Mountain House YHA

Christchurch & Canterbury


This well-kept hostel has cosy dorms and private rooms and the efficient and enthusiastic manager can provide extensive local hiking information. Note all rooms share bathroom facilities. The family room set-up ($238) sleeping up to seven people is a good option for groups.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Christchurch & Canterbury attractions

1. Arthur's Pass National Park

0.88 MILES

Straddling the Southern Alps, known to Māori as Ka Tiritiri o Te Moana (Steep Peak of Glistening White), this vast alpine wilderness became the South…

2. Craigieburn Forest Park

16.86 MILES

Just off the highway, this mountainous area becomes a mecca for ski bunnies from June to October, with several fields in its midst, including Broken River…

3. Castle Hill/Kura Tawhiti

20.03 MILES

Scattered across lush paddocks around 33km from Springfield, these limestone formations reach up to 30m high, and look so other-worldly they were named …

4. Cave Stream Scenic Reserve

20.12 MILES

Near Broken River Bridge, 2km northeast of Castle Hill, you'll find this 594m-long cave. As indicated by the information panels in the car park, the walk…

5. Lake Kaniere

22.19 MILES

Lying at the heart of a 7000-hectare scenic reserve, 18km southeast of Hokitika, beautiful Lake Kaniere is 8km long, 2km wide, up to 195m deep, and…

6. Hokitika Gorge

27.62 MILES

Water this turqouise doesn't come easily. Half a million years of glacial movement sculpted Hokitika's ravine; the rock 'flour' ground over millennia…