My husband and I are contemplating our next trip and were wondering about the costs in NZ. I understand the exchange rate with the USD is favorable for Americans being at around 1.52 NZD for every USD. But I have heard mixed reports saying that it is quite expensive there and that I need to allow for extra $$ in my budget. I would love to have some input. Thank you.

In general, most things are more expensive than in the U.S., particularly manufactured items. Food, lodging, and restaurants seem to be slightly more expensive than the equivalent in the U.S., although not outrageously so. Petrol is far more expensive, as are automobiles, hired transportation, buses, etc. I would plan on spending 10-20% more than an equivalent trip in the Lower 48.

Thanks ALF for the reply. I will figure that into my overall budget. I am not too worried because the biggest expense...airline tickets are covered with frequent flier miles.
I just did not know if it was going to be comparible to going to the UK for example. Since we are planning a 4 week visit I just wanted to make sure I had a good perspective
Thanks for your input.

I have been intensively planning a 3 week trip for 2 couples to NZ for next year. Our present thoughts are to drive a few days in the North, then fly to Christchurch, go to the west coast and wind up in Dunedin, and fly back from there.

1- The present exchange rate seems to me to be on the less favorable side, since a few years ago a US$ was worth 2 NZ$, and a few months ago it was worth more than NZ 1.6. I hope the US$ will become stronger by next year.

2- It seems to me that lodging rates will be around $120/night, averaging in reasonable places. I think that's not bad.

3 - Daily car rental rates seem to be around $100 for a full sized car. Comparing with a rental in San Francisco for the same time, a full sized car is $200/day.

4- The 2 internal flights are about $140/person/flight.

5- In all, as a rough guess, I am budgeting, for an upper-moderate trip, about $350/day/couple. This includes hotels, sightseeing, food, flights, airport taxis, Tranzalpine, overnight boat in Doubtful sound, etc. Of course I may be wrong in my calculations, and the exchange rate may be quite different at that time, but I hope that this is reasonable. This does not include international airfare, for which we are also using FF.

I think you will be pleasantly surprised to find things aren't as expensive in NZ as you think.

As an NZer I always end up on the wrong side of the exchange rate when travelling to the USA and all in all, prices are comparable between the two countries so you will come out on top.

Accom in NZ dollars is around the $80 - $120 double a night for most hotels, motels and B&B's but of course, you will find cheaper options and way more expensive ones if need be.

Most restaurants charge around $15 - $25 for a main course, a flat white coffee ranges from $2.50 - $3.50 in most places and as a price gauge, a Big Mac costs about $4.50 ( just gone up).A full breakfast in a cafe ( eggs, bacon, tomatoes, hash browns type deal)will range from $6 - $12 depending on what city you are in. I have found that I seem to pay just as much for these items when visiting other countries so I get a bit confused when people say it is expensive here.

Food is good quality and relatively cheap, always shop at the large supermarkets though as the small shops will charge you way more. Look for a large Woolworths , Foodtown or soemthing similar to do your food shopping. Road side stalls and orchards are a good place to get good deals on fruit and veggies. Keep an eye out for the advertising boards when travelling around in the countryside.

Rental cars are pretty similar in price when the exchange rate is taken into account. Ferries, airfares etc are cheaper if booked in advance. There is a huge variation in prices if making last minute bookings.

The thing that will probably chew onto your budget will be the attractions and activities but that is at your own discretion. When we travel around NZ we pick and choose our activities, otherwise it just becomes way to costly.
I am sure that you will find it a reasonably cheap vacation and I hope you have a fantastic time.

Christa, I , too am planning a trip to NZ and found your information very helpful. Thank you.
One question. HOw much is a litre of gas these days? Here is Canada it ranges from .70 to .90 a litre depending on the day.

Hi Kodi

Just filled the car up and can let you know that gas is around 1.12 for unleaded 91 octane and 1.17 for 96 octane. Diesel is 70 cents a litre.

Thats around a dollar Canadian a litre. Not too much different from what you pay. It does change virtually daily.

Steve

For a while recently, gas seemed to be approaching $1 CAD / liter (although it didn't get quite that high). Now seems to be anywhere in the 70s (maybe low 80s) at most places here in Toronto. It was interesting to note that when we were in Australia in April, diesel was more expensive than regular unleaded and it's the opposite here. Diesel is usually less.

Thanks for all of the responses. I look forward to the trip planning.

I wonder if it would be helpful if anyone who has been to NZ in the past year on a non-group, non-guided trip, would give us a ballpark estimate of the cost of the NZ part of the trip, and its length. Although every trip is different, perhaps some general estimate could be reached on the upper and lower limits on the cost/day.

Rather than immediately debunking this thought, let's see what the figures are. It may or may not be worth a try.

Hi Jed,

We went to NZ in March 2004 for 3 weeks on the North Island. Here is my breakdown:

From: We are from the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia.

Length of trip: 20 days

Where: 3,742 KLMs on North Island of New Zealand.

Car Hire: $NZ45.00 per day, Apex Car Rentals. $900.00. Excellent service.

Fuel Costs: approx $350.00 overall. Cheapest fuel was $1.15 per litre in Rotorua, most expensive was $1.26 at Coromandel.

Accommodation: Average $120.00 per night in various motels.

Budget per day: $275.00. This did not include car hire, but did include accomm, meals and fuel. Plus any spending.

Some days were cheap, some more expensive. Depending what we did. Rotorua was expensive because we went to so many attractions, but Napier was cheap. We just walked along the waterfront and walked around the town centre looking at the Art Deco buildings. What we saved one day, we spent the next.

Would we go again: Give me a minute to pack.

We are busy planning 3 weeks on the South Island next September. Can't wait.

Thanks, Brushtail.

As I estimate, including car the total cost of your trip was NZ $6400. For us Yanks, the cost/day would be US $210.

Jed -

We spent 28 days on the South Island last September.

Here's a sample of what we paid - all prices in NZ$:

Car rental through Nova (National rent a car) - intermediate "touring car" for 28 days - $1,876.00 - almost all inclusive - we were responsible for the first $2,812.50 of any damage to the car. This amount could be reduced by paying and additional $16.87 per day.

Gas - anywhere from $1.08 - 1.28 per liter, depending on location.

Lodging - anywhere from $80 for a private three bedroom cottage on Banks Peninsula to $175 for a condo style unit in Queenstown. We probably paid an average of $120 per night.

Food - anywhere from $10 for a lunch of soup and sandwiches for two to $68 for a multi course meal with drinks. We only had a few disappointing meals the entire trip.

Internet access - anywhere from $1 for 10 minutes, $3 for 20 minutes to $6 for an hour (we did see Internet access at the Hermitage Hotel in Mt Cook for $16 an hour though)

If you like ice cream, you're in luck. Tip Tops are found all over NZ and they sell ice cream by the scoop - two huge scoops will set you back about $1.50. Yummy.

Self laundry at a motel/hotel - $6 per load including wash, dry and detergent).

Admission -

$17 per person for 30 minutes in a private thermal suite in Hanmer Springs. Price also entitles you to free run of the public thermal pools. Our motel provided towels free of charge.

7.5 hour tour of Farewell Spit including impresive lunch - $75 per person. We highly recommend!

Three hour tour of Honeycomb caves near Karamea (private - no other tourists there at the time) - $65 per person.

Tour of Pohatu Marine Reserve on Banks Peninsula - only five people on tour - $40 each.

Banks Peninsula harbor cruise on the Canterbury Cat - $39 per person

1.5 hour Milford Sound cruise on the Red Boat - $45 per person

Admission to the Wearable Arts Complex in Nelson - $15 per person

Dart River Safari out of Glenorchy - $145 per person.

Bottle of wine from a winery or grocery store - $12 and up

Road map - $7-12

Local phone call - .20

Postage for postcard mailed to the US -$1.50

Unlimited awesome scenery and friendly Kiwi hospitality - priceless!