Editor Pick
Tiki Lodge
- April 28, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
stomps from Houston, Texas
When I got off the bus in Taupo, the first thing I did was pick up a map and commence my search for the Tiki Lodge, where I was booked in for 3 nights. Luckily this search was not very difficult at all. The hostel was located in a nice residential area, on a street that takes you straight into the middle of Taupo (and to the Information Centre) in around 5 minutes.
I arrived too early in the morning to check in to my room, but the people at the front desk were extremely friendly and helpful and let me put my backpack in storage in the garage. This let me wander around town for the few hours I needed to wait until I could go up to my room.
When I arrived back to checkin, the whole process was totally painless. I paid my $24NZ a day for my room, and in the process the lady at the front desk told me all about a lot of the activities I could do in Taupo. She filled me in on the price wars going on with skydiving, and how they benefitted me, along with letting me know about what was going on with the Tongariro Crossing and whether I'd be able to do it.
The facilities here were all very well kept and clean; the room had 8 bunk beds, but plenty of room in the centre and around the beds to keep our stuff and be able to move around freely. There were plenty of bathrooms for all, and they were some of the cleanest I'd seen on my trip. The only thing they did not really have was a payphone that you could call out on with a phone card; however, the gas station across the street had one so it was not really an inconvenience. Internet was relatively cheap at internet cafes in town, so I didn't miss that here either.
I felt really at home in this hostel. Everyone I met there was very nice and there was definitely a strong sense of community; this was probably because everyone was tied together in their crazy experiences there, like skydiving or doing the Crossing. The large lounge, kitchen, TV room, and balcony area (with a nice view of Taupo and the volcanoes) helped to foster this community even more. Not only this, but all of the staff were extremely helpful and made you feel welcome; they were also willing to accomodate many of my needs, like when I needed to store my stuff during the Tongariro Crossing but check out afterwards.
This hostel definitely sticks out in my memory as one of the best that I stayed in; I felt nearly as sad leaving the hostel as I did leaving Taupo itself, which was usually not the case. I recommend this place for anyone, not just budget travellers. If you don't like the dorm room concept, they also offer many other options, including doubles. Stay here!
From journal Crazy, Crazy Taupo