6 Best Backpacker Hostels in the Coromandel 🎒 [2024]

Where to Find Hostels in the Coromandel for Backpackers

One of the top beach paradise destinations in New Zealand has to be the Coromandel Peninsula! However, you don’t have to be loaded to enjoy it. There are plenty of backpacker hostels in the Coromandel spread among the towns so make the most of them and save some cents on accommodation.

Hostels can be found in the towns of Thames, Coromandel Town, Hahei, Whitianga and Whangamata. We’ve also added a holiday park to this list as an alternative option for backpackers. Find a more extensive list of holiday parks, as well as things to do, in The Coromandel – Guide for Backpackers.

1. Surf N Stay (Whangamata)

Surf N Stay is not just a backpackers in Whangamata but they also run a surf school. Your stay in Whangamata will be sorted, as they do kayak and surfboard hire. Meanwhile, the hostel has a beachy theme with loads of awesome places to hang out inside and out. Accommodation includes dorms and double and single rooms. These guys also rank in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in the Coromandel.

Check Surf N Stay out:

6 Best Backpacker Hostels in the Coromandel 🎒 [2023]

2. Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park (Hahei)

Hear us out; this attractive accommodation is not just a holiday park, but it also has its own backpacker hostel. Just a short stroll from Hot Water Beach and a short drive to Hahei, the Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park offers some fantastic options for budget travellers and backpackers. They have modern amenities blocks with communal kitchens, shower rooms (on five-minute timers), and surfboard, bodyboard, go-kart, bike and spade hire. For more stays with kitchen facilities, check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in the Coromandel.

Check Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park out:

5 Best Backpacker Hostels in The Coromandel 🎒 [2023]

3. Tui Lodge (Coromandel Town)

It’s all about the garden at Tui Lodge, as you’ll never want to leave this outdoor haven with a gazebo and surrounded by native trees. Facilities include a sauna, barbecue and trampoline. Of course, there are all the essential backpacker facilities on the inside too with dorm rooms and private rooms. Plus, camping is welcome. This hostel is situated in Coromandel Town. For more lodge-style stays, check out the 10 Best Boutique Accommodations in the Coromandel.

Check Tui Lodge out:

4. Tidewater Motel & Tourist Park (Coromandel Town)

More dorm beds can be found at the Tidewater Motel & Tourist Park. The holiday park-style accommodation features all the usual campsites, as well as male and female dorm rooms. If you don’t want to split from your group due to your gender, there are very affordable cabins too. Communal bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen and a barbecue area are also available. The low-key holiday park is just a two-minute walk from Coromandel Town centre.

Check Tidewater Motel & Tourist Park out:

5. Coromandel TOP 10 Holiday Park (Coromandel Town)

As alternative backpacker accommodation in the Coromandel, try the Coromandel Top 10 Holiday Park. Stay in cabins or make use of the powered and tent sites for campers in this large holiday park in Coromandel Town. There are communal facilities also, such as a kitchen, while the added extras like a swimming pool upgrade the hostel experience. If you’re new to holiday parks, check out our Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.

Check Coromandel TOP 10 Holiday Park out:

Theta 360 Loading...

6. Tatahi Cove (Hahei)

Formerly the Tatahi Backpackers, Tatahi Cove has changed its style to an affordable lodge in Hahei, the closest town to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. The accommodation includes free use of spades for Hot Water Beach, free use of bikes, games for the beach, and a herb garden. They still have all the other communal facilities expected in a hostel, such as a kitchen and a lounge. Rooms consist of private double, king, triple and quad rooms; particularly affordable for groups. For alternative stays for groups, particularly families, take a look at the 11 Best Family Accommodations in The Coromandel.

Check Tatahi Cove out:

[CLOSED] On the Beach Backpackers Lodge

Stay on the beachfront of Whitianga in the On the Beach Backpackers. This cool and colourful hostel gives you lots of opportunities to feel the sea breeze with a spacious barbecue and outdoor areas. The hostel has all the essential facilities for backpackers, as well as free kayaks, bodyboards and spades for digging at Hot Water Beach.

More About Backpacker Hostels in the Coromandel

That’s it for our list of backpacker hostels in the Coromandel, including in Whitianga, Thames, Hahei, Coromandel Town and Whangamata. For more backpacker options, as well as things to do, check these out:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Coromandel – Guide for Backpackers.

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.

Contact Robin About Our Team