Oz queries.
Rotorua YHA is actually an associate member of the YHA, it's called Kiwi-Paka Rotorua, and without doubt one of the best hostels we stayed in. It's location isn't 100% brilliant, but we stayed in a lodge which was about 60NZD a night, with our own bathroom, balcony and two double beds! They will also pick you up for nothing if you arrive there by coach (as we did, from Taupo) and call them. It also has a restaurant/cafe and a bar, along with a not-particularly nice but massive kitchen. You could also pick up free (or virtually free) drop-offs into town, if not then you could walk it in about 20 minutes. I couldn't really fault the place if you wanted a really comfortable place to stay along with good value for money and a cheap(ish) bar on-site! The staff are also extremely friendly, and towel hire is either $1NZD or free (either way it's a bargain). But do, do, do book ahead, this one seemed to be permanently busy.
Auckland has two YHAs, both very close to each other, the YHA City and YHA International, both located about twenty minutes walk away from the coach station. We stayed at Auckland City YHA which is an old hotel, so more like a Holiday Inn than a hostel. It's at the top of Queens St, so right in the heart of the city, but up a very steep hill so if you're packing a big pack, be warned! Service fine there, rooms clean, no ensuite that we could get hold of though, so shared showers on each floor.
Christchurch, sorry, stayed with a friend! However I did notice the location was excellent...
Queenstown was the worst of the ones you're looking at. It's right on the shore of Lake Wakatipu (I think that's the right lake!) but it's about a twenty minute walk from town. The rooms are tiny, in fact we stayed in a twin which we could barely fit our rucksacks and us in. The walls are paper thin so you rely on your neighbours being generous and quiet, and the kitchen seemed permenantly busy. If I was going back to Q, I'd look for an independent hostel, of which there are quite a few, a bit closer to town and still with lovely lake views.
Regarding curfews, it really depends on the individual hostel. You need to be sure each time you arrive what the deal is. Usually there's a key code or a front door key which you need to ask for each night before you go out in case you're out late, most of the YHA's receptions are open until around 7 to 9pm, after which you're stuck without the keys/codes. Some of the big ones are open 24 hours though.
Check out their website which you can use to book in advance if you so desire:
www.yha.org.nz
Any more locations, advice etc, then please don't hesitate to ask!
All the best
Jimbo
Rotorua YHA is actually an associate member of the YHA, it's called Kiwi-Paka Rotorua, and without doubt one of the best hostels we stayed in. It's location isn't 100% brilliant, but we stayed in a lodge which was about 60NZD a night, with our own bathroom, balcony and two double beds! They will also pick you up for nothing if you arrive there by coach (as we did, from Taupo) and call them. It also has a restaurant/cafe and a bar, along with a not-particularly nice but massive kitchen. You could also pick up free (or virtually free) drop-offs into town, if not then you could walk it in about 20 minutes. I couldn't really fault the place if you wanted a really comfortable place to stay along with good value for money and a cheap(ish) bar on-site! The staff are also extremely friendly, and towel hire is either $1NZD or free (either way it's a bargain). But do, do, do book ahead, this one seemed to be permanently busy.
Auckland has two YHAs, both very close to each other, the YHA City and YHA International, both located about twenty minutes walk away from the coach station. We stayed at Auckland City YHA which is an old hotel, so more like a Holiday Inn than a hostel. It's at the top of Queens St, so right in the heart of the city, but up a very steep hill so if you're packing a big pack, be warned! Service fine there, rooms clean, no ensuite that we could get hold of though, so shared showers on each floor.
Christchurch, sorry, stayed with a friend! However I did notice the location was excellent...
Queenstown was the worst of the ones you're looking at. It's right on the shore of Lake Wakatipu (I think that's the right lake!) but it's about a twenty minute walk from town. The rooms are tiny, in fact we stayed in a twin which we could barely fit our rucksacks and us in. The walls are paper thin so you rely on your neighbours being generous and quiet, and the kitchen seemed permenantly busy. If I was going back to Q, I'd look for an independent hostel, of which there are quite a few, a bit closer to town and still with lovely lake views.
Regarding curfews, it really depends on the individual hostel. You need to be sure each time you arrive what the deal is. Usually there's a key code or a front door key which you need to ask for each night before you go out in case you're out late, most of the YHA's receptions are open until around 7 to 9pm, after which you're stuck without the keys/codes. Some of the big ones are open 24 hours though.
Check out their website which you can use to book in advance if you so desire:
www.yha.org.nz
Any more locations, advice etc, then please don't hesitate to ask!
All the best
Jimbo
Apr 20th, 2004, 05:36 AM
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Oz and NZ have fantastic hostels. YHA almost always dependable. Have stayed at all you mention except Q'town and can't remember now whether I didn't cos it was full or I didn't like the location. Christchurch and Auckland city fine - when I was in Rotorua (twice) it wasn't the Kiwi-Paka but a lovely house right in the centre of town. So times change.
Sydney Central is a palace amongst b/p. As for Cairns - as Jimbo says, PD is probably better unless you are serious party animals. Check it out on Google. I think it is www.yha.org.au.
Sydney Central is a palace amongst b/p. As for Cairns - as Jimbo says, PD is probably better unless you are serious party animals. Check it out on Google. I think it is www.yha.org.au.
