New Zealand on a budget: My best tips for saving money
New Zealand is expensive to visit — these are the ways I save money on my travels.
I’ve travelled around New Zealand in almost every way possible; by hire car, campervan, bus, in Airbnbs, hostels, hotels, campgrounds, and DOC huts.
I’ve poured thousands of dollars worth of petrol into my van, racked up massive grocery bills cooking meals on the road, and borne the solo tax of booking hotel rooms alone.
Is it possible to travel New Zealand on a budget?
Once you arrive, you can keep costs down by camping, cooking your own meals, and taking advantage of all the epic hikes and natural attractions around New Zealand.
To help you plan your trip without breaking the bank, here’s my best advice on visiting New Zealand on a budget.
jump ahead.
A heads up: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you).
Quick tips for saving money in New Zealand
Book restaurants on First Table for 50% off food — I do this all the time, it’s such good value. Use this link to get $5 credit when you sign up.
When booking a rental car, I usually compare prices on Rental Cars and just book the cheapest option, for the size vehicle I want. There’s not a great deal of difference in safety or service with New Zealand rental cars, so choose based on price.
I’ve rented from Snap Rentals several times (they are often the cheapest) and they have been great. Absolutely no issues and would rent from them again.
Booking.com has the widest range of accommodation options. I often book last minute because I struggle to plan in advance, and sometimes there are last minute deals.
Hostelworld has most hostels listed, but don’t be surprised if you can’t find many hostels — during Covid, many shut down. Dunedin used to have 9 hostels, now it has 3. That means campsites can be the best (or only) budget accommodation option in between big towns.
If you have time to compare prices though, booking directly through a hostel/hotel’s website can be cheaper.
If you can, avoid using a credit card or Paywave — a lot of smaller cafes, restaurants and shops pass on the 2% credit card fee to customers. You can avoid this fee by using a debit card (we call them Eftpos cards) and inserting it into the machine.
Shop for fruit and veges at local farmers markets or at produce shops — anywhere other than the supermarket.
How much you can expect to spend in New Zealand
To be honest, I’d say it’s hard to get your budget below $100 a day by the time you factor in transport, accommodation, and food for the day.
You could do it if you ate a lot of pasta and stayed only in campgrounds, but even a few hours of driving each day would set you back more than $50 in petrol.
When I was living in my van in the South Island, I spent almost as much as I would living in a house in Auckland, between the costs of petrol, vehicle maintenance, food, and campgrounds.
The most expensive time to visit New Zealand
The time of year you visit can significantly impact the cost of your trip. Peak tourist season (typically the summer months from December to February) tends to have higher prices for accommodations, activities, and flights.
This is the time of year when most locals go on holiday, as well as peak time for international visitors, so demand is high.
If you’re planning on visiting New Zealand during the summer, try to book in advance as much as possible to lock in prices.
However, with warmer weather you’ll be able to spend more time doing free activities and camping is much more enticing.
Winter might be cheaper overall, but you’ll want to book warm accommodation and might end up spending more on visiting hot pools instead of swimming in lakes, for example.
High and low seasons in New Zealand
High season in New Zealand is from December to February. The shoulder seasons (autumn through to spring, or March-May and October-November) offer better value accommodation and car hire.
The cheapest time to travel in New Zealand is during the winter low season (June–September), but prices can still be high in ski towns like Queenstown and Wanaka during winter.
Planning a New Zealand trip budget
Here’s a breakdown of the main trip costs, and how to get the best deals.
Flights to New Zealand
International flights to New Zealand can be a major portion of your travel expenses, especially if you're coming from Europe or North America.
The most expensive months to fly to New Zealand are December and January.
Tips for finding cheaper flights:
Cheaper flight deals are available from May to September.
I use Google Flights to compare flight prices, and set up alerts (it usually takes me weeks to commit to booking a flight).
Most advice will tell you to book well in advance, but I often book only 2-3 weeks before I travel and I can still find reasonable fares. My last trip from UK to New Zealand one way cost $950 NZD, two weeks before flying at the start of November. My lifestyle means I’m pretty flexible with dates though.
Accommodation
Accommodation in New Zealand ranges from free campgrounds to luxury lodges accessible only by helicopter.
Camping
Freedom camping in New Zealand is sadly becoming a lot more restricted from 2024, so it’s no longer a good option for budget travellers.
There are still free campgrounds, though — DOC’s basic campgrounds are free of charge. They might be very simple, or inaccessible in a standard rental vehicle, but it’s worth checking out free DOC campsites to see if there are any on your route.
Here is a map with all of DOC’s free campgrounds.
Another option for camping cheaply is to buy a campground pass.
A 30 night campground pass is $95 for an adult, which is a great deal if you spend even 10 nights camping in DOC campsites.
If you’re in New Zealand for longer, there’s also the option of a one-year pass for $195.
Obviously if you stay in campgrounds you need camping gear.
One option is to travel in a campervan, which can work out to be a cheap way to travel if you find a good deal on the rental.
The other option is to travel with a tent — you can buy camping gear second hand on TradeMe or Facebook Marketplace, if you’re committed to this.
Don’t forget: If you plan on bringing a tent or other camping gear into New Zealand, make sure you clean it before you leave. You’ll need to declare your tent to biosecurity officers when you arrive, and if it doesn’t look clean they will clean if for you — I’ve heard the chemicals they use can damage gear.
Hotels and motels
Most hotels and motels in New Zealand are pretty decent quality, even the budget units.
I’ve never had a bad stay in a hotel room in New Zealand. They are typically clean, even the simple rooms, and come with free wifi.
Lots of places will even give you free milk in the fridge, which can help you save a little on the cost of your breakfast.
Glamping
Not everyone will feel this way, but I think accommodation in New Zealand can double as an activity.
If you treat yourself to a luxurious glamping stay, you get to enjoy New Zealand’s landscapes while basking in creature comforts.
Check out Canopy Camping for some incredible places to stay around the country.
Tips for saving money on accommodation
Most hotel and motel units in New Zealand come with a kettle and a microwave, so you can at least make your own coffee in the morning.
If you’re creative, you can also make meals in the microwave.
Top 10 holiday parks are reliable and not too expensive. You can join the membership to get 10% off.
Try booking accommodation directly with the provider — Booking.com and Airbnb charge high fees, so sometimes you can save a decent amount by cutting out the booking platform.
Don’t be shy about booking Airbnb rooms where you share the house with the host. I’ve done this in New Zealand and always had a good experience — New Zealanders are pretty friendly people and hosts often have the best tips on where to go. At an Airbnb in Punakaiki, my host offered to do a load of laundry for me for no charge, and told me where to go to find my own pieces of pounamu (greenstone) on the coast.
Food
Food in New Zealand is expensive, but no more so than Australia or the United States.
Groceries in New Zealand are expensive and a week’s worth of groceries for one person can cost as much as $200.
I spend a lot at the supermarket in New Zealand because I buy a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, and options like New Zealand grown quinoa.
A flat white coffee in the morning costs roughly $5 in a cafe, and plant based milk can be as much as $1 extra.
Tips for saving money on food
Try First Table (available in Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, Nelson) to get 50% off restaurant meals.
Pak’n Save is the cheapest supermarket — Countdown and New World are usually a little more expensive. You can also get fuel discounts if you spend enough on your shop.
Sign up for supermarket discount cards to take advantage of specials.
Keep some cash in your car for stopping at roadside fruit and vegetable stalls. This way you’re supporting small growers and you can get fresh food cheaper.
New Zealand supermarkets are pretty seasonal compared to overseas, so shop whatever fruit and vegetables are in season — in summer that means stone fruit and berries, in winter kumara, cauliflower, and so on.
If you’re in Auckland, you can go dumpster diving outside the Farro’s in Grey Lynn. I know it sounds gross but you can get fresh bread (in bags) that costs around $10 in the store. It’s surprisingly well organised and you’ll see lots of well dressed people popping by the bins out the back of the shop. Just go after the store closes.
Another one for Aucklanders — the Foodprint app is an awesome waste reducing app where cafes and eateries can sell food at a discount at the end of the day.
Carry reusable coffee cups with you — quite a few places will offer a discount if you have your own cup.
Supermarkets charge for bags, so make sure you take a reusable bag into the grocery store with you.
Getting around New Zealand
One of the biggest challenges of travelling New Zealand on a budget is transportation.
Public transport exists, but it’s fairly limited — there’s only one national bus network, Intercity.
Hiring a car
A rental car is the easiest way of getting around, but depending on the season it can be pricey.
You can expect to pay between $50-80 a day for a car rental in busier times, depending on the size of the car you go for.
Demand is a lot lower in the off season so you can get some great deals.
My most recent car hire was $35 a day with Snap Rentals for a station wagon (a level up from their smallest model as I needed space for 3 adults and a car seat).
However, I had to add $24 a day to that for the excess reduction as I don’t have a credit card, only a debit card. So the total cost of my rental for 5 days was NZD $314.06.
To save money on your car rental, try and avoid the excess reduction charges. Your travel insurance should cover excess reduction and if not, you can usually add it for a one off cost instead of a daily charge, like the excess reduction fees usually are.
I’ve hired cars from Snap Rental, Avis, and Jucy, and honestly I find all car hire services to be more or less the same.
Unless you’re fussy about what kind of car you travel in, you can just go for the cheapest option.
They are all serviced and have to comply with the same road safety standards, so the main differences are in how much space there is for luggage.
The only rental cars I wouldn’t recommend are Toyota Aquas, as they are the most stolen and busted into cars in New Zealand.
Hiring a campervan
Travelling in a campervan isn’t actually that cheap.
The cost of campervan rental can be up to $200 a day or more in peak season. On top of that you need to factor in petrol (and campervans use a lot, especially on hilly roads) and the cost of campgrounds which can be $50 or more per person for a powered site.
Small campervans are cheaper,
It’s worth considering whether a rental car and cheap hotel rooms might work out to be cheaper than the cost of a campervan and campgrounds.
This math will depend heavily on the time of year you plan to visit.
Domestic flights
You will probably end up taking at least one domestic flight in New Zealand.
Most international flights arrive into Auckland Airport, so you might want to skip straight to Christchurch or Queenstown, or fly back up at the end of your trip.
Jetstar is the budget airline in New Zealand, but if you book Air New Zealand in advance you can get similar prices.
Tip: Check out Air New Zealand’s Grab A Seat to find cheap flight deals.
Buses
Backpacker Hop On Hop Off buses like Kiwi Experience don’t seem like a very good deal to me (although I’ve never used these buses myself).
I think you can just as easily travel via Intercity, or get a cheap rental car.
Hitchhiking
I have only hitch hiked on Great Barrier Island, which is small enough that it feels totally safe.
I’ve never been brave enough to hitch hike in other parts of New Zealand, but I’ve heard that it’s pretty easy. Some budget travellers use this as their main way of getting around.
It obviously has some risks though, and on top of the dangers, it can be tricky.
For example, hitch hiking south from Auckland is hard — there’s nowhere easy to flag down vehicles before they hit the motorway. You have to be pretty creative to get a lift.
Tips for saving money on transport
Use the Gaspy app to find the cheapest petrol stations. When you find a good price, top up — petrol in remote areas tends to be a lot more expensive.
Check out Air New Zealand’s Grab A Seat to find cheap flight deals.
Unfortunately ridesharing isn’t very convenient in New Zealand, despite the cost of petrol and the common routes people follow.
You can try and look for rides in hostels or Facebook groups though:
Ridesharing in New Zealand
Free things you can do in New Zealand
If you’re visiting New Zealand for the nature — and you probably are — there are abundant free activities.
Beaches, hikes, hot springs — there are so many ways to enjoy New Zealand without spending money. Here are a few ideas.
National Parks
New Zealand’s national parks are free to enter, meaning you can check out some of the most iconic walks and views for no cost at all.
Most of our national parks have short walks that are easily accessible, as well as longer multi-day treks for the more adventurous
New Zealand’s extensive network of hiking trails is largely free, and backcountry huts usually cost less than $20 a night.
If you’re on a shoestring, you can hike to see glaciers, strings of emerald pools in volcanic landscapes, and otherworldly blue water, all for the cost of the transport you need to get to the start of the walk.
Thermal springs
Geothermal activity in New Zealand means there are some epic free thermal springs.
Near Taupo and Rotorua, you can find free hot springs, without needing to pay entry fees to the geothermal parks.
In Rotorua, Kuirau Park in the centre of town is free and offers views of steaming vents and bubbling mud pools. Nearby Kerosene Creek is free to visit, and offers a chance to swim in thermally heated water.
Around Taupo, you can visit the free to enter Otumuheke Stream hot pools. They aren’t particularly hot — more like a lukewarm bath — but it’s a gorgeous place to swim and experience geothermal pools naturally.
Kawhia Beach on the west coast of the North Island has hot water under the sand, so you can dig your own hot pool. You can find the same thing at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, but you can expect more people there.
Welcome Flat Hut on the West Coast of the South Island is one of my favourite hikes, as there are stunning natural hot springs right by the hut.
Beaches
In New Zealand, no one pays for beach chairs and umbrellas like they do in Europe.
Beaches are freely accessible to everyone, you just need your own towel.
The sand dunes at Ninety Mile Beach are free. There’s no entrance fee and you can climb all over them.
Free museums and galleries
Many museums and galleries in New Zealand offer free admission or have certain days or times when entry is free.
The Auckland Art Gallery has free entry to the permanent exhibitions, and the national museum Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington also has free entry.
Public and botanic gardens
Hamilton Gardens
Hamilton Gardens
Explore the lush public gardens and botanic gardens found in cities like Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland.
The Hamilton Gardens are a highlight of the North Island. It’s well worth stopping here on your way to Raglan.
Wellington also has fabulous botanic gardens high on a hill above the harbour, offering great views of the city.
In Auckland, you can climb the volcanic cones dotted around the city for free.
Stargazing
New Zealand has inredible stargazing opportunities thanks to clear night skies and minimal light pollution.
While you can join stargazing tours in places like Tekapo, in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, you can equally find a dark spot away from town lights and gaze at the stars and constellations.
Wildlife watching
You don’t need to pay for expensive wildlife tours to see iconic New Zealand wildlife like seals, kiwi birds, and takahe.
In places like Cape Palliser, near Wellington, Kaikoura, and Cape Foulwind on the west coast of the South Island, you can see seals lounging around rocks from walkways.
If you’re in Auckland, you can visit Tawharanui Regional Park an hour north of the city to see takahe, one of the country’s rarest birds. If you camp overnight at the park, you can also go kiwi spotting after dark.
Art installations and street art
Many cities and towns in New Zealand have vibrant street art scenes.
Take a self-guided tour and appreciate the artistic talent on display in public spaces.
Free festivals and events
Check out local event listings for free festivals, live music performances, and community events happening during your visit.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope this has helped you understand the cost of travel in New Zealand.
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