Trip Inn Hostel, Westport, New Zealand

After seeing Fox and Franz Josef Glacier we headed further up the beautiful West Coast road to see the Pancake Rocks and stay in the small town nearby.  However, we found the few hostels full and decided to push further north to Westport.  Along the way we saw a funny tourism sign that said “If you want to know Switzerland visit Queenstown, if you want know New Zealand visit Westport.”  Queenstown is a fine place to visit, has many things to see and do, but it does have that European ski town feel.  Westport we would find did feel more authentically New Zealand (what do we really know though?) and we enjoyed our brief one night stay.  The Trip Inn Hostel was in a lovely old victorian style home.  Ainsley and I tented in the backyard while Kelli and the boys slept in a three share. One of the most unique features of the Hostel was its use of coal for heating.  They had a large pile of coal in the backyard for a small history lesson for the kids.

WGGSH? - Maybe

WWSHA? - Yes