9 Hostels in New Zealand Ranked According to a Solo Female Traveler

If you’re looking for hostels in New Zealand for an upcoming trip, you’ve come to the right place.

In this post, I’ve listed the nine New Zealand hostels that I stayed at in big cities like Auckland and tiny towns like Picton. I would recommend most of these hostels to any solo female traveler who asks.

Just stay away from the two duds at the bottom of the list!

9 Hostels in New Zealand Ranked Best to Worst

Below are the nine hostels in New Zealand that I stayed at throughout my 3-month trip. I’ve ranked the hostels on my personal experience, whether I stayed for one night or ten. As I ranked them, I thought about the cleanliness, comfort, amenities, and the staff’s helpfulness.

As a solo female traveler, I also considered how safe I felt during my stay at each hostel. All the following hostels offered female-only dorm rooms or private rooms. Otherwise, I would not have chosen to stay there.

Read More: Ultimate Guide to Hostels For Solo Female Travelers 35+

1. YHA Queenstown Lakefront Hostel | Queenstown, NZ

Of all the hostels in New Zealand that I stayed at, this one was my favorite!

HIGHLIGHTS

• The location was fantastic. Just a quick 10-minute walk to the center of town.
• The rooms and common areas were bright and clean.
• It is directly across the street from Lake Wakatipu. I was lucky enough to stay in a dorm room facing the lake and the Remarkables!
• The huge kitchen was my favorite part of the hostel. There were several cooktops, plenty of pots,  pans, cooking utensils, and refrigerator space. They even provided basic spices like salt, pepper, and curry powder.
• I sat at the giant windows in the kitchen to enjoy my coffee each morning. They overlooked the lake, and the morning light perfectly highlighted the yellow in the early autumn trees.
• Booking(.com) Score: 8.9

COMPLAINTS

• The only thing I did not like about this hostel was my bunkmate!

MY RECOMMENDATION

Definitely stay at YHA Queenstown Lakefront when you visit Queenstown! Read my full review of Queenstown Lakefront Hostel for full details about the property.

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2. Manor House Backpackers | Dunedin, NZ

HIGHLIGHTS

• Located on a quiet side street off the south end of Princes Street – the main road in Dunedin. It took less than 15 minutes to walk to Dunedin Central.
• Free and unlimited WIFI – a rare commodity in New Zealand!
• Hostel employees were friendly and helpful with directions and suggestions for things to do.
• Sitting on the wrap-around porch in the morning while drinking my coffee.
• Booking(.com) Score: 8.0

COMPLAINTS

• On rainy nights, guests who are camping at the hostel congregate in the kitchen to drink. I got squeezed out of a seat at the table while making my dinner and had to stand while eating.
• The outdoor common space was right outside the window next to my bed.

MY RECOMMENDATION

I enjoyed staying at Manor House while I was in Dunedin. It felt very homey, and I liked the girls I roomed with. I recommend a stay at Manor House Backpackers while in Dunedin.

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3. A1 Backpackers | Hastings, NZ

HIGHLIGHTS

• The owner picked me up at the bus station when I arrived in Hastings, which is always helpful.
• A1 Backpackers had the most stocked kitchen of all the hostels I stayed at. There were multiples of everything you would need to prepare a meal. They even had a French press! It was such a treat after weeks upon weeks of instant coffee.
• A1 Backpackers is a hostel that caters to seasonal workers, so it was quiet. They will also assist you with finding work at a local farm or orchard.

COMPLAINTS

• Sometimes it was a little too quiet. I felt like I was making so much noise any time I walked through the building or prepared a midday meal.
• I didn’t find the “help finding local work” very helpful. Basically, I was told since I didn’t have my own car, I wouldn’t be considered by any employer in the area.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Unfortunately, A1 Backpackers is no longer listed on the BBH New Zealand’s Backpacker Network or Booking(.com). Also, I found this relatively recent article about it being turned into housing for ex-prisoners. Thankfully, Hastings has plenty of other options from which to choose.

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4. Base Backpackers | Wellington, NZ

This was the third (and final) accommodation I stayed at during my one week in Wellington.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The building was beautiful, and the location was perfect. Base Backpackers Wellington is located in Courtenay Place, Wellington’s center of entertainment and nightlife.
• I fell in love with my room at Base Wellington, pictured above. The view all the way across the harbor was breathtaking!

COMPLAINTS

• No complaints! I really enjoyed staying at Base Wellington.

MY RECOMMENDATION

10/10 I recommend staying at Base Backpackers Wellington! However, it is no longer listed on stayatbase.com, and Booking(.com) states that Base Wellington is no longer taking reservations on its platform. I don’t know if this is a temporary thing or not. Thankfully, there are plenty of hostel options in Wellington.

5. Base Backpackers | Auckland, NZ

This was the first and last hostel I stayed at in New Zealand. I didn’t love it but didn’t hate it either, so I chose to stay there again for a few nights before my return trip home. I appreciated the familiarity as I wrapped up 3 months of traveling in New Zealand.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Location, location, location! On Queen Street, right in the Central Business District of Auckland, within walking distance of popular sites like Sky Tower, Auckland Waterfront, and Albert Park.
• I loved hanging out at the hostel’s rooftop bar, Hello Sunshine.
• The female-only dorms at Base Auckland had an adjacent common room that was quiet and often empty. I hung out in this room often!

COMPLAINTS

• As a huge hostel in New Zealand’s largest city, it was always crowded.
• People frequently slept on common area couches in the middle of the day.
• The kitchen was my least favorite area at Base Auckland. I constantly battled other guests for cooking utensils or pots and pans to cook with. Sometimes people would even steal a pot or colander from my cook station while my back was turned. Plus, the refrigerators were always messy, unorganized, and reeked of spilled, rotting milk.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Despite the kitchen being a nightmare, I would recommend Base Auckland to other travelers based solely on the female-only dorms and location. Just avoid the hostel kitchen refrigerators! There are plenty of places in Auckland to grab a cheap dinner.

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6. Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers | Te Anau, NZ

My stay at Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers was unplanned. You see, on my way to Queenstown from Invercargill, I missed my bus, and unfortunately, it was the only bus to Queenstown that day. So, I ended up in Te Anau for less than 24 hours. The sweet ladies at the i-Site location helped me book a hostel, get on a new bus, and change my pickup location for the Milford Sound tour that I booked.

HIGHLIGHTS

• As you could have guessed, Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers was right on Lake Te Anau. I was only able to see the town and lake in the twilight, but it was a gorgeous location.
• It seemed like an old motel that was turned into a hostel, which I thought was unique!
• The hostel room I stayed in was a small two-bedroom suite with a private kitchen and bathroom. My room had a bunk bed, which I had to myself for the night.
• Booking(.com) Score: 8.5

COMPLAINTS

• I didn’t stay long enough to have any complaints!

MY RECOMMENDATION

Absolutely recommend staying here!

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7. Piwaka Lodge & Backpackers | Picton, NZ

Again, I only spent one night at Piwaka Lodge & Backpackers (formerly called Alicante Backpackers) while passing through Picton, where the Interisland Ferry moves to and from Wellington. I wish I had known about Picton beforehand and planned to stay in town longer. Picton is a beautiful little waterfront town!

HIGHLIGHTS

• Piwaka Lodge & Backpackers is within walking distance of the Interisland Ferry terminal and close to the small town’s waterfront, restaurants, and other sites.
• Included basic breakfast items like bread for toast, cereal, and coffee in the morning.
• The owner gave me a ride to the bus station when it was time.
• Booking(.com) Score: 9.1

COMPLAINTS

• I booked a bed in a female-only dorm room a day or two before arrival, but I was placed in a co-ed room when I got there. They hesitated when I mentioned that I booked, and paid extra for, a female-only room. Probably hoping that I’d say it was ok. But it was not, and they moved a male out of a room to make it female only for me.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Since the name of the hostel has changed, I assume it is under new ownership or management. I didn’t stay at Piwaka Lodge long enough for a full experience, but I still recommend it.

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8. Wild Zebra Backpackers | Wellington, NZ

I arrived in Wellington during a rugby tournament, which I obviously had no idea was happening. #notarugbyfan

So, I had trouble finding accommodation for a full week in Wellington. So, I split my time between three different places. One night in a hotel room, two nights at Wild Zebra Backpackers, and three nights at Base Wellington (review #4).

This was my least favorite of the three.

HIGHLIGHTS

• I have to say; it was pretty cool to stay in a building painted with zebra stripes.

COMPLAINTS

• The building was dark, common spaces were crowded with guests sleeping on couches, and the floors needed a good cleaning.
• The “luggage storage room” was a closet with an inward opening door that could hardly be opened because it was so full of people’s belongings. You had to squeeze through a tiny opening and stumble over suitcases and backpacks to get your own stuff in. To top it off, it was not secure – no hostel staff were attending the luggage room, and it wasn’t kept locked.
• My private room was disappointing. It was narrow, no wider than my own wingspan, and had only a twin bed on the floor and a nightstand.
• Also, I questioned whether the room had been cleaned and the sheets changed, and there were no curtains on the window.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Lucky you! Wild Zebra Backpackers is no longer open. Click the button below to find another hostel in Wellington.

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9. Central Lodge | Blenheim, NZ

I stayed here because a girl I met in Wellington told me there was a ton of work in Blenheim, and she loved this hostel.

HIGHLIGHTS

Short and sweet:

• The neighborhood orange tabby cat that came to visit every day.
• The walk to town was short.

COMPLAINTS

Buckle up because, unlike the highlights of this place, my complaints are plenty. These are the absolute worst offenses:

• The owners/managers were completely unprofessional. I waited outside the nail salon (attached to one of the hostel buildings) for over an hour for the owner to greet me and show me to my room. An assistant “checked on” me a few times only to tell me to keep waiting.
• Guests were assigned to three different buildings on the property based on the language they spoke. One building had Spanish speakers, one had English and French speakers, and guests in the third building spoke German.
• Since I spoke English, they tried to place me in a co-ed room in the English/French house, but I requested a female-only room when I made a phone reservation a few days before my arrival. They refused to move me elsewhere until I got my phone out to find another hostel to book. Even though my gut told me not to, I paid for a week upfront (a requirement, no refunds) and stayed once they moved me to a female-only room in the German-speaking house.
• Each guest was assigned utensils, a bowl, a cup, and a plate, and you were charged a fee if they were not returned at checkout. However, there weren’t enough pieces for everyone to begin with. As people checked out, they would just steal other people’s pieces in order to avoid being charged. Then that set would be given to the next guest. It was a vicious cycle.
• There was literally one pot, one pan, one spatula, and so on in the kitchen. And no one ever washed them when they were finished using them.
• At the end of my week at Central Lodge, the three houses threw a party on a weekend night. Someone must have invited friends who were not staying at the hostel, which was against the hostel rules. I spent the majority of the night in town because I didn’t particularly like anyone staying at the hostel and didn’t want to join the party. Shortly after I returned, the owner came to break up the party (no staff actually stayed on the property as far as I know), and those unwanted guests fled through the yard and over the wall by the window in my room. The owner barged into my room, yelling at me as if I was hiding the outsiders in the room.

MY RECOMMENDATION

If this hostel is still open, DO NOT STAY HERE! There are plenty of other accommodations in Blenheim – stay somewhere else!

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