By far the most common form of backpacker accomodation is the Hostel, and New Zealand has an excellent network of hostels - one of the worlds best. Hostels are cheap, good places to meet fellow backpackers and pretty easy to get into (high season an exeption in some areas). The biggest have bars and people who live there for months, right down to the smallest hostels with a few beds and farmstays.
Room Types

Hostels usually supply a range of accomodation types:

• Dorm beds - 4+ beds / bunks in a single room
• Double rooms
• Twin Rooms
• Single rooms
• Camping - some rural hostels will let you pitch up outside for a fee

Some hostels have other types of room available - check on the many websites before you book.

Dorms are where most backpackers on their own end up - its a great way of meeting people, and most importantly its the cheapest type of accomodation! Dorms are sometimes single sex, and often mixed - many hostels have both types of dorm.

Hostels also provide washing, cooking, bathing facilities, and many have internet access, TV etc etc. Check the individual hostels websites / listings for the full lowdown.

Hostel Orgainisations 

There are several chains of hostels in New Zealand:

• BBH (Budget Backpacker Hostels) - 325 hostels
• VIP (VIP Backpacker Resorts) - 80 Hostels (but big in Oz)
• YHA (Youth Hostel Association)- 60 Hostels

There are also some Nomad Backpackers and many Independent Hostels around. Each chain offers a discount card - BBH charge $45 for discounts of $1 to $4, VIP charge $39 for $1 discount (Covers Oz / NZ) and YHA membership is $40 for $3 discounts. If you have a YHA card from your home country that works as well. Most people would do well to buy the BBH card first, and perhaps the VIP if you are planning on moving onto Oz. Both these cards can yeaild good discounts on things like bus travel etc - often paying the price of the card back straight away.