9 Best Budget Accommodations in Gore 🛌🏼 [2024]

Where to Find Cheap Accommodation in Gore

A small town in Southland that most travellers haven’t even heard of, Gore is a true hidden gem for the budget traveller. Not only does it have an array of gorgeous gardens, bushwalks, mountain bike trails and all sorts of cool and quirky museums that are free or at least very affordable, but it has budget accommodation to help keep the costs super low. While there might be no backpacker hostels or holiday parks, Gore treats budget travellers to some affordable B&B, homestays, holiday homes and motels. Those travelling in a campervan or with a tent are also treated to the affordable campgrounds of the area, which are an attraction in themselves. Check them out in this list of the best budget accommodations in Gore!

For more budget advice, see The Guide to Gore on a Budget and the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Gore.

1. Hokonui Bed & Breakfast

Starting off with one of the affordable B&Bs in Gore, Hokonui Bed & Breakfast offers affordable lodging for couples to families. The modern accommodation is set on 12 acres of farmland on the outskirts of Gore. A Kiwi full-cooked or continental breakfast is included in the rate of your room, which could be a double, twin or family room. Two of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms while another has a separate private bathroom. Guests have access to a large open-plan lounge and kitchen, as well as extensive lawns and a barbecue area.

Check Hokonui Bed & Breakfast out:

2. The Reservation B&B

Another contemporary B&B stay in Gore, The Reservation B&B offers affordable double rooms with shared bathroom facilities among its more luxurious options. Set among three acres of gardens with farm animals, the B&B offers a peaceful stay on the rural outskirts of Gore with extensive countryside views. Enjoy a tipple from the house bar pouring a range of beer, wine and local Hokonui Moonshine, which can be enjoyed on the attractive deck with a barbecue and pizza oven or in the warmth of the B&B’s lounge. Breakfast is included in the rate. See more stays ideal for couples in the 10 Most Romantic Accommodations in Gore.

Check The Reservation B&B out:

3. Melody

For something more central in Gore, check out the lodge/hotel accommodation of Melody. Offering king rooms on the verge of being affordable, Melody is worth considering for couples and solo travellers. There are just four guest rooms available at this boutique accommodation, each well-appointed with a fully-tiled ensuite bathroom boasting a walk-in shower, hot drink-making facilities, a microwave, free WiFi and a TV. For more hotel-like accommodations, take a look at the 15 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Gore.

Check Melody out:

9 Best Budget Accommodations in Gore 🛌🏼 [2023]

4. Pukeko Nest Homestay (201 Waimumu)

One of the cheapest accommodation offerings in Gore (apart from the campgrounds), Pukeko Nest Homestay, also known as 201 Waimumu, is a rural retreat just 5km (3 miles) from Gore. There are two rooms available, a twin room and a queen double room each with a private bathroom or ensuite. Rooms are quite compact but homely and well cared for. A continental breakfast is included in the price, which is enjoyed in the shared lounge which also has a smart TV.

Check Pukeko Nest Homestay out:

Pukeko Nest Homestay on Booking.com

5. Kaiwera Warm Cozy Cottage

Prefer to have your own space? Gore has a number of holiday homes in the area, including the more affordable Kaiwera Warm Cozy Cottage! This one-bedroom holiday home has all you need, including a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom with a double bed and lounge with a sofabed. Enjoy the surroundings of rolling green hills with cows in the paddocks nearby for a true rural experience. Check out more accommodations like this in the 10 Best Holiday Homes in Gore.

Check Kaiwera Warm Cozy Cottage out:

Kaiwera Warm Cozy Cottage on Booking.com

6. Southland Organic Farmstay

Tucked away in the rolling countryside between Gore and Invercargill, Southland Organic Farmstay offers an affordable rural retreat. The farmstay offers a delightful room with a double bed, ensuite shower room and access to self-catering facilities. It’s the perfect place to disconnect from the world, helped by the fact that there’s no TV and the WiFi is a little unreliable. Nevertheless, all of this is replaced by stunning rural views. What’s more, a continental breakfast is included in your stay.

Check Southland Organic Farmstay out:

Southland Organic Farmstay on Booking.com

6 Best Budget Accommodations in Gore 🛌🏼 [2023]

7. Ellie’s Villa

An excellent holiday home in the neighbouring village of Mataura, south of Gore, Ellie’s Villa offers affordability and privacy. The family-friendly holiday home sleeps up to six guests across three bedrooms. The home boasts quirky modern decor in a charming older home with a spacious fenced-off garden. Keep warm with the installed heat pump and cook up a storm in the well-equipped kitchen. See more family-friendly stays like this in the 9 Best Family Accommodations in Gore.

Check Ellie’s Villa out:

8. Charlton Motel

For our token motel mention for Gore, the Charlton Motel is the cheapest in town. The motel has an enviable location; just a short walk from the Gore Multisports Complex with its hot pools and ice rink, as mentioned in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Gore. There’s accommodation here for just about everyone, including studios sleeping up to three guests, one-bedroom units for up to five, and two-bedroom units for up to seven! What the motel units lack in style and decor, it more than makes up for in useful facilities, where all of them feature a full kitchen, an ensuite, and warmth with double-glazing and electric blankets. There’s also free WiFi and Sky TV available. See how the motel compares to the 5 Best Motels in Gore.

Check Charlton Motel out:

9. Dolamore Park Campground

Finally, if you’re travelling in a campervan or have a tent, why not camp at Dolamore Park? Located beside the Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve, this park has powered sites and small facilities block with a kitchen and shower. Here, you’re not only enabled to sleep under the stars but have access to some of Gore’s best bushwalks in the Croydon Bush Scenic Reserve – just check out the 6 Best Walks in Gore for more details. Enjoy the walking trails, let the kids loose at the huge playground and go scouting for glowworms after dark!

Those in a motorhome/campervan can also find affordable powered sites at the Gore A&P Showgrounds and the Gore Town & Country Club.

Check Dolamore Park out:

Dolamore Park on the Gore District Council website

More About Budget Accommodations in Gore

That’s it for our list of the best cheap budget accommodations in Gore. For more advice on visiting this Southland town, take a look at the following guides:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Travel Guide to Gore 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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