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10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins
10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins

12 Best Budget Accommodations in The Catlins 🛌🏼 [2023]

© The Whistling Frog Resort

Where to Find Cheap Accommodation in The Catlins

In theme with The Catlins‘ myriad of free waterfalls, beaches, wildlife encounters, caves, blowholes, etc. the coastal region also has a generous offering of cheap accommodation. Backpacker lodges, holiday parks, hotels, humble units, motels, campgrounds and homestays are on the menu for budget accommodations in The Catlins, so all you have to do is take your pick of the stay that suits your style and taste. Check out your options on this list of the best cheap accommodations in The Catlins!

For more budget accommodation in The Catlins, as well as budget advice and things to do, check out The Guide to The Catlins on a Budget and the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in The Catlins.

1. Surat Bay Lodge (Newhaven)

A friendly backpacker hostel on the sea lion-scattered waterfront of Surat Bay, Surat Bay Lodge offers cheap accommodation with a sea view. Choose from vibrantly decorated private double, twin and family rooms or an eight-bed mixed dorm room. Shared facilities include a lounge and dining area, bathrooms, a well-equipped kitchen with tea, coffee and hot chocolate, a barbecue area and a beach-facing garden with furniture to relax and enjoy the views. The hostel offers binoculars for wildlife viewing – a nice touch!

Check Surat Bay Lodge out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Surat Bay Lodge

2. The Whistling Frog Resort (Chaslands)

A holiday park on the way to McLean Falls and Cathedral Caves, The Whistling Frog Resort offers budget accommodation in The Catlins, as well as powered sites and tent sites. The cheapest accommodation is the cabins with either a double or twin bed set-up and uses the communal facilities of a kitchen and bathrooms shared with campers and fellow cabin-dwellers. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the motel rooms with either a double or triple set-up with a private bathroom and cooking facilities. There’s also a cafe/restaurant/bar on-site! Plus, find more places to camp in A Guide to Camping in the Catlins.

Check The Whistling Frog Resort out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© The Whistling Frog Resort

3. Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park (Newhaven)

You’re only steps away from the beach of Surat Bay when staying at the Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park. Here, you’ll find some of the most affordable self-contained units and basic cabins in the area, as well as tent sites and powered sites. The colourful self-contained units have essential facilities at your fingertips, like a bathroom and kitchenette, while those staying in the cabins or camping can make use of the communal amenities building with a kitchen and bathrooms with coin-operated (NZ$2) showers. See more family-friendly stays like this in the 10 Best Family Accommodations in The Catlins.

Check Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park

4. Mike & Jenny’s Kaka Point Accommodation (Kaka Point)

There are two self-contained units to choose from at Mike & Jenny’s Kaka Point Accommodation: a budget unit and a deluxe unit. The former is your cheap-and-cheerful stay, a compact studio with a microwave and breakfast-making facilities and old-school yet well-kept furnishing. Upgrade to the deluxe and you have a more modern and spacious unit with a full kitchen. Either way, units feature excellent beach and ocean views.

Check Mike & Jenny’s Kaka Point Accommodation out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Mike & Jenny’s Kaka Point Accommodation

5. Lawfield B&B (Glenomaru/Ahuriri)

Cosy up in this small self-contained cabin with a private deck at Lawfield B&B. Wake up to a continental breakfast provided in your kitchenette with a microwave and breakfast-making facilities, as well as a barbecue on request. The small cabin with its contemporary interiors basks in stunning countryside views from its perched position on a lifestyle block. Join your host to feed the chickens, sheep, pigs, cats and dogs, if you choose. For more stays ideal for couples, check out the 7 Best Romantic Accommodations in The Catlins.

Check Lawfield B&B out:

10 Best Budget Accommodations in The Catlins 🛌🏼 [2023]© Lawfield B&B

6. Catlins Area Motel (Owaka)

Located in The Catlin’s main town, Owaka, the Catlins Area Motel is well worth considering. The motel offers a selection of affordable apartments surrounding a picturesque garden. Every apartment fits up to four guests across a double bed, a single bed and a sofa bed, making it ideal for couples up to families. Units feature a spacious kitchen with a stovetop, a large bathroom with a shower, laundry facilities and more. There’s also free WiFi! See more accommodation like this in the 10 Best Motels in The Catlins.

Check Catlins Area Motel out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Catlins Area Motel

7. Bates’ Beach (Kaka Point)

For that “Airbnb” vibe, stay at the Bates’ Beach studio on the outskirts of Kaka Point. This affordable studio for couples or solo travellers is modernly refurbished with an ensuite shower and a kitchenette set for making breakfast. You’ll no doubt will be greeted by a friendly dog on arrival, while your hosts, Natalie and Norm, own the local Catlins Brewery and can arrange to give you a tour.

Check Bates’ Beach out:

10 Best Budget Accommodations in The Catlins 🛌🏼 [2023]© Bates' Beach

8. Catlins Inn (Owaka)

The Catlins Inn is not only the local pub but hosts three affordable hotel rooms, a three-bedroom suite and overnight parking for campervans. Rooms are pretty basic with limited facilities, but still are comfortable and feature tea/coffee-making facilities and an ensuite. The accommodation offers free WiFi and has a restaurant and bar on-site. Find the hotel located in Owaka.

Check Catlins Inn out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Catlins Inn

9. Thomas’s Catlins Lodge & Camp Ground (Owaka)

Set in a 100-year-old hospital building, Thomas’s Catlins Lodge & Camp Ground certainly offers one of the more unique accommodation offerings in The Catlins. Even some of the beds are hospital-style beds! Rooms range from four-bed dorms to private ensuite rooms. Campers are also welcome with powered and non-powered sites available. As well as kitchen and lounge facilities, the lodge has a games room, free WiFi and possibly a few ghosts. See more like this in the 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in The Catlins.

Check Thomas’s Catlins Lodge out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Thomas’s Catlins Lodge & Camp Ground

10. Waikawa House (Waikawa)

An affordable holiday home for groups, Waikawa House boasts a private abode with plenty of space. Located on the way to Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay, the three-bedroom holiday home is well-positioned to explore several of The Catlins attractions. Enjoy a modern kitchen, laundry machines, extensive gardens, games, books and DVDs all included in your stay. The sleeping arrangements consist of two queen beds, a bunk bed and a double sofa bed. See more accommodation like this in the 10 Best Holiday Homes in The Catlins.

Check Waikawa House out:

10 Best Budget Accommodations in The Catlins 🛌🏼 [2023]© Waikawa House

11. Tram Track Retreat (Papatowai)

This affordable homestay in Papatowai is also worth considering. Choose from either a triple room or a room with a sofa bed at Tram Track Retreat with a homely open-plan lounge and kitchen, as well as an expansive deck to share with your host and fellow travellers. The budget accommodation is named after an old tram track that you can use to walk through the native forest. It is also a short stroll from the beach.

Check Tram Track Retreat out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Tram Track Retreat

12. Hilltop Accommodation Catlins (Papatowai)

Finally, two holiday homes on the hilltop of Papatowai, Hilltop Accommodation Catlins offers accommodation for budget travellers by hiring out individual rooms in the holiday homes when they are available. There are options for private double rooms with an ensuite, double, single and twin rooms with shared facilities or the option to pay for just the one bed in a twin room. The homely farm cottages have all the usual kitchen and bathroom facilities, while the gardens boast beautiful views of the coast.

Check Hilltop Accommodation Catlins out:

10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins© Hilltop Accommodation Catlins

More About Budget Accommodations in The Catlins

That’s it for our list of the best cheap budget accommodations in The Catlins. For more Catlins talk, including what to do and where to stay, take a look at these awesome guides:

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

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

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