Remember, New Zealand is a very popular tourist destination. As such, you can usually expect accommodation to be booked out during the high season. Whether you’re visiting Waiheke Island in summer, or chilling out at an eco-resort destinationin winter, you need to reserve your room ASAP.

If you’re trying to minimize costs, backpacking hostels tend to be a lot cheaper than your standard hotels. Couchsurfing is also an option in some of the main tourist areas, like Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Airbnb in New Zealand is a bit of a mixed bag – while there are plenty of rentals available, they can get as expensive as a hotel room