Travelling soon - any advice if hostels accept cards in New Zealand or I have to give them cash
From Auckland to Dunedin, every hostel I stayed at accepted card payments. Even when I booked last minute, they processed card at check-in. I’d say New Zealand is fully card-friendly, so you don’t need to stress about cash for accommodation. Just keep a little for rural buses or parking meters.
I was worried about cash but didn’t end up needing much. Even smaller hostels in Rotorua and Taupo had no issues charging my Mastercard. The only time I had to use cash was at a farmer’s market in Wanaka. For hostels, card acceptance is nearly universal.
In Queenstown, I tapped my card for everything, from hostels to shuttles. Hostels like Adventure Queenstown Backpackers and Absoloot Hostel accepted card with no extra charge. You’ll only really need coins for laundry machines or maybe a few rural campsites. Otherwise, card is standard.
New Zealand is one of the easiest countries I’ve traveled for payments. Hostels across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch all took cards. I stayed at YHA, Haka Lodge, and some independent hostels and never once needed cash for the bed.