Tauranga: A Guide to Cheap Long-Term Accommodation [2024]

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Hostels in Tauranga

Hostels are a good place to start when looking for cheap long-term accommodation in Tauranga. Not only do they provide an affordable base for rental-hunting but many also offer weekly rates.

There are 9+ backpacker hostels in Tauranga, from the conveniently located Tauranga city central hostels to the beachside hostels in Mount Maunganui.

Because Mount Maunganui, in particular, is a tourist hotspot with limited hostels, plus many backpackers stay in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui during the picking season, make sure you book your nights in advance, especially during the peak season (summer). Do this especially for the hostels mentioned in 7 Best Backpacker Hostels in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui.

Expect a Tauranga hostel to be NZ$27-$35 per dorm bed per night. You can always keep the cost of living down along with an extended stay by working for accommodation in a Tauranga hostel. For tips, have a look at How to Find Work for Accommodation in New Zealand.

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Renting a Room in Tauranga

Renting a room is common practice in Tauranga to keep the price to a minimum when staying for the long term, usually done if you have landed a job in Tauranga as part of a working holiday.

Expect room prices to be around NZ$200 per week. That’s a room to yourself in a flatshare or houseshare. You may find cheaper, around the NZ$160 per week mark, for a shared room. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.

For advice on how to find a room to rent in Tauranga, have a look at our 6 Resources to Find a Room to Rent in New Zealand. Renting a room involves a more complicated process than staying in short-term accommodation, so get clued up by reading The Paperwork Process of Renting or Flatting in New Zealand.

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Airbnb in Tauranga

Stay with a local in Tauranga! Airbnb, the online network of peoples spare rooms available for accommodation, is pretty popular in Tauranga.

Like hostels, Airbnb stays can provide a cheap room while finding something long term. Alternatively, some Airbnb hosts offer weekly rates for cheap long-term accommodation in Tauranga. Plus, consider an Airbnb room for a more convenient suburban location and something different from the hostel experience.

Although the average price for a room in Tauranga is NZ$275 per night, it is possible to find accommodation around the NZ$45-$120 price range across the Tauranga suburbs, especially in Otumoetai, Tauranga South, Welcome Bay, Papamoa Beach and Mount Maunganui. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change. 

For more information on Airbnb, check out Everything You Need to Know About Airbnb in New Zealand and 10 Tips to Make the Most of Airbnb in New Zealand.

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Holiday Parks and Campgrounds in Tauranga

Tauranga has a huge variety of commercial holidays park and freedom camping spots.

Freedom camping is permitted in reserves, car parks and some roads all across Tauranga only if you have a certified self-contained vehicle. Check out the 10 Free Camping Spots in Tauranga for examples. Plus, see Freedom Camping Rules in New Zealand: Region by Region for links to the Tauranga District Council‘s latest freedom camping policy.

For those who don’t have a self-contained vehicle, or want to make use of facilities, there are a number of holiday parks to choose from in Bethlehem, South Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa Beach. Expect camp prices to start between NZ$25-$50 per campsite per night. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.

For information about camping, check out our guide to Camping in New Zealand and Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.