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Story: Youth organisations

First youth hostels

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First youth hostels

Christchurch woman Cora Wilding set up New Zealand's first youth hostels. In February 1932 she and her friends managed to convince several Banks Peninsula residents to provide accommodation for trampers in farmhouses, a post office, hotels and shearing sheds. From this small beginning the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand went on to create a network of cheap accommodation around the country.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Handbook of Banks Peninsula for trampers. Christchurch: Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand, 1932

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How to cite this page

Helen Dollery, Youth organisations – Outward Bound, adventure and travel, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/29526/first-youth-hostels (accessed 8 June 2026).

Story by Helen Dollery, published 26 April 2011.