Hitting the Sack...
On the road (and on a budget) is easier in New Zealand than just about anywhere. This country is insanely welcoming to foreigners and quite accustomed to the young-and-penniless crowd. As such, you can stay just about anywhere for dirt cheap––or even for free! Read on for a list of affordable accommodation options, roughly in order from most to least expensive. Note: all prices in USD, and per person unless otherwise indicated.
1. Airbnb
If you haven't heard of Airbnb, it's high time you do. Essentially an online listing site for folks looking to rent extra space in their homes, it's chock full of relatively inexpensive places to stay for a night, a week, or longer.
Upsides: Airbnb hosts are by and large incredibly welcoming and helpful. Many of them will cook for you, show you around the area, and more. You'll get lots of amenities (laundry, wifi, breakfast, TV, etc.) at little to no extra cost. Plus it's just nice to stay in an actual house for a change.
Downsides: You can find some great deals, but they're usually still pricier than other options. Advance booking is generally required. Also, if you can't handle sharing space with strangers, this isn't for you. Then again, traveling cheaply might not be for you either.
Price Range: Technically $10 and up, but more realistically $30-60 (no charge for an extra person though, so this is a great option if you're traveling with a buddy).
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| Our Airbnb host helped us find... |
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| ...the one and only Weta Workshop! |
SPACE
2. Backpackers
Known as hostels to the rest of the world, Kiwi "backpackers" are affectionately named after their most popular customers. You're probably already familiar with this concept (and if not, I wrote a whole post about them a while back), so I'll skip the details and jump right to the cost.
Price Range: $20-25 for a shared room; $40-50 for private.
3. Holiday Parks
If you haven't heard of Holiday Parks, it's ok, because they're not a thing in America (or pretty much anywhere else other than down under). But they should be, because they're awesome. Basically, they're privately-run campgrounds, with cabins, bunkrooms, tent sites, RV sites, and the like. The facilities vary park by park, but you can generally count on bathrooms, showers, laundry, and a kitchen. Rankers has put together a fantastic database of Holiday Parks and DOC campsites (see below) here.
Upsides: It's not hard to find great Holiday Parks in beautiful locations, including those too rural for hostels. You usually won't need a tent, since most have hostel-like accommodation in addition to camping. Many offer activities and equipment rentals at reasonable costs.
Downsides: Quality varies widely from park to park, so it's important to do your research... reviews are your friend. And even the best Holiday Parks are not resorts, so don't expect luxury, because you won't get it.
Price Range: Around $10-$15/person for a tent site, and progressively more expensive from there.
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| We found a nice quiet spot for our tent at the beautiful Smiths Farm Holiday Park outside of Picton. |
4. DOC Campgrounds/Huts
New Zealand's DOC (Department of Conservation) runs all of the National and Regional Park land, and it takes its job very seriously. Campgrounds are abundant and kept in good condition, plus they cost next to nothing. The interior of many parks also contain "huts" (think backwoods hostel), which are also pretty cheap and often surprisingly nice. Also, see link above to see all sites on a map.
Upsides: If you're into the outdoors, these campsites are set in some of the most spectacular places in the country. They're also generally quiet and secluded.
Downsides: You need a tent, unless you're staying in a hut. Depending on the location and the time of year, they can fill up pretty quickly. Some require advance booking, some suggest it, and others don't pre-book at all, which is kind of annoying.
Price Range: Free - $12 per night, depending on facilities and location.
5. CouchSurfing
CoachSurfing International Inc. is basically the free version of Airbnb, except you (typically) get a couch instead of a bed. It's a membership-only online community of travelers who basically host each other in their homes free of charge, out of the goodness of their hearts. So basically CouchSurfing and Kiwi Land are a match made in heaven.
Upsides: Other than the free part, this is a great way to meet locals and have an "authentic" cultural experience. Hosts are usually very open and generous people... a friend of mine even got a free plane ride from her CouchSurfing host!
Downsides: Again, like with Airbnb, if you need personal space, this isn't for you. It's also not ideal for spouses (the whole sleeping on a couch thing). While CouchSurfing takes safety seriously and requires hosts to provide extensive references, there's still a slight risk you'll end up staying with a creep.
Price Range: Free (except cost of food in some cases).
6. Freedom Camping
Freedom camping is another ubiquitous Kiwi thing that's not exactly encouraged in the States. Back before The Lord of the Rings broadcast the glories of New Zealand to the world, when travelers were more scarce, you could just set up a tent anywhere not marked private property. Alas, times have changed, and as the rules stand now, you can spend the night on any Conservation land that isn't designated otherwise, with a few catches (see below). Since designated areas are in constant flux, your best bet is to find an information centre and ask where you can camp in the area. If you're the outgoing type, you can also knock on doors to ask if you can pitch a tent on someone's private land.
Upsides: No cost, often very private, and obviously no bookings necessary.
Downsides: No facilities are provided. Due to increasing numbers of freedom campers, more and more areas are being restricted to self-contained vehicles only, meaning you need an RV with its own toilet. Illegal freedom camping is punishable with a hefty fine.
Cost: Free.
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| Backroads like this one (minus the fences!) are your best bet for successful freedom camping. |
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