New multi-million new youth hostel for Tekapo underway

By YHA New Zealand Construction has begun on a brand new youth hostel in the lakefront development site in Tekapo. The Youth Hostel Association (YHA New Zealand) broke ground late in 2017 and is in full swing building a state-of-the-art, 120-bed backpacker accommodation facility. Construction is due for completion in late 2018. The youth hostel will include a mix of multi-share rooms, private accommodation, family rooms, and ensuite facilities. The communal kitchen and lounge design features a large full-length window to highlight the lake views. A separate but adjoining licensed café will complement the hostel development, providing food and beverage options for guests and locals alike. YHA has operated in Tekapo since 1965 in their current location on Simpson Lane, and has enjoyed high occupancy in recent years as Lake Tekapo grows in popularity, both as a convenient stopping point between Christchurch and Queenstown, and as a destination in its own right. The hostel’s excellent location and pristine lake views came highly recommended by guests, but the building itself was past its best. “Tekapo is an important strategic destination for us, so this opportunity to increase capacity in a new, state of the art development that embraces the growing expectations of our guests is very exciting for YHA. The site location is fantastic, matching the pristine views of our former hostel,” says Mark Wells, Chief Executive of YHA New Zealand. Billy Kerr, Hostel Manager, says the new hostel will offer many of the features previous guests have loved, such as the great location and uninterrupted lake views, and surpass expectations with a modern design and brand new amenities. The current hostel has been closed to public bookings to accommodate construction staff who are working on the new property, with the new hostel expected to open in November 2018.