Auckland Travel Forum

Hu everyone,
My eldest daughter lives on Ponsonby Rd in Ponsonby Auckland and is expecting her first child in Sep'09. I live in Melbourne Australia and will be travelling over for a week with my 12 year old daughter when the baby comes. Can anyone recommend somewhere inexpensive to stay for a week? Unfortunately my daughter and her husband live in a tiny loft and can't accomodate us. I won't have a car so somewhere in Ponsonby would be good otherwise if we stayed in the City Central Hotel on the corner of Albert & Wellesley Sts in Auckland is there a bus that would take us to and fro to Ponsonby? Or any other suggestions on where we could stay that doesn't cost the earth but from where we could get to Ponsonby easily? I appreciate any advice and help that you can give me. Regards,
Michele.

http://www.maxx.co.nz/

here is the link to the auckland public transport system

i checked out how long it takes to get from City Central to Ponsonby Road and it is about 15 minutes

but i am sure that you will find something closer - if that is important to you

Hi Jennifer, Thanks for checking out the public transport for me (I hadn't thought of that!) I'm usually with my husband and the rest of the family when I go away so we hire a car, but for just the 2 of us it's a bit expensive, the bus looks good! Thanks again, Regards, Michele

that's cool - I lived in Auckland many years ago when Ponsonby was a bit of a dump - but I know it has been gentrified now - it is pretty close to the city so you really wouldn't need a car

and i am sure some people will come in and tell you of good accomodation options closer

The LINK bus is the best bus to take, a single trip costs NZ$ 1.60. You would just have to walk one block to Victoria Street West.

On a nice day, you can even walk to Ponsonby Road, this should not take longer than 30 minutes.

However, the cheapest way would be to stay at the Ponsonby Backpackers. It is right at the corner of Ponsonby and Franklin Roads. The latter is a quiet residential street. Ponsonby Road, of course, is busy - but not that I would call it noisy. This backpackers hostel has quite a good reputation, is member of BBH backpackers, and has been renovated not too long ago. (I have not stayed there myself but photographed it on a recent visit because I thought it looked quite nice.)

They have double rooms, but with shared facilities. Cost is NZ$ 27 per person/per day. Perhaps you can get a better read for your daughter. They write on their website that winter rates are available, so you could ask.

Here is the website:

http://www.ponsonby-backpackers.co.nz/

Here is the link to the LINK bus:

http://www.linkbus.co.nz/

The great thing about this bus is that you can get around the city on a loop route, and it always costs NZ$ 1.60.

Thank you Sissi, I will look into the back packers, it would certainly be convenient just not sure about 'back packing' at 54! but it's certainly worth considering.Regards Michele

You are not too old for backpacking. I am not much younger but would do it under certain circumstances, and if it is a good backpackers. In September there should even be less tourists, so it might even be quiet.

I will have a look in my BBH book and check if there is another such hostel in the area. Perhaps they have double rooms with ensuites.

Also check out Verandahs, it even has a higher rating than the first hostel I gave you. It is close to Ponsonby Road and obviously at a very quiet location.

You find them all on this website:

http://www.bbh.co.nz/listings.aspx?bbh=list&aid=214

Other BBH hostels near or on Ponsonby Road:

The Brown Kiwi - only 1 minute from the LINK bus route.

Uenuku Lodge (on Ponsonby Road) has ensuite double and twin rooms! This is most comfortable for people without backpacking experience, and the most convenient solution.

Verandah has by far the highest BBH rating with 89%. (When you read those ratings on the website: 100% would be perfect, from 75 to 100% means: very good.

Ponsonby Backpackers has only 65, the other three are all over 75%.

Normally you should not go under those magic 75%. They are always more quiet. You can say: The higher the rating, the quieter and cleaner the hostel is, the lower the rating the more parties...

Thank you Sissi for all your help I will put some research into the Hostels you have suggested, as my daughter lives on Ponsonby Rd they are all close which is good.She is not due until Sept so I have some time to check out everywhere and make an early booking. Thanks again, Regards, Michele

If I stumble across other cheap accommodation in the area I will let you know.