Noah's Ark Flashpacker

I slept better here than I have in the past three months. The atmosphere is so peaceful and calming, the most tranquil place I’ve stayed so far. The owners are the friendliest, most welcoming hosts I’ve met on my travels. The rooms are each thoughtfully designed, with so much love and attention to detail, and the house itself is beautiful. Everything was spotless, and the kitchen was excellent and very well equipped. I couldn’t think of anything that should have been better. Out back, the lovely garden with hammocks and even chickens was a perfect spot to unwind. I absolutely loved my stay and can’t recommend it enough. It was simply perfect.

This is easily my favorite hostel in New Zealand. It’s a former home for priests, now turned into a really comfortable backpacker lodge, with beautiful old wood and high ceilings. The hosts are wonderful, the kitchen has everything you need, and the common spaces are very comfortable. I stayed in a bunk room and slept like a baby. I’m going to try to convince my wife to come back with me and get one of the private rooms.

It was quiet during my one-night stopover on the way to Christchurch, and the hostel was cozy and relaxing, especially with the weather being less than ideal. I’d recommend it, and thought it was good value for the price. The building feels homey, with carpet, wooden furniture, stained-glass windows, high ceilings, and an old-fashioned style. There’s plenty of room in the TV and dining rooms, and each room has a cute animal theme. After hours, you need a code to enter the building. It’s about a 10-minute walk across the train tracks from the train or bus, and Woolworths is a 12-minute walk away, right by the train, so maybe stop there first. My eight-bed Monkey dorm was playful but basic. There were no privacy curtains or lockers, the bunks were small enough that you couldn’t sit up fully, and there weren’t many wall outlets. The bathrooms nearest my room were simple but good. The kitchen is small, though well equipped with utensils, pans, and fridge and pantry space. Remember to label your food. Laundry is available, the lounge has a Smart TV, and there’s plenty of dining room seating. My only complaints were the $5NZD towel rental and the missing features in the eight-bed dorm.

There were more mature travelers staying there. I liked the name, the lazy boy armchair was great, and the location was good, very close to McDonald's and KFC. Street parking was easy, though there’s no parking at the property. One thing that was really inconvenient was the kitchen door, which kept closing automatically.