Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers
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Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers
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About
#1 of 1 hostel in Paraparaumu
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Situated right on the beach at Paraparaumu with stunning views of Kapiti Island, this charming backpackers hostel began life as a hotel in 1923 and has been lovingly restored to its former glory with lovely oak furniture in the rooms and historic photos of the Kapiti area. BBH Paraparaumu Barnacles Seaside Inn offers a variety of accommodation, many rooms have sea views which you can request when booking.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
BBQ facilities
Non-smoking hotel
Express check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Room features
Seating area
Kitchenware
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family 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
Charming
Languages Spoken
English
Location
3 Marine Parade, Paraparaumu 5032 New Zealand
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
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: 80 out of 100
80
26 Restaurants
within 1 kilometer
2 Attractions
within 1 kilometer
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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.
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
The Kapiti Coast is a beautiful (yet often underrated) part of New Zealand, and Barnacles is in a prime location, right across the street from Paraparaumu Beach. It's only an hour to the capital city of Wellington, and a short ferry ride over to Kapiti Island. This hostel has a nice homey feel to it, and the private rooms are very nice and comfortable, with a bit of an antique feel to them. Also, the couple who currently run the place (Aorangi and Bill) are some of the loveliest Kiwis I've met!
Though note that most rooms do not have a private bathroom.
Though note that most rooms do not have a private bathroom.
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Date of stay: May 2011Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
What a wonderful little hostel. The service was extremely friendly and the rooms were spacious and clean. The rooms with the seaview make the hostel that little more special.
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Date of stay: January 2005
Value
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.
Pleasant old building loaded with history and sloping floors! We had a sea view room which was lovely - but was very hot with sun blazing in all day. Normally I wouldn't complain about that but it did make it hard to sleep with no fan or AC in the room. beds were fine, facilities were as you would expect with a backpackers. Nice cool tea outside to enjoy the cool breeze.
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Date of stay: January 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: in the summer heat don't take the sea view rooms
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 has ceased to operate as a backpackers and now only caters to long term tenants.
You can no longer stay here as a traveller. There is no longer backpacker accomodation on the Kāpiti Coast unless you have your own tent.
You can no longer stay here as a traveller. There is no longer backpacker accomodation on the Kāpiti Coast unless you have your own tent.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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.
Would NOT recommend this accommodation The showers were communal and no privacy No locks The place was dirty and the badly planned kitchen area needed a lot of attention to bring it up to a reasonable standard One night was one too many
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Date of stay: March 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: No comment
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 building and location is great . lovely character . The manager was atrocious , rude and very unhelpful. The place stunk of cigarette smoke . The bedrooom i was in , had mold on the walls once i moved the bed . Needs updating and fixing . Would be a great place under new management .
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Date of stay: June 2016Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Rooms
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.
OK this place is pretty cheap and the location is excellent. Must say I am not impressed with the town though, even in January it feels depressing!
So it's Saturday night in January and the place is pretty empty. Kind of says it all.
So much potential but this place is like something from the 1950s and needs updating.
My room, while cheap, is mouldy and the whole building seems to smell.
There seems to be more people over 60, haven't got a problem with that at all, but I think it reflects the town, as everyone seems over 60!
Feel a little harsh giving a bad review but they need to move with the times and at least re-decorate a little and try and sort the mould situation out. As an asthmatic one night it acceptable but I would have left tomorrow or demand to change rooms.
Luckily I only booked one night and looking forward to camping again!
So it's Saturday night in January and the place is pretty empty. Kind of says it all.
So much potential but this place is like something from the 1950s and needs updating.
My room, while cheap, is mouldy and the whole building seems to smell.
There seems to be more people over 60, haven't got a problem with that at all, but I think it reflects the town, as everyone seems over 60!
Feel a little harsh giving a bad review but they need to move with the times and at least re-decorate a little and try and sort the mould situation out. As an asthmatic one night it acceptable but I would have left tomorrow or demand to change rooms.
Luckily I only booked one night and looking forward to camping again!
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
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.
YHA Barnacles Seaside Inn Paraparaumu is an old bed and breakfast which is in need of a good renovation.
"Restored to its former glory" is NOT the correct description as advertised on the web at all!!
VERY tired and grubby (cobwebs at every corner and above dated pictures) we stayed here one night only whilst waiting a room to come free @YHA Wellington.
FIRSTLY: It's a long way from the bus/train station which is at least a 20 minute ($4 return) journey each way.
The Naked bus arrives at the station early evening note so it's getting dark..check local bus timings! The drivers are very helpfull and will drop you off at the hostel as they pass.
The worst problem we found is the tiny kitchen for its capacity usage .. (installed high above the dining area) its a short narrow corridor affair and gets extremely hot when busy. If you like a sauna .. enjoying dancing/ bumping and jostling into fellow chefs as well as using old chipped/ cracked plates (and a few old pieces of cutlery) then this is the place for you.
The B& B landlady who runs it ensures you know the house rules (they're posted on all the walls too) so don't be surprised to be barked at for not knowing you can't use the kitchen outside door after "curfew"!! ..this door is (so we discovered) much needed for fresh COOLER air.. BUT this door is locked shortly after arrival @9pm (when most have finished cooking ..and the temperature is at its greatest...NOTE:there's only one tiny window to ventilate?)
There's NO free WIFI either..which surprised us (both being YHA members). "We have to pay for it" was the stern curt reply from the landlady.
So my thoughts were ..NO not the usual better quality YHA standards one is used to.
We are ardent YHA travellers (on a world tour) and know a poor hostel when we come across it. A contrast to many lovely ones we've stayed in.
With much needed decent web access (to keep in touch/book other travel) ..together with return transport from the drop off point to this poor quality hostel.. its NOT offering modern quality OR value by any stretch of the imagination.
Our advice.. Give it a miss .. go directly to Wellington.. or choose another better quality hostel.
...DEFINITELY stay elsewhere!
What a contrast to other New Zealand establishments. Take note YHA NZ!
"Restored to its former glory" is NOT the correct description as advertised on the web at all!!
VERY tired and grubby (cobwebs at every corner and above dated pictures) we stayed here one night only whilst waiting a room to come free @YHA Wellington.
FIRSTLY: It's a long way from the bus/train station which is at least a 20 minute ($4 return) journey each way.
The Naked bus arrives at the station early evening note so it's getting dark..check local bus timings! The drivers are very helpfull and will drop you off at the hostel as they pass.
The worst problem we found is the tiny kitchen for its capacity usage .. (installed high above the dining area) its a short narrow corridor affair and gets extremely hot when busy. If you like a sauna .. enjoying dancing/ bumping and jostling into fellow chefs as well as using old chipped/ cracked plates (and a few old pieces of cutlery) then this is the place for you.
The B& B landlady who runs it ensures you know the house rules (they're posted on all the walls too) so don't be surprised to be barked at for not knowing you can't use the kitchen outside door after "curfew"!! ..this door is (so we discovered) much needed for fresh COOLER air.. BUT this door is locked shortly after arrival @9pm (when most have finished cooking ..and the temperature is at its greatest...NOTE:there's only one tiny window to ventilate?)
There's NO free WIFI either..which surprised us (both being YHA members). "We have to pay for it" was the stern curt reply from the landlady.
So my thoughts were ..NO not the usual better quality YHA standards one is used to.
We are ardent YHA travellers (on a world tour) and know a poor hostel when we come across it. A contrast to many lovely ones we've stayed in.
With much needed decent web access (to keep in touch/book other travel) ..together with return transport from the drop off point to this poor quality hostel.. its NOT offering modern quality OR value by any stretch of the imagination.
Our advice.. Give it a miss .. go directly to Wellington.. or choose another better quality hostel.
...DEFINITELY stay elsewhere!
What a contrast to other New Zealand establishments. Take note YHA NZ!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2015Trip type: Travelled solo
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Eat out! Short visit.
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 had a great stayed almost 2 month at Barbara's place once i stayed in the barn room which was the cleanest barn room i ever seen. Then she arranged me a single room which looking like vintage spent rest of my accommodation. She is serving delicious pies as well in the mornings. And area that hostel based wonderful you can see the free range duck's around and you can pass the Ocean just passing across the way.
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: You should make early reservation to staying in a single room.
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 place has a lot of character, with vintage furniture and great old pictures of the area. The host was also extremely accommodating, considering we were arriving so late at night she was happy to leave a key out for us.
The bathroom and kitchen facilities were quite clean and tidy, and was certainly helpful having a sink in the bedroom.
But for $60 the room was tiny and unfortunately full of flies. The top bedding and curtains were a bit old and musty, and wifi was difficult to use.
The bathroom and kitchen facilities were quite clean and tidy, and was certainly helpful having a sink in the bedroom.
But for $60 the room was tiny and unfortunately full of flies. The top bedding and curtains were a bit old and musty, and wifi was difficult to use.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2015Trip type: Travelled with friends
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: The rooms on the beach side downstairs seemed much nicer and bigger. (Try to avoid the room...
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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LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandGreater WellingtonKapiti CoastParaparaumu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
34
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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Frequently Asked Questions about Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers
Which popular attractions are close to Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers?
Nearby attractions include Maclean Park Playground (0.5 km) and Paraparaumu Foreshore Shared Pathway (0.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and laundry service.
What food & drink options are available at Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers?
Conveniently located restaurants include 50-50, Spice Lounge, and Ambience Cafe.
Are there any historical sites close to Barnacles Seaside Inn Backpackers?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Jack's Mill School Historic Area (8.0 km).