Dolphin Lodge Backpackers
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Dolphin Lodge Backpackers
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About
#2 of 8 hostels in Kaikoura
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Dolphin Lodge is a small, friendly hostel only 3 minutes walk from the i-site, beach, cafes and restaurants. It is often refered to as a "home away from home". We have amazing sea and mountain views from the deck area and a hot tub to relax in after a long day exploring the wonders of beautiful Kaikoura. Accommodation options range from 4-6 bed dorm rooms to private en-suit rooms. All rooms are heated and there is a cozy log burner in the common room for colder days.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Hot bath
Non-smoking hotel
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Kitchenette
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Great View
Location
15 Deal Street, Kaikoura 7300 New Zealand
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 84 out of 100
84
Christchurch Intl Airport
152.8 km•
See all flights
Car Hire
22 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
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Detailed Reviews
Choosing where to sleep in Kaikoura can by challenging, if you want to be close to the peninsula walk you need to be at the southern end, if you want to be close to the supermarket you need to be at the northern end but if you want to be close to the main restaurants, bars, the railway station and Whale Watch you need to be in the middle which is exactly where the Dolphin lodge puts you. The lodge is cheap and simple, doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. The shared space and kitchen were fine, no TV ??. We had the double en-suite room which was small but adequate. The lodge had a nice outside lawn area to enjoy the sun shine and some off street parking.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don't let the description "backpacker" put you off if you're not one. Yes it is aimed primarily at backpackers but there are also a couple of nice en suite rooms. The room was a reasonable size, clean and the bed was comfortable. You can also have access to the communal kitchen.
Lovely welcoming host. There's a short cut (steep) pathway to the town with bars and shops. Recommended
Lovely welcoming host. There's a short cut (steep) pathway to the town with bars and shops. Recommended
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I loved staying at this place! Hostel is simple, and quiet due to being low season, and doesnt pretend to be anything fancy. But it is great located, views are amazing, and it is comfortable and cozy, with a wood fire at the night to keep youwarm. Spa pool was closed so cant comment ( I think due to being almost empty the lodge). Staff was incredible friendly and welcoming.
Would definitely go back!
Luciana
Would definitely go back!
Luciana
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Absolute rip off. Avoid Dolphin lodge completely. Their website says pay when you stay but they keep 100% even if you don't stay. We canceled by midday. We found the rooms to be small and mouldy smelling, with poor privacy. Their booking system guarantees you will be ripped off
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It saddens me to write this, as we have stayed at this backpackers before when Helen owned it.
Last night both our rooms were dirty with a musty odour. The woollen blankets on beds were stained and dirty. The towels had an unpleasant smell and felt grubby. The overall feel of the place was that it needs an extremely good clean. Investing in new linen, towels etc, the place looked tired and grubby. Your prices were expensive
Could of got better accommodation at the same rate if we had realized how down hill this establishment had gone.
Lisa
Last night both our rooms were dirty with a musty odour. The woollen blankets on beds were stained and dirty. The towels had an unpleasant smell and felt grubby. The overall feel of the place was that it needs an extremely good clean. Investing in new linen, towels etc, the place looked tired and grubby. Your prices were expensive
Could of got better accommodation at the same rate if we had realized how down hill this establishment had gone.
Lisa
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is an excellent location. It is about 5 minutes from the I-site but it is up a steep hill. This also means it is off of the main road so there is no road noise.
In general this backpacker was ok and if in the area I may stay here again. In summary it looks like it was fixed up about 20 years ago and nothing has been put back in the business. It is clean but a bit tired and old. For example, in the kitchen the refrigerator leaked for the 3 days we were there. The staff shoved a towel under the refrigerator and changed it each morning. On the 2 stoves, at least 1 burner did not work on each. The cooking tools (flippers, etc.) need replacement. Some of the pots have handles falling off. The hot tub looked very tired. I did not use.
The biggest advice I can give is do not book the twin room that is located outside of the main building. It is only a few feet from the main building. That is not a problem. The room is a converted garage. 2/3 of the garage space is this twin room and 1/3 of the space is the communal TV room. The TV room couches are old and filthy. It looks like your clothes may pick up stains if you sit on the couch. If someone is watching TV or talking in the TV room you can hear everything in the twin room.
Also, the door of the twin room is falling apart, it closes very loudly and would be very, very easy to break in. It faces to the west and when the sun is setting, the room gets extremely hot and you can’t use the room.
The dorm rooms are large, very bright and cheery. The doubles looked okay too. I would just avoid the outside twin room.
This hostel is a 10 minute walk to a small grocery store and a 30 minute walk to the large grocery store (New World).
I hope you find this review helpful and if you do, I would appreciate a helpful vote. Thanks!
In general this backpacker was ok and if in the area I may stay here again. In summary it looks like it was fixed up about 20 years ago and nothing has been put back in the business. It is clean but a bit tired and old. For example, in the kitchen the refrigerator leaked for the 3 days we were there. The staff shoved a towel under the refrigerator and changed it each morning. On the 2 stoves, at least 1 burner did not work on each. The cooking tools (flippers, etc.) need replacement. Some of the pots have handles falling off. The hot tub looked very tired. I did not use.
The biggest advice I can give is do not book the twin room that is located outside of the main building. It is only a few feet from the main building. That is not a problem. The room is a converted garage. 2/3 of the garage space is this twin room and 1/3 of the space is the communal TV room. The TV room couches are old and filthy. It looks like your clothes may pick up stains if you sit on the couch. If someone is watching TV or talking in the TV room you can hear everything in the twin room.
Also, the door of the twin room is falling apart, it closes very loudly and would be very, very easy to break in. It faces to the west and when the sun is setting, the room gets extremely hot and you can’t use the room.
The dorm rooms are large, very bright and cheery. The doubles looked okay too. I would just avoid the outside twin room.
This hostel is a 10 minute walk to a small grocery store and a 30 minute walk to the large grocery store (New World).
I hope you find this review helpful and if you do, I would appreciate a helpful vote. Thanks!
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Date of stay: February 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Don't stay in the room that is not included in the main house. It is a converted garage and...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hostel is located at the top of a hill and has great views. There is a path that leads right from the outside of the hostel down to town, which is convenient and easy.
We stayed in a double room with a private bathroom. The room and bathroom were clean and tidy. We were there in October and the room was quite chilly, but there are hot water bottles available and those did the trick.
The hostel has a great garden, a hot tub, and a nice patio. It also has laundry facilities and clotheslines available for use which was great after a day of sea kayaking.
The kitchen was big and well equipped, and we had everything that we needed.
The only downside that we experienced was that the staff were either non-existent or standoffish. Fortunately, we didn't need much from them and didn't let it ruin our stay.
We stayed in a double room with a private bathroom. The room and bathroom were clean and tidy. We were there in October and the room was quite chilly, but there are hot water bottles available and those did the trick.
The hostel has a great garden, a hot tub, and a nice patio. It also has laundry facilities and clotheslines available for use which was great after a day of sea kayaking.
The kitchen was big and well equipped, and we had everything that we needed.
The only downside that we experienced was that the staff were either non-existent or standoffish. Fortunately, we didn't need much from them and didn't let it ruin our stay.
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Date of stay: October 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The most run down backpacker we have ever come across. There was a total lack of maintenance. The entire place is old and need urgent maintenance. Badly laid out also having to walk through bathrooms to get to bedrooms. I have never seen that before! The oven door does not close correctly and remained open while we were cooking. Total waste of electricity and this place comes across as “green”. Added to this was a very leaky tap which was more than just dripping water. GREEN!!! I don’t think so. Bushy trees blocked the much touted “spectacular sea view”. If someone did a bit of maintenance on the garden you could at least get a glimpse of the sea but that’s wishful thinking. Shower pressure is very low and you have to run around under it to get wet. Low, dull and dirty vinyl wet floor was dangerous. And the most disappointing was the spa area, limited to 10 mins use and the over treated chlorine made me feel extremely ill and I was seeing stars and felt incredibly dizzy when the cover was opened as I stood next to it. The owner stated, “oh, I should have warned you about that” “it happens every time, she said”. No apology by the way just a stunned and injured guest. No offer of assistance. Just brushed it off as though it was my fault for standing there. We own a spa pool and it doesn’t happen for us. No warning at all!!Poor health and safety in this place. There was no customer service at all in this place from the minute we stepped in, very unhelpful and unfriendly. I lost my WIFI vouchers and asked to get replacement; she did not want to issue another one and blamed me for losing it. At the end I have to put $2 and used public internet. We can't stay in this place that night after all of these horrendous issues and we moved that night after consulting my agent through whom we made the booking. The owner does not listen to customer complaints/feedback. Her attitude was that we moaned about everything. We are not in the habit of making up stories and untruths. We had legitimate issues and she was arrogant to say the least and completely indifferent to our needs. Unfortunately there is also a very large and loud civil defence siren about 30 meters from the property and although there are some hand written notes inside the premises there was no warning of this on the web site. It is extremely loud when it goes off and after arriving from a long drive the last thing I expected or wanted was to be woken by a screaming siren, which went on for at least 5 minutes, right outside my window. Extremely disappointing experience and we advise to stay well clear of this place unless you are up to it.
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I cannot give this hostel enough praise! Perfect in all aspects. If you want to feel like part of a family of like minded people travelling and sharing stories and interests this place is great! Helen is lovely and makes this place feel so cosy and comfortable. Thank you for a truly amazing stay in the beautiful Kaikoura :)
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Date of stay: February 2015
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Double room was small and dated but overall the hostel catered for our needs well. Bit of a strange set up having to walk through the bathroom to get to the bedroom. Bed was comfy and only a short stroll into town. Not bad but not great.
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Date of stay: January 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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"Don't stay in the room that is not included in the main house. It is a converted garage and the door is falling apart. The room is noisy and hot in the afternoon."Read full review
PRICE RANGE
$87 - $91 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandSouth IslandCanterbury RegionKaikoura
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Claim Your ListingDOLPHIN LODGE BACKPACKERS | UPDATED 2025 Hostel Reviews & Price Comparison (Kaikoura, New Zealand) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Dolphin Lodge Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to Dolphin Lodge Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include Kaikoura Museum (0.1 km), Mayfair Theatre (0.5 km), and Eco Zip Line Kaikoura N.z. (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Dolphin Lodge Backpackers?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and a hot tub.
Is parking available at Dolphin Lodge Backpackers?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Dolphin Lodge Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include Zephyr Restaurant, Coopers Catch Kaikoura, and The Whaler.
Is Dolphin Lodge Backpackers located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.6 km away from the centre of Kaikoura.
Are there any historical sites close to Dolphin Lodge Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Fyffe House (2.4 km).