10 Best Budget Accommodations in Gisborne 🛌🏼 [2024]

Where to Find Cheap Accommodation in Gisborne

Gisborne has the free walks, historical sites, natural attractions and foodie experiences to make the ultimate getaway for budget travellers. However, budget accommodations are limited in Gisborne, with motels charging a little more than what you’ll find in the rest of the country, while backpacker hostels and holiday parks are few and far in between. Nevertheless, we’ll paint you a picture of what cheap stays are available with this list of the best budget accommodations in Gisborne.

For more advice on planning your trip, check out The Guide to Gisborne on a Budget. Plus, plan for some affordable activities with the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Gisborne.

1. Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park

With some of the cheapest ensuite double and twin rooms in the city, as well as affordable self-contained units, Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park is well worth considering for good value. What’s more, the complex has a covered heated swimming pool with a mini waterslide and jets for the kids, a petanque course and a whole bunch of watersports hire equipment to make the most of Gisborne’s main beach. If you’re camping, there are tent and powered sites too.

Check Waikanae Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park out:

2. Tatapouri Bay

Tatapouri Bay brings holiday park camping to the 21st Century with luxurious glamping tents and “Zen Cabins”. But if you’re on a budget, you might just want to settle for a log cabin-for-two, with a cosy queen bed and breakfast-making facilities squeezed into it. Campsites and powered sites are also available, with communal bathrooms, kitchen and laundry nearby. Guests also have access to a Finnish sauna, spa pool and a container cafe open Thursdays to Sundays in summer. For more accommodation with kitchens, check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Gisborne.

Check Tatapouri Bay out:

3. The Royal Matawhero

Located on the outskirts of town in Gisborne’s wine region, The Royal Matawhero actually offers some of the cheapest rooms in Gisborne. Famous for pouring Raglan Roast coffee and being in the building of the first public house in Matawhero, many are surprised to find that there is actually some accommodation available. Choose from budget single and double rooms with a shared bathroom or opt for more privacy with an ensuite studio. Guests share a lounge, while there’s a restaurant and bar on-site. For more hotel-style stays, check out the 10 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Gisborne.

Check The Royal Matawhero out:

The Royal Matawhero on Booking.com

7 Best Budget Accommodations in Gisborne 🛌🏼 [2023]

4. Russell Street

When in doubt, choose one of Gisborne’s affordable guesthouses/B&B-style accommodations. Russell Street is of such and offers a large queen studio room with a generous breakfast included. The secure accommodation has a number lock to access the building and on-site parking, while welcome features inside the studio include free WiFi, a TV, an ensuite bathroom and a small kitchenette with breakfast-making essentials. For stays ideal for couples, head to the 10 Most Romantic Accommodations in Gisborne.

Check Russell Street out:

Russell Street on Booking.com

10 Best Budget Accommodations in Gisborne 🛌🏼 [2023]

5. Gisborne Dream Family Suite

A cosy guesthouse on the residential streets of Gisborne, Gisborne Dream Family Suite offers a cheap stay near the Tairawhiti Museum and within walking distance of the city centre. There are guest rooms available for one, two or three people across a double bed and a single bed in separate rooms. The private suite also features a private kitchenette with breakfast supplies provided, s bathroom, as well as access to WiFi and a TV with streaming services. Note that there is a minimum booking for two nights. For alternative stays for families, check out the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Gisborne.

Check Gisborne Dream Family Suite out:

Gisborne Dream Family Suite on Booking.com

6. Captain Cook Motor Lodge

Keeping in with the historical theme, Captain Cook Motor Lodge offers basic motel units with classic decor and furnishings – the cheapest motel in Gisborne. It has something for everyone across the 36 rooms from budget studios to interconnecting units ideal for families and groups. There are queen/twin rooms with ensuite bathrooms, while the studios and multi-room units have more facilities, like kitchenettes. Enjoy dining out in the sunny courtyard or dine at the on-site restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Check Captain Cook Motor Lodge out:

7. Motel Oasis

Backed by lush green hills right in between Gisborne city and Wainui Beach, Motel Oasis offers a tranquil escape for solo travellers to families. Stay in one of the single or queen studios or treat your group to a larger family suite with interconnecting rooms. Each of the beach-inspired decorated suites looks out onto the motel’s solar-heated swimming pool. Yet, this is still one of the better-priced motels in Gisborne. See more like this in the 10 Best Motels in Gisborne.

Check Motel Oasis out:

8. Haurata Backpackers

Escape to the Gisborne countryside at the Haurata Backpackers. Part of the Haurata High Country Retreat, the Haurata Backpackers is a renovated old shearer’s quarters with shabby chic decor. The affordable cottage sleeps up to six people, with a fireplace, dining area and a fully-equipped kitchen. A stay here is all about experiencing New Zealand farm life with a working sheep farm on-site, while horse riding and amazing hikes are some of the things to do.

Check Haurata Backpackers out:

Haurata Backpackers on HostelWorld

9. Tolaga Bay Inn

While not exactly in Gisborne, Tolaga Bay Inn is an affordable option if doing an East Cape road trip. Located less than an hour’s drive north of Gisborne, Tolaga Bay Inn offers ultra-affordable double rooms to quadruple rooms. It’s one of the last remaining historical hotels in the Gisborne region, but don’t worry, the rooms have had some upgrades. Facilities at the hotel are limited, but the downstairs restaurant is a good place to grab dinner and meet the locals.

10. Village Boutique Apartments

[Update: This accommodation is no longer accepting bookings last time we checked. Check out the link below to see if they have again become available].

For those seeking a private space in Gisborne at an affordable price, check out the Village Boutique Apartments. Tucked behind residential homes in Gisborne, yet just a short walk from cafes and convenient stores, the Village Boutique Apartments consists of two studio apartments and a family apartment with full kitchens (usually stocked with extras to complete your breakfast) and are spacious enough for a true home-away-from-home experience.

Check Village Boutique Apartments out:

[CLOSED] YHA Gisborne

One of only two backpacker hostels in the city, YHA Gisborne is a no-brainer for budget travellers. Set in a characterful house among attractive gardens, YHA Gisborne is a memorable place to stay. You have dorm rooms, single, twin and private rooms to choose from, as well as a quadruple room with an ensuite. Bathroom and kitchen facilities are shared, while surfboard and wetsuit hire is available for the beach which is a 10-minute walk away. Learn more about backpacking in Gisborne in the Gisborne – Guide for Backpackers.

More Budget Accommodations in Gisborne

That’s it for our list of the best budget accommodations in Gisborne. For more places to stay, as well as things to do, check out these recommendations:

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

Robin C.

This article has been reviewed and approved by Robin, who is the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. With more than 15 years of experience in the New Zealand tourism industry, Robin has co-founded three influential tourism businesses and five additional travel guides for South Pacific nations. He is an expert in New Zealand travel and has tested over 600 activities and 300+ accommodations across the country.

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