How to find housing in New Zealand, from hostels to flatmates

Where and how can you find a place to stay in New Zealand? From hostels to long-term rentals, discover all the options available during your working holiday adventure—including some low-cost or zero-cost options, like couchsurfing or volunteer work.

Hostels in New Zealand

Most working holiday makers will spend their first night(s) in New Zealand in a youth hostel, also known in New Zealand as “backpackers”. You can book a private room or a bed in a shared dorm and have access to all the communal areas (kitchen, lounge, showers and toilets).

This type of accommodation is very popular in New Zealand—both foreigners and Kiwis use it for short or long stays. It’s a win-win because hostels are usually one of the cheapest housing solutions, plus you can cook your own meals and meet other travellers.

Expect to pay an average of NZ$25-40 for a bed in a dorm, and NZ$30-100 for a private room with or without a private bathroom.

Many hostels offer additional services free of charge or for a small fee, such as Internet access, washing machines and dryers, phones, libraries, parking spots, job search assistance, musical instruments, kayaking and surfing equipment, and more. Some have women-only dormitories.

Hostel chains

There are many hostel chains in New Zealand. Buying a membership card gives you access to discounts and other benefits at all the hostels in that particular chain.

• BBH has over 280 hostel locations in New Zealand. An annual membership costs NZ$35 per person and gives you at least 10% discount per night plus discounts on activities. Membership cards can be purchased at BBH hostels and isite locations (New Zealand’s official visitor information network), including Auckland Airport. Note that some affiliate hostels do give a BBH discount on short-term stays but not on their long-term rates.
• YHA has locations in Taupo, Waitomo, Whanganui, Nelson and Westport. The YHA is part of Hostelling International, so you can use your membership card (costs around NZ$35 for an annual membership) at some 2,500 hostels worldwide.
• Nomads has locations in Wellington and Queenstown. Nomads also has locations in Thailand and Australia, and you can save money by buying accommodation in bulk with their Bed Hopper Multi Night pass.

You can also find recommended hostels in travel guides or by searching online on booking sites like Booking and Hostelworld.

Working hostels

In fruit-picking areas, you’ll find a different kind of hostel—working hostels, aka hostels offering employment assistance services on the side.

These hostels typically have contacts with several companies in the area so they can put you in touch with potential employers. In fact, they often post job ads themselves to attract backpackers to the area. The deal is straightforward—they almost guarantee you a job as a hostel guest but, in turn, you commit to staying with them while working for the job they help you find. So, if you want to leave the hostel and keep your job (for example, if you’ve found a very good housing deal in the area), the hostel may make you pay the rent you would have paid until the end of your contract or keep your deposit. 

Know what to expect when you arrive at a working hostel, and make sure you ask the hostel staff about the terms and conditions (especially what happens to your stay if you find a job or housing on your own).

Keep in mind that staying in a working hostel still involves some job hunting on your side. The hostel will only start offering you jobs after you’ve spent one or two weeks with them (and of course, you will pay for this two-week stay).

Working hostels and backpackers are different kinds of hostels. Backpackers accept long-term stays and they can help you find work but without forcing you to live there. They usually have a bulletin board in reception with job vacancies in the area or have contacts with local employers. They generally cater to long-term backpackers and short-term tourists, so the atmosphere is generally friendly and there are plenty of opportunities to meet people.

Working hostels should only be considered if you want them to help you find a job.