To be completely honest, New Zealand is not a cheap country to travel to. Besides being halfway around the world for most travelers, the prices of goods and services once you’re in the country are high. There definitely are ways to save money, though! In this post, I’ll be giving all my best tips on how to travel New Zealand on a tight budget. I’ve broken it down by category to make it easier to reference later.
⇉ The Ultimate Guide to Traveling New Zealand
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How much should I budget for New Zealand?
Your actual costs while in the country can vary a lot based on your location, accommodation, activity, and food choices. Here are a few ranges that will give you an idea of how much to save per person, per day for your trip.
Budget: Daily budget of less than $100/day. This will cover a few cheap meals out, staying in campsites/holiday parks, and taking advantage of free activities. You probably won’t want to stay in more expensive cities, like downtown Auckland, more than you have to.
Mid-range: Daily budget of $100-200/day. In this range, you can afford a few nicer meals out, staying in Airbnbs/nicer hostels, and getting tickets to a few less-expensive activities. This is a good starting budget for most travelers.
Bougie: Daily budget of more than $200/day. With a bougie budget, you can have several restaurant meals a day and stay in boutique hotels/luxury lodges. You’ll also be able to participate in once-in-a-lifetime experiences like helicopter tours to Franz Josef Glacier or adventure sports in Queenstown.
Travel New Zealand on a budget: Flights
International flights
Getting to (and leaving) New Zealand will probably be the biggest expense you incur during your visit. Round-trip flights from Los Angeles to Auckland can cost upwards of $3,000 USD ($4,300 NZD) during peak times. Travel expenses are one of the hardest categories to cut back on because there’s no getting around them. There are a few ways to save a bit of money, though!
Firstly, try using websites like Skyscanner or Scott’s Cheap Flights to set price alerts. You can set your desired travel dates and get notifications when the price drops. Other third-party websites, like Kayak and Expedia, are great to compare routes and prices on.
When it comes to actually booking your tickets, though, I’d recommend booking directly with your airline. It’s usually the same price (or cheaper), you can accrue airline miles, and you’re more protected if something goes wrong.
Another way to get cheap international flights is to learn about travel hacking. This is the process of applying for credit cards and getting large sign-up bonuses, which you can then use on flights or hotels. Travel hacking is a complex subject that’s beyond the scope of this post, but check out the 10xTravel site for more information!
Domestic flights
Flying can often be one of the cheapest ways to get from city to city. New Zealand has two major airlines: Air New Zealand and Jetstar. Jetstar is the budget equivalent that you’ll want to use to save money. Always make sure to check the conditions of your ticket, however. Many of the cheaper ticket options don’t allow for extra bags or seat selection (there is usually an additional cost to pay if those are important to you).
Travel off-season
If you’re able to, traveling during the shoulder season is a good way to save on flights (and usually on accommodation and activities as well). The summer months (November through February) are the most popular and most expensive time to visit New Zealand. Try booking your trip for the spring (September and October) or autumn (March and April) to save some money.
Travel New Zealand on a budget: Transportation
Rent a campervan
Renting a campervan is hands-down the best way to travel around New Zealand. You’re able to go wherever you want on your own schedule and you’ll generally save a ton of money on accommodation costs. There are several campervan hire companies that offer slightly different set-ups. Here are a few of the most popular options:
- Spaceship Rentals: $27/day
- Jucy: $29/day
- Wicked Campers: $40/day
- Happy Campers: $45/day
⇉ How to Plan the Perfect New Zealand Road Trip
Bus
Public transportation in New Zealand is sparse at best — this applies to both the North and South Islands. In big cities like Auckland or Christchurch, it’s fairly easy to get from one part of the city to another. From city to city, however, the options are much more limited.
The best public transportation option to get around the country is InterCity’s FlexiPass. This hours-based bus pass lets you hop on and hop off any InterCity bus at your leisure. It also includes a ticket for the Interislander ferry, which is great if you’re going to be exploring both the North Island and the South Island. FlexiPass tickets range from NZD $98 for 10 hours of travel to $561 for 80 hours.
Hitchhike
Hitchhiking is definitely the best option to lower your transportation costs, but also the most unpredictable. It is legal and safe to hitchhike in New Zealand — of course, you’ll always want to trust your gut and take the necessary precautions.
To increase your chances of getting picked up, stand in an area where cars can easily pull over. Solo travelers and couples have better odds, so if you’re traveling with a larger group, split up into twos. Most importantly, never get into a car if you’re getting weird vibes from someone. Better safe than sorry!
Travel New Zealand on a budget: Accommodation
Campsites & holiday parks
If you’re renting a campervan (or are willing to rough it in a tent), campsites are the way to go.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) has over 200 campsites around New Zealand. Depending on the facilities, you can expect to pay up to $20 per person per night, with the more basic sites being completely free. Many of the sites do require a self-contained campervan sticker, so keep that in mind when deciding where to stay.
Holiday parks are great for budget travelers as well. Most holiday parks offer a mix of powered and unpowered campsites and motel rooms. Top 10 is a popular choice with locations all around the country. These are a bit more expensive than basic campsites (upwards of $50 NZD per person per day) but come with a few extra perks like washing machines and showers.
⇉ Everything You Need to Know About New Zealand Freedom Camping
Hostels
Hostels in New Zealand are comparable in price to ones in Western Europe or North America. You can find a dorm bed in a shared room for around $25 NZD a night, with private rooms starting at around $50. YHA is a popular hostel association with many quality locations around the country.
Couchsurfing
For the extremely frugal, Couchsurfing can be a great option. After signing up, you can stay with any of the over 10,000 hosts in the country for free. You get to have a truly authentic experience and see what it’s like to live from a local’s perspective. As far as cheap accommodation goes, you can’t beat couchsurfing.
Airbnb
If you book far enough in advance, Airbnb can be a great bargain (especially if you’re traveling with a group). It’s also a useful site to browse for longer-term accommodation — if you know you want to spend a month or longer in one spot, you can often find hosts that offer discounts.
With Airbnb’s new flexible search option, you can also find the cheapest stays for your particular timeframe. You can filter by date, length of stay, and amenities. If you’re open to spontaneous travel plans, this search function could be a great option!
Travel New Zealand on a budget: Activities
Free activities
While New Zealand is known for its once-in-a-lifetime experiences and adventure activities, it’s still possible to do a lot of cool things on a budget. Because the country is so unbelievably beautiful, all you really need to do is go outside! Outdoor activities in New Zealand are generally free or very cheap.
The best free activities in New Zealand:
- Hiking: This can be done all over the country. Hikes (or tramps) range greatly in difficulty and length. Beginners can find flat walks with great views (like the Hooker Valley Track at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park), while more advanced hikers can do a multi-day Great Walk.
- Beaches: You’re never too far from the ocean in New Zealand. The Auckland region, Coromandel Peninsula, Raglan, and the beaches outside of Abel Tasman National Park (to name a few) are all brilliant options.
- Lakes: Lakes, like beaches, are an inexpensive way to spend an afternoon. Lake Tekapo, Lake Taupo, and Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown are all examples of great places where you can chill out by the water.
- Stargazing: Tours from the Dark Sky Project in Tekapo cost upwards of $150. Instead, head a bit further out of town, post up on a comfy blanket, and watch the night sky for free.
- Glow worm caves: Skip the pricey caves in Waitomo and check out the Glow Worm Dell in Hokitika instead.
- Wildlife spotting: You don’t need to go on an expensive tour to spot some wildlife. Stop on the side of the road in Kaikoura to see dolphins, see some seals on the beach in Dunedin, or head over to the Catlins for a chance at seeing some rare penguins.
BookMe
BookMe is a great option for booking discounted activities online. You’ll find things like scenic cruises, helicopter rides, and other popular activities for 20-90% off their usual prices.
GrabOne
GrabOne is a similar concept to BookMe. In addition to booking activity and tour packages, you can also find discounted accommodation and restaurant deals.
Backpacker Deals
Backpacker Deals is not New Zealand-specific, but they offer a number of activity and tour discounts as well. The deals are often limited time only and/or last-minute, making this a great site for backpackers with flexible schedules.
Which expensive activities are worth the splurge?
Although a bit pricier, these activities are unique and very fun. Keep in mind that organized tours are usually always more expensive than going somewhere on your own.
- Milford Sound cruise ($130): Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand and a cruise is the best way to see it.
- Helicopter tour or scenic flight (from $200): These can be done all over the country, but I’d recommend one near Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
- Hobbiton ($60): Although quite touristy, taking a tour of the Lord of the Rings movie set is still super fun and worth doing (even if you’re not a huge fan of the movies).
- Glacier tour (average cost $60-400): Franz Josef glacier on the West Coast is very cool to see up close. You can either take a guided hike or a helicopter to the glacier.
- Bungee jumping or skydiving (from $100): If you’re up for some extreme sports, New Zealand is a great place to try bungee jumping or skydiving! Queenstown in particular is the best because it’s known as the adventure capital of the world.
Travel New Zealand on a budget: Food & drinks
FirstTable
FirstTable is a website that offers early bird restaurant deals. You get 50% off your meal at participating restaurants if you book the earliest table available! If you don’t mind eating dinner around 5 pm, this is a great option to save some money.
Eat local
You’ll often find local farm stalls and markets when driving along the side of the road. Besides supporting a local business, the produce and goods from these stalls are often sold at lower prices than you’ll find at the supermarket. While you probably won’t be able to do all your shopping from local roadside stalls, you can definitely stock up on some snacks.
Take advantage of restaurant deals
Many restaurants offer happy hours or reduced-price meals on certain days of the week. Check out their menus online before you go to see if you can snag any deals.
Cook your own food
Cooking your own meals and snacks will always be cheaper than eating out at restaurants. This is where self-contained campervans, hostels, and Airbnbs make good economical sense. Having a kitchen means that you can save money on the cost of food during your travels!
When shopping for food, try going to Pak n Save or Countdown — these are the supermarkets with the lowest prices in New Zealand. Bread and pasta are inexpensive and can be used as a base for lots of different meals. When it comes to alcohol, wine and beer are generally a better deal than hard liquor.
Thanks for reading this guide on how to travel New Zealand on a budget! Hopefully it was helpful and gave you some new ideas you hadn’t thought of before.
xoxo Niki
