[suzer]

What are the best places to search out for flats---areas/rental agencies/newspapers?

Also, can anyone recommend a good hostel for a week or two in the meantime?

Thanks:)
Suzer

[sarahw]

Newspaper (Dominion Post Wed & Saturday) is usually the best (get it early & phone places straight away) but also try Trademe properties in rentals.

If you're wanting to be central in the city then Courtenay/Cuba or Te Aro areas would probably suit. Otherwise if you don't mind a walk or to be in a less busy area then around the area near the beehive would be quite nice - the Terrace/Lambton/Thorndon areas would probably be good. Likely bit more spendy though. If budget no object then Oriental Bay v. nice (but we're talking in the millions to buy! Out of most people's budgets).

There are quite a few hostels - the YHA is very central & I have heard good reports:
http://www.wellingtonnz.com/Accommodation/YHAWellingtonCity/default.htm

Downtown Backpackers
http://www.wellingtonnz.com/Accommodation/Downtown+Backpackers/Downtown+Backpackers.htm

Nomads Capital
http://www.wellingtonnz.com/Accommodation/NomadsCapital/default.htm

Wellywood
http://www.wellingtonnz.com/Accommodation/Wellywood+Backpackers/Wellywood+Backpackers.htm

Base
http://www.wellingtonnz.com/Accommodation/baseBackpackers/default.htm

I haven't stayed in any of them & the only one I've known friends stay at is YHA but I'm sure all the others are pretty good - some of them have 5 stars so would assume they are pretty nice!

Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!

[veronica]

have a look at the bbh.co.nz website. that lists hostels by area and gives a rating and prices for each. Give it another month or so and they may introduce longterm winter rates too.

[anna_c]

Hostels - I've stayed in three:

Wildlife House - pretty mediocre but cheap and adequate
YHA - best facilities, but does have a time limit on stays. I found it impersonal and hard to meet people there.
World Wide - I liked this best for the atmosphere - very friendly, a lot of medium term residents. Not as good as some in terms of facilities but no complaints.

I work for the university and if arriving students want temporary accomodation we book them into Nomads Capital City - very clean, modern and central with good facilities, and they all seem to like it, although again somewhat large and impersonal.

[suzer]

thanks for all the good suggestions. i have looked at a few of these and will look into it further.

suzer

[wanderingoregonian]

trademe has flats posted as well.... but you have to have a local phone number/addy to register. No problem if you are doing a couple weeks in hostels, but from overseas you'd have to find a local (i.e., a friend from the board you trust) willing to share an account or make enquires on your behalf. We got our flat that way and are really happy with it as we're dealing directly with the owners who are also living nearby - skipped the middle men all together which is they way I prefer it.

[beano_bill]

Morning,

We're currently staying at Webb Street Backpackers which is, um, er, nice..... Seriously, its serves its purpose, is clean and we get free breakfast & car parking. We are currently looking for an appartment and went into the Southern Cross building, really nice but too steep for our budget ($310 / week) as we haven't found work yet :( but it does come with free broadband & local calls. Sarahw has some good advice - we found the Wednesday paper really good & trademe has some good listings too.

As an aside, we walked to Oriental Bay yesterday arvo (gorgeous wasn't it??) and found lots on the front that looked absolutely lovely - there's even one there for rent. Don't think the heart would stand seeing how much though!

[beano_bill]

Just thought, if you go into the info centre next to the library there are a number of leaftlets for serviced apartments.

Beano