The best New Zealand hostels for 2023:
- Adventure Queenstown Hostel
- Finlay Jack’s Backpackers (Lake Taupo)
- The Marion Hostel (Wellington)
- YHA Lake Tekapo
- Haka Lodge (Auckland)
- Wanaka Bakpaka Hostel
- YHA Waitomo (Waitomo Caves)
- Haka Lodge Paihia (Bay of Islands)
- Hot Water Beach Holiday Park
- Glow Worm (Franz Josef Glacier)
- The Old Countryhouse (Christchurch)
- Mount Backpackers (Mount Maunganui)
- YHA National Park (Tongariro)
- Rock Solid Backpackers (Rotorua)
1. Adventure Queenstown Hostel
Location: Queenstown city centre
Type of Rooms: Dorms and private rooms
Make a booking: https://adventurehostels.co.nz/hostel/adventure-queenstown/
Hostel Vibe: Adventure Hostel Queenstown is the best New Zealand hostel. The budget-friendly backpackers offers activities every day of the week. Also, they offer free hire of GoPros and mountain bikes.
2. Finlay Jack’s Backpackers
Location: Lake Taupo
Type of Rooms: Dorms, pods and private rooms
Make a booking: https://finlayjacks.co.nz/
Hostel Vibe: A really cool backpackers hostel with free morning yoga, group BBQs and backyard gigs in the summer.
3. The Marion Hostel
Location: Wellington
Type of Rooms: Shared dorms and private rooms
Make a booking: https://www.themarionhostel.com/
Hostel Vibe: Probably the best New Zealand hostel for cleanliness and luxury. The newly renovated Marion Hostel is found in the centre of the capital just a block from busy Cuba St. The place is stylish and cleaned several times a day. It’s slightly more pricey than your average hostel, but it’s so worth it.
4. YHA Lake Tekapo
Location: Lake Tekapo
Type of Rooms: Dorms, twin rooms and doubles
Make a booking: https://app.mews.com/yhalaketekapo
Hostel Vibe: An alpine style hostel on the shores of Lake Tekapo. The common area has full length windows overlooking the lake.
5. Haka Lodge Auckland
Location: Auckland City Centre (CBD)
Type of Rooms: Shared dorms or private rooms
Make a booking: https://hakalodges.com/auckland/
Hostel Vibe: The best backpackers hostel in Auckland. Chilled but sociable and really clean.
6. Wanaka Bakpaka Hostel
Location: Lake Wanaka
Type of Rooms: Bunk dorms and private rooms
Make a booking: https://www.wanakabakpaka.co.nz/
Hostel Vibe: A charming hostel by Lake Wanaka. The old 1920s hunting lodge has a lot of character with views of the glacial water from the common areas and the sunny terrace.
7. YHA Waitomo (Juno Hall)
Location: Waitomo (North Island)
Type of Rooms: Shared dorms, private rooms and campervan pitches
Make a booking: https://www.junowaitomo.co.nz/book-online/
Hostel Vibe: A chilled youth hostel with an outdoor swimming pool just down the road from Waitomo Caves (glow worm caves). A great spot to stay to do a Glowworm Caving Adventure, a Black Water Rafting Experience, or a Budget-Friendly Boat Tour
8. Haka Lodge Paihia (Bay of Islands)
Location: Paihia (beachside town in the Bay of Islands area)
Type of Rooms: Shared dorms or private rooms
Make a booking: https://hakalodges.com/paihia/
Hostel Vibe: A beachside hostel with brilliant views of the ocean from the common area. Relaxed vibes with the option to rent kayaks and paddleboards.
9. Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Location: Hot Water Beach (Coromandel Peninsula)
Type of Rooms: Shared dorms in cosy cabins, private rooms and glamping pods.
Make a booking: https://www.hotwaterbeachtop10.co.nz/
Hostel vibe: A chilled coastal holiday park with dorm rooms located by the famous Hot Water Beach (where you can dig for thermal water at low tide).
10. Glow Worm Accommodation
Location: Franz Josef Glacier
Type of Rooms: Shared dorms and private rooms
Make a booking: https://www.glowwormfranz.co.nz/index.html
Hostel Vibe: A cool backpackers hostel in Glacier Country. Set amongst lush rainforest, the hostel has a hot tub and offers free breakfast along with free soup in the evenings and unlimited popcorn. You can also see Franz Josef Glacier from the kitchen, which is pretty spectacular.
11. The Old Countryhouse
Location: Christchurch
Type of Rooms: Shared dorms and double rooms.
Make a booking: https://www.oldcountryhousenz.com/
Hostel vibe: A friendly hostel near the city centre with a hot tub for guests to use.
12. Mount Backpackers
Location: Mount Maunganui (Bay of Plenty)
Type of Rooms: Shared dorm rooms
Make a booking: https://www.mountbackpackers.com/
Hostel vibe: A fun backpackers hostel in downtown Mount Maunganui. The hostel is just around the corner from the surf beach, and offers group dinners as well as trips to the buzzing local bars.
13. YHA National Park Backpackers
Location: Tongariro National Park
Type of Rooms: Shared dorm rooms and private rooms
Make a booking: https://npbp.co.nz/book-online/
Hostel vibe: A backpackers hostel built around an 8 metre high indoor climbing wall! Located close to the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, group shuttles are offered to guests wanting to complete the full day hike.
14. Rock Solid Backpackers Rotorua
Location: Rotorua city centre
Type of Rooms: Shared dorm rooms and private rooms
Make a booking: https://www.rocksolidrotorua.co.nz/
Hostel vibe: A basic but sociable backpackers hostel located right in the heart of Rotorua. It’s found on ‘Eat Street’, Rotorua’s bustling street filled with eateries, bars and a nightclub. The city centre location is also an ideal base to explore all of Rotorua’s geothermal attractions. Fancy a spot of climbing? There’s a 20 metre high climbing wall below the hostel too!
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best New Zealand hostels. Don’t miss the Ultimate New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary and the Best Viewpoints in New Zealand.