10 Days in New Zealand: Accommodation

Yes, we rented a campervan.

No, that doesn't mean we parked at the side of the road and called it the night. That's against the New Zealand law.

PSA!
If you wish to look for a more 'homey' experience, have a go with AirBnB. I've tried it and loved it! Sign up HERE to enjoy some bucks off!

Jump: Itinerary Part 1, Itinerary Part 2, Motorhome.

Listed below, in alphabetical order, are all the places we stayed throughout the trip -- Three backpackers hostels, five holiday parks. Range (varies from season to season):

$ - $10-$15

$$ - $16-$25

$$$ - $26-$35

$$$$ - $36-$45

$$$$$ - $46-$55

P.S.: I hardly give ratings of extremes to any survey I've done (eg. a 1- or a 10-rating). So a 9 doesn't entirely mean it falls short, mmkay?

P.P.S.: These ratings are my non-biased, personal opinion. I was not paid to review (Although it'd be nice if I were. Hahaha... I kid, I kid!).

Word of advice: Don't book your accommodation just yet. Plans change, vehicle breakdowns happen (touch wood). You may need to make bookings for summer trips though as they tend to fill up very quickly especially near tourist hotspots. We only made reservations for our confirmed locations such as in Auckland, Christchurch and Omarama. The rest I called them while on the road to check availability (keep their numbers handy!).

Hostels

At the Right Place. Location: Bealey Avenue, Christchurch.

Accommodation: 5-bed female dorm

Affordability: $$$

Rating: 8/10

Pros: Cantik! Clean dorm. Complimentary 100MB. Private kitchen & shower/toilet. Lovely garden. Walking distance to the city center. Free towels. Friendly & helpful receptionist.

Cons: Bunk bed squeaks like crazy! No locks for the shower area so bismillah no one walks in. The toilet has a door but the bulb was out so I had to leave the door open for some light to come in. Bismillah to that too.

Jailhouse Accommodation. Location: Addington, Christchurch.

Accommodation: Twin bunk

Affordability: $$$$$

Rating: 9/10

Pros: Fast complimentary 500MB. Spacious & clean kitchen. Clean shower & toilet. Free towels. Friendly receptionist. Bus stops right in front of the hostel. Lots of historical items on display and photo hotspots (they have a mugshot booth!)

Cons: Cold. Expensive for a small room. Far from the city center.

Note: Security breach! Some weird guy went into our room late at night when we were about to sleep. Complained to the receptionist the next morning. Apparently the guy was a previous tenant who didn't return the key. Although the security tag from his key was deactivated, he managed to get in the hostel (because someone held the door for him when there was a clear sign stated not to let strangers in). There's time when baik hati-ness doesn't belong, peeps!

Nomads Fat Camel Backpackers. Location: Auckland City Center.

Accommodation: 8-bed female dorm

Affordability: $$

Rating: 7/10

Pros: Strategic, 5 mins walk from the bus stop, walking distance to the pier with ample restaurants and food trucks nearby. High security with card required to get access to room. Clean shower & toilet.

Cons: Room was quite on the dirty side. Small and stuffy for 8 beds. Electric kettle wasn't working. No complimentary wifi but there is a Spark Free Wifi Zone nearby.

Note: Don't get confused with its sister company, Nomads Auckland, just before Fat Camel. Ask to make sure. We waited in line for nothing. Lol

Holiday Parks

Fox Glacier Holiday Park. Location: Kerr Road, Fox Glacier.

Accommodation: Non-Powered/Tent Site

Affordability: $$

Rating: 8/10

Pros: Fantastic view. Friendly staff. Clean shower & toilet. Huge communal kitchen.

Cons: Internet was very slow.
Note: It was raining heavily when we arrived. Since it was not a busy night, we requested to park our camper at the powered site, close to the shower & kitchen. They were more than happy to do so!

Omarama Top 10 Holiday Park. Location: Omarama Avenue, Omarama.

Accommodation: Powered Site

Affordability: $$

Rating: 7/10

Pros: Easy to find, just by the main road. Friendly staff. Clean shower & toilet.

Cons: Dryer doesn't dry well - requires another cycle. Map given was not updated. I accidentally went in a (occupied) lone cabin when the map shows it as an internet kiosk. Wahi made fun of me since!

Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park. Location: Upper Brecon Street, Queenstown.

Accommodation: Powered Site

Affordability: $$$

Rating: 8/10

Pros: Walking distance to the Skyline Gondola and city center. Clean shower & toilet. Huge communal kitchen. Tight security - require pin to enter site and shower room.

Cons: Didn't see the lake, though.
Note: In the summer, they charge a small fee for hot shower. I guess many parks do the same in their effort to conserve water and energy. So don't complain!

Skyline right behind us

Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park. Location: Manapouri, Te Anau.

Accommodation: Powered Site

Affordability: $$

Rating: 9/10

Pros: Amazing view. Clean facilities. Helpful staff. Walking distance to town.

Cons: Wifi is very weak, even in the communal area. Hardly any connection at the sites. Disappointed we didn't get the site we wanted. We booked another night there with a better view of the lake. When we arrived at the site after our tour, another camper was already parked there. Turns out they had a miscommunication and double booked our site. They gave us a replacement which was alright although semi blocked by a building.
Note: Booked our glowworm tour there at the reception.

Waitaki Waters Holiday Park. Location: Waitaki, Oamaru.
Accommodation: Powered Site

Affordability: $

Rating: 8/10

Pros: Cheapest of the lot. Quiet place with very few people. Clean toilets. There's a beach nearby to check out.

Cons: May be difficult to find since it is quite secluded - use Waze. Hot showers only available in the unisex toilet. Dump station was not labeled clearly. Park is fenced with tall shrubs making the view mediocre.
Note: Dubbed a fisherman's paradise. Behind the counter there are a lot of news articles and Trip Advisor awards framed. Interesting to see & read.