What budget for activities and outings New Zealand?
In Auckland and Wellington, many museums and art galleries are free (or accessible on koha, donation), notably THE museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, a national museum located in Wellington (if there's only one museum visit to make, this is it).
In smaller towns, museums and art centers run by town councils are often free too.
All major national parks and natural sites are free: theoutdoor culture is so ingrained here that it's very important for Kiwis to make sure their backyard is accessible to all. The only thing you may have to pay for is transport to the site in question.
The only exception to this rule are the geothermal sites in the Rotorua and Taupo regions, where you'll have to try hard to find free places! In Rotorua, Kuirau park is the only free one, and you can also walk along the lake to get a glimpse of some of the phenomena. In Taupo, the Spa Thermal park has a few hot pools where you can bask for free. Between the two towns, Kerosene Creek, a hot river in the middle of the forest, is undoubtedly the best-known spot.
For good deals in general, there are two sites to check from time to time: Grab One (https://new.grabone.co.nz/) and Bookme (www.bookme.co.nz/), where you'll find some very interesting discounts on various services.
If there's one activity for which the country is king, it's hiking! And it's everywhere, and it's (almost) always free.
A quick trip to the local tourist office and you'll come away with plenty of ideas for walks.
The DOC (Department of Conservation: www.doc.govt.nz/) website also has a search engine and interactive map to find walks in your local area. Mileage, estimated time and level of difficulty will be specified on each occasion.
There's never any charge for hiking, even in national parks. You will, however, have to pay for the "huts" if you want to stay for several days. For standard huts, tickets must be purchased in advance at a DOC office or tourist office, then deposited in the box provided in the hut or given to the ranger if there is one on site (huts on the most popular trails must be booked online).
Gear up. If you're looking for inexpensive equipment for your vacation, the references here are The Wharehouse and Kmart, a Gifi-style store where you can find a little bit of everything for less. If you're looking for electronic equipment (adaptors, new cables, new headphones...), Noel Lemmings is the place to go, and for outdoor gear, you'll need to visit Mountain Wharehouse, Kathmandu or Macpac, or Ice Breaker if you want high-quality merino wool clothing, another local specialty!
Cheap tip: look for second-hand treasures. If you're a bargain-hunter, you're sure to find what you're looking for here! Second-hand shopping is widespread, and so-called "op shops" (opportunity shops) can be found all over the area. Salvation Army, Saint Vincent de Paul, City Mission, Mary Potter Hospice Shop, St John, SPCA Op Shop, Savemart, Red Cross Shop, to name but a few. There's even a website that lists them and allows you to search by city or brand! https://opshopdirectory.co.nz/
There is very rarely a charge for admission to institutions, unless there is a concert or artist performing that day.
Some establishments sometimes charge a small entrance fee, even if there is no event, but this is a strategy to target a specific age group; we all know that no self-respecting student will pay to go dancing and have a drink! So if you want to avoid the hordes of young revelers, this can be a good strategy.
If you are out to celebrate a birthday or any other event, try to mention it casually, it is not uncommon that it opens the door to a discount or a free drink, as Kiwis want to please their guests and make them have a good time!
What budget to eat New Zealand?
The average price for lunch is around $20-25, and more like $25-30 for dinner.
Don't panic if you've bitten off more than you can chew: here, doggy bags are commonplace and will never be refused.
A good idea for a good, inexpensive meal on the go in the evening: in the cities, sushi restaurants liquidate their stocks at the end of the day (between 3 and 4 pm) and sell boxes of sushi to take away for $5 to $8.
Many establishments also run specials depending on the day of the week! If you see a slate showing a "241" something (burger, pizza, dessert, drink...), don't read it as "Two hundred and forty-one" but "Two-Four-One"; "Two for One": two for the price of one!
To find the best deals by city and day of the week, visit https://gethappy.co.nz/
If you're going out for dinner and don't want to spend miles and cents on alcoholic beverages at the restaurant, you can look for "BYO" establishments, an acronym for "Bring Your Own", where you're allowed to bring your own bottle.
Look for weekly deals and promotions by city and day of the week on https://gethappy.co.nz/ !
What is the budget for accommodation New Zealand?
In New Zealand, it's relatively easy to stay within budget when it comes to accommodation. At least if you're not too demanding in terms of comfort and convenience!
Freedom of movement and the right of access to nature are so fundamental that many measures are put in place to allow people to move around, to go deep into the bush, to sit by a lake or the sea in a preserved environment, and all at a lower cost. If you want more comfort.
Wild camping is permitted, but is often regulated by local authorities. Be on the lookout for "no overnight camping" signs, indicating that you are not allowed to pitch your tent or van for the night. Generally speaking, if it's not forbidden, it's authorized. However, there are a few golden rules to follow: avoid residential areas and private property, favour places with access to public toilets and, above all, leave no trace. Leave no trace" is THE rule of wilderness exploration in New Zealand. We are guests of nature; what we take with us, we must leave with us.
If you want to be sure of doing the right thing, a phone call to the DOC or Visitor Center will tell you where you can set up camp without risk.
Municipalcampgrounds or DOC campsites. If you don't feel comfortable camping in the wild (or can't find a spot), the next best option in terms of budget will be DOC (Department of Conservation) campgrounds or land made available to travellers by municipalities. In either case, all you need is a large expanse of grass with very basic facilities: toilets (mostly dry, the kind we call "long drop" here), a water point (usually to be treated before use), sometimes (cold) showers and, in the most luxurious of them, a shelter where you can set up in case of rain. Some are free of charge, but most require you to put a bit of money in your wallet to contribute to the upkeep of the premises. You can expect to pay between $8 and $18 per night per person, depending on the amenities provided.
Several applications can help you find the ideal spot: Rankers, WikiCamps, Campermate, or, to search specifically for DOC campsites, NZ DOC Campsite Finder.
Pitch your tent or park your van with locals. Thanks to the "Campable" app, you can get off the beaten track a bit and sleep on a variety of private properties: pubs, vineyards, farms, orchards, or simply someone's lawn or garage front! The price is set by the people hosting you, and depends on what they can provide. It's not always cheaper than a traditional campsite, but you're guaranteed a unique experience close to local life!
Backcountry huts. If you're heading into the backcountry for several days, you'll need to sleep in huts. The most basic and remote are free, or just $5. On the busier trails, you're looking at $15-20. The most famous huts, or those on the Great Walks, can cost up to $70-80 a night. These must be booked online.
For the others, you're on a "first come, first served" basis, and you need to buy a ticket in advance from a DOC or Visitor Centre.
Youth hostels. If you're looking for comfort and camping isn't an option (or if it's time for a real shower after days in the wilderness!), you can't beat hostels in terms of quality/comfort/price.
Many hostels (notably YHA) went out of business in the wake of the pandemic, but the return of tourism in 2023 has allowed many of them to reopen; be sure to check online for the latest news.
Not as widespread as YHA, but still present in the main cities, Nomads and Haka Lodge are good values, offering warm, quality accommodation.
Then there are all the independent, self-catering hostels, and if you take the trouble to look around a bit, you can come across some little nuggets.
The Agoda or Hostelworld applications will help you find the best prices. Expect to pay between $50 and $80 for a bed in a dormitory.
Hotels, lodges, studios, apartments... For travelers looking for a little more comfort, mid-range accommodation in New Zealand offers a wide range of choices, from classic hotels or lodges to studios, apartments, cottages... Expect to pay between $100 and $400, depending on size, location and services offered.
Top of the range. New Zealand's luxury goods industry remains fairly discreet, and options are relatively limited if you're looking for the very top end of the market. In the cities, you'll find a few big names like Hilton, with relatively low prices (from $400-500), but you'll soon be looking at several thousand dollars if you're looking for top-class addresses in exceptional settings!
Travel budget New Zealand and cost of living
The general feeling when you arrive in New Zealand is that everything is more expensive, but you tend to forget that the New Zealand dollar is quite low compared to the euro or the US dollar, and if you make the effort to convert prices you end up managing quite decent sums.
What is undoubtedly more expensive, however (and logically so), are all the imported products, such as - at random - croissants, pains au chocolat, and French and European cheeses. Out-of-season fruit and vegetables are also overpriced, since they're not grown here but imported. Here, eating local and in season is a bit of a necessity, and a matter of common sense.
Budget-wise, a classic flat white (New Zealand's basic latte) will cost you around $4.50, a cake, cookie or pastry between $4 and $8, and a burger or basic restaurant meal between $20 and $30. A pint in a bar costs between $10 and $15, a glass of wine about the same, and a cocktail between $15 and $20.
If you want to enjoy the local "eat out" culture and try out the lovely cafés and countless bars and restaurants, the budget can quickly skyrocket!
Low-costaccommodation is relatively easy if you hunt out the Freecamp areas or DOC campsites (between $8 and $20, depending on amenities).
If you're looking for a little more comfort, you'll pay around $30 for a bed in a dormitory, and $80 to $100 for a double room.
Guided tours or sightseeing activities often take the form of half-day or full-day tours on a particular theme, and are typically priced between $100 and $250.
Prices may vary according to the tourist season and the sacrosanct law of supply and demand, but scams or inflated prices for no particular reason are a virtually non-existent risk here. If you go through a tourist agency or service provider, you can be pretty sure that the prices are honest, and that the range will be the same everywhere else for services of the same type.
There are, of course, offers that are vaguely more "upmarket" and therefore a little more expensive, but as Kiwis are simple people who don't put anyone on a pedestal, this is the exception rather than the rule.
However, we'd have to qualify this statement when it comes to buying a vehicle, whether car or van. Whether you're dealing with a private individual or a garage, you need to be cautious, even suspicious. Don't hesitate to ask for a "pre-purchase inspection", a sort of mini technical inspection commonly carried out when selling a vehicle, to guarantee the buyer that there are no major hidden defects.
This is all the more important as there's no equivalent to our "argus" in New Zealand, so it's sometimes difficult to estimate the fairness of a price.
