Women Travellers

The following is a list of women only tours, retreats and accommodation (female only dormitories in hostels and one women only guest house). There's also links to some women specific travel books and websites. Let's support our sisters, many of them are doin' it for themselves .....

What's New? in the process of update 2013

Tours

Women's Adventures NZ
www.lifeforcecoach.co.nz
Women's Adventures NZ is based in Auckland and organises one day activities, weekend trips and longer adventures, visit the website to see what's coming up next.

Towanda Women Motorcycle Tours Ltd
www.towanda.org
Motorcycle tours for women by women. All motorcycles are hired from leading rental firms (or you can take your own) so you should be able to ride your motorcycle of choice. Subscribe to the newsletter if you would like to keep up to date with what's new. Women motorcyclists might also be interested in contacting the NZ division of Women's International Motorcycling Association.

Driftwood Dreamers
www.driftwooddreamers.com
Visit an active volcano, stay at Mermaid Guesthouse in Wellington and sea kayak around Kenepuru Sound with Driftwood Dreamers. Trips and dates.

Venus Adventures - Global Trips for Women
www.venusadventures.travel
Venus Adventures has an office in Motueka and they specialise in small group women only holidays. They organise short breaks in NZ including sea kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park. Overseas destinations include Turkey, Morocco and Egypt. They will design customised tours if you are part of a group of women who would like to plan a unique adventure.

Trekking Adventures
www.trekkingadventures.co.nz
Trekking Adventures (formerly Trekking 4 Women Ltd) now offers trips for both men and women. Some women only trips are offered like the trekking and cycling tours in the South Island. International destinations include Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Tanzania and Egypt.

Bushwise Women
www.bushwise.co.nz
In 2013 international destinations like Turkey, Greece and Wales are on the calendar. Trips closer to home for women can include sea kayaking in the Bay of Islands.

Retreats/Surf Lessons/Outdoor Adventure

Heartistry, Auckland
Scrap booking events including an indulgent retreat and a 2014 scrapbooking cruise.

Surf Dames, Whale Bay, Raglan
www.surfdames.co.nz
Surf Dames is a women's only surfing and spa retreat - learn to surf (3 - 4 hour lesson, surf board and wet suit provided, $99). Also check out the luxury surf camps and retreat packages. If you would like to organise a hen party with a difference or create your own retreat package, get in touch with the Surf Dames on 07 825 SURF (7873).

Hibiscus, Mt Maunganui
www.surfschool.co.nz
Hibiscus organise hens surf parties (and bachelor surf parties), a surf photographer can be on hand to snap some surfing shots. Private surf lessons are also offered.

Outdoor Pursuits Centre, Tongariro
www.opc.org.nz
Join a two day Ladies Adventure Weekend - activities may include canoeing, caving, rock climbing and abseilling. From $370, includes two nights accommodation, meals and activities. (NZ Herald article). OPC also hosts Father Son Adventure Weekends.

General

Wonder Walkers
www.wonderwalkers.co.nz
A website for women who want to walk - find walking routes, walking groups and keep an online walk diary.

Frocks on Bikes
www.frocksonbikes.wordpress.com
Flocks of frocks pedal their way around many towns in NZ. Look out for events in Frocktober.

Women's Lifestyle Expo
www.expos.co.nz
Each year the Women's Lifestyle Expo is held in around eight cities throughout the country, visit the website for dates and details.

Red Hat Society
www.redhatsociety.com
An international society of women, usually aged over 50, who ofcourse wear red hats. Simply the Best is a chapter in Picton and Precious Pearls are in Taranaki.

Accommodation

Women Travel NZ is an online resource for women travelling in NZ, it includes a list of over 20 accommodation options owned and operated by lesbians. For those looking for women's hostels outside NZ Hostelbookers has compiled a list of the Top 10 Women's Hostels around the world.

Find reviews for the accommodation options below on Trip Advisor, HostelWorld.com, BBH or all the other review sites on the world wide web if you're so inclined.

North Island
Base Backpackers are in New Zealand and Australia. Some Base Backpackers have what they call sanctuary dorms - exclusively for the girls who want some extra comforts on their backpacking travels. Two examples are Base Bay of Islands, 18 Kings Road, Paihia (Trip Advisor reviews) and Base Auckland, Level 3, 229 Queen Street (Trip Advisor reviews). See other Base locations.

Nomads are another backpacker/flashpacker chain that have women only accommodation. Two Auckland hostels with separate female dorms are Nomads Auckland Backpacker Hostel and Nomads Fat Camel Backpackers Hostel. In Wellington see Nomads Capital Backpacker Hostel. (See below for Nomads Queenstown).

Turtle Cove Accommodation, 14 Bryce Street, Whitianga
www.turtlecove.co.nz
Hire a bike and borrow a spade for free to take to Hot Water Beach. There are separate male and female bathrooms and dorms. (Top Trip Advisor reviews).

Loft 109 Backpackers, 109 Devonport Road, Tauranga
www.loft109.co.nz
Located in up town Tauranga, Loft 109 is a short walk from the cinema and cafes. If you're looking for seasonal work they will give you a helping hand and weekly rates may be available for long term stays. Stay in the six bed female dorm from $25. (Trip Advisor reviews).

Crash Palace Backpackers Rotorua, 1271 Hinemaru Street, Rotorua
Trip Advisor reviews are positive for Crash Palace - book a bed in a female dorm from $30.

Tiki Lodge, 104 Tuwharetoa Street, Taupo
www.tikilodge.co.nz
You can book a bed in a female only dorm at modern Tiki Lodge from $27 per night. Family and ensuite rooms are also available. Relax in the outdoor spa, enjoy the views over the lake and Central Plateau and take a short walk to down town. (Trip Advisor reviews).

Barnacles Seaside Inn, 3 Marine Parade, Paraparaumu Beach
www.seasideyha.co.nz
Enjoy the beach life at Barnacles, around an hour north of Wellington. Boat trips to Kapiti Island can be arranged. Book a bed in a four bed women only dorm from $29.

The Mermaid Guest House for Women, 1 Epuni Street, Aro Valley, Wellington
www.mermaid.co.nz
It looks like you will get a very pleasant nights sleep in the lovely rooms at Mermaid. Stay in the Bengali Room from $90 single. Luxurious robes, towels and soap are standard issue. There's a guest kitchen, a deck for relaxing and wireless Internet is free if you have your own lap top. (Trip Advisor reviews).

Trek Global Backpacker, 9 O'Reily Avenue, Te Aro, Wellington
www.trekglobal.net
Trek have a girls only floor - "The Retreat". Designer toiletries and free use of hair straighteners and hair dryers are included in the rate, from $26. (Trip Advisor reviews).

South Island
Hat Trick Lodge Backpackers Hostel Accommodation, 25 Wallace Street, Motueka
www.hattricklodge.co.nz
Hat Trick Lodge is 18 kilometres from the Abel Tasman National Park, there's plenty of off street parking if you would like to leave your vehicle and tramp in the Abel Tasman for a few days. The lodge is a 51 bed facility offering a variety of room types including a women's only dorm.

Accents on the Park, 335 Trafalgar Square, Nelson
www.accentsonthepark.com
Stay in a restored villa next to the Cathedral. Ladies only rooms are available as well as ladies only bathrooms. The bathrooms have heated floors, anti fog mirrors and hairdryers. Rated well by both girls and guys on Trip Advisor.

Paradiso, 42 Weka Street, Nelson
www.backpackernelson.co.nz
Located close to the city centre, Paradiso has facilities like a swimming pool, volleyball court and sauna. Tea and coffee are included in the rate. There is a women's only dorm - beds from $25. (Trip Advisor reviews).

Around the World Backpackers, 314 Barbadoes Street, Christchurch
www.aroundtheworld.co.nz
Around the World Backpackers have a 4 bed female dorm, the rate includes 20MB of free wifi, and a free meal on Wednesdays. (Trip Advisor reviews).

YHA Rolleston, 5 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch
www.yha.co.nz
YHA Rolleston is located opposite the Canterbury Museum, Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. Book a bed in a female only dorm from $35. (Trip Advisor reviews).

Rucksacker Backpacker Hostel, 70 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch
www.rucksacker.com
Rucksacker is a large historic home and has a female only dorm, beds from $20. There are free lockers in all the dorms but you need to bring your own padlock. (BBH reviews).

Onuku Farm Hostel, Onuku Road, Akaroa (6kms from Akaroa)
www.onuku.co.nz
Onuku Farm offers a range of accommodation - gaze up at the stars through the glass roof of a Stargazer wooden tent or get back to basics with no heating or electricity in the Top Hut. There's a girls only dorm in the Farmhouse. Please take care if you are driving from Akaroa to Onuku Farm, the road is unsealed and narrow in places. The hostel may be closed over winter. (Trip Advisor reviews). To find more unusual accommodation options visit our Unusual Accommodation Guide.

Kowhai Riding School, 711 Island Road, View Hill, Oxford (75 kms west of Christchurch)
www.kowhai.co.nz
All inclusive packages including accommodation, meals, horse riding lessons and horse treks are available at Kowhai Riding School. There are a range of accommodation options including a female only dorm. You can also book a farm stay that includes private accommodation, meals, horse riding lessons and farm trekking to suit, stay from one night to three months. (Airport pick ups can be arranged). (Trip Advisor reviews).

Base Backpackers in the South Island that have sanctuary dorms are Base Christchurch (closed due to earthquake damage) and Base Queenstown.

Nomads Queenstown Backpackers, 5 - 11 Church Street, Queenstown
www.nomadshostels.com/queenstown
Nomads have girls only dorms and rates include a light breakfast. The hostel has a sauna, ski storage and 24 hour reception. (Trip Advisor reviews).

The Last Resort, 6 Memorial Street, Queenstown
www.tlrqtn.co.nz
The Last Resort is a converted brothel located in a quiet spot in Queenstown, but still close to down town. Women are welcome to stay in the female only 4 bed dorm (there are no double, twin or single rooms). Minimum 2 night stay, maximum 7, from $30 per night. (BBH reviews).

Travel Websites and Books For Women

A few resources to check out include Gutsy Women - Advice, Inspiration, Stories by Marybeth Bond (4th edition published 2012). The author also has a website www.gutsytraveller.com. Another website for women travellers that's worth a visit is Journey Woman. Young women travellers might like to check out The Girlo Travel Survival Kit by Anthea Paul, the book is part of the Girlosophy series.

If you like to be super organised on your travels and you're looking for travel tips another book is The Intelligent Traveller - How to plan your perfect trip by Jenny Herbert (published 2008). This book has thought provoking chapters on how you can make the most of your travel experience, discusses issues of authenticity and some do's and don'ts of responsible tourism.

No comments have been provided.

go to top