The best hostels in New Zealand.

New Zealand is really well set up for backpackers. There's so many hostels to choose from at each stop it's hard to know which are the best bunk beds in town. Fear not, I've done the research and would recommend checking in to the below...

First, some advice:

Wifi isn't free in a lot of new Zealand's hostels, particularly up north. Many of them use pay-to-use networks which require regular top ups which, although can handily by done via your card, really start to add up. We were paying $4 for 24hr access to the Global Gossip network. You can buy a 7 day pass for $12 which I would recommend because you can keep signing in at your next stop.

Key deposits are popular, ranging from $10-20 per key. You can pay on card for these but it's handy to have cash, and I'd advise only taking as many keys as are necessary - we'd get one between the three of us.

Label your food. People stay for weeks in these hostels and really start to make themselves at home. Make sure your stuff doesn't get lost in the fridge by clearly labelling. This'll also ensure your stuff isn't chucked out during the weekly fridge clean.

Where to stay.

Roturua: Rock Solid.

Rock solid is a huge hostel, ideally located in the centre of town just minutes from the bus stop and round the corner from the main restaurant/bar strip. Set across two floors, it boasts a large kitchen, two lounges, communal bathrooms, a DVD room and free wifi. The lounge overlooks an indoor climbing wall below where you'll receive a 20% discount as guests. This place has loads of potential and is set up to be a great hostel, however the atmosphere fell a little flat when we were there. The main reason for my recommendation? Rock solid had the comfiest beds we slept on in our month in NZ. $26 per night, 4-bed dorm communal bathroom.

Taupo: Taupo urban retreat.

The large 16 bed dorm at the Urban Retreat is located in the roof of the wooden chalet-style building. It's social,  in an excellent location, offers $5 chilli every evening, cheap bike hire, a DVD room and free computers in reception. The bar is the cheapest happy hour in town with pitchers of beer for $12 and g&t's for four. Wifi is extra, $4 for 24hours or $12 for a week's pass on global gossip (see above). The staff were really friendly, there's a large garden area for al fresco dinner and a free phone to check the status of our skydive while you're there. $23 per night, 16 bed dorm communal bathroom.

Wellington: Base.

I didn't want to recommend staying at Base, because it's a chain that is everywhere and it's set up reflects that: packages for weekly stays, meals for $3 every night, tours operated from the hostels, fines for drinking in the room etc.etc. But Base was the cheapest place we could find in Wellington and we actually enjoyed our three night stay. Location wise you can't really beat it, as it sits at the end of Courtney Place. Set across five floors, Base attracts long stayers and our three roommates were all staying in the city and looking for work (Craig had been staying in the same bunk for 7 weeks.) Socially though this was one of the better places we stayed; it was buzzy at most hours of the day/night, the kitchen was packed at meal times, there's a bar downstairs with happy hour from 8-10pm and, despite the squeaky beds, it was comfortable and the showers were hot. $23 per night, 4 bed dorm communal bathroom.

Marahau (Abel Tasman): The Barn.

In the summer The Barn is a huge camping and caravaning site, spreading across a number of fields and overlooking the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. We were there off-season but would still recommend it, despite the slightly inflated pricing. We shared a 4-bed dorm which had recently been renovated. It was clean, warm and comfortable (no bunk beds either!) The large communal area boasts a huge DVD room, a big kitchen and a free phone. Toliets and showers are in outside blocks but were remarkably mosquito-free and the showers were hot. The shop stocks over-priced must-haves for your trip into the park including wine and beers, they also rent camping gear and will help out with booking your trip into the park. There's luggage storage too, for a dollar a day, but the water taxi guys will store this for free so I'd do that... $30 per night, 4 bed dorm communal bathroom.

Nelson: Paradiso.

We were pretty gutted to have only been here for one night. The hostel was probably one of the best we stayed in, and we could have stayed put. The pool and hot tub were definitely part of the attraction, along with free breakfast, free soup at 6pm, free wifi and clean, comfortable rooms. The place had an awesome vibe about it, with spontaneous games of volleyball taking place every now and again and a busy, communal kitchen area. $26 per night, 4 bed dorm en-suite bathroom.

Franz Josef: Chataeu Franz.

We had four nights in Franz Josef and chose Chateau Franz as our temporary home. Sit Cedric's is an independant chain of hostels which are spreading across the South Island. They've got a refreshing approach to hosteling, are fun, affordable and don't have the stingy attitude that the successful, large chains do. Wifi was free, breakfast was also free, soup was served (for free) at 1pm every day accompanied by hot rolls and breads from the bakery. The DVD room is big and busy, the hot tub is open until 9 every day, and over the weekends and during the summer the fire pit is lit and BBQs take place. Benjamin, the manager, has big plans for the place, telling us about climbing walls and extensions. I couldn't really recommend here more. $25 a night, 4 bed en-suite.

Queenstown: Southern Laughter 

We stayed here, and I can't not recommend it because it was perfect for us: great location, affordable, free soup, free wifi, hot showers etc. Having stayed at the other Sir Cedric's hostel in Franz Josef, we were able to secure a good rate for our five night stint. Beds were comfy, kitchen was big and tea was free. There's a great roof terrace which gets sun most of the day too. The only downside is that it's not Nomads and I fear it won't ever be.

$23 per night, 3 bed communal bathroom. 

Queenstown: Nomads

We didn't stay here because it was expensive, and it really is compared to other hostels in town. Thing is, these guys get away with the inflated pricing because it is the best place to stay if you want to see the best of Queenstown. It's based in the centre of town in a modem multi-storey building, and it's where people go and end up extending because they're not ready to leave. 

$30+ per night 

Roturua, North Island, New Zealand.

Roturua is a sleepy little town about 4 hours south of Auckland which is infamous for the pungent eggy smell that lingers throughout the town. It's built on volcanic land, and every street bubbles and hisses with volcanic sounds and smells, steam rises from within the flower beds and creates stunning natural spas that can reach over 45 degrees.

 Here's how to see it:

Sleeping.

We stayed at Rock Solid backpackers (formerly Crank) for $23 a night. We stayed in a four bed dorm without a fourth person which was ideal. There's a large shared kitchen, 2 communal areas where you can get access to the free wifi and shared bathrooms. You'll also get cheap entry to the rock climbing wall in the basement which can be viewed through the glass in the too lounge ($12). Despite being almost full the hostel lacked atmosphere; we're not sure why. We were going to move over to Base hostel on the edge of town, but the beds were literally the most comfortable we'd slept in all trip. Go for the beds alone. 

Eating & drinking.

New Zealand is expensive, and it quickly became to clear to us that one of the things we can save money on is food. A lot of people cook their meals in the hostels, and hostel kitchens have plenty of storage for guests. 

If you are eating out in Roturua head to Eat street, a sectioned off part of turakawi street. The pig and whistle is a bustling pub famed for its locally brewed beer, skinners ale. We had double g&t's for $9 each, not bad considering the house gin is Tangueray. The food looked amazing, huge portions, but was pricey so we avoided. 

For cheap Japanese head to Kia Ora Japan for $10 lunch and dinner, or there's Indian express which also boasts $10 curry options.

We ended up eating at Lava, which is the bar-cum-nightclub attached to Base hostel. It was quiz night (Tuesday) so we ordered chicken ceaser salads for $10 a piece and shared chips. This place is clearly the backpackers hotspot in town, though it fell a little flat due to the distinct lack of pace/people. 

For a good morning coffee, take a walk along the lakeside to Third Place Cafè. The coffees strong and the breakfasts are famous about town. Lotus café is another affordable lunch spot. Don't be put off by its canteen style offering, the food is tasty, the cakes were great and it's cheap. 

The view from Third Place

Every Wednesday night Peter Pans throws a party for the backpackers in town. There's a free BBQ, some free drinks and the chance to hang out with hot rafting instructors... Could be worse. 

Exploring.

Roturua is renowned for two things: natural hot springs and living Maori villages, so we set out to experience both on our first day.

Take the number two Polytech bus from the centre of town ($2.50) and ask the driver to point out the stop for Whakawerawera. The living village is the original and had been welcoming guests since the 1800's. It's also the most affordable, at $35 per person it's almost half the price of the other villages. We didn't join a tour, instead we took the map and went exploring.

The Maori are a very spiritual tribe, proud of their heritage and their traditions; and the village is a completely transprant insight into that. We ate food cooked in the hangi, which is a natural hot spring, and met the towns local tattoo artist who explained the detailed and intricate nature of Maori tattoos. Keep an eye out for the natural springs which erupt almost every hour, sending water almost 30ft in the air.

There are hot pools throughout roturua, with some hostels and hotels offering guests private spas. To get the full experience it's worth going to one of the larger spas in the town though, so we headed to the Polyensia spa. For $28 per person (additional $5 for towel and locker) we were given access to 7 different spa pools, set at different temperatures ranging from 36-42 degrees. The natural water, paired with the stunning surroundings, made for a really relaxing hour or so (much more than that and you'd turn into a prune.) 

White water rafting was undoubtedly the highlight of Roturua. We booked through Peter Pans (it's worth popping into the store on the corner of Hinemoa Street, the team are brilliant, really good fun, so knowledgeable and beyond helpful), a the three hour trip cost us $75 each. The river, about half an hour out of town, is graded 5 out of 6 on the difficulty scale and features the largest commercially rated waterfall in the world, flowing 7 metres from top to bottom. 

The team at Kaitiaki kitted us all out in wet suits, fleeces, boots and jackets to try and stave off the cold, then the group was split between the convoy of boats on the river. It was awesome, a little hairy in places, but such good fun and the river was beautiful.

Next stop? Taupo. 

L, L and A. Xxx