Solscape

The sauna and spa were relaxing and well priced, but as I was leaving, a worker tossed my towel on the floor to wipe down a bench. Bad tikanga. The bunks were very comfortable, and the sheets were clean and new, though the top bunks sit very close to the ceiling. I slept well on a warm night with light rain. Since it’s a train carriage and backpackers leave the door open, I’d avoid this hostel in very hot or cold weather. If you’re worried about your belongings being stolen, it may not suit you, though the place felt so chill that I doubt it would happen. The service was basically nonexistent. There was no one at reception when I arrived at 8pm, just my key on the floor. Online check-in hours weren’t clear, even though technically you can arrive any time, and the map didn’t make it easy to find where to go. At 8AM, reception was empty again despite being open, and the cafe was meant to be open but wasn’t. I met one person ‘employed’ there, who was unfriendly and seemed to have an IGAF attitude. The kitchen was filthy. Guests weren’t following normal backpacker kitchen tikanga, and it didn’t look as if the employee cleaned it daily, as you’d expect. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable cooking there. The shower worked, but the flow was broken and it wasn’t very clean. There’s a relaxed, quirky vibe, and the hostel was pleasant on a warm, drizzly night. Still, the place needs to do better at welcoming people and keeping the kitchen clean, especially when it talks about ‘connection’. I’m not usually one to complain, but two other groups of travellers I spoke with felt much the same, and were more annoyed.

The location is truly amazing, but it was a shame the cafe was closed and no one was available at reception. The hostel concept is great, though the price felt a little high for the service and room comfort.

The view is amazing, and the sauna is well worth trying. You’re also close to surfing and other attractions. It’s a shame the owners don’t pay more attention to the details, because this could be such a great place. The campervan spots are basically a parking lot, with most on the side of a hill. Chairs in the cooking and meeting area are old, worn out, and uncomfortable. I saw people wanting to play games, but there wasn’t a single game or deck of cards there. It feels like they just don’t care. I doubt they’ll read this anyway.

The whole experience was disappointing, and the policy seems strange and unfair. I paid 222 dollars for a private surf session, but the conditions on the day were so poor there were no surfable waves. I asked if it made sense to cancel, and they cancelled straight away without objection and seemed to understand. Only afterward did I find out there could be no refund. Given that the session clearly wasn’t surfable and would have been a waste, I expected at least a partial refund. Communication had already been quite difficult in the lead-up, though I decided to try it anyway.