Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Budget hotels are similarly priced to these bed-and-breakfasts but lack the charm of B&Bs. That being
said, I still think hotels, guesthouses, and bed-and-breakfasts in New Zealand are all overpriced. There are
so many cheaper options that I avoid these.
Apartment Rentals
Apartment rental prices range from $30 USD to $60 USD per night for a private room in a home. Large
apartments for groups tend to cost $70-100 USD per night. In New Zealand, there aren't a lot of options
here. You don't find many hosts if you aren't in one of the large cities, as this style of travel hasn't really
caught on. If you are spending a lot of time in small towns and in the country, this option won't work very
well.
Camping
Camping is the best budget option in New Zealand. Because it is such an outdoor-friendly country, you will
find a lot of campgrounds, as well as car and camper van parks. Kiwis (locals) love to be outdoors, and like
the Australians, they provide a lot of ways for you to do that too.
Campsites cost between $15 USD and $20 USD per night. You can rent cabins with a bed for two people
for around $33 USD. The price includes use of all park communal facilities, such as kitchen, showers/toilets,
and laundry. All people staying in the parks have access to the public facilities. Many of these sites have
deluxe apartments that fit two to eight people, with their own shower, cooking, and laundry facilities. Prices
begin at $60 USD.
The NZ Department of Conservation runs public camping facilities throughout the country, which in-
clude the amenities listed above. Prices begin at $6 USD per person (doc.govt.nz).
There is a collection of independent campsite owners who run Kiwi Holiday Parks and offer a member-
ship ($25 USD) that will give you 10 percent off your stay. You can get more information at kiwi holiday-
parks.com/vipcards.php.
Hospitality Exchanges
Hospitality exchanges, especially Couchsurfing, are widespread here, and with so many people signed up
for the service, you'll have no problem finding a host, even in off-the-beaten-path destinations. Global Free-
loaders, the Australian-based website, is also popular here. Servas and Hospitality Club also have good net-
works in this area of the world.
House-sitting is very popular in New Zealand, and you will find a lot of hosts looking for sitters, espe-
cially in vacation areas such as the Bay of Islands, Queenstown, and the Coromandel. You can refer back to
Chapter 11 for information on house-sitting.
WWOOF
WWOOFing opportunities are abundant in this country. Because a lot of the economy in New Zealand is
land-based, with sheep farms, fruit farms, and wineries dotting the country (in fact, there are ten times more
sheep in New Zealand than people), you find a high demand for willing farmworkers. You can find work
using the methods discussed in Chapter 11 as well as by simply asking around. With so many travelers using
this option in New Zealand, you can always find someone to point you toward a farm, and because of the
transient nature of the workers, there is always at least one farm looking for workers.
All accommodations can be booked at the booking sites mentioned in Chapter 11 or listed in Appendix
A. Additionally, local tourist offices can help you secure accommodations.
