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This city is in the heart of the North Island’s main tourist center so you know there will be many hostels in Rotorua to choose from. The many hotels in the area can be quite pricey, but Rotorua hostels generally keep prices low so more of your travel money goes to doing things during the day instead of on sleeping at night.

Rotorua is quite a spread out little town. There is a central business district that has a few streets lined with restaurants, bars, and shops, but that dense area quickly turns suburban outside of those main blocks. There are a few hostels in Rotorua located in this area so if you are on foot you’ll be able to check out some of the local nightlife easily. Otherwise the city is quite spread out so most of the other Rotorua hostels are well suited to anyone who has a car or campervan.

If you aren’t from Australia or New Zealand you might not realize that nearly all hostels in this part of the world are actually called “backpackers” instead. This name might lead you to believe that the places mostly welcome young people with just a few changes of clothes stuffed into their packs, but the reality is that they welcome anyone and everyone.

All the hostels in Rotorua have cheap beds in public dorm rooms and nearly all of them also offer private rooms for small groups and even singles. These private rooms are almost always cheaper than nearby hotels so these can be a great way to save money, sleep in some privacy, and still get to use the shared cooking facilities and lounge areas that make meeting other travelers so easy.

Base Backpackers is a large chain of well-respected facilities and they have two Rotorua hostels in their group. Their main location is right in the city center so this is ideal for single travelers and those on foot. A grocery store is just a few blocks away so you can cook for yourself cheaply and still stay right in the center of everything. Their cheapest dorm beds start around $NZ23 per night, and they’ve also got female-only dorm rooms with only four beds for only a bit more. They have private double rooms starting around $NZ34 per person. This is one of the most popular hostels in Rotorua so if you want a bed here you should try to book as early as you can.

Base Backpackers other location is called Hot Rocks, and it’s located overlooking the geothermal park with two mineral hot pools and an outdoor heated swimming pool on the grounds. This location gives you more of what the Rotorua area is famous for, and they’ve also got their own bar and lounge area. Their dorm beds start around $NZ24 per night, with private twin and double rooms with en suite starting only a few dollars more per person. This is another one of the more popular Rotorua hostels so early bookings are advised here as well.

Hostels in Rotorua