Everything you need to know about the WHV in Nelson

Short-term accommodation

For your first few days in Nelson, hostels will be your cheapest option. Popular hostels include Tasman Bay Backpackers, YHA, The Prince Albert and The Bug Backpackers.

If you have access to a vehicle, you can look outside of the city at free/cheap campsites or caravan parks. The Nelson City Top 10 is the only caravan park close to the city centre. You can search for available campsites using Campermate, Rankers or the Department of Conservation (DOC) website.

There are also plenty of hotels, motels, B&Bs and resorts to suit all tastes. Remember that vacancies are rare during the summer season and that prices can be high.

Long-term accommodation

For something longer term, you will likely look for a flat share. The primary source for classified ads is on Trade Me, in the “Flatmates Wanted” section. You will find a room in a houseshare from around NZ$250 per week. You can also post in local Facebook pages with specifics you are looking for or check adverts in Nelson Mail, the local newspaper.

If you don’t want to share a house, you will need a bigger budget. It’s difficult to find a private place to rent for anything lower than NZ$500 per week. Most houses are closer to NZ$1,000 per week to rent. Consult the ads on Trade Me in the “Property/Residence for Rent” section.

Note that many ads are posted by real estate agencies. You will have to go through them if you are interested in a listing, which will be more restrictive (the agency will expect to see references, a high deposit, etc.).

Nelson is divided into about 20 different neighbourhoods. When deciding on an area to live, you will want to consider your lifestyle and the distance from your workplace, as well as your budget. You can live near the sea or in the mountains, in the city centre or a quiet suburb.

South Nelson (specifically the Washington Valley area) is considered more dangerous than other suburbs. Living further out from the city centre will cost less, so you might want to consider looking in areas like Richmond (about 10-15 minutes’ drive).

Wi-Fi and electricity are usually included in the rent but expect to pay extra for other utilities.
For an up-to-date look at the cost of rent in Nelson, read Market Rent.