Accommodations in New Zealand:
The standards are high and the prices are low - compared to the rest of the Western world. And there are always great deals. You can travel on a backpacker budget whether you have a backpack or a suitcase. And if you cannot decide, just check in at a Holiday Park. They have everything you need.
Q mark
A big Q in front of an accommodation means that it is quality assessed with a Qualmark. Look for the stars. Motels have red stars, hotels blue and holiday parks have green. They can have 1-5 stars, the more the better.
The following prices are being updated at the moment. See also prices by the destinations.
Hotels
Hotels in major cities are often part of large international chains and they are of the same standard as in the Western world. But prices are very different. A luxury room in New Zealand can often be obtained for under $200, much less than a similar room in a European capital. So if you want to try wild luxury at affordable prices, do it here. In smaller cities, hotels are often mediocre and provide only hotel accommodation because it entitles it to sell beer. The hotel is a pub at the bottom with some rooms on the upper floors. These hotels will often be cheaper than motels. Hotel rooms rarely have kitchen facilities.
Motels
Motels can be found everywhere, they are cheap and of very high quality. The units are often large apartments with separate bedroom, lounge and kitchen. Several motels have family rooms that can accommodate 5-7 persons. There is usually no restaurant, but there will be a kettle and complimentary tea and coffee available. And when you check in, you get fresh milk.
You can find motel rooms from $60 a night, but usually they cost approx. $80, very attractive motels can cost up to $200 per night. But look for deals, there is no strict logic in the prices. Beautiful rooms in the centre of a city can be cheaper than inferior ones far outside town. Motels invite you to inspect the rooms and facilities before you decide. It costs extra if you are more than two in a room, yet backpackers can often save money by sharing a motel room.
If you are drive by yourself, get Jason's big Motel Book. It is heavy, but free and indispensable. Almost all motels have free numbers you can call from a phone box and book. If there is very busy in a city, ask for the Duty motel. It will have an overview of vacancies in the area. A real Kiwi would not dream of booking ahead and usually that is no problem. However, you must book ahead around Christmas, especially in the areas of Nelson, by the glaciers and Kaikoura. If you don´t, remember to arrive early. The earlier you arrive in town, the greater the chances are to find a vacancy. Check-out time is always at 10 am.
Backpacker *
There are approx. 250 so-called backpacker places. They are neat and clean, and they are often at the best locations in town. They might have started off as a simple dormitory where young backpackers could 'crash' for a few dollars. But now, many of them have great facilities, single and double rooms, some as luxurious as hotel rooms. They are far from restricted to young people, also mature travellers are welcome. Many offer entertainment in the evening, jacuzzis, swimming pools, spas and indoor sports, so they are not only an accommodation, but also a kind of resort. Get an idea through websites like this and this. Backpackers can always find good deals in Holiday Parks.
Hostel *
A inexpensive option is the hostel, which is organized by the YHA, Youth Hostel Association. There are 56 of them and they are also of high standard. It can be very lively places – no strict rule of silence after 9. You can choose between large areas, where girls and boys sleep in the same room or more private rooms to a slightly higher price. You do not have to be a member of the YHA to stay at a hostel.
Holiday Parks – called camps in the freeguide
Holiday Parks were originally intended campervans and tents. Simple, but safe places where campers could link up with 380 volts to make the kitchen work, fill and empty the tanks and have a bath. Now, many of them have developed into holiday resorts that have small cabins or caravans with real beds, tourist apartments or regular motel rooms with TV and kitchen.
The Holiday Parks have:
Tent sites – actually just a piece of grass with room for a tent, no electricity ($6-15 per day).
Powered sites - to campervans or tents that need electricity ($ 8-24).
On-site caravan - is a caravan – with the wheels taken off - with kitchen facilities ($20-50).
A cabin - is a cabin with or without kitchen (30-60 $).
A self-contained unit is similar to a motel room, often with several rooms ($40-80). See also http://www.top10.co.nz
Campervan
Some call it a camper others call it a mobile home, in New Zealand it is called a campervan. You will see them everywhere. It is a large truck fully equipped with sleeping department, kitchen, bathroom and sitting room. It comes with linens, kitchenware and towels. They come in different sizes, but it will easily accommodate up to 12.
Most people will have the time of their life in a campervan, because it is so easy and convenient, you can do everything in your own pace. But of course, you have to like camping. The only difference between a caravan and a campervan is that there is access between the cabin and the driver's seat, but it is still indeed a caravan.
Campervans are relatively expensive, often more expensive than renting a car and staying at motels. A campervan for four can easily cost $200 per day. In addition you have to pay insurance, fuel and rent at the holiday park. If you need a cheap deal, go in the winter. Many campervans are twice as expensive in peak season as off-season.
There are many rental companies, but especially in high season you will need to book well in advance.
Great companies are: Kea Campers. They have a nice, modern fleet and personal service. They will pick you up at your hotel or the airport. The largest provider is Maui. If we want something very different, you can choose the classic campervans with Kiwikombis.
Note: It may be tempting to settle on a nice big parking lot in cities, but it's illegal and you risk being awakened by police at night. So find a holiday park for the night.
Camping
You can put up your tent everywhere, except in or near human settlements and cultivated fields. The organized places are very cheap, you can find isolated private places where you can stay for $10 a week. Most, however, will cost you the same for a day. DOC has 120 campsites throughout the country. They can be fully equipped or - just with water. New Zealand Camping Guide describes all campsites in the country.
Huts
The national parks have a network of huts, managed by the DOC (Department of Conservation). Some are fully equipped and serviced, some are simple huts with no amenities. Information, payment and booking can be done by the information centre in the park. The cabins cost from $10 per night per person.
Private accommodation
The English bed-and-breakfast tradition is worth using. It can be anything from large hotel-like private houses to small homes with a couple of rooms. New Zealand Federation of Bed and Breakfast publishes a book with all the offers, but otherwise you can get information by calling 06 358 6928.
Q mark
A big Q in front of an accommodation means that it is quality assessed with a Qualmark. Look for the stars. Motels have red stars, hotels blue and holiday parks have green. They can have 1-5 stars, the more the better.
The following prices are being updated at the moment. See also prices by the destinations.
Hotels
Hotels in major cities are often part of large international chains and they are of the same standard as in the Western world. But prices are very different. A luxury room in New Zealand can often be obtained for under $200, much less than a similar room in a European capital. So if you want to try wild luxury at affordable prices, do it here. In smaller cities, hotels are often mediocre and provide only hotel accommodation because it entitles it to sell beer. The hotel is a pub at the bottom with some rooms on the upper floors. These hotels will often be cheaper than motels. Hotel rooms rarely have kitchen facilities.
Motels
Motels can be found everywhere, they are cheap and of very high quality. The units are often large apartments with separate bedroom, lounge and kitchen. Several motels have family rooms that can accommodate 5-7 persons. There is usually no restaurant, but there will be a kettle and complimentary tea and coffee available. And when you check in, you get fresh milk.
You can find motel rooms from $60 a night, but usually they cost approx. $80, very attractive motels can cost up to $200 per night. But look for deals, there is no strict logic in the prices. Beautiful rooms in the centre of a city can be cheaper than inferior ones far outside town. Motels invite you to inspect the rooms and facilities before you decide. It costs extra if you are more than two in a room, yet backpackers can often save money by sharing a motel room.
If you are drive by yourself, get Jason's big Motel Book. It is heavy, but free and indispensable. Almost all motels have free numbers you can call from a phone box and book. If there is very busy in a city, ask for the Duty motel. It will have an overview of vacancies in the area. A real Kiwi would not dream of booking ahead and usually that is no problem. However, you must book ahead around Christmas, especially in the areas of Nelson, by the glaciers and Kaikoura. If you don´t, remember to arrive early. The earlier you arrive in town, the greater the chances are to find a vacancy. Check-out time is always at 10 am.
Backpacker *
There are approx. 250 so-called backpacker places. They are neat and clean, and they are often at the best locations in town. They might have started off as a simple dormitory where young backpackers could 'crash' for a few dollars. But now, many of them have great facilities, single and double rooms, some as luxurious as hotel rooms. They are far from restricted to young people, also mature travellers are welcome. Many offer entertainment in the evening, jacuzzis, swimming pools, spas and indoor sports, so they are not only an accommodation, but also a kind of resort. Get an idea through websites like this and this. Backpackers can always find good deals in Holiday Parks.
Hostel *
A inexpensive option is the hostel, which is organized by the YHA, Youth Hostel Association. There are 56 of them and they are also of high standard. It can be very lively places – no strict rule of silence after 9. You can choose between large areas, where girls and boys sleep in the same room or more private rooms to a slightly higher price. You do not have to be a member of the YHA to stay at a hostel.
Holiday Parks – called camps in the freeguide
Holiday Parks were originally intended campervans and tents. Simple, but safe places where campers could link up with 380 volts to make the kitchen work, fill and empty the tanks and have a bath. Now, many of them have developed into holiday resorts that have small cabins or caravans with real beds, tourist apartments or regular motel rooms with TV and kitchen.
The Holiday Parks have:
Tent sites – actually just a piece of grass with room for a tent, no electricity ($6-15 per day).
Powered sites - to campervans or tents that need electricity ($ 8-24).
On-site caravan - is a caravan – with the wheels taken off - with kitchen facilities ($20-50).
A cabin - is a cabin with or without kitchen (30-60 $).
A self-contained unit is similar to a motel room, often with several rooms ($40-80). See also http://www.top10.co.nz
Campervan
Some call it a camper others call it a mobile home, in New Zealand it is called a campervan. You will see them everywhere. It is a large truck fully equipped with sleeping department, kitchen, bathroom and sitting room. It comes with linens, kitchenware and towels. They come in different sizes, but it will easily accommodate up to 12.
Most people will have the time of their life in a campervan, because it is so easy and convenient, you can do everything in your own pace. But of course, you have to like camping. The only difference between a caravan and a campervan is that there is access between the cabin and the driver's seat, but it is still indeed a caravan.
Campervans are relatively expensive, often more expensive than renting a car and staying at motels. A campervan for four can easily cost $200 per day. In addition you have to pay insurance, fuel and rent at the holiday park. If you need a cheap deal, go in the winter. Many campervans are twice as expensive in peak season as off-season.
There are many rental companies, but especially in high season you will need to book well in advance.
Great companies are: Kea Campers. They have a nice, modern fleet and personal service. They will pick you up at your hotel or the airport. The largest provider is Maui. If we want something very different, you can choose the classic campervans with Kiwikombis.
Note: It may be tempting to settle on a nice big parking lot in cities, but it's illegal and you risk being awakened by police at night. So find a holiday park for the night.
Camping
You can put up your tent everywhere, except in or near human settlements and cultivated fields. The organized places are very cheap, you can find isolated private places where you can stay for $10 a week. Most, however, will cost you the same for a day. DOC has 120 campsites throughout the country. They can be fully equipped or - just with water. New Zealand Camping Guide describes all campsites in the country.
Huts
The national parks have a network of huts, managed by the DOC (Department of Conservation). Some are fully equipped and serviced, some are simple huts with no amenities. Information, payment and booking can be done by the information centre in the park. The cabins cost from $10 per night per person.
Private accommodation
The English bed-and-breakfast tradition is worth using. It can be anything from large hotel-like private houses to small homes with a couple of rooms. New Zealand Federation of Bed and Breakfast publishes a book with all the offers, but otherwise you can get information by calling 06 358 6928.
