Duncannon Hostel and Backpackers for Seasonal Workers - Mayfield
3.9/5
★
based on 8 reviews
Contact Duncannon Hostel and Backpackers for Seasonal Workers
| Address : | Duncannon Hostel and Backpackers for Seasonal Workers 3043 State Highway 1, Mayfield, Blenheim 7274, New Zealand |
| Phone : | 📞 +7889 |
| Postal code : | 7274 |
| Website : | http://www.duncannon.co.nz/ |
| Categories : |
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Paul Riddett on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ In 2012 I stayed at Duncannon whilst working a wine vintage in Marlborough. The following year when I knew I would again be working in Marlborough for the harvest I had no doubt that I would like to stay with the good folks at Duncannon again.
Staying there during both harvests was immensely enjoyable and I would recommend it to like minded travelers/backpackers/seasonal workers. The site is tidy and spacious and for the rent you pay having only to share a room with one other person is a bit of a luxury for backpacker hostels in NZ. Through the summer months and into the grape harvest you'l meet all manner of people from all around the globe passing through Duncannon, so there is a great social atmosphere to the place.
The few complaints from guests I have heard have been frivolous at best given the circumstances. It seems there will always be a few people who may find it a bit too easy to be preoccupied with being critical of inconsequential details. A little bit of respect and courtesy to others goes a long way especially considering some of the ungodly hours that seasonal workers do!
For what Duncannon offers and what facilities and services are provided for the quite reasonable rent you pay it is a rather unique place. There can not be too many like it in NZ and whether you are just passing by or involved in seasonal work its a good place to stay!
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Charlie Altman on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have just finished up my second vintage season of staying at Duncannon Hostel, and would highly recommend it to anyone else. The accommodations are comfortable and clean, and the staff is very friendly. The big difference between Duncannon and the other backpackers in Blenheim are the facilities and the amount of services they provide. The office will set you up with work when you first arrive, provide transportation to and from work for a daily fee (they even drive people out to the mussel factory in Havelock, over half an hour drive away) and also lend you a vehicle for your work team if you work non-traditional hours as so many of us do during the harvest season.
The grounds are well maintained and include two kitchen areas, two television rooms with dvd players, a small workout room, and a ping pong room. Past the main buildings is a pitch for playing football or soaking up the sun by the river. Sometimes the River Queen party boat will dock outside of Duncannon and provide the guests with a floating bar to enjoy. They only put two people to a room, unlike four or more at many backpackers in Blenheim, and they work to room you with people on opposite shifts so you essentially get your own room.
Most of the complaints I have heard from other travelers who've stayed at Duncannon were merely being told to quiet down when they were drunk and loud at late hours of the night (some people think that paying weekly rent gives them the right to disturb the other guests paying the same rent). I think they're very fair about allowing us to have a good time, as long as we respect the fact that some other residents have to work at very early hours in the morning.
You can find lower priced accommodations in Blenheim, but you get what you pay for. If you're looking for a clean and well appointed hostel, where you'll meet many other travelers in a fun, social atmosphere, I'd suggest staying here. I'll be back next season for sure.
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Matthias Theisen on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Duncannon is a great place to stay while working near Blenheim. We stayed there for over a month and after a few days the hostel had already gotten us a job on vineyards at the company "Hortus", which is located right next to the Duncannon Hostel. Generally the rooms (I think mostly double rooms) are absolutely fine and the facilities like showers and toilets as well. There is a games room with billiards and table tennis and behind the hostel there is a large lawn for chilling or playing football and a stream to refresh after a hot working day. Only the common kitchen and dining room is often dirty, but this is due to the use of the guests. Each room has its own locker in the kitchen, but I would recommend not to put sweet things like honey or jam in there, so we had an ant plague in the locker. But apart from that, for me it's a big advantage to meet so many great people, especially the seasonal workers from Vanuatu were just super nice and funny and it was interesting to talk about their home country. The closest supermarket is New World in Blenheim, 1.5 km from Duncannon, so you can either get there by car or on foot. All in all, we would definitely come back to the Duncannon, the positive points outweigh the negative aspects (eg do not expect to be able to party until dawn, when the party gets too long / too loud in the evening, the security staff have no problem with the party to interrupt) :)
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Sam Buxton on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ If you are looking for good accommodation and guaranteed work this is the place to go. Staff are super freindly and found me work within 2 days of being there. For what you pay, the rooms are great. Facilities are clean and having a gym, playing field and games room is a huge bonus. Also made some really good mates while being here. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for work in Blenheim!
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Nikolai Keller on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Really enjoyed my stay at Duncannon. Had a fantastic time there and met a lot of people. Fantastic staff there. They found me very fast a perfect job in the vineyards. If you want to go to Blenheim for work, Duncannon is definitely the place to stay
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Sabina Finnigan on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ We stayed here for a week whilst working at a vineyard in Blenheim. We were very positively surprised by the cleanliness and general quality of Duncannon. We stayed in a two-bed room, which was very simple but all you could need. The bathroom are fantastic. The kitchen is shared with other guests and could get busy during normal eating hours, but the kitchens are divided between the rooms and worked well for us. We met some great people during our stay and would definitely recommend this place!
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Amber Hunt on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Stayed here for five weeks and it suited my needs well. If you’re looking for a homey working hostel, this isn’t it... but if you’re looking for some personal space, clean & large facilities, no wait time for showers while working 60+ hr weeks - this could be a good place for you. Amazingly clean considering the size and only 2 beds per room. Half the buildings look brand new. Big walk in fridge. Was able to borrow steel toed shoes for work. Cheap laundry. Walls are thin, but as long as people aren’t obnoxiously loud, it’s nothing earplugs can’t fix. We would have liked to stay longer but it’s owned by Hortus and they make backpackers leave so they can move in RSE workers for pruning. To be fair, I knew that going in, and they gave plenty of warning, but still doesn’t help with the lack of a “home-y” feel. The biggest downside is the fire alarms. A small incident in the completely separate kitchen building will set them off for the entire grounds for 10 minutes. To be fair, maybe they’re concerned about a fire hopping buildings? Last time, it was Sunday morning around 8am. We didn’t leave our room (I know we absolutely should have, but would you if it was the 4th time in 4 weeks, all false alarms?) and staff unlocked our door and screamed fire. So we got out... it was immediately clear no buildings were on fire. I understand they had to make us get out... but again, 4th time in 4 weeks (that we were home for) and a Sunday morning. We later learned that a small pot in the kitchen building set it off. I liked it here, and would stay again... but there are cons.
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Melanie Olivera on Google
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ One of the worst places to stay. a super insecure place, on several occasions some people who were staying in the same place wanted to enter our rooms at nigth. The establishment did not solve these inconveniences. Fire alarms go on in the wee hours at least once a week. We had situations of damage to our cars, the place was not prepared for people who had covid, they did not provide us disinfectants or a mask and also they did not come to clean the common areas, very dirty, noisy. Of course I would never stay in a place like this again.
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