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The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel

2.0 star property
Hostel in Motueka with free parking

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel

Front of property
Property grounds
Interior
Property grounds
6-Bed Shared Dorm

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Laundry
  • Free WiFi
  • Parking included

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 7 of 7 rooms

View all photos for Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Double Room, Shared Bathroom

Highlights

Furnished patio
Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Refrigerator
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
Shared/communal kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Queen & Single Room With Bathroom

Queen & Single Room With Bathroom

Queen & Single Room With Bathroom

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Furnished patio
Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Refrigerator
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Double Room, Private Bathroom

Double Room, Private Bathroom

Double Room, Private Bathroom

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(9 reviews)

Highlights

Furnished patio
Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Electric kettle
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for 7-Bed Shared Dorm

1 bedroom, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

7-Bed Shared Dorm

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for 6-Bed Shared Dorm

6-Bed Shared Dorm

6-Bed Shared Dorm

Highlights

Heating
Separate bedroom
Portable fan
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Twin Bunk Beds

Basic Cabin

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
Separate bedroom
Portable fan
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for 4-Bed Shared Dorm

4-Bed Shared Dorm

4-Bed Shared Dorm

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Portable fan
Separate bedroom
Shared/communal kitchen
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds
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About the area

Map
55, Whakarewa Street, Motueka, 7120

What's nearby

  • Motueka District Museum - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • SimPit Technologies - 2 min drive - 1.5 km
  • Skydive Abel Tasman - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Kaiteriteri Beach - 17 min drive - 15.6 km
  • Little Kaiteriteri Beach - 17 min drive - 15.6 km

Getting around

  • Nelson (NSN) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪The Village Cafe Motueka - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Simply Indian - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪KFC - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Toad Hall - ‬3 min drive

About this property

The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel

Property highlights
You can look forward to a terrace, a garden, and a library at The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities such as laundry facilities.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
  • Free self parking
  • Luggage storage, a front-desk safe, and tour/ticket assistance
  • Barbecue grills
Room features
All guestrooms at The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel offer amenities such as free WiFi.
Other amenities include:
  • Heating and portable fans
  • Communal kitchens and limited housekeeping

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free uncovered self parking on site

Things to do

  • Library

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Shared microwave
  • Shared refrigerator

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (limited availability)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 3 steps to reach entrance
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible public washroom
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (40 inches high)

More

  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Shared kitchen access

More

  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Portable fan

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:30 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions and key retrieval information; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
You will be asked to provide the property with a copy of your government-issued photo ID after booking
If you are planning to arrive after 8:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Guests should be aware that 2 cats and 2 dogs reside at this property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours), key retrieval

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and outdoor lighting
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

National rating

For the benefit of our customers, we have provided a rating based on our rating system.

Property is also known as

White Elephant Backpackers Hostel Motueka
White Elephant Backpackers Hostel
White Elephant Backpackers Lodge Motueka
White Elephant Backpackers
White Elephant Backpacker Motueka, New Zealand - Nelson-Tasman
White Elephant Backpackers Lodge
The White Elephant Accommodation
White Elephant Backpackers Lodge
The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel Motueka

Frequently asked questions

Is The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much does it cost to stay at The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel?

As of Aug 21, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel on Sept 21, 2025 start from CA $75.49, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:30 PM.

What time is check-out at The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Where is The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel located?

Situated near the beach, this hostel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Motueka District Museum, SimPit Technologies, and Skydive Abel Tasman. Tasman Golf Club and Little Kaiteriteri Beach are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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The White Elephant Accommodation - Hostel Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 111 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 40 out of 111 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 11 out of 111 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 111 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 111 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ronja

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely cabin

Great place to stay before heading out to the abel tasman!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Janet Ho

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
At good location
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

edward

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect

Excellent stay with everything that you would need at the accommodation and in the short walk to the town. I’ve stayed here before and would definitely recommend it
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emily

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean, comfortable room. The property was beautiful and the staff were helpful and friendly.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

TONY

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
quiet and close to the town
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Simply lovely, we even made friends with one of the cats.wouls stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Carla

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved where hostel was situated. Beautiful grounds & walkable to the main shopping area. Very convenient.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ngakau

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Host was amazing, highly reccomend
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very pleasant host. Pleasant accommodation with a comfortable bed. Good parking facilities.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

nigel

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely character nice and quiet very nice and helpful owner
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

john

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Lovely cabin in great garden setting. The onlly problem we encountered was lack of Wi-Fi in the outside apartments. It was ok in the hostel part
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Shrub

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Very good if you don't need wifi

Everything was perfect, just extremely bad wifi (you can say no wifi there)
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stacy

Liked: Amenities
I cannot begin to say enough wonderful things about the charm of this hostel. The grounds were beautiful and the owner and other guests were so friendly. It was recently purchased and the new owner is continuing updates.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Rob

Liked: Amenities
Everything was fine and clean and friendly staff, except the showers and toilet (who are used by others) is built against the wall of my room. If you want a good sleep you need earplugs
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Surprisingly nice

We stayed in the ensuite hut. It was very clean and spacious, you could use the combined kitchen and BBQ area if you liked but our room had it's own mini fridge, and plates and cutlery. It's all set in a lovely garden. A quiet place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort

You get what you pay for...

Pros: Clean, very welcoming host at check in, cheaper than other accommodations in area. Cons: Tight, awkwardly designed bathroom, thin walls (can hear neighbor's every move), one pillow. All of the above is somewhat understandable as it is a very budget accommodation. What was intolerable was the extremely unreliable wifi - worst I've experienced in NZ. Ok stay for a quick night.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Janik

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
This is a review for the private cabin: it was functional but very basic. No toiletries were provided. The cabin had no heating or cooling at all, it was quite cold in the morning! There are much much better private rooms in Motueka for only slightly more money.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Simon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

6/10 Okay

Janet

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
This is a true hostel. The room we stayed in was small, no microwave or tv. There were some ants but nothing that wasn't remedied by taking the garbage out of the room. It was fine for the 2 nights we stayed but wouldn't have wanted to stay longer.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Kathryn

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I booked and arrived late, a lovely young woman welcomed me and showed me to my cute little self-contained unit in the back garden. Very grateful for the room at that time. It was well stocked with all i the appliances etc I needed. Quiet. Shower floor could have done with a clean.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a last minute change to our accomodation. And was lucky enough to find a room in White Elephant Accomodation. The owner was amaxing and she even upgraded my friend and i to a bigger room. We travelled through the house/ hostel to find our accomodation in the back. Which was a granny flat style room. The house was fun really well. Staff were amazing. Rooms were extremely clean and even provided a towel, kettle with tea and coffee. The drive from Nelson was an added bonus as the sun was setting after a late summer dinner. Thanks for the great stay. Will deffinately return.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hilary

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely home like enviroment, clean, friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Gail L

Liked: Cleanliness
The neighborhood was a little sketchy but we walked to town without any problems.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025