Christchurch 

Juicy Snooze (booking.com) $55.08 for 2 pods in room of 4

Cool quirky individual pods, clean rooms and free WiFi. Take ear plugs as people arrive all through the night as it’s right by the airport. Parking facilities 

 

Point Break Backpackers (booking.com) $64.80 for a private twin room 

Unsure what the dorms were like however the room had the bare basics & could just about fit 2 singles in. 100MB free WiFi. Cafe attached to the hostel. Small car park or alternative car park across the road 

 

Lake Tekapo 

Lake Tekapo Village Motel (had to email to book) $70 for 2 beds in a 6 dorm 

Dorm room basic but comfortable- spacious not cramped. Free tea and coffee- clean kitchen/ dining room area. 2GB free data each for up to 3 devices. Parking facilities 

Location right next to lake

 

Mount Cook

Mt Cook Lodge & Hotels $80 (we emailed them)- Basically a budget hotel room turned into a hostel. Very basic bunk beds in a small room with en-suit bathroom - our room absolutely stank but not the hotel’s fault rather a very smelly person sharing with us. Big kitchen area although not clean. WiFi wasn’t free $5 a day. Location amazing right next to Mount Cook. Parking facilities 

 

Dunedin 

Stafford Gables Hostel  (booking.com- but we just turned up) $52 a night for private double 

An absolutely huge period house, slightly dated. Our room was light and clean. Free WiFi although didn’t work in everyone’s bedrooms. Big clean kitchen but has no oven. 

Only a few parking spaces but there was free parking on the road outside (although they did advise to remove all valuables- not sure if the area was the best). 

 

The Catlins 

Penguin Paradise (booking.com) $62 a night for a double private room. 

Quaint house, nice living room. Only 3 bedrooms in property so not crowded. No locks on door but we were told crime in the area is apparently 0. No WiFi.

Has parking facilities 

 

Lake Te Anau 

Te Anau Lakeview Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels (hostelworld.com) $64 a night for 2 beds in a 6 dorm 

We stayed for 2 nights in a backpackers dorm room, they messed up so instead of a room for 6 we ended up in a 4 which was good. 

Small room but comfortable with sink. 

Free WiFi. Kitchen and dining area were really good and spacious, kitchen had all utensils needed. 

1 night we stayed in a twin room $84 (as backpackers was full) which turned out to be a sort of cabin (tin can) we preferred the backpackers, the kitchen for this area on the park had nothing, no plates, no cutlery or utensils. The room was quite small but had a toaster and kettle (although no cup to be able to use the kettle) and WiFi didn’t stretch to the cabin.  Toilets & showers were also a bit of a walk away. 

Location for the holiday park right by Lake Te Anau, about 20 min walk from town centre. 

 

Queenstown 

Bumble Hostel (hostelworld.com) $76 a night for a private double room, shared toilet. 

Private room was lovely, although very hot. Got given towels & soap. 1 shower and toilet between 10 people although they were never busy. Location right in the heart of Queenstown. Free WiFi. 

 

Kingston Holiday Park- Glamping (booked on their website but can also book on air BnB) $95 a night for a medium tent, there was a smaller one for $75 but it was taken but we think it might have been too small. The tent was lovely, spacious with 2 chairs, a very comfortable bed & kettle. Also given towels. WiFi had to be paid for. 

Facilities were great, fully equipped kitchen, large bbq area and hot showers. 

Location 10 minute walk to lake in Kingston. 30 minute drive to main Queenstown.

 

Wanaka

Minaret Ridge (air BnB) $75 a night although that was with air BnB discount for referring a friend.

In someone’s garden, sort of a self contained 1 bed apartment/ shed. Bedroom with small fridge, kettle & toaster- no kitchen. Small bathroom with shower. Near the lake but about a 15 minute drive from town centre. 

Free WiFi. Parking facilities 

 

Kumara

Undertakers Backpackers (Booking.com), $50 a night for both of us in a private room

The name is an odd one and to me the 4 bedroom extremely dated cottage could have been haunted. Large bedroom, living space with shared kitchen and bathroom. Smelt musty and old and the deco / ornaments looked like it had been that way since the 50’s. 

For the money its fine for a night or two.

Off road parking, no WiFi in the cottage but the hotel & bar across the road who own the cottage has free WiFi. 

 

Abel Tasman

Kunata (we had to email them) / $72 a night for a nice private double room although it fits 3 people.

Kichen and bathroom areas clean. 

The guy who greeted us Stu was very friendly and helpful, booked our boat ticket for the following day for us. 

WiFi in reception area, doesn’t stretch to the rooms. Has parking facilities.

 

Wellington 

Wild Zebra Backpackers (Booking.com) $52 for 2 of us a night in a 4 dorm

No free parking 

Staff not the most helpful 

Room was ok

Showers not the cleanest 

 

Trek Global Backpackers (booking.com) $97 a night for 3 of us in a private 3 bed room

Bunk bed in a nice clean room. Bed was extremely noisy/ creaky and whenever you wanted to turn over it would make the loudest noises. 

Free teabags, soap & shampoo given. 

Clean kitchen & showers

Cleaners did throw out our food despite having labels on which was extremely frustrating (refund was given for food) 

Car parking was extortionate at $25 a day, had to park further away to get free parking 

 

Stratford

Stratford Holiday Park (we emailed them) $64 a night a chalet that could fit 5 people 

Self contained chalet with fridge, kettle, sink, all utensils and small portable hob. 

There was also a kitchen on site to use with an oven

Free swimming pool 

Wifi wasn’t free, Free parking 

5 minute drive to centre 

 

 

Lake Taupo 

Rainbow Backpackers (on booking.com but we emailed as it was a busy weekend in Taupo) 5 person dorm room $58 (2 people in a dorm)

The hottest room we’ve ever stayed in, so hot it was hard to sleep.

Popular backpackers - so many people

Kitchen had so many flies and lots of people didn’t seem to clean up after themselves so felt dirty.

Staff were really friendly and helpful 

15 minute walk to the lake and town 

Free WiFi & parking 

 

Coromandel 

Tui Lodge (booking.com) $100 3 bed room

Nice accommodation, clean room and kitchen area.

Free washing machine usage

Free WiFi in lounge area 

Wasn’t very busy so no queues for toilets & showers but I imagine if the place was full there doesn’t seem to be many to cater lots of people. 

5 minute drive from the town 

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* We stayed with family in Auckland and Tauranga