New Zealand Other Types Of Accommodations

Hotel singles in New Zealand cost about NZ$85 (US$60) per night, doubles NZ$115 (US$80). Nearly all hotel rooms are ensuite. Otherwise, you may have to share a hall bathroom. For a cozy alternative to hotel rooms, B&Bs (private homes with rooms available to travelers) range from acceptable to sublime. Hosts sometimes go out of their way to be accommodating by accepting travelers with pets or offering free, home-cooked meals. On the other hand, some B&Bs do not provide phones, TVs, or private baths, and often discourage children. Rooms in B&Bs generally cost NZ$75-125 for a single and NZ$110-200 for a double. For more information, check out the New Zealand Bed and Breakfast Book (US$30; www.bnb.co.nz), InnFinder (www.innfinder.com), InnSite (www.innsite.com), or BedandBreakfast.com (www.bedandbreakfast.com).

Homestays And Farmstays

Homestays and farmstays involve staying on a working farm or orchard, often alone or with a few other guests. These stays are usually arranged through the nearest town’s tourist office, though some companies specialize in booking homestays and farmstays. Prices start around NZ$60 per person and include participation in farm activities and home-cooked meals; a few hostels also provide some aspects of a farmstay experience, especially in more rural areas. TrueNZ Guides, 64 Humffrey St., Blenheim (www.truenz.co.nz/farmstays), offers information on homestays and farmstays. For more information, see Beyond Tourism.

Home Exchanges And Hospitality Clubs

Home exchange offers the traveler various types of homes (houses, apartments, condominiums, villas, even castles in some cases), plus the opportunity to live like a native and to cut down on accommodation fees. For more information, contact HomeExchange.Com, P.O. Box 787, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 USA (☎800-877-8723; fax 310-798-3865; www.homeexchange.com), or Intervac International Home Exchange (NZ ☎04 934 4258; www.intervac.com). Hospitality clubs link their members with individuals or families abroad who are willing to host travelers for free or for a small fee to promote cultural exchange and general good karma. In exchange, members usually must be willing to host travelers in their own homes; a small membership fee may also be required. GlobalFreeloaders.com (www.globalfreeloaders.com) and The Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org) are good places to start. Servas (www.servas.org) is an established, more formal, peace-based organization, and requires a fee and an interview to join. As always, use common sense when planning to stay with or host someone you do not know.

Long-Term Accommodations

Travelers planning to stay in New Zealand for extended periods of time may find it cost-effective to rent an apartment. A basic one-bedroom (or studio) apartment in Auckland will range NZ$250-850 per month. Check out RealENZ, P.O. Box 9284, Auckland (☎0800 732 536, Auckland 09 353 2250; www.realenz.co.nz), for up-to-date listings of accommodations for rent plus agencies that can help you with the process. Besides the rent itself, prospective tenants usually are also required to front a security deposit (frequently one month’s rent) and the last month’s rent.