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Adelphi Lodge

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  • 26 West End
     Kaikoura
    +64 (03) 319-5141Website
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Red Mezz
Red Mezz
First Reviewer
3 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
2
Reviews
4
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Editor Pick

Character and added extras, though a few bad points too

  • January 7, 2009
  • Rated 3 of 5 by wolfbrother from Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The Adelphi is very easy to spot. It's a big building right in the heart of Kaikoura's West End with the name written in big letters across its roof clearly visible from the i-site in the middle of town.

Whether you'll like the Adelphi or not depends very much on what you're looking for. It has lots of character, lots of extras, loads of amenities and gives very easy access to Kaikoura's limited social scene.

We stayed in a double ensuite. The shower was a little rickety but it was warm and powerful, which is all that really matters. The room's decor was very cobbled together and mismatched - as you'll find with many backpacker hostels - but it came with TV and video and clean linen (though the rest of the room was pretty dirty and dusty).

For what we paid, I was hoping for something a little more polished, but I suspect most backpackers would be very happy with what is on offer. The free soup is warm and filling (though completely tasteless), the extensive video collection is free and has plenty of good titles, the spa is in good shape, the common room is big with plenty of seating and was buzzing on the night we stayed. Also of interest was the pub adjoining, with 'Toss the Boss' on offer, where you toss a coin to see if you get your pint for free!

Overall then, a busy, lively backpacker hostel with loads of rooms. If that's what you're after then you'll love it. If you want something a bit quieter and cleaner then you might want to try one of Kaikoura's other options - notably the YHA if you have transport or don't mind the 20 minute walk along the beach to get into town.

Linen included: Yes
Price: Moderately expensive
Internet: $2 for 20 minutes. Paid wireless available.
Extras: Free soup at night, free tea, coffee, sugar, free spa, Sky TV, free videos, pool table, rather grubby hammock area with a good view of the bay.

From journal The Spectacular Vistas of Kaikoura

Editor Pick

More Hype than Quality - The Adelphi Lodge

  • December 17, 2008
  • Rated 2 of 5 by Red Mezz from Inverness, Scotland
More Hype than Quality - The Adelphi Lodge

After my experience in a really great hostel in Hanmer Springs, I was pretty excited about the idea of the Adelphi Lodge and all the things is seemed to offer.

The experience was somewhat less than I had hoped for.

But as always - to each his own. If what you are looking for is a cheap(ish) hostel to stay in right in the centre of town that is filled with students and very young travellers, then this might be just what you are looking for.
It's a bit hip (in a studenty kind of way) and fairly social (though not as much as I would have hoped given the crowd that stay there) If you're looking for a chilled college dorm feel - then this might be just the place for you.

However - in rating it purely on it's accommodation status I can't rate it all that highly.
It's a bit pricey for just how run down it is. It is all very old, very very old though not kept up. The entire place smells distinctly and when the 'free soup' is going in the kitchen both stories were swamped with the smell of food. (and though I do love to come into a B&B with the welcoming smell of food - I can't really say that the Adelphi qualifies)
The rooms were simply dirty. Really dirty. The Adelphi ranks as one of the two hostels I stayed at in New Zealand where I was hesitant to sleep on the bed.

We paid extra (and not too cheap at $64 per night) for an ensuite double room - and the shower was terrible.

The Adelphi boasts a Lot of extras with your stay. Some of them are good and some aren't worth mentioning.
The free soup is a big pot of broth that you will share with dozens of student backpackers. But, it is free and warm and about all you can expect. The worst thing about that is that the kitchen is really not very user friendly, and isn't really sufficient for the number of people who can stay there.

The hammocks outside are really unpleasant - I wouldn't recommend them. And unless you plan to be over there enjoying it - it should be mentioned that there is a very loud bar just across the street.

The good points though include the free video selection. They say that they have a big screen with SKY TV, and this is true in the lounge, but the TV reception isn't great and as there are so many people using it your selection of TV will of course be limited. But if you do get a room with a TV and VCR then they do have a pretty good selection of films you can choose from to watch in your room. I was impressed with that.

And the location is pretty good in that the ocean is right across the street and easy to get to - and the whale watching tours are easy walking distance. There are also a pretty good selection of bars and restaurants all around the hostel.

And the parking is free.
So there are benefits to Adelphi - it all depends on what you are looking for.

From journal Whales, Seals, and the Stunning Purple Mountains of Kaikoura

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