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?

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.

I think most people are surprised at the cost, because they are coming off of cheap destinations such as S. Asia and yeah, it’s not cheap like that. But compared to Australia, the US, UK/Ireland, it’s a bargin.

I think that you touch on some points about bringing in some of your own (drinks) in order to save.

I can picture that being able to find a couch to crash on would surely help save a lot of money. I plan on pitching a tent in Lissie’s yard if/when I ever make it to that part of the world.

During the travel stints, part of the time was doing stuff on farms, ecovillages, or even in hostels through HelpExchange.net, largely for the unique, incredible and unforgettable experiences. Saving money was just an added bonus. This also gave me the chance to do things like spend a week in a bungalow overlooking the Marlborough Sounds for free – would have cost something like $300 a night!!

Also, while I was waiting for my mountain job to start in (very expensive) Queenstown, I cleaned the hostel for 2 hours a day – 10a-noon, very decent hours! – and that alone paid for an entire night’s accommodation. I did that for about a month and worked just a tiny bit at a local shop for some spending money and lived quite comfortably and happily. Way better than a 9-5 any day! You can do the hostel cleaning all over and it can be a really great gig, even fun (really!).

It was an incredible year and we were able to do all the activities we wanted to do (skydiving, bungy jumping, abseiling, zorbing, luging, snowboarding, canyoning, jumping off the Skytower in Auckland and a dozen other ways to make a big dent in the earth with your body) and had such a blast. If anyone ever wants any additional insider tips or info, I’d be happy to share my knowledge and experience, just drop me a line anytime!