World Country Guide

Accommodation

Motels & Hotels
New Zealand offers a wide range of top-class hotels, exclusive retreats, motels, moderately priced accommodation and guest houses. Rates on the whole are cheaper in rural areas, while every city and town also offers a choice of budget hotels and motels. Budget accommodation, often with self-catering facilities, is increasingly popular. Further information can be obtained from the Motel Association of New Zealand, PO Box 27-245, 79 Boulcott Street, Wellington (tel: (4) 499 6415; fax: (4) 499 6416; e-mail: motel@manz.co.nz; website: www.nzmotels.co.nz); or the Hospitality Association of New Zealand, Level 2, Radio Network House, Corner Abel Smith and Taranaki Streets, PO Box 53 (tel: (4) 385 1369; fax: (4) 384 8044; e-mail: nsc@hanz.org.nz; website: www.hanz.org.nz). Disabled travellers: Every new building and every major reconstruction is required by law to provide reasonable and adequate access for people with disabilities. The law specifies that every motel and hotel must provide a certain number of units with accessible facilities. New Zealand is recognised as a world leader in providing accessibility for the disabled. Grading: Hotels are graded from 1 to 4 stars. Motels are graded on a separate scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Guest-houses & Private Hotels
Usually located in restored, older buildings, guest houses and private hotels offer moderately priced accommodation, often with shared bathroom facilities, but with generally high standards. Country pubs: The cheapest type of accommodation and particularly popular on the west coast of the South Island. Farm and home stays: A number of established companies can arrange farm holidays, where visitors stay with a family as a guest, sharing bathroom facilities. Many farms are conveniently located for outdoor activities such as fishing, skiing and horse trekking. Prices usually include breakfast and dinner. An independent review of various types of accommodation in New Zealand is offered by Holdsworth (website: www.lodgings.co.nz).

Camping/Caravanning
There are many campsites throughout New Zealand, which is reputed to have some of the world’s best camping grounds. Rates and facilities vary considerably. It is advisable to make advance reservations from December to Easter. Motorcamps, cabins and tourist flats: These are characteristic of New Zealand. Motorcamps are a combination of camping grounds offering tent and caravan sites (with electricity), simple cabin accommodation and central communal bathroom and cooking facilities. They can be found almost everywhere. Visitors are required to provide their own tents and equipment, which can be hired from a number of companies. Occupants are usually required to supply their own linen, blankets and cutlery. Cabins are ideal for budget travellers and contain only beds and rudimentary furniture (visitors need to bring their own bedding). Tourist flats are at the top end of the cabin scale and usually offer sheets and bedding as well as fully equipped kitchens. Full details can be obtained from Tourism New Zealand (see Contact Addresses section).

Youth Hostels
The Youth Hostel Association runs 62 hostels throughout the country, and reservations can be made in advance from December to March. The association’s address is PO Box 436, Christchurch (tel: (3) 379 9970 or (0800) 278 299 (toll free in New Zealand); fax: (3) 365 4476; e-mail: info@yha.org.nz; website: www.yha.org.nz).

Backpacker's Hostels
Backpackers’ hostels are located all over the country. For further information, contact The Budget Backpacker Hostels (BBH), 99 Titiraupenga Street, Taupo, New Zealand (tel: (7) 377 1568; e-mail: bbh@backpack.co.nz; website: www.backpack.co.nz). BBH also issues a Backpacker card costing NZ$40, which entitles the holder to discounted transport within New Zealand as well as NZ$20 of pre-paid telephone calls.