
CHECK IN AND ARRIVAL
Check-in time is anytime after 3:00 PM. We are happy to arrange alternative check-in times if you contact us prior to arrival.
GAINING ACCESS
There is a lockbox containing your house key. Access the property via the lockbox 1456
WIFI
Network name: WONDERLAND
Password: wonderland11
DINING
In New Zealand’s smaller towns, restaurants close earlier than in big cities, with the best time for dinner reservations between 6:00 – 8:30 PM. If arriving after 8 PM, consider dining beforehand or grabbing supplies from New World supermarket (open until 9 PM) to enjoy a home-cooked meal in our fully equipped kitchen.
For a local treat, we recommend Thatcher & Small Restaurant (reservations advised)
Hokitika Sandwich Company - home to the South’s best fresh sandwiches. Order online to skip the wait!
Alchemy & Storm - Our amazing new Salad Bar - prepare to be amazed!
HOW TO FIND US?
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Travel through the gorgeous Arthurs Pass - the journey will take you around 4 hours leisurely.
Our top tips to stop along the way are:
Shefield Pies
Castle Hill
Devils Punchbowl
Viaduct Lookout
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The only road is the coast road…
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The drive from Wanaka to Hokitika is a breathtaking journey through some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes, taking around 5.5–6 hours without stops.
Along the way, make time for Haast Pass, a spectacular alpine route with must-see stops like Blue Pools Track (a short walk to crystal-clear glacial waters) and Thunder Creek Falls (a stunning 28m waterfall).
As you enter the wild West Coast, stop at Ship Creek to stroll through lush podocarp forests and admire the rugged coastline. Further north, the charming town of Franz Josef is perfect for a break, offering glacier views, hot pools, and great cafés.
Another highlight is Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier, famous for its mirror-like reflections of Aoraki/Mt Cook on a still day.
From there, continue up the coast through lush rainforest, with the Ross Goldfields as a final historic stop before reaching Hokitika, where stunning sunsets and driftwood beaches await you. 🚗🌿✨
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The best 25 minute scenic flight into wonderland
HOUSE MANUAL
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Your Morning Fix
Every great day starts with a good fix, and at Host’d, we believe the little details make all the difference - like starting your morning with a plunger coffee from Coffee Supreme.
As a cornerstone of New Zealand’s coffee scene, their ethically sourced beans and community-driven ethos bring people together, fostering connection with every sip. From supporting the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand to partnering with the Wellington City Mission, their mission goes beyond great coffee - it’s about spreading kindness.
We’re proud to share that spirit with you, and if the taste lingers long after your stay, Coffee Supreme ships worldwide, so you can relive the flavors and memories from home.
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House Rules
Welcome to Your Home Away from Home!
We’ve poured love into designing these spaces for you to enjoy and make your own. In return, we kindly ask that you treat them with the same care you would your own home.
House Rules:
No Smoking: To keep our spaces fresh, please refrain from smoking indoors.
Family-Friendly: Our homes are perfect for little ones under 12. Please take care to keep plants and delicate items out of reach if needed.
Guests: Unregistered guests are welcome by invitation—just let us know in advance.
Key Safety: If your property has a lockbox, please return the keys there before checking out.
Care for Our Space: Please treat the home and its amenities with kindness.
Dishes: Before checking out, kindly wash any dishes or load the dishwasher if available.
TV & Personal Accounts: If you log into any streaming apps, don’t forget to sign out to keep your information secure.
Waste Management: Trash should be sorted into the correct bins. As collections run fortnightly, please avoid overfilling bins with travel, car, or event waste. If you have excess, our recycling center on Hau Hau Road is just minutes away.
Thank you for your cooperation, and from all of us at Host’d—enjoy your stay! 😊
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Hotel Grade Linens
At Host’d, we want you to feel completely at home - starting with the little things that make a big difference. Your reservation includes fresh linens and plush towels, so you can settle in without a worry.
From the moment you arrive, everything is thoughtfully prepared so you can simply unwind and enjoy your stay. We’ve taken care of the details, so all that’s left for you to do is relax and make yourself at home.
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Emergency Contacts
111 is the emergency number in New Zealand for Police, Fire and Ambulance.
+64 3 755 8180 - Westland Medical Centre
+64 3 755 8150 - Westland Pharmacy
+64 210 266 5154 - Property Manager: Claire O'Connell. Please text message only
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Traffic, Travel & Road Conditions
Click on the link below to be taken to our live NZTA traffic and Travel updates
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Rubbish & Recycling
Rubbish, Trash, Glass & Recycling
Thank you for staying with us! Please note that our small green general waste bin is shared over a two-week period, so inline with our sustainability goals we kindly ask you to minimise general waste. If you have extra rubbish and glass - perhaps from a gathering or celebration we please ask to drop of at our local Hau Hau Road Recycling Centre.
For recycling (yellow bin), follow the red sticker guidelines: no food, glass, or polystyrene - only cans, paper, and plastic (without lids).
Glass should go only in the black bin please or if you have excess, taken to the recycle centre please.Bins are put out on Monday nights on Revell St. If home you will see one of our team pop in to take the bins out.
Thank you for your understanding and support keeping our holiday escapes tidy and sustainable!
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Mood Lighting
To ensure a comfortable stay, we provide various forms of mood lighting. Lamps and bedside lighting around the house give a lovely ambience.
We recommend leaving a light or two on when you head out for dinner so that when you return you have no trouble finding your way around.
If you are arriving in the dark, the light switch is on your right hand side as you enter the door.
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Bug-Free Beachfront Bliss!
Bug-Free Beachfront Bliss!
Welcome to our little slice of paradise on the West Coast! While sandflies and mosquitoes are notorious across the South Island, Hokitika’s beachfront is a rare exception - almost entirely free from them! 🌿✨
Venture inland to lakes or bush areas, and you may encounter a few, but here, you can soak up stunning sunsets without the nuisance. In 11 years of living here, I’ve barely seen one on the beach!
Enjoy the serenity - bug-free and beautiful! 🏖☀️
If you're heading to Hokitika Gorge, Lake Kaniere, Karamea, or South Westland, grab some Okarito Sandfly Repellent (available at most supermarkets or online on the link below) for extra comfort on your adventures.
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THANK YOU!
…for being part of our sustainability goals!
"No human has ever drawn a perfect circle." If you look closely, the Thankyou logo always features an imperfect circle—symbolizing that change is a journey, not perfection.
At Host’d, sustainability is woven into everything we do. From our ‘forever bottles’—inspired by Thankyou—to our locally sourced, pH-balanced soaps and body washes, we strive to reduce waste while providing thoughtful comforts. Although Thankyou products aren’t yet available in New Zealand, Claire personally sourced these bottles from Australia to support their mission.
💛 A Little Mindful Touch
Our own forever bottles serve as a 2-in-1 hair & body wash and handwash, infused with refreshing cucumber and basil, pear and coconut.
Designed for endless refills, they benefit both you and our cleaning team.
Our cleaning products are sourced from a local West Coast company, reducing transport impact and supporting our community.
We kindly ask you to leave the forever bottles behind so they can continue their journey towards a waste-free, more sustainable future.
💛 Join the Movement
To learn more about Thankyou’s incredible work - or support their mission by purchasing your own pieces!
Every small action makes a difference. 🌿♻️ -
Love Our Houseplants?
So Do We! 🌿
At Host’d, we take great pride in our green spaces, caring for hundreds of plants across our properties. Each one has been lovingly propagated, nurtured, and placed with purpose, creating a fresh, vibrant atmosphere while naturally filtering the air for you to enjoy.
While they may not always look picture-perfect, each leaf tells a story of growth and resilience. To keep them thriving, we kindly ask that you avoid watering or tampering with them - they’re on a special care schedule tailored to their needs.
We also ask that small children be kept away from the plants, as little hands can be curious, and some species may be fragile or sensitive to touch.
By admiring rather than adjusting, you’re helping us maintain a healthy, balanced ecosystem within our homes. Thank you for letting our plants do what they do best- bringing life and beauty to your stay! 🌱✨
CHECK OUT GUIDELINES
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CHECK OUT 9:45AM
To ensure a smooth departure please aim for 9:45am, this then gives you an extra 15 minutes should you need it to be out of the property by 10am when our housekeepers arrive.
Our housekeepers are the real heartbeat of our company and they do a brilliant job so please help respect their demanding schedule by being out on time.
Turn off lights, close windows and doors, and return keys to the lockbox and scramble code (if applicable).
Wash and put away dishes or start the dishwasher with enough time for the cycle to finish for the housekeeper.
Leave used towels in the bathroom (please do not put into the washing machines as our lovely linens are hired).
Log out of any personal accounts on TV apps for security.
Dispose of waste in line with our rubbish and recycling guidelines. If you have excess waste please use the Hau Hau Road recycling center.
Check for belongings so nothing special gets left behind.
If you have perishable items that are worth sharing please leave them in the fridge or on the bench.
If you've moved furniture, kindly return it to its original spot.
For properties with condensing dryers, please empty the front water reservoir and lint filter.
We know accidents happen - if there are any accidental damages please let us know so we can address the issue before our future guests arrival.
If you have early travel plans and are vacating the property earlier than check out it’s lovely to let us know so we may pass onto the team. This may allow them to start a wee bit earlier and means we may offer an earlier check in when requested.
Please take a minute to leave us a review… we'd love to hear about the favourite memory of your stay.
FAQs
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HEATPUMP - We have a large Toshiba floor-mounted heatpump to keep Drifting Sands nice and toasty during your stay.
OIL HEATERS - Each suite is also equipped with its own Goldair oil heater.
ELECTRIC BLANKETS - The electric blankets have an easy off/on switch where you can manage the settings to suit your preference. From December through to the end of March, we remove the electric blankets as the warmer weather provides better sleeping conditions for a more restful night.
BLANKETS - There blankets in each wardrobe to ensure a cosy and warm stay.
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Tap water in New Zealand is safe to drink, including here on the West Coast where it often comes from natural sources.
You can safely enjoy fresh, clean water straight from the tap.💧💧
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We’re so looking forward to welcoming you and love that you’re planning to spend time with local family and friends during your stay - it’s moments like these that make your trip truly special. 💛
We absolutely welcome and encourage you to have visitors join you to make your stay even more memorable!
Whether it’s a friend stopping by for dinner or a family member popping in to say hello, we’d love to help make your time with us as special as possible.
Just a kind reminder that only those listed on the reservation (whether booked through Airbnb, Booking.com, direct booking, etc.) are covered by the booking platform’s insurance policies (e.g., AirCover). This means the reservation holder kindly takes responsibility for the home and any happenings during their visit.
We trust in your care and thoughtfulness for the property and we’re truly grateful for your care and understanding hosting extended guests. 😊
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Everyone loves a good cup of tea! 😊 Please note that all our kettles are electric - so please DO NOT place them on the stovetop. Believe us - it has happened!
For safety reasons, and in keeping with our guidelines, we do not provide any hob-top appliances, such as:
Moka pots
Stovetop kettles
Percolators
If you are bringing your own and plan to use it, we strongly advise keeping a close eye while in use to ensure safety.
Happy brewing! 💛
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We know how easy it is to leave something behind in the excitement of travel and we’re happy to help reunite you with your belongings.
If you think you’ve left something, send us a message through the booking platform - sharing a photo (if possible) helps our team. If we can locate it, we’ll let you know!
To have your item returned simply send us a self-addressed prepaid envelope to:
Claire O’Connell
Drifting Sands
197 Revell Street
Hokitika 7810
West Coast, New ZealandA Little Helping Hand 💛
We request for a $15 service fee to cover the time and care our team takes to retrieve, store and package your item plus a special trip to the post office to send it on its way.
We love looking after our guests and will always do our best to help! 😊