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Planning a trip to New Zealand but worried about your budget? You’re not alone! New Zealand is known for its stunning landscapes and thrilling adventures, but it’s not the world’s cheapest destination. The good news is that with a little planning, it’s possible to explore this beautiful country without breaking the bank. In this guide to budget travel in New Zealand, I’ll break down how much my New Zealand trip cost, including accommodation, transportation, food, and activities. I’ll also share some budget tips to help you save along the way.
New Zealand Trip Cost: FAQs
Is New Zealand a good place for budget travel?
While New Zealand isn’t the cheapest country to travel, it also doesn’t have to break the bank. By being intentional in setting and sticking to your budget, you can choose where to spend and save money. If you’re very frugal, then New Zealand might not be the place for you. But if you’re on a budget yet willing to spend money where it counts, then you can have a great experience without an enormous New Zealand trip cost.
How do you track your spending while traveling?
I use the free app Tripcoin (not sponsored) to track my travel spending. The screenshot you see below was auto-generated by the Tripcoin app after I input my spending. It’s a great and simple app for keeping track of your expenses and budget as you travel. After your trip, you’ll be able to see the same cost breakdown as the screenshot below, plus even more in-detail summaries. Best of all, it auto-converts into your home currency.
What are the largest New Zealand trip costs?
In order, my largest New Zealand trip costs were activities, local transportation, accommodation, and food. Keep reading for exactly how much I spent on these and tips for keeping costs low.
New Zealand Trip Cost Breakdown
NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU READ:
- Everything is listed in USD, unless noted NZD.
- This was a 15-day, 14-night trip to the South Island of New Zealand in September 2024.
- This was a solo trip.
- As a budget traveler, I kept costs as low as possible without sacrificing comfort or activities I wanted to do. This means that while these costs could potentially be lower, they’re as low as I’d recommend for an enjoyable budget trip.
- I cooked for myself for almost all meals instead of eating out.
- I’m vegetarian so my food costs might be lower than meat-eaters’.
- I excluded international flight costs, as these greatly differ for everyone.
Activities
$659.39
There were many bucket list activities that I knew I wanted to do on my New Zealand trip. Activities was the category I spent the most money in, but I have no regrets. While activities have the highest price tag, they also have the highest reward. The experiences and memories of doing something you’ve always wanted to do are priceless.
To manage your budget, I recommend deciding which activities are must-dos before your trip and. making sure they work with your budget. Also think about which activities are missable, even if they’re tempting. Will you regret not doing it? If the answer is no and your budget is tight, then consider skipping it this time.
Here are the big price tag activities I did:
- Bungy jumping at the highest one in New Zealand: $212
- Going on a helicopter ride above Franz Josef Glacier: $180
- Kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park: $70
- Skyline Luge and gondola ride in Queenstown: $60
- Whale and dolphin watching in Kaikoura: $57
By far, the most expensive activities were bungy jumping and going on a helicopter ride. However, these were the most memorable and fun experiences of my trip. I set aside a good portion of my budget to cover these activities, because I knew I wouldn’t regret it. For all the other activities I did, I booked the cheapest option available and even got some off-season discounts on most.
Local Transportation
$568.63
As a solo budget traveler, I decided to use a Kiwi Experience Hop-On Hop-Off bus pass to get around New Zealand. The Kiwi Experience buses offer passengers a chance to travel around New Zealand on their own time and schedule with driver guides, opt-in activities and accommodation, and a social atmosphere. It was the perfect way to travel around New Zealand as a solo traveler who didn’t want to rent a car alone but wanted flexibility and freedom. While there are many different Kiwi Experience bus passes to choose from, I got the South and Sound pass for $536. I got it during a sale, which happens a few times a year, so keep an eye out for those.
Read more about my Kiwi Experience, including a review, itinerary, and what to expect, here.
I also took one taxi and used Queenstown public buses, accounting for the other $32.63 spent on local transportation. Taxis are very expensive, so I recommend avoiding them as much as possible.
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Accommodation
$449.00
I stayed in hostels the entire time I was in New Zealand, which is a great way to save on accommodation. I spent $449 for 14 nights in hostels, coming to an average of $32 a night.
I opted to stay in all of the Kiwi Experience hostels, and I’m glad I did. When you book the bus, they’ll reserve a bed for you in their chosen accommodation. While you don’t have to stay there, almost everyone does, so you’ll have to separate from everyone if you don’t. The bus also picks up and drops off right outside of their accommodation, making it much more convenient. I highly recommend this option if you’re looking for a social environment.
While sometimes booking directly through the Kiwi Experience is the best deal, I highly recommend checking HostelWorld and Agoda to make sure you’re securing the best price. I especially tend to find great deals on Agoda.
Food
$316.16
I mostly cooked for myself, but even groceries are expensive in New Zealand. As an island nation far away from major food sources, the import costs are very high. However, you will still save money by cooking for yourself, especially if you choose lower-cost ingredients and embrace having leftovers. One of my favorite hacks is to pack a sandwich for lunch on most days. You’re on the road a lot in New Zealand, and it’s nice to have a cheap, pre-packed lunch on the go.
Whenever I ate at restaurants, I chose lower budget restaurants. I also occasionally got an ice cream, hot chocolate, or snack (the savory pies in New Zealand are out of this world).
In total, I spent $111.80 on groceries and $204.36 on eating out. Considering I cooked for myself a majority of the time, you can see how much money it saves to do so!
Miscellaneous
$61.19 – visas, laundry, & alcohol
I grouped these categories together because none of them were very significant. Visa costs differ for each country, but as a US citizen, I only needed a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). This only put me back $10.
However, most travelers aren’t aware of the mandatory International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which can be a significant expense. I traveled to New Zealand before the significant IVL price increase, so be aware that it now costs $100 NZD/$57 USD. In 2024, I only spent $21 on it!
Laundry and alcohol were other small expenses. I spent $10.06 doing laundry once during my two weeks in New Zealand. I only spent $20.13 on alcohol, as I’m not a big drinker, and it’s the first thing to go when I’m on a budget trip.
TOTAL
$2,054.37
And there you have it, exactly how much I spent on my two-week budget New Zealand trip!
How to Save on Your New Zealand Trip Cost
Apply for the NZeTA on the app
To pay $17 NZD instead of $23 NZD, download the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) app and apply for your NZeTA there. Before applying, make sure to check that you’re eligible for an NZeTA.
Travel during the off-season
Visiting New Zealand during their “shoulder seasons”, between peak seasons, is a great way to not only save money but avoid crowds. These shoulder seasons are March to May (fall) and September to November (spring). When I traveled to New Zealand in September, I got many off-season discounts on activities and excursions. Accomodation also costs less at this time of year because of decreased demand.
Stay at hostels
I’m a huge advocate of hostels for budget and/or solo travelers. Since I’m both, I love the social experience of staying in a hostel while saving money. As mentioned above, I averaged $32 a night on hostels. Meanwhile, mid-range hotels cost around $100-$200 a night. It’s one of the easiest ways to save on your New Zealand trip cost while meeting fellow travelers.
Cook for yourself
While cooking for yourself on vacation isn’t ideal, it’s a great way to save money in New Zealand. Although grocery prices are high because of import costs, that means eating out is at least three times as much. I recommend getting low cost ingredients that don’t spoil so you can use them over and over, such as bread, pasta, sauce, peanut butter, and oatmeal.
Another pro of staying in hostels is that oftentimes, travelers will go in on meals together. By splitting the cost of ingredients and cooking together, it saves money, time, and effort.
Keep alcohol consumption down
If alcohol is something you’re okay spending lots of money on, then that’s fair and you can skip this tip. However, if alcohol is something expendable or reducible, your budget will greatly thank you. Alcohol in New Zealand is pricy, made worse by high tax rates. One night of drinking can easily put you back hundreds of dollars before you know it.
Don’t rent a car or campervan if you’re a solo traveler
There are many reasons I wouldn’t recommend renting a car or campervan if you’re alone, and cost is one of them. The cost of renting a car or campervan only makes sense if multiple travelers are splitting it. Not only do you have to pay for the vehicle, but think about gas, parking fees, toll roads, and more.
As mentioned before, I highly recommend the Kiwi Experience Hop-On Hop-Off bus passes for solo travelers. It’s cost-efficient while helping you find hostels, activities, and friends.
Check for campervan relocations
This might be one of the best budget hacks for traveling New Zealand, and most travelers have no idea it exists! Campervan relocations are when you drive for free or a very low cost while helping rental companies relocate their vehicles. These deals are usually fixed dates and locations, so you have to be flexible. You also have to be on top of it, as these deals are usually claimed extremely fast. Here are some of the best websites for finding deals:
Check Bookme before you book your activities
One of my favorite booking platforms in New Zealand is Bookme, where you can often find discounts and deals unavailable anywhere else. It’s usually only certain dates and times that go on sale, usually aligned with the off-season. If you’re flexible and traveling during the off-season, check Bookme a week or two in advance to see if you can snag any deals. They sell out and then go up in price, so make sure to plan in advance.
New Zealand might seem like a daunting place to travel on a budget, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. With these tips on saving money and insight into how much my own New Zealand trip cost, you’re set up for a thrilling, stunning, budget-friendly journey.
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