Backpacker Hostels in Hokitika, New Zealand

Hokitika is a small, artsy town on the west coast of New Zealand with beautiful beaches, local jewelry, plenty of shops, and one of the craziest festivals in the country. The town is very small and easy to walk around, with a large clock right in the center. There are a few hostels in Hokitika, all with good quality offerings. Hostels in Hokitaka can provide information about nearby hikes, biking and bird watching so you can explore the natural beauty of the area. Hokitika is a good stop on the way to or from the Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier; if you are driving down the coast, Hokitika offers a friendlier and more beautiful overnight stop than Greymouth. The town is quaint and charming, with streets full of greenstone and jade jewelry -- there's plenty of options for browsing and you might even here the local band singing old songs on the corner as you wander. Hokitika has an artistic vibe with many artists choosing to live in the proximity of this small, beachside town. The white-sand beach is gorgeous on a sunny day and hosts a driftwood beach art festival each summer showcasing local talent. Take a stroll on the beautiful beach any time of year, or come and see the local art during the summer. The Wild Food Festival in March each year is the craziest festival in Hokitaka, where locals dress up in costumes to eat live grub worms; jello grasshoppers; and all manner of critters from the sky, land, and sea. The Wild Food Festival is an awesome event to test your courage, make some local friends, and see how much fun rural Kiwi life can be. Hokitika offers a friendly adventure for anyone traveling down the west coast; the nature is beautiful and the small-town feel adds friendliness to the vast uninhabited coastline.