Multi-million dollar Tekapo accommodation celebrates opening

YHA Lake Tekapo has celebrated the opening of their brand new premises, reporting 85% occupancy in their first two weeks of trade.

The $9 million dollar development on Tekapo’s lakefront opened for business on April 17 2019, including limited opening hours for adjoining gourmet burger bar, Our Dog Friday.

Construction on the 120-bed hostel began in September 2017. The hostel includes a mix of private double and twin rooms, multi-share dormitory-style beds, and ensuite facilities to suit all types of travellers.

Guest feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Online reviewers have labelled the facility “stunning,” “exceptional,” and the “best hostel experience ever.”

The accommodation features a fully-equipped kitchen, in-house laundry, TV lounge, free WiFi, solar hot water and photovoltaic panels, and community-facing gourmet burger bar Our Dog Friday is housed in the same building.

The floor-to-ceiling windows and uninterrupted lake views in the lounge and dining area replicate a much-loved feature of the previous Lake Tekapo hostel on Simpson Lane. This building held only 33 beds but enjoyed high occupancy and excellent reviews year round, largely due to the care of Hostel Manager, Billy Kerr. Kerr has stayed with YHA during the build and manages the new hostel facility.

YHA has operated in Tekapo since 1965. The Simpson Lane hostel’s excellent location and pristine lake views came highly recommended by guests, but the building itself was overdue for an upgrade. The new development is YHA’s first new hostel build in over 30 years, which reflects the strategic importance of Tekapo as a destination and YHA’s commitment to the community.