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A Place of Your Own
Motels in New Zealand are popular with travellers who like staying in "a place of their own". Varying in size from perhaps two units to ten or twenty units or more, motels offer a high, often superior, standard of accommodation with many of the comforts of home, usually including telephone and television. The fully self-contained individual units usually have one or two bedrooms, bathroom and toilet, plus areas for dining/daytime and well-equipped kitchens. Smaller "studio" units, again self-contained but possibly without full kitchen facilities, are available at some motels. Generally, motel units are serviced daily.
Refreshment Facilities
On arrival, you will usually find fresh milk, tea, coffee and sugar sufficient for your immediate refreshment. Morning newspapers are often supplied. Many are family-owned and operated and provide high levels of personal attention to your needs.
At the larger motels you are likely to find additional facilities similar to those at hotels swimming pool, spa, sauna, in-house video, laundry facilities, and an on-site or nearby restaurant.
Varying Rates
Rates for motels vary according to grading; an independent company, Qualmark, assesses most motels, hotels and holiday parks in New Zealand and assigns star gradings ranging from one up to five. The tariff is set on a single and double rate with minimal extra charges for extra adults, and less for children under 12 years.
Ideal for Car Travellers
Motels, sometimes called motel apartments, motor lodges, or motor inns - are convenient for visitors travelling by car and many are also close to public transport services. Car parking is usually provided right by your door. They're to be found throughout the country we list (without endorsement) nearly 1200 and they are most numerous at or near New Zealand's main holiday spots and major tourist attractions.
Advance booking is recommended during peak holiday periods but at other times it's easy just to travel and stay where you wish.
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No Tent Needed
If you are driving your way around New Zealand, whether by car or motorhome (campervan), you'll find hundreds of places throughout the country to stop for the night or for a week or two. These holiday parks and camping grounds offer a wide range of accommodation. You'll find everything from sites for tents, caravans and motorhomes to simple cabins, self-contained tourist flats and fully equipped motels. In some you will find lodge accommodation, too, ranging from bunkrooms to bedrooms with ensuite facilities, catering for backpackers.
Communal Facilities & Great Locations
Motorhome guests can usually rent a site with or without electric power, close to communal kitchens and toilet and shower facilities. Many holiday parks also have communal dining and TV lounges. Often they will also have well-equipped play areas, barbecues, heated swimming pools and spa pools.
Not surprisingly, holiday parks and camping grounds are frequently to be found near to beaches, rivers and lakes, or close to popular holiday spots.
A Network of Hostels
Independent travellers in New Zealand can access a network of some 350 backpacker hostels and lodges, which generally have fully equipped kitchens, laundry facilities and common areas where guests are able to meet and exchange information with other freewheeling travellers. Many hostels are open to all-comers, open all day, and there are no curfews, no morning chores. Others are part of an organisation, such as YHA (affiliated with Hostelling International) and Budget Backpacker Hostels
Dormitories or Individual Rooms
New Zealand hostels are characteristically clean and tidy with a friendly atmosphere. They vary in size from about 10 beds up to 300 or so. Most beds are in shared rooms and dormitories. Beds in single-sex dormitories are generally available on request. Double and twin rooms are also available at most hostels. The prices listed are, in most cases, per person per night and include GST. Linen and blankets may be hired, or you may find some hostels have them free, but you'll probably have your own sleeping bag.
A Chance to Meet Real New Zealanders
If a comfortable bed and a good breakfast are high on your list of travel needs, you'll find plenty of options among the countless B&Bs, guest houses, farmstays and homestays throughout New Zealand. Overseas visitors will also find that staying in these establishments is usually a good way to meet real New Zealanders.
A Meal to Start the Day
B&Bs are true to their name; they provide a substantial meal to start your day, as do many, but not all, guest houses. These accommodations are welcoming, comfortable and usually moderately priced, though some can be the height of luxury. You'll find many close to the attractions and leisure activities for which New Zealand is well-known. Others are to be found in out-of-the-way spots where you can take a break from the hectic pace of touring and relax in pleasant surroundings.
Farmstays
Farmstays are a popular option for people who like to "get their hands dirty" to get involved in real, everyday farm activities. On some farms you'll be staying in a typical rural family home, sharing family meals. On others you'll be offered comfortable, self-contained accommodation. And most farmstays provide opportunities to experience "hands on" farm work of various kinds, depending on the kind of farm and time of year. Farmstay breaks may also enable easy access to such outdoor activities as fishing, skiing, canoeing or kayaking, and horse trekking.
Homestays
Homestays are another way of seeing New Zealand and meeting local people. Generally they are a bit like a farmstay and B&B combined. You'll be a guest perhaps the only one in a private family home and, while you pay for your stay, you will find that most homestay owners are in business as much to meet people and make friends. And, whether your stay is in a town or city, or in a rural area, your hosts will be able to give you the benefit of local knowledge about the attractions and activities to be found nearby.
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Take Your Accommodation with You
Travelling in a Campervan or Motor home
Travelling by campervan or motorhome is a popular way to explore New Zealand. As writers of the DayOut Travel Guides, we can personally recommend it. We bought an ex-rental Ford Econovan and set off to see places we knew well as if through the eyes of visitors.
Flexibility
We enjoy the freedom and the flexibility of a motor home. You can stay longer in places you really like, or move on sooner when the weather is bad. It's great, too, to be able to stop in scenic spots, prepare a meal and sit back and enjoy the view.
On our travels we've met many visitors who have free-camped for the whole of their New Zealand trip. Sadly, because some people abuse freedom sites, dumping rubbish and, even worse, the contents of their toilets when they leave, signs forbidding camping are increasing. So, please use proper dump sites for your waste!
Free Camping
If you free-camp, you should also be aware you may be putting yourselves in danger staying in an isolated place, although we certainly can't recall anyone ever being attacked. As there are, however, occasional reports of thefts from campervans, you need to keep valuables secure and leave nothing tempting to thieves in view. These thefts happen in cities as well as in more isolated places.
Camping Grounds
The Department of Conservation provides basic camping grounds - water and toilets - in many beautiful places at a cost of about $5 per person. A power site in a private camping ground (HolidayPark) costs about $18.00 per person with the use of kitchen and shower room facilities and usually a TV/Common Room. Between 26 December and mid-January, you need to book at camping grounds in popular holiday resorts.
Native Parks Motorhome Havens
If you are searching for special places where Motorhomes are welcome you will want to investigate the Native Parks scheme.
Finally, visitors have told us they were surprised distances on the map took longer than expected; many scenic roads are winding with hilly stretches and take longer to negotiate in a large campervan than in a car.
Renting a Motorhome
When you are planning your trip , you will want to decide on a starting location.
The main centers for campervan rental, where you will get the greatest choice, are Auckland and Christchurch but hire is also possible. in Wellington Nelson and Queenstown.
If you are traveling between the North and South Islands remember that to use the ferry will add to your costs and at peak time will require advance booking.
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