A Guide to Cheap Weekly Accommodation in Gisborne
Welcome to Gisborne, the laidback city of surf! It’s the first city in the world to see the new day thanks to its location on the international date line and with that, Gisborne sees plenty of sun for producing fruit for wine, ciders and more. Whether you can come out to the east coast for an extended visit or have decided to work here as part of your working holiday, you are going to need to find some cheap long-term accommodation in Gisborne.
Gisborne is a small city that is super easy to get around. With public transport and plenty of work opportunities, it’s the perfect place to stay awhile. As for short-term or weekly accommodation, there are limited but great choices for rentals, hostels, holiday parks and Airbnbs. Freedom camping is commonly accepted in Gisborne, but remember to read up on the restrictions below. You’ll find out about all the cheap stays in this guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Gisborne.
Which Gisborne Suburb to Find Long-Term Accommodation?
Gisborne is a small city with very little suburbs. This makes it super easy to get around. Gisborne even has its own public transport system, so make sure you look that up at Public Transport in Gisborne. For more about Gisborne, check out Gisborne – Guide for Backpackers.
Note: CBD refers to Central Business District i.e. Gisborne city centre.
- Gisborne Central – Location: city centre. Distance from CBD: you’re in it. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$220.
- Inner Kaiti – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 3min drive/20min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
- Kaiti – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 4min drive/40min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$200.
- Outer Kaiti – Location: east of CBD. Distance from CBD: 6min drive/45min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
- Mangapapa – Location: north of CBD. Distance from CBD: 6min drive/45min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$190.
- Te Hapara – Location: west of CBD. Distance from CBD: 5min drive/40min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$180.
- Whataupoko – Location: northeast of CBD. Distance from CBD: 4min drive/20min walk. Average weekly rent for a room: NZ$200.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
© NZPocketGuide.comHostels in Gisborne
Hostels are a good place to start when looking for cheap long-term accommodation in Gisborne. Not only do they provide an affordable base for rental-hunting but many also offer weekly rates.
With only two backpacker hostels in Gisborne, you have limited choice in this style of accommodation. Nevertheless, the hostels in Gisborne are within walking distance from the city centre, plus they have a great homely atmosphere. The two hostels in Gisborne are:
- Flying Nun Backpackers
- Haurata Backpackers
Because of the limited number of hostels in Gisborne, we recommend booking in advance, especially in the summer season. If you are picky about your room type in hostel accommodation, you should book in advance whatever the season.
Expect a night in a Gisborne hostel to be NZ$25-$30 per dorm-room bed per night. You can always keep the cost of living down along with an extended stay by working for accommodation in a Gisborne hostel. For tips, have a look at How to Find Work for Accommodation in New Zealand.
© Nik Lanús on UnsplashRenting a Room in Gisborne
If you are on a working holiday in New Zealand and have landed a job in Gisborne then renting a room is common practice to keep the price to a minimum for staying long-term.
Flatmate rental rates are on the rise, so expect room prices in Gisborne to be around NZ$190 per week. That’s a room to yourself in a flatshare or houseshare.
For advice on how to find a room to rent in Gisborne, have a look at our 6 Resources to Find a Room to Rent in New Zealand. We also recommend looking for rooms to rent in the Eastland Trader publication found in most convenience stores and gas stations.
Finally, renting a room involves a more complicated process than staying in short-term accommodation, so get clued up by reading The Paperwork Process of Renting or Flatting in New Zealand.
© Toa Heftiba on UnsplashAirbnb in Gisborne
Stay with a local in Gisborne! Airbnb, the online network of people’s spare rooms available for accommodation, is pretty popular in Gisborne, especially in Te Hapara, Inner Kaiti and Mangapapa.
Like hostels, Airbnb stays can provide a cheap room while finding something long term. Alternatively, some Airbnb hosts offer weekly rates for cheap long-term accommodation in Gisborne. Also, consider an Airbnb room for a more convenient suburban location and something different from the hostel or holiday park experience.
The average price for a room in Gisborne is around NZ$250 but there are still a few options between NZ$50 and $120 per night. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
For more information about Airbnb, check out Everything You Need to Know About Airbnb in New Zealand and 10 Tips to Make the Most of Airbnb in New Zealand.
© Brina Blum on UnsplashCampgrounds and Holiday Parks in Gisborne
Gisborne is a camper-friendly city. It welcomes both freedom camping (with some restrictions – read below) along with a range of commercial holiday parks to make use of the facilities.
Holiday Parks in Gisborne
For campervan powered sites and tent sites, check out the following holiday parks in Gisborne:
- Waikanae Beach Top 10 Holiday Park in the city centre has tent and powered sites from NZ$24 per person
- Showgrounds Park Motor Camp in Te Hapara has tent and powered sites from NZ$18 per person.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
Freedom Camping in Gisborne
Camping inside a certified self-contained vehicle can occur in the designated freedom camping spots in Gisborne:
- Kaiti Beach Car Park, Kaiti Road
- Midway Beach Surf Club Car Park, Centennial Marine Drive
- Bright Street Car Park
- Makorori Car Park
- Tokomaru Bay
The maximum time you can camp in a place is three days in a self-contained mobile home or caravan. When freedom camping, make sure you use your own amenities: toilet, shower, etc, and use public toilets, dump stations and dispose of rubbish responsibly.
See the latest rules and restrictions for freedom camping on the Gisborne District Council website, listed in Freedom Camping Rules in New Zealand: Region by Region. Plus, for information about camping, check out our guide to Camping in New Zealand and Accommodation Guide to Holiday Parks in New Zealand.
More About Gisborne
That’s it for our guide to cheap long-term accommodation in Gisborne. Here’s everything else you need to know about staying in Gisborne:
