New Zealand Backpacker Hostels

Backpacker’s hostels are traditionally boarding houses for travellers.  They provide affordable accommodation in an informal and very social setting.  The growth of the tourism industry over the past ten years has seen a dramatic rise in the number of hostels being established.  These days, franchised backpacker’s dwellings are just as common as those that are individually owned and operated.

New Zealand’s hostels have a reputation for being clean, comfortable and good value.  There are over 250 hostels located across the North and South Islands.
Hostels typically provide dormitory style accommodation, with up to twelve people sharing a large room.  You should be able to request a single sex dormitory.  Most hostels also provide twin and single bedrooms, and some have triple and quad rooms.  The rule of thumb with hostels is that you are not renting a room, as you would in a hotel; instead you are renting a bed.

Facilities are communal.  Hostels usually have one large kitchen area that is shared by all guests and a communal bathroom.  Depending on the size of the hostel, there may be more than one bedroom.  Communal bathrooms are nearly always used by men and women – single sex communal bathrooms are rare.  Some single and twin rooms do have their own bathroom, but you will pay more for these rooms.

Some hostels have coin operated laundry facilities and/or a common room with a television and DVD player.  Other common amenities include a swimming pool, barbeque area, computer labs, pool tables and library.
Common areas generally provide copies of the newspaper, brochures on local attractions and information about job opportunities.

The International Youth Hostel’s Federation have a New Zealand presence in the form of YHA (which means Youth Hostels Australia, although they do service New Zealand.)  YHA form a network of quality budget accommodation.  Membership costs $40 for one year and gets you discounts to over 4000 hostels worldwide.  You’ll also receive a magazine subscription and discounts on insurance, Lonely Planet guides and heaps more.   A lot of places in New Zealand offer backpackers discounts for travellers with a YHA card.

Pro’s: Shared facilities make backpacker’s hostels a very social atmosphere.  Holiday makers are friendly and eager to share their knowledge and experiences.  Hostels are a great choice if you don’t know anyone and are eager to make friends.

Cons: Theft can be a problem in backpacker’s hostels, especially for people sharing dorms.  Many hostels provide lockable storage facilities.
Low prices, an informal, social atmoshpere and a variety of information and services for backpackers makes hostels a natural choice for travellers.