New Zealand is a dream destination for many – myself included! But it ain’t cheap; New Zealand is one of the most expensive countries I’ve visited, let alone lived in. While there is a high minimum wage here that helps balance things out if you’re living in NZ, as a tourist/visitor the prices can be painful. If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand and wanting to cut costs, or you’re a seasoned budget traveler looking for destination-specific budget travel hacks, this post has you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about traveling New Zealand on a budget!
Cook your own food as much as possible.
Eating (and drinking) out in New Zealand can be very expensive – and a few meals out can really add up over the course of a trip. Go grocery shopping, buy your own food, and cook your own meals. Stay in accommodation with kitchen facilities, or rent a vehicle that has a setup for cooking. One meal out for two can easily be the same cost as half a weekly grocery shop. This is one budget travel hack that really helps reduce costs, given how pricey food is.
Pak n’ Save is the cheapest grocery store.
There is a hierarchy of supermarkets in New Zealand, based on cost – and Pak n’ Save is the cheapest. I planned as many of the big grocery shops as I could for when I’d be in the vicinity of a Pak n’ Save. The price difference is huge, and over the course of a multi-week trip this really adds up! Based on my experience, from cheapest to most expensive grocery store chains in New Zealand: Pak n’ Save, New World (become a Clubcard member for discounts), Countdown, and Four Square.
Fuel is expensive – use Gaspy to find the best deal and save fuel vouchers.
There’s no way around it, gas is expensive in New Zealand. This is especially true in remote areas (which I think is the same anywhere in the world!). Diesel is cheaper than petrol in New Zealand, I’m not sure why – diesel costs about $1.90 to $2.00 per liter to fill up. The app to get is Gaspy, where you can see the prices of gas stations and plan to fill up wherever’s cheapest. I also recommend getting receipts from grocery stores, as you typically get vouchers for 6 cents off per liter of fuel.
You really do need a vehicle to get around – and rental vehicle/campervan will likely be your highest cost.
New Zealand is a country made for road tripping. While there are some public transportation networks, and Intercity buses can get you between the main cities and towns, it is by far much, MUCH easier to have your own vehicle. Renting a car, campervan, RV, or any other type of vehicle will likely be your biggest expense in New Zealand. Choose your vehicle carefully, compare quotes from multiple companies, and don’t be afraid to contact them to see if they have any special offers on. I was offered a 5% discount on my campervan rental if I booked within the next three days. Price differences and discounts can make a huge difference to your savings, even if it takes a bit more time!
A vehicle you can sleep in will save you loads of money – especially if it’s self-contained.
Camping/being able to sleep in your car, either renting a campervan, or renting a car and buying cheap camping gear, will be a significant decrease on your accommodation costs. While a campervan might be more expensive than other vehicle rentals, you’ll save a lot of money off hostel or any other type of budget accommodation. New Zealand has a progressive approach to freedom camping – if your vehicle is certified as self-contained, you can sleep/freedom camp pretty much anywhere that it isn’t expressly prohibited. But I also found a lot of free or very cheap campsites for camping in non-self-contained vehicles when planning my road trip – so they do definitely exist.
Consider buying a DOC campsite pass.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) in New Zealand has a vast number of basic campsites all over the country. They offer two different types of campsite passes: a one-month pass for $95 per person, or a one-year pass for $195 per person. You can save LOADS of money by purchasing a pass and staying at these basic sites! This is especially important if you aren’t self-contained, and aren’t able to freedom camp anywhere.
Carry small amounts of cash if you’re camping.
On my trip, I found that campsites, showers, laundry facilities, etc. were sometimes cash or coin only. These places were often miles and miles away from the nearest ATM! It’s definitely worth always having some gold coins or cash on you.
Be aware of credit/paywave surcharges.
One of the things I dislike most about New Zealand is that many businesses charge a surcharge for paying by credit card or paywave/contactless payment. These surcharges must be physically displayed by the till. But often they are just a small bit of text that’s easy to miss. While these surcharges are typically only around 2%, if you are paying them constantly it does really add up. If you don’t have a debit card you can use, consider getting a multi-currency card like Wise. You can pre-load it with the currency you need – and then won’t have to pay the credit/paywave surcharges!
Activities can really blow your budget if you’re not careful – every activity that I paid money for was carefully chosen.
I evaluated every single tourist attraction, activity, or sightseeing experience that I did. There are so many unique experiences to have in New Zealand, and you could easily double your budget if you wanted to do more! I paid for the following activities, and think all of them were well worth the money:
- Hobbiton
- Milford Sound cruise
- Shuttle for hiking Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Entry and spa access at Hell’s Gate in Rotorua
- A full-day kayak/hike in Abel Tasman National Park
- One-hour kayak rental in Wanaka
- Half-day mountain biking rental in Ohakune
- Ferry and hop-on-hop-off bus tickets for Waiheke Island
Pretty much all of the rest of the things I did in the “sightseeing” category were free. The only thing that I really wish I would have done is a helicopter flight ($330) or a heli-hike ($695) at Franz Josef Glacier or Mount Cook – maybe someday!
So many hiking and outdoor activities are free!
New Zealand is an AMAZING country for hiking! I went hiking almost every single day of my trip, and absolutely loved getting to see all the different landscapes around the country. A lot of the days on my trip, I went hiking and spent no money whatsoever. It’s one of the best and most stunning parts of this supremely beautiful country. While booking the multi-day Great Walks will cost money, and you may need a shuttle service for one-way hikes, there are rarely admission charges for hikes. Even if you aren’t super outdoorsy, you’ll want to do some hikes in New Zealand – and best of all, it’s free!
Consider the time of year you’re traveling – shoulder season will see significantly lower prices.
November to January is peak summer in New Zealand, with the highest number of people traveling for the holiday period. Try to avoid traveling during these months if possible – everything, from rental vehicles to accommodation and campsites, will be less expensive at other times of the year! Keep in mind that the ski resorts (especially around Queenstown/Wanaka) will be at their most expensive during the winter months (June to August).
If traveling between the North and South Islands, book your vehicle on the ferry well in advance.
You’ll likely pay a premium price for a last-minute booking. There may only be large vehicle spots left on the ferry, and to bring a small vehicle over you’ll need to pay for whatever spot is left. Book well in advance if possible.
Traveling New Zealand is tough for budget travelers, but it certainly can be done. There are so many backpackers roughing it, living in vans, and experiencing this amazing country on a shoestring. If you’re considering a budget trip to New Zealand, these tips will help you stretch your money to last longer. I hope this post helps planning a budget trip to New Zealand!
Have you traveled in New Zealand before? What are your top budget travel tips?
You might also like my posts:
How Much Does it Cost to Travel New Zealand for 6 Weeks? (2024 Budget)
Moving to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life (2024 Guide)
The Best Day Hikes in Queenstown, New Zealand
Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Mount Sunday (Edoras)
The Most Epic Hike in Wanaka: What to Know About Roy’s Peak
All of my New Zealand posts!
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