Nau mai – welcome – to the absolute best hostels in Wellington, New Zealand.
You may not know that Wellington is actually the capital of New Zealand. Many people mistake it for Auckland because it happens to be the largest city in the North Island.
Wellington is a surprisingly green city, with a lovely waterfront promenade and great attractions.
If you’re on your way to/from the South Island, we highly recommend spending a night or two in this city.
Your shortcut:
- The Dwellington – 5 Star Hostel
- The Marion Hostel – perfect for solo travellers
- Trek Global Backpackers – ideal for backpackers
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The overall design and amenities offered in these hostels is impressive. There are plenty of social activities to join and luxurious dorms to sleep in.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when …
- tired of bad and crappy hostels
- want to avoid the “young party kids”
- happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience
Honestly: We personally prefer Wellington to Auckland. It felt a lot more open and in touch with nature. If you have a short time in the North Island and would like to experience city life, we recommend heading to Wellington. Auckland just feels like any other city in the world with a huge focus on business and a fast paced lifestyle.
Here are all the 34 best hostels in New Zealand.
What we cover in this article?
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- cheapest hostels in Wellington
- best hostels in Wellington for solo travellers
- fun party hostels in Wellington
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- Flights
- FAQs
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Wellington
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Wellington cost 13€ – 17€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 39€ up to 60€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend reading:
- how to book hostels (and websites to use)
- 23 items for the hostel packing list
- Are hostels safe? 13 safety tips for hostels
The 3 Best Hostels in Wellington
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Wellington.
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | The Marion |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | The Dwellington |
| 👫 For Socializing: | Nomads Capital Backpackers |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | The Marion |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | The Dwellington |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | The Dwellington |
| 🎒 For Backpackers: | Trek Global Backpackers |
1. The Dwellington
When it comes to the coolest hostel in Wellington, The Dwellington sits strongly in the #1 position. It is a 5 star hostel, after all!
This is where style, cosy vibes and that homely feel blend together to create a luxurious and affordable backpackers hostel.
Whilst it may not be the cheapest hostel, we can say with some confidence that it’s well worth the extra few dollars.
Over half of the property has been dedicated to awesome common areas to ensure travellers have the optimum chance of meeting each other.
These spaces include:
- State-of-the-art cinema room w/Netflix
- Games room
- Outdoor spaces + BBQ area
In the kitchen there is an impressive 5 meter long redwood dining table overlooking the tennis courts. It’s perfect for sharing meals with new friends, sipping coffee or catching up with some work.
Extras: Free breakfast, fresh towels on demand, free parking & unlimited high-speed fibre free Wifi.
Believe it or not, it doesn’t stop there – the bedrooms are something to write home about, too.
There’s a wonderful selection: private double’s, twins, triples, family rooms & mixed/female dorms.
They’ve all been designed in a way that resembles a familiar house vibe, with sturdy wooden bunks and colourful decor. The private rooms are particularly spacious.
One of our team members, Amy, visited and wrote an honest full review of The Dwellington – check it our for even more reasons to book.
Speak with the staff about sorting out a free shuttle service to the ferry terminal.
Location: Situated in the historical suburb of Thorndon. There’s a handy supermarket a few minute walk away, and the bus station and train depot can be reached on foot in 10-minutes.
This is one of the best hostels in Wellington for
- Female solo travellers
- Older travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Full Review | Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. The Marion Hostel
Coming in a close second is the newest hostel accommodation in Wellington set within the walls of a beautiful historical building. Welcome to The Marion.
We love the blend of historic structure and modern amenities – it has been done with style and is not too try-hard.
There’s plenty of space to spread out in here, with an option of keeping to yourself or socialising with other guests depending on how you feel.
Opt for a cosy 4-bed dorm, or book the more sociable 10-bed mixed dorm option. Either way, all beds come with a privacy curtain and sturdy wooden bunks that support personal, relaxed space.
Otherwise, you might prefer a private double room which comes with a queen sized bed.
Drop your bags and check out the great common areas:
- Rooftop terrace overlooking Cuba Street
- Outdoor spaces
- Modern kitchen w/seating areas
- Sofa room
Looking for work? The staff offer free CV checks and interview prep for their guests! They can also support you in your job hunt.
Note: Short and long term stay is available at this hostel.
We have to mention the showers as they are super fancy for hostel standards. It’s no wonder one guest described it as “it’s like staying in a luxury apartment”.
Location: Right in the heart of Wellington city centre, near Cuba Street and Courtenay Place. This is where cultural and bohemian life is happening, with many of the main attractions within easy walking distance.
This is one of the best hostels in Wellington for
- Solo travellers
- Couples
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Trek Global Backpackers
Welcome to a fun, friendly backpackers in the heart of Wellington – Trek Global Backpackers!
It’s a really cool place in terms of meeting plenty of other travellers and having a flow of entertainment opportunities.
” Whether you are flying solo or travelling with friends our aim at Trek Global is to provide you with a memorable Wellington experience whilst giving you a homely and friendly base to explore from.”
Let’s jump straight in and have a look at some of the perks:
- FREE in-house activities
- Bicycle hire
- Pool table & foosball
- Large common area w/ beanbags, sofas & books
Whilst this hostel is largely made up of shared dorms, there are also a couple of private rooms on offer if you fancy having some space to yourself.
Psst! There’s even a twin dorm set aside especially for female travellers.
No matter where you are in the property, FREE high-speed Wifi will follow you everywhere!
If you’re travelling by car, make sure you ask the staff if there is availability in their limited car parking space. There’s a $25 per night fee.
Location: An easy 10-minute walk from Wellington CBD and Wellington waterfront. All of the best sights are within easy reach from here!
This is one of the best hostels in Wellington for
- Backpackers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about cheapest hostels in Wellington?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels.
We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.
Why?
The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.
However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Wellington.
- Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Wellington
- Order the listing by price
Simple as that.
Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels
Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.
Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.
Looking for Wellington hotels? There are a couple of recommendations we have that offer both private and shared rooms:
- Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers – great common areas
- Cambridge Hotel & Backpackers – budget stay & cozy
Best Hostels in Wellington for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Wellington for solo-travellers?
Well, being a major city, it’s no surprise that all of the hostels in Wellington are good for solo travellers in one way or another.
Let’s keep it simple and give you an overview:
- Best hostel for female solo travellers: The Dwellington
- Best hostel for solo travellers looking for luxury: The Marion
- Best hostel for solo backpackers: Trek Global Backpackers
- Best hostel for sociable solo travellers: Trek Global Backpackers
- Best hostel for older solo travellers: The Dwellington
Of course, we’ll always go with our #1 hostel, The Dwellington. We highlight this as a top place for female solo travellers because of the female dorms, but actually, all solo travellers can enjoy the perks of this gorgeous 5 star hostel.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Party Hostels in Wellington
Alright party lovers and fun seekers, shall we have a look at the best party hostels in Wellington?
We actually have some sad news.
The popular Base Backpackers Wellington hostel has permanently closed its doors. However! This hostel chain still has great Base hostels across the country (as well as Australia).
In fact, you can find out more about Base Queenstown in our guide to the best hostels in Queenstown.
To shed some sun rays on the disappointment, we’d like to mention Trek Global Backpackers Wellington here.
Whilst this isn’t technically a party hostel, there are certainly fun times to be had thanks to the FREE in-house activities.
The games area, with free pool and foosball, is a great place to meet new faces and show off your skills. Then there’s the BBQ area and outside patios.
Note: There is an 11pm alcohol and noise curfew.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
As a second option, you could also consider staying at Nomads Capital Backpackers.
Whilst the rooms are very basic, the atmosphere sure makes up for it if you’re keen to socialise and enjoy an on-site bar.
A free dinner is also included!
At the bar is where you can enjoy really good drinks and meal deals everyday, plus nightly activities to help breaking the ice even easier.
Bonus: All rooms include security card access and reception is open 24/7.
The fantastic nightlife just around the corner means you can continue the party when Nomads Capital Wellington starts to quieten down.
Compare prices and check availability at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
How to book?
We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.
Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.
Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Here is the overview:
- The Dwellington Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- The Marion Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Trek Global Backpackers: Booking.com | Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!
All of Wellington best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
Any Discounts?
Currently, we have no special hostel discounts in Wellington. I know, it’s a pity. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.
All 3 Hostels put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Wellington hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
- Te Papa Museum
- Wellington Cable Car
- Zealandia >>> AWESOME!
- Wellington Botanic Garden
- Cuba Street
Note: Zealandia is well worth a visit. It’s a big place so we suggest allowing for at least half a day, if not a full one.
Flights to Wellington?
We enjoy Skyscanner, Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Wellington.
This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Oceania and find the cheapest rates for the area.
Here is our review of Kiwi.
Also, make sure you sort out travel insurance before landing in New Zealand, especially if you’re looking to get involved in come extreme sports.
FAQs about Wellington & New Zealand
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
What are some accommodation and public transport options in Auckland and Wellington?
The best and top accommodation options in Wellington are:
- The Dwellington - 5 star hostel
- The Marion Hostel - best for female solo travellers
- YHA Wellington - top pick for families
Public transport options in Wellington include electric buses, commuter trains, ferries and funicular. It’s also super easy to explore the city on foot.
As for Auckland? Check out our full guide to the best hostels in Auckland for more information.
Can we get work easily in New Zealand?
This depends on many factors, really! In regard to staying in Wellington and finding work, we recommend staying with The Marion Hostel. They offer long-term stay and free support in finding work.
What are the best smaller towns and cities to visit in New Zealand?
Hop on over to our epic guide the best hostels in New Zealand which includes all of the must-see destinations across the country, including smaller towns and cities.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Wellington.
Here again are the absolute BEST New Zealand Hostels + insider tips.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels in Auckland
- best hostels in Queenstown
- best hostels in Christchurch
- best hostels in Wanaka
- best hostels in Nelson
- best hostels in Paihia
- best hostels in Taupo
- best hostels in Napier
- 37 BEST hostels in Australia
- best hostels in Fiji
You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.
Over to you
Well there you have it – which hostel Wellington will you choose to stay in?
Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?
Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Wellington hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.
Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.
Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.
At Hostelgeeks we will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. Our promise is to only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!
Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.
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CLOSED: YHA Wellington
Update: Our former #3 hostel has sadly closed its doors. We keep this content here for your information.
The YHA Wellington is the kind of hostel that accommodates a range of traveller types comfortably.
That’s because of the wide choice of rooms, spacious layout and handy location of the property. The overall atmosphere is sociable yet not OTT.
“This is everything an urban hostel should be!”
It’s easily a good place to base yourself if you want affordable accommodation, yet have lots of plans of your own.
Here are the room choices:
- 4, 6 and 8-bed mixed dorms
- 4-bed female dorm w/private bathroom
- Single room (shared bathroom)
- Twin room
- Double room / Queen room
- Family room (sleeps 6 people)
Some of the mixed dorms also come with private bathrooms, so make sure you book the correct one.
The huge common kitchen is a wonderful opportunity to save even more money and cook for yourself. Otherwise, enjoy good restaurants within easy walking distance.
Looking for student hostels Wellington? We’d say YHA is the best hostel for supporting students because of the amenities and location.
Location: Within easy walking distance of attractive bars, shops and theatres on Courtenay Place. It’s also easy to access the waterfront and Te Papa Museum.
Best Travel Websites we recommend ❤️
(Fresh Update 2023)
Booking Hostels and Discounts 👏👏👏
As a user of Hostelgeeks, you also have access to exclusive hostel discounts. For booking hostels, we use:
- Hostelz.com - hostel price comparison
- Hostelworld
We recommend installing the Hostelworld App. It is very useful!
How to find cheaper Flights ✈️
The first websites we always check are Skyscanner and Google Flights.
Find our step-by-step process in our review about Skyscanner.
Travel Insurance made easy 🤒
We are currently using Safetywing and Hey Mondo. We wrote detailed guides about these insurances:
- Our review of Safetywing, compared to others
- a detailed review of HeyMondo Travel Insurance
Smartest Travel Tools you need to know 🤓
- Onward Ticket - get a proof for onward travel
- iVisa - get your visa online fast
- Get Your Guide - for activities and sightseeing tickets
- Omio.com - for all types of transport
Find all our recommended travel tools and websites here.
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