Comments on: Budgeting in New Zealand

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:38:51 +0000

I don’t get what you mean by kind of money? This post will let you know the cost of things. Just times it by 31 days!

By: Kirstie

Kirstie — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:51:22 +0000

I’m a bit late posting too, am travelling to NZ end of Dec for a month, luckily my sister has a house in Napier and I have friends in Auckland who I will be staying with so that should keep my costs down. Really helpful info on what kind of money to take, thanks for the heads up

By: Jess

Jess — Fri, 13 May 2011 01:46:13 +0000

I know Im a bit late posting but thought I would add a few tips to anyone coming to NZ. If you are planning a trip come in summer. You can pick up a cheap 2 man tent for a couple of hundred dollars from the warehouse. DoC camping sites are then either free or a couple of dollars for ones with facilities. You can pick up cheap cars on Trade me (website), which will be cheaper than hiring. Or buy a van and sleep in the back at camping grounds!

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:42:38 +0000

This is great information Matt. Really useful. Anyone we have wondering on the cost of travel in NZ we’ll certainly be pointing towards this post.

By: Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences

Andy Hayes | Sharing Travel Experiences — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:20:53 +0000

I found that you can get around in NZ pretty cheap, but then if you want to do the “must do” experiences (like a helicopter up onto Fox Glacier, an unreal experience indeed) your budget goes through the roof pretty quickly.

By: John

John — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:50:11 +0000

Thanks for sharing. I am planning a trip there this fall, and this is very helpful in preparing. I booked my ticket because I got a deal on airfare, and the great currency rate, but now I know I need to start saving a bit more. Thanks for the heads up.

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:21:46 +0000

I tried to meet up with Lis in Wellington but it didn’t work out! Next time though!

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:20:51 +0000

I didn’t think the day to day stuff was overly expensive. It’s the activities that really add everything up but I still think NZ is more expensive than people believe it is.

By: David Morris

David Morris — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:53:29 +0000

Good summary Matt. And that’s from a local who travels the country a lot. You can get by on less than $40 a day for food, though. I travel in a Sleepervan and, like you, I’m really not that much into cooking under less-than-ideal conditions. I pack a box of cereal for breakfast, and the makings of coffee. Cost $3-4 all in. For lunch I usually grab something from a local bakery – of which there are many and they all sell wholesome, home-made food. A filled roll or a pie will cost $3-4. Sushi is a healthy option at about $6 for six pieces.

I try to avoid buying shop coffee because at $3.50 a shot it can add up. I have a little portable stove in the van so a boil-up for coffee takes no time. However, if you do decide to weaken (and I do), remember NZ-made coffee is amongst the best in the world. Our baristas really do know their stuff . . . that’s why they regularly get podium finishes in world barista championships.

Not being a between-meal snacker that leaves me with nothing but dinner to buy. A take-away chinese meal is $8 to $10. Pub meals start at about $13 for meals like bangers and mash or shepherds pie. Pizzas go for around $11 to $14, though some chains, notably Dominos, often have $6-8 specials during the week. There are a lot of ready-roasts shops which sell a full roast dinner from $9 to $13.

The big advantage of take-away dinners is cheap booze. My preferred beer is Ranfurly Draught – the afficionados would sneer, but what do they know. It’s $1.40 a 440ml can. Or I pick up a bottle of wine from the supermarket – you can buy specials from $6 to $9 a bottle, which I try (not always successfully) to make do two nights.

There are planty of cafes that will give you a main course and a coffee for around $20.

But, as I am always at pains to point out to those who grizzle about alleged high priced food, you can eat high of the hog here for a fraction the price overseas. Go to Wellington’s Logan Brown (http://www.loganbrown.co.nz/), for example – this is regularly rates as one of the top three restaurants in the country. Have a look at their mains prices. $39 to $48. At the best restaurant in the country, for goodness sake! Stick a pound sign or a euro sign in front of it and you still wouldn’t get a meal at an equivalent British or European restaurant for the price.

What’s more if you agree to dine early you can get their bistro menu at $39.50 for three courses.

In summary, I could eat for $20 a day – but with all the fabulous food on offer here, why would you?

By: ayngelina

ayngelina — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:01:33 +0000

I went to NZ for four weeks in 2007 and luckily it was during vacation from work so I didn’t need to worry about what I spent as I knew I could go in debt and quickly repay it.

The country is truly built around amusing travelers in crazy ways. I was able to bungy jump, take a helicopter half way up a glacier for a hike, zorb and a million other once in a life time things.

I felt so lucky that I didn’t have to pick and choose what I wanted to do. It will be much different in a month when I leave for my RTW and have to stick to a budget.