Christmas time at Hone Heke Lodge when backpackers pooled together and shouted their hosts a $400 voucher for Christmas.
Christmas time at Hone Heke Lodge when backpackers pooled together and shouted their hosts a $400 voucher for Christmas.
Kerikeri's Hone Heke Lodge is on a roll.
The BBH hostel and backpackers, located in central Kerikeri, has added another award to its successes of the previous two years - this time a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2017 and a five star rating.
This follows winning back-to-back Westpac NorthlandBusiness Awards with the Chamber of Commerce for Customer Choice in Service in 2015 and 2016; which recognised excellence in customer service.
When David and Victoria Howells reopened Hone Heke Lodge three-and-a-half years ago they wanted to create a safe backpacker hostel where people would feel like they were staying at a "home away from home".
One day they would like to know someone was looking after their kids on the other side of the world as they had, the couple said.
The Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence is given to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers. The five star rating (4.9 out of five) is based on 73 of 78 customers rating their experience at the lodge as excellent.
The Howells attribute their success to great planning, clear vision and being consistent.
"We feel humbled with the accolades but it is nice to be acknowledged for doing what we love, and doing it to our high standards," they said.
"We are so happy we made the wonderful move back home to Northland and we enjoy showcasing it to the world at our International Flashpackers, Hone Heke Lodge Kerikeri."
The "Flashpackers" description denotes the accommodation is for the discerning backpacker; providing more upmarket lodging than a hostel dorm (a blend of flash and backpacker).
The lodge is a member of the BBH world traveller network.
The Howells bought the lodge, which had been closed for a year, in early 2014 refurbishing and reopening it soon after.
It was "just an empty shell", but with an amazing soul and glimpses of the past stories around the place, Victoria said.
Christmas time at Hone Heke Lodge when backpackers pooled together and shouted their hosts a $400 voucher for Christmas.
"We started from zero people and spent lots of time renovating it. We've had visitors from over 55 countries now. The world comes to us.
"We have truly amazing people coming to stay and work in the area. Such amazing people we meet - they love that our hostel is clean and has the most comfy beds in NZ, so they tell us - as we have many people come back at stay time and time again or to say goodbye to their NZ 'home' before they return to their home countries."
The couple, and their 12-year-old twins Ella and Joe, moved to Kerikeri from the UK, but Victoria has a long connection with Northland.
She was educated at Rawene, Opononi, Omanaia and Whangarei, while her father, Bob Kennedy, was a one-time Hokianga County Council engineer. The couple met in the UK, while Victoria was travelling.
Their dream to open a backpackers had come true and their aim was to create a hostel and backpacker sanctuary where people could relax and take advantage of the wonderful area around Kerikeri.
"Northland is booming and we are working closely with other local partners so we can all benefit from this huge growth in tourism that Northland is experiencing. Working with these partners we think the future is very bright and we are very excited with what the future holds."
