10 BEST Budget Accommodations in Waitomo 🛌🏼 [2024]

Where to Find Cheap Accommodation in Waitomo

We get it, with amazing caving and tubing tours that are a must for the New Zealand bucket list, you’re going to want to save money in other areas of your stay in Waitomo. The way to do that is with an affordable stay in Waitomo’s cheap accommodations. Holiday parks, motels, B&Bs and even hostels can be found in or a short drive from Waitomo, giving travellers plenty of options to suit their needs and budget. Check out some of our top recommendations for cheap stays in this list of the best budget accommodations in Waitomo.

For more budget tips, check out The Guide to Waitomo on a Budget and find more budget accommodations in the 10 Best Homestays in Waitomo.

1. Juno Hall Backpackers

One of your most affordable options only moments away from Waitomo’s top caving tours, Juno Hall Backpackers provides hostel accommodation, as well as tent and campervan sites. The dorm beds are your cheapest choice, while the double, twin, triple and quadruple rooms – some with ensuites – provide more privacy. The homely hostel has a communal kitchen and dining area with a fireplace roaring in the centre in winter. Seeing and even feeding the farm animals is often part of the experience.

Check Juno Hall Backpackers out:

2. Waitomo TOP 10 Holiday Park

Just down the road from Waitomo Village and its nearby caving attractions, the Waitomo TOP 10 Holiday Park is an obvious choice for those travelling in a campervan. Alternatively, the holiday park offers affordable cabins with shared communal facilities, as well as one- and two-bedroom self-contained motel units. It’s a popular option for families, as there’s a playground with a trampoline and a large swimming pool on-site. See more like this in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Waitomo.

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3. Waitomo Village Chalets (Home of Kiwipaka)

A budget hotel/hostel a short walk from the main village, Waitomo Village Chalets (Home of Kiwipaka) is a good option for a short stay. Stay in one of their hostel dorms with no bunks but dividers by each bed for that little bit of extra privacy. The accommodation also has private double, twin and quadruple rooms, some with an ensuite shower room. The chalet with a kitchenette is your only self-catering option. Otherwise, you can enjoy meals at the on-site cafe. For more small-scale accommodations, check out the 10 Best Boutique Accommodations in Waitomo.

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4. Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge

Enjoy a homely and affordable stay in the heart of Waitomo Village at the Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge. Enjoy a continental breakfast each morning before embarking on your cave adventure and warm up afterwards with your unit’s heatpump and electric blankets. In summer, guests enjoy making use of the barbecue on the deck surrounded by verdant gardens. The B&B lodge is also in a good position for enjoying some of the walks listed in the 5 Best Walks in Waitomo.

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5. Waitomo Orchard Estate B&B

Elegantly decorated with a quaint country house aesthetic, the Waitomo Orchard Estate B&B offers a cosy stay for couples, solo travellers and couples of friends travelling together. There are twin and double rooms of various grades, most of which share a bathroom and a lounge. The highlight of the B&B, however, is the two acres of gardens with a sun terrace and spa pool overlooking it all. Of course, continental breakfast is also included in your stay. For more charming B&Bs, check out the 5 Best Romantic Accommodations in Waitomo or the 10 Best Homestays & B&Bs in Waitomo.

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6. Glow Worm Motel

Conveniently located between Waitomo and Otorohanga, the Glow Worm Motel offers nine self-contained units for travellers looking for privacy. There’s something for couples, with their cheap double and queen studios, while families and groups have the choice of family units sleeping up to six and a three-bedroom cottage. All your other essential amenities are here, including laundry machines and free WiFi, while the swimming pool, barbecue and children’s swings are an added bonus. See how this compares to Waitomo’s other motels in the 10 Best Motels in Waitomo.

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7. Otorohanga Kiwi Holiday Park

Another holiday park that’s worth investigating is the Otorohanga Kiwi Holiday Park. While the holiday park is located outside of Waitomo, it is just a short walk from the town centre of Otorohanga, which has more services, shops and dining options than Waitomo can offer. Stay in one of the well-appointed self-contained units with everything you need to enjoy a peaceful stay. Alternatively, park-up or pitch-up at one of the camping sites. Learn more about Otorohanga in the 5 Fun Things to Do in Otorohanga.

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8. Motel Te Kuiti

You might want to base yourself in Te Kuiti, the next town south of Waitomo just under 20km (12 miles) away. Here, Motel Te Kuiti offers a number of well-appointed self-contained rooms. The “Standard Units” are your most affordable with breakfast-making and microwave facilities with an ensuite ideal for couples and solo travellers. The “One-Bedroom Unit” gives you more space with a more complete kitchen and a sleeping arrangement for up to four guests. Find out more about the town in the 5 Fun Things to Do in Te Kuiti.

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9. Panorama Motor Inn

Another affordable motel in Te Kuiti, Panorama Motor Inn provides basic motel rooms to suit most needs. Budget studio rooms, one-bedroom units and family rooms are all on the cards, while the three-bedroom holiday house is a good option for larger groups. Some studios have breakfast-making facilities and a microwave, while there’s the option to upgrade to a room with a kitchenette. On-site is a restaurant and a swimming pool in summer.

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10. Otorohanga & Waitomo Motels

And one more budget accommodation in Waitomo for good measure, the Otorohanga & Waitomo Motels features 12 comfortable units with a number of various layouts to suit couples, groups and families. Choose from affordable studios and one-bedroom units to the more spacious two-bedroom units or the family unit for larger groups. All units have a full kitchen with an oven, hob, microwave and fridge, while the heatpumps and electric blanks are a welcome addition after a day in the caves.

Check Otorohanga & Waitomo Motels out:

More Budget Accommodations in Waitomo

That’s it for our guide to the best cheap budget accommodations in Waitomo. For more accommodation options, as well as things to do, check these out:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Travel Guide to Waitomo on a Budget.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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