What do things cost in New Zealand?

One of the most important parts of planning for an overseas holiday is knowing how much things cost and therefore how much spending money you will need to budget for. Items like petrol, meals and alcohol can quickly add up to a significant amount.

What do things cost in New Zealand?

While the journey to New Zealand can take a little longer than getting to some other destinations we can assure you it will be well worth it as you will be blown away with the
hospitality, the open spaces, our breathtaking scenery, cuisine and a myriad of activities you can indulge in particularly the outdoors. To boot, we have an economy that’s ‘rocking,’ we’re politically stable, have great health care and infrastructure so when you’re here you’ll be in good hands.

When organizing any trip it’s important to know what things cost so here are a few facts that will hopefully help you plan your trip.

Food and Drink

The standard of food in New Zealand is high with the majority of our produce locally grown from fruit and vegetables, to sustainable fish, chicken, beef, lamb, pork and venison. We treat our livestock with respect and encourage the grower to provide a free-range life style for them. With a coastline that spans 15,000 kilometres we are also spoilt for choice with seafood on most menus.

So what is the cost of food and drinks in New Zealand?

Fish and Chips
This delicacy is an iconic New Zealand meal, best eaten out of paper near the sea where the local seagulls will be competing with you for every mouthful.

Two pieces of fresh battered fish and a scoop of chips -NZD$10-$15

Take -outs
McDonald’s, KFC and many other international brands are available as well as our own boutique burger brands including Burger Fuel and Fergburgers. Fergburgers are only available in Queenstown so don’t leave town without having one as they are as iconic as our fish and chips.

McDonald’s Big Mac Combo NZD $8
Fergburgers with chips - NZD$14-$23

Cafes
The café scene in New Zealand is huge and goes hand in hand with our great coffee. New Zealander’s are nutty about their coffee and mostly can’t function without it so if you like a good coffee it won’t be hard to find. Cafes typically sell ready-made food such as sandwiches, pies, quiches and wraps as well as an a la carte menu. They are great breakfast, brunch or lunch food.

Coffee (flat white) NZD$4-$5
Sandwich -NZD $7-$10

Mainstream restaurants
Our restaurant scene is very cosmopolitan. In the cities expect international cuisine including Italian, Japanese, bistro style NZ food, Thai, Indian, Turkish, Korean and more.

Entrée - NZD$15-$20
Main - NZD$20 -$30

Fine dining
We have fabulous top-notch, fine dining restaurants in New Zealand in the cities and also many in the provincial areas. Wineries in the Hawkes Bay and Malbourough regions also have excellent restaurants.

Entree NZD$20 -$25
Main -NZD$35-$50

Beverages
We have a number of well-known New Zealand beers including Steinlager and a multitude of craft beers. We also have a thriving wine industry with our Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir well-known internationally. The cost of alcoholic beverages depends on how up-market the establishment you are in.

Wine - NZ$7 to $NZ15
Beer - $8- $10

Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory in New Zealand, however if you want to thank staff for good service they will be happy.

Transport

We have public transport systems in our cities, but it does not translate to the whole country because of our relatively small population. If you are wanting to travel around the country here are your options.

* At First Light Travel, Individuals and small groups are our speciality – you decide when and where to go and we custom make your itinerary and bookings to suit your requirements. Whether it’s a backpacker’s bus or a luxury chartered flight we can help you - Just ask

So what is the cost of of getting around in New Zealand?

Hire a car
Hiring a car to get around New Zealand is an excellent choice as it provides flexibility, but remember we drive on the left hand side of the road.

Budget rental cars are reasonably priced, but are typically late model cars whereas international brands such as Hertz and Avis charge more, but their vehicles are better.

Budget car per day - NZD$30
Avis or Hertz per day - NZD$130
Petrol prices vary, but as a rule of thumb $2 per litre

Buses
New Zealand has an intercity bus system that can get you across the length and breadth of the country.

A trip from Auckland to Wellington will cost around NZD$40 - $60.

Flying
The other alternative is to fly. Our national airline, Air New Zealand has a good network covering the country. If you book well in advance, the prices are cheaper.

A flight from Auckland to Wellington will cost approximately NZD$100- $300

Accommodation

We have the whole gambit from basic accommodation to luxury five-star lodges. Like anywhere in the world you pretty much get what you pay for.

First Light Travel's criteria for choosing which accommodation providers we use are simple. We want to put you in the best accommodation available to suit your budget, whether Luxury Lodges, ‘Boutique’ styled Bed & Breakfasts, Hotels, Motor Lodges or Backpacker Hostels. We have compiled our preferences with the help of invaluable client feedback and from personal experience. They may have been selected for their historic & cultural significance, unique scenery and location, outstanding facilities, or simply because they have a host of true ‘Kiwi’ character. At the least, they will be of a high standard, clean, friendly and comfortable.

Airbnb: NZD$100 - $1000 this depends entirely on whether you are after a room or a mansion.

B&B: NZD $120 -$250 You can find some delightful B&B in exquisite location around the country, including farms, vineyards and more. If you are looking for accommodation with a personal touch this is a good option.

Motels: NZD$85-$200 Motels are plentiful in New Zealand and provide a good standard of accommodation, but they typically won’t wow you.

Hotels: NZD$100 -$500 Hotels too are plentiful with a mix of international chains to boutique hotels.

Luxury Lodges: $1000 -$3000 per person /per night We have some unique luxury lodges in incredible remote locations in New Zealand.

Activities and Sights

New Zealand is a very new country so when it some to history we don’t even try and compete with Europe, but what we do have is scenery that will blow your mind and outdoor activities you can’t experience anywhere else. New Zealand has many great free with hikes, beaches and museums available at no cost. However, like all places there are activities that cost and some should be on your ‘must do’ list because they are part of the culture and what makes New Zealand different.

Activity Operators and Tour Guides In New Zealand there are many operators doing what may appear to be the same sort of activity with no point of difference from the rest. In reality some of these experiences are worlds apart from one another. Like us, the guides and the operators we use make it their uppermost priority to provide you with the finest, safest and environmentally friendly experience on offer in New Zealand. If we don’t do it it’s not worth doing and for good reason!

To give you an idea:

To get to the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower-NZD$29 per adult
To jump of the Sky Tower – NZD$225
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour NZD$79
Queenstown’s Dart River NZD$239
Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly NZD$510

In addition, we have 14 National Parks that are like ‘heaven on earth’ and nine great walks with modest fees to walk and stay overnight in the Department of Conservation huts.