15 Best Budget Accommodations in Te Anau 🛌🏼 [2023]

Where to Find Cheap Accommodation in Te Anau

We get it: with glorious Fiordland cruises, Great Walks, scenic flights, glowworm tours and more, your money is worth saving for experiences rather than where you sleep for the night. Te Anau has an excellent choice of high-quality motels, hostels and holiday parks to suit even the tightest of budgets and meet the needs of a range of travellers. Check out some of our top picks in this list of best budget accommodations in Te Anau!

Note that Te Anau’s accommodation rates are seasonal, where you’ll find the best rates in the off-peak season (May-October). For more advice on how to fill your time in Te Anau, check out our tips in the 10 Things to Do in Fiordland National Park.

1. Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels

Enjoy expansive views of Lake Te Anau from your campervan or motel room when staying at the Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels. Budget travellers are spoiled for choice here with camping sites, a backpacker hostel (waiting to reopen) with double, twin and quad rooms, private single rooms in a “village-like” complex, and three-star standard cabins with layouts available as double, twin, triple and quad. Wherever you decide to stay, you’ll be able to benefit from the holiday park amenities, from a sauna/spa pool to a children’s playground. Free WiFi is also available. See more recommendations like this in our 10 Best Family Accommodations in Te Anau.

Check Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park out:

Te Anau Lakeview Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels

2. Te Anau Top 10 Holiday Park and Motels

Te Anau Top 10 Holiday Park makes it all too easy with its central location across the road from eateries, the supermarket and less than 10 minutes walk from the lakefront. While sleek and stylish motel units are available, your best budget options lie in the private cabins with breakfast-making facilities, a TV and heater, as well as the 10-bed backpacker dorm and camping sites. Guests will have access to a communal kitchen (use your own cooking equipment or hire them from reception), free WiFi, a children’s playground, free barbecues and more.

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3. Amber Court Motel

If you’re a couple looking to upgrade to a stylish four-star motel or a group/family looking for great value then set your sights on the Amber Court Motel. The motel has reasonably-priced “Super King Studios” with all the fixings including “SuperKing” beds, 47″ TVs with Sky TV, kitchen facilities and free WiFi. Families will find ample space in the “Family One-Bedroom” with an additional sofa and dining table to complete the home-away-from-home experience. What’s more, Amber Court Motel is located in a quiet corner of Te Anau just a short walk away from the lakefront.

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4. Bob & Maxine’s Backpackers

On the edge of Te Anau town, Bob & Maxine’s Backpackers is a spacious and well-equipped backpacker hostel with everything you need for an affordable and, more importantly, fun stay! There’s a warm and friendly vibe here, helped by your gracious hosts, while there are comfortable places to relax – the fireplace in the main lounge is a popular hangout. As for rooms, most are shared dorms while a private double room is also available. Remember to check out the nearby alpaca farm that has been entertaining guests for years. Check out more amazing hostels nearby in the 7 Best Backpacker Hostels in Te Anau & Milford Sound.

Check Bob & Maxine’s Backpackers out:

10 Best Budget Accommodations in Te Anau 🛌🏼 [2023]

5. Tasman Holiday Parks – Te Anau

Another fantastic holiday park choice in Te Anau is Tasman Holiday Parks – Te Anau. From campsites to apartments, there’s something for everyone. The cabins and units provide the best value for couples, groups and families with access to communal facilities, such as a kitchen, bathrooms and free gas barbecues. Note that cooking equipment needs to be provided or hired unless you are staying in a “Family Cabin”. Other drawcards include the hot tubs overlooking Lake Te Anau, the “Hobbiton-inspired” sauna, games room and a children’s playground.

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6. Lakeside Motel & Apartments

Looking for fully self-contained accommodation at a good price? Then check out Lakeside Motel & Apartments. Even their most budget offering, the “Garden Small One Bedroom”, has a full kitchen and ensuite bathroom, as well as luxurious extras like underfloor heating to take the Southland chill off. What’s more, the Lakeside Motel & Apartments is literally across the road from the lake and its surrounding mountains. For more stays with decent kitchen facilities, check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Te Anau.

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7. Parklands Motel

Step into a classic-style Kiwi motel along with views of the mountains and Te Anau Memorial Gardens. While Parklands Motel might not win any style points (depending on who you are, of course), the price is hard to beat for a private room with breakfast-making facilities or a kitchenette. Queen and twin units are available, as well as ultra-affordable family rooms. The motel has all the usual facilities, including a communal kitchen, barbecue area, free limited WiFi, playground and car wash area. Interested in more motel stays? Check out the 20 Best Motels in Te Anau.

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8. Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers

Another fantastic hostel in Te Anau, Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers has dorms in glamping tents! That’s right, you can book a bed in one of the hostel’s large four-bed glamping tents or, you know, one of the standard but cheaper dorms in the main building. There are plenty of private rooms too, from cosy outdoor cabins to the hostel’s private double and triple rooms with the option of an ensuite bathroom. What’s more, the backpackers has a central location in town and communal facilities such as a movie room and indoor and outdoor kitchens.

Check Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers out:

9. Bella Vista Motel Te Anau

Bella Vista’s presence across New Zealand is also evident in Te Anau. Bella Vista Motel Te Anau is the closest motel to the town centre and offers a range of simplistically stylish rooms, from a budget “Compact Queen Studio” to the ultra-practical “One-Bedroom Apartment”. Most rooms are self-contained and three of the units have a spa bath. Facilities include free WiFi, a barbecue area and breakfast is available.

Check Bella Vista Motel Te Anau out:

10. Anchorage Motel Apartments

An environmentally-conscious motel with 14 units, Anchorage Motel Apartments is an excellent choice of cheap accommodation in Te Anau. As part of the Southland Sustainable Tourism Project, the motel has practices to conserve water and reduce energy and waste. All accommodation at the motel is self-contained including a “Studio” with a kitchenette, while the “One- and Two-Bedroom Units” have more space for groups and families. What’s more, some studios have a private cedar hot tub and double spa baths if you’re looking to treat yourself. As for the location, it is moments away from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre and the lakefront. For more couple-centric facilities like hot tubs, also check out the 10 Most Romantic Accommodations in Te Anau.

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11. Red Tussock Motel

A range of budgets is seen to at the Red Tussock Motel. The standard studios and “2-Bedroom Retro” are your most affordable options, offering something for couples up to groups of six guests. There are “Deluxe” options in the upgraded part of the property should you prefer. Whatever you choose, you’ll still have access to well-maintained and functional facilities like a kitchen/kitchenette, an ensuite, a heater and plenty of space to make yourself at home. The attractive gardens and units are just across the road from the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre and a 10-minute walk from the town centre.

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12. Fiordland Great Views Holiday Park

Stay in a holiday park just out of town at the Fiordland Great Views Holiday Park. The budget accommodation might be a 20-minute walk away from the town centre but that’s all part of the charm, especially with scenic walks available like the Lakeside Path (50 minutes). As well as expansive gardens and a relaxed atmosphere, the holiday park features ultra-affordable cabins with communal bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room and barbecues. Alternatively, upgrade to one of the self-contained motel studios.

Check Fiordland Great Views Holiday Park out:

13. Edgewater Motel

Located just mere moments away from the shores of Lake Te Anau, Edgewater Motel is a fine base for your Fiordland exploration. The motel offers motel units and apartments to suit a range of styles and budgets, but even budget travellers staying in the “Standard One Bedroom Unit” will benefit from fresh decor and a practical kitchenette. Units sleep one to four people. Guests can also make use of the free WiFi, free bike hire, an on-site barbecue, outdoor picnic area and more.

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14. Manapouri Lakeview Motor Inn (Manapouri)

Admittedly, this budget accommodation is not in Te Anau but is still worth considering. Manapouri Lakeview Motor Inn is a scenic 15km (9 miles) drive from Te Anau in the small town of Manapouri where trips to Doubtful Sound depart. As well as a convenient cafe/bar on site, the motor inn provides a good selection of budget accommodation, from “Unserviced Units” (i.e. if you stay more than one night they don’t get refreshed) to “Deluxe King Studios”. While there are no kitchen facilities, guests can use the communal barbecue, order breakfast and, of course, make use of the bar. Free WiFi and a playground are also available.

Check Manapouri Lakeview Motor Inn out:

15. Possum Lodge (Manapouri)

A unique location on an arm of land teetering between Lake Manapouri and the Waiau River, Possum Lodge offers a characterful stay for campers and budget travellers. The backpacker cabins, private cabins, motel units and campground are nestled in native forest where you can wind your way through to the sandy lakeshores. You have all of your usual shared hostel facilities, including a well-equipped kitchen, lounge and bathrooms, so there’s really no reason not to try this place out!

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More About Budget Accommodations in Te Anau

That’s it for our list of the best cheap budget accommodations in Te Anau. For more about planning an epic trip to this stunning corner of the world, check out more of our advice:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in our Southland Destination Guide.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.

Contact Laura via our contact page