10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins

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 and homestays are on the menu for budget accommodation 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 accommodation 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

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!

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10 Best Budget Accommodation in The Catlins

2. Thomas’s Catlins Lodge & Camp Ground

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.

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3. The Whistling Frog Resort

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 campervan powered sites and tent sites. The cheapest accommodation in 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 private bathroom and cooking facilities. There’s also a cafe/restaurant/bar on-site.

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4. Lazy Dolphin Lodge

In Curio Bay, Lazy Dolphin Lodge is in the heart of the wildlife action with common sightings of penguins, sea lions and dolphins in the area. The hostel has its own private beach access, plus all the essential facilities for a budget stay in the Catlins. Lazy Dolphin Lodge has private double, twin and family rooms, as well as one shared dorm room. Find rooms and communal areas split into two levels, which include a communal kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities. Plus, if you fall short on the food situation, they have a few supplies to purchase.

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5. Catlins Newhaven Holiday Park

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 like this in the 10 Best Family Accommodation in The Catlins.

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6. Mike & Jenny’s Kaka Point Accommodation

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.

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7. Catlins Inn

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 is located in Owaka.

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8. Catlins Area Motel

Alternatively in Owaka, check out the Catlins Area Motel. 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, 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.

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Catlins Area Motel on Booking.com

9. Hilltop Accommodation Catlins

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.

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10. Tram Track Retreat

Finally, 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 native forest. It is also a short stroll from the beach.