Pickled Parrot Lodge — Hotel in North Island

Not a bad place for medium-term lodging as it's generally quiet and comfortable and the communal areas are cleaned + rubbish removed 3x a week. Expenses are included and high-speed internet is included in the rent (but you need to keep logging back in regularly).

Good for backpackers as you can move in straight away with one weeks' rent as bond and move out with 48 hours notice. Leave the room tidy and you get your bond back in full. Surprisingly though, I didn't meet many travellers there as most of the people were long-term residents.

Felt pretty crowded during the lockdown with 15-20 people per block all sharing one kitchen and one bathroom (there is a male and female bathroom but 90% of residents are men).

Two downsides: my asthma got really bad here and I suspect it's because some of the residents never ventilate their rooms and let black mould fester (partly a result of poor insulation and a cool, damp and humid climate, i.e. normal for New Zealand).

Second was a couple of occasions when I had to put up with the noise of people in neighbouring rooms having 14-hour long online gaming sessions (sometimes until 3am) nearly every day and talking loudly over Discord, thankfully they didn't stay more than a...

I tried to get a room here. so I went to the town to check in advance, and I got lost in the middle of road because I'm not familiar with street naming system in NZ I made a phone call to manager or bully. I said I tried to find a way. but he just kept asking that I'm at right place. few seconds later I found building number and it was wrong place. after I told him that I'm in wrong place, he said "What an Idiot" then hung up. Even he obviously knew that I'm not native speaker he's just being so rude. All foreigners are not familiar with the place where they've never been before. and near the place, there's nothing. no mart, no bus stop, no restaurant. if you are person without car and who want to stay here short for another moving, It's not the comfortable place to reach to another...

I got kicked out but I'm still going to give it 4 stars. I won't say why because it's nothing too exciting. Anyway, a decent enough place once you get used to it. You can do your own thing or be social if you choose to . Like any place with quite a lot of people the quality of your stay depends on how considerate, respectful and courteous other tenants are. In Summer I used to like lurking in the forest nearby drinking wine and writing poetry, sometimes playing acoustic guitar. I'd recommend the place for short to medium term but probably not long term. The owner is a pleasant guy and so is...