Ducks & Drakes Boutique Motel & Backpackers

I came for a short stay and wound up living and working here for seven weeks. It’s an easy place to settle into while traveling, with a sun room and garden where I loved relaxing, plus easy street parking and a shuttle service to the mountain. The location worked well, and I met great people, including the wonderful staff. Paula and Brett are kind and lovely, and their positive energy comes through in the space they’ve created. I’d recommend it a lot.

The beds and mattresses were kind of uncomfortable, which bothered me a bit. Apart from that, it was really, really good. The staff are really nice, and the location is convenient, close to the city centre and shops. There’s a cool lounge and a relatively good kitchen.

The shower had hot water and good pressure, and the location was alright. The rest made for a bad stay. The whole place felt old and tired, the bunk beds creaked, and the thin mattresses were uncomfortable. There weren’t enough bathrooms for the number of people, and with only one kettle in the kitchen, I gave up waiting in the morning and left without a hot drink. The person in the bunk below me absolutely STANK of feet, which made things worse. I considered sleeping in my car instead. The car park was absolutely tiny, and there were parking restrictions on the street. Apparently a space had been reserved for me, but nobody told me until I’d parked down the street and carried all my stuff inside. The staff member joked about watching me through the window as I struggled up the road with my bags. That wasn’t helpful.

We took the hostel shuttle to go hiking on Mt. Taranaki. It was truly breathtaking! The hosts were incredibly friendly and helpful, and were available to answer our questions. The beach and shopping facilities are within walking distance, and Mount Taranaki is about 20 minutes away by car.