B5.2.3 New Zealand Accommodation: Backpackers
Description
This article is from the New Zealand FAQ, by Phil Stuart-Jones and Lin Nah with numerous contributions by others.
B5.2.3 New Zealand Accommodation: Backpackers
Some information about backpackers:
For those of you not familiar with backpackers here's a quick rundown.
Most of the time you have multiple beds in a room. This can be either
single beds or bunk beds. Backpackers are either old houses converted
into backpackers or purpose built buildings. Each backpacker has a
kitchen as backpackers tend to cook their meals to lower their cost.
Some backpackers segregate their rooms by genders and some don't.
Same goes for toilets and bathrooms. Many backpackers also have single
and double rooms but the price is more. Bunk beds in dorms range from
NZ$10 a night.
The kitchens (whether purpose built or not) tend to be designed so that
more than one person can cook at the same time. So at blenheim
backpackers, by each stove was a food prep area with its own knives,
forks, pots, bowls etc. There's more than one stove. There are ovens
and microwaves. There's more than one fridge too but most of the time
there are no freezers. At the backpackers in Dunedin, the fridge was
one of those multidoor ones you get at dairies or petrol stations.
This was a four door fridge with glass doors and shelves.
There are no chores (not even at the YHA). However you have to clean
up your own mess. ie if you cook, you have to do your own dishes and
should give the stove and bench you used for food prep a wipe. The
detergent for dishes is provided.
There is a lounge and dining room. There's showers, toilets but very
rarely are there baths. It is not usual to have an ensuite. In fact
at Topspot(Kaioura), in the main house, none of the rooms there had
ensuites. But at the newer house, each room had an ensuite. Even if
you check out by 10am, you can hang around and use the communal
facilities (lounge/kitchen/shower/toilet) till you leave. all you need
to do is vacate your bed and room.
All backpackers have a laundry facility with washing machine and dryer.
Some of them are coin operated. I brought my own laundry detergent.
You either buy a small bottle to take travelling with you or some
backpackers sell small packets of washing detergent.
Sometimes you can lock your rooms (so only people in your room have
the key to it) and at other times there's no key. If they lock up
at night, you can find out the combination or key if you plan to come
in later. You should keep your food in the kitchen. There are
lockers there and the fridge. no one steals it as you have to label
the bag/box with your name.
I bring a sleeping bag to sleep in. you can bring your own sheets
and blankets. Some do provide bed linen and blankets. The backpackers
guides or YHA guide (booklets) usually tell you what's provided.
Otherwise you can ask when you ring to book. Usually they are quite
flexible. So if I decide to stay on the same place, all I have to do
is tell them before 10am (the normal checkout time). Usually you only
need to book a day or two ahead. Unfortunately since we were travelling
over the peak time, many places were full so I booked weeks earlier
(last weekend of nov). By then a couple of places were fully booked.
Each backpacker is unique. Whether it is a good backpacker or not
depends on the people who run it. Many I have encountered view it
as a way of life. They love meeting travellers. They often help
you by providing Information about the area, and any travel related
help. For example they may have the timetable of trips. Some even
ring up to make the bookings for you. They can provide some very
useful advice (what to see, where to eat, where to go , what's on etc)
They usually have a map handy for that area with important spots
marked out (like the nearest supermarket etc)
The atmosphere they create is quite important to the people who stop
there for the night (or longer).
Sometimes they join in or organise social events for the people
staying there that night. For example it is not uncommon to find
a notice on the noticeboard saying "BBQ tonight - bring something
to throw on the grill". So you socialise with the other travellers.
Or sometimes everyone contributes a small amout of money for the stuff.
It is not uncommon to strike up conversation with other travellers
either in the lounge or dining room. This is handy for picking up
travelling hints. It is quite interesting hearing of others
travelling experiences.
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