Shoestring budget

I had typed cheap taupo accommodation into the online search and as soon as the results showed up I felt pretty silly as I had just had a mind block and forgotten to look for hostels. That is what I was after as I am trying to do my trip on a pretty tight budget. I’m driving from Warkworth down to Wellington and thought I would spend a night at the lake on the way, but again I don’t have a lot of money to spend, as it is, most of it is going toward the gas bill. Staying at hostels is always fun anyways as you get to hang out and hear stories from some travelers.