Hostel Work
Stopping a while to work in backpacker's hostels is an ideal way to save a lot of money on accommodation and to meet lots of other travellers who are passing through.

Hostels in New Zealand are fantastic and many will hire backpackers as they attempt to cut costs themselves. Whether you want to be in the centre of all the action in a party town hostel or tucked away in the middle of nowhere in a small place with only a few beds - you will have plenty of choice.

Getting a job in a hostel can be all about timing, or all about preparation. Many hostels advertise on various websites and many others simply hire on word of mouth and ads they post on their own bulletin boards. Jobs will generally involve working as a cleaner, on reception, or a bit of both and some places will be in search of builders and handymen as they attempt to expand or fix up their places.

Reception jobs are a bit harder to come by as they involve more responsibility and probably a longer time committment than cleaning positions. Most hostel jobs I came across in my travels involved working only in exchange for accommodation, but every now and then I would hear about some lucky soul who was also given a wage. Typically this would involve many hours of work per day while working for accommodation only might only require 2-3 hours of work. If a hostel is really out in the boonies then chances are good that food may also be provided in exchange for 4-5 hours a day.