New Zealand Travel Tips

New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world. Hiking, sky diving, caving, bungy jumping, skiing – everything here is geared towards getting you outside and doing something good. As a popular destination for backpackers and budget travelers, travel around New Zealand is really affordable and there are many ways to save money. There are always a number of travel deals going on and a smart minded traveler can save a lot of money. I loved my time in New Zealand – the people were friendly, the country was beautiful, and you meet a lot of great travelers there. You’ll love your time there.

Destination Guides

Typical Costs

• Accommodation: Hostel dorms cost between $17-22 USD per night while private rooms begin at $50 USD. Budget hotels begin around $50 USD per night for a double room. There are many camping places throughout the country. Campsites cost about $8 per night.
• Food: Eating out is really expensive here. A restaurant meal with table service can cost about $20. If you choose to cook your food, plan to spend about $35-50 per week. You can find sandwiches for $5 and fast food like McDonald’s or Burger King will cost between $5-10. Drinks at the bar will cost around $5.
• Transportation: Getting around the country is fairly cheap. The bus system is quite inexpensive and the Naked Bus (it’s just a name!) has promotional fares for $.75 if you book far in advance. Otherwise, most fares are about $13, slightly more if you are going long distances. Flying can be expensive since there isn’t a lot of competition among airlines here. Most single journey tickets are $80-160 USD.
• Activities: Activities run the gambit and can cost between $80-400 USD. There are a lot of outdoor activities and tourism here is constructed around getting people outside. Budget extra for activities as they can really destroy a budget and will be your biggest expense while you are here.

Money Saving Tips

• Free wi-fi – Internet on New Zealand is slow and expensive. McDonalds and libraries offer free wi-fi.
• Learn to cook - Since eating out is ridiculously expensive, the best way to save money is to cook your own food as much as possible. Depending on your food needs, you could eat as cheap as $30 per week. While the cafes in New Zealand are good, you don’t miss out on a lot of cuisine by cooking.
• Choice wisely - Tours cost a lot of money in New Zealand. A few of those are enough to bust any budget and send home you before you had planned. Pick the ones you really want to do and save the rest for another trip.
• Hit happy hour – The backpacker bars have cheap happy hours offering $3 drinks. Hit them up and drink for cheap. Otherwise, plan to spend $6 for a beer at the bar.
• WWOOF it – WWOOFing is a great way to work for your accommodation and food. In return for working on a farm or B&B, you get free food and board. It’s a popular activity with travelers because it lets you stay in a place cheaper and longer. You can do it for a few days or a few months.
• Clean for your room - Many hostels let you trade a few hours of cleaning and making beds for free accommodation.
• Car share - Car shares are a popular transportation option for travelers looking to lower costs. All you need to do is chip in for gas. You can find rides on websites like Gumtree, Craigslist, or Jayride. Additionally, you’ll see people asking for rides on hostel bulletin boards.

Top Things to See and Do

• Queenstown – The action capital the country, this is one of the funnest cities I’ve ever been in. There’s a lot of outdoor activities and sports (bungy jumpy is the most popular) to do in the area, amazing restaurants, and the best night life in New Zealand. Everyone who comes ends up staying longer than planned. Don’t skip Fernburger – amazing burgers.
• Franz Josef Glacier – Hiking these glaciers is pretty amazing. There’s not much in this town besides the glacier hiking. Be sure to crawl through the glacier tunnels! It’s pretty cool.
• Tongariro Crossing – Labeled the best one day hike in New Zealand, this walk takes you through where they filmed Mordor in Lord of the Rings. You walk through volcanic terrain, near high peaks, and sulfur lakes before finishing off in a dense forest. The walk takes a full day. Be prepared to have your legs will be sore for a few days after. But it was worth the sense of accomplishment.
• Bay of Islands – North of Auckland, this area has some of the best dolphin and whale watching, relaxing on the beach, swimming, boating, and eating seafood. The area is very low key. It’s a popular summer and weekend getaway place for Aucklanders.
• Bungy Jump – Any adrenaline seeker worth his/her salt will do the 143 meter Nevis Bungy Jump outside of Queenstown. If that’s too high, there are smaller ones in Auckland and Queenstown.
• Skydive – Another popular adventure activity, sky diving is best down over Lake Taupo. It provides the best backdrop as you plunge to Earth from 14,000 ft. Taupo. There’s also sky diving in Queenstown.
• Abel Tasman National Park – Located in the south island, this national park looks like something out of Asia with its turquoise blue water, dense jungles, and warm temperatures. There are many multi-day hiking trails and beautiful sea kayaking throughout the park.
• Wellington – New Zealand’s capital has great architecture, character, fantastic nightlife, restaurants, and cultural activities. I found it to be the most “arty” city in New Zealand and enjoyed it more than Auckland. I just found there was more to culturally do here.
• Waitomo Glowworm Caves – Explore these caves in sheer darkness with nothing but the glow of glowworms to guide your way. It’s an exciting activity as you float down rivers and jump over waterfalls and watch the “starry sky” in the cave.
• Maori Cultural Show – Maori culture is important to understanding life in this country. You find Maori symbols and words throughout the country. See a cultural show while you are there to get a better understanding of the life and history of the country’s native population.
• Dolphin and Whale Watching – Whether you go from the Bay of Islands, Auckland, or down in the south island, the country is the migratory route for many of these migratory creatures and you’re bound to see lots of them no matter when you go.
• Skiing – During the winter months, the south island, especially the are around Queenstown, has snow covered mountains that offer some of the best skiing in the southern hemisphere.
• Rotorua – Rotorua is famous for its Maori cultural shows and for its smell. All around the city are sulfur mud pits that give the city a unique odor. If you are looking for a place to relax, Rotorua and the variety of spas they have here is the place to go.
• Kaikoura – This is a coastal town, several miles north of Christchurch. It is set within a peninsula, which makes it an awesome place to enjoy the mountain scenery while watching for whales, dolphins, and winter-friendly animals. Additionally, there are is an interesting museum, a handful of historical sights, and the Maori Leap limestone cave.
• Wellington Botanic Gardens – Of all the beautiful gardens throughout the country, this is perhaps the most popular. There is a vast tract of native forest, in addition to an international plant collection, a rose garden, and a landscaped area – complete with duck pond, playground, sculptures, a café, and more.
• Ride the Gondola – If you are in Christchurch, the Gondola ride is highly recommended and a pretty fundamental experience. The ride starts on the Heathcote Valley floor and takes you up the side of Mt Vaendish. There is a nice restaurant at the top that allows you to peer out over the landscape as you eat. Many people cycle back down, but there is also a tram ride available.