KARL WATSON
TRAVEL DOCUMENTARIES
NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIP
Quick facts
Trip length:
Time of year:
Year of trip:
Budget:
7 weeks
Dec - Feb
2017
$4,946
Table of contents
Click to skip forward to a section:
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Taupo
- Nelson
- Wanaka
- Te Anau
- Mt Cook
Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you.
Budget breakdown
Things to note:
-
Only thing really missing from the budget is petrol costs as I don't have my credit card statements from then
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All the hostels have big kitchens so it's easy to self-cater to keep spending money down
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The thing that can destroy your budget in New Zealand is the activities, so try and plan before you go which ones you want to do. You can change your mind but at least you'll have that lump of cash set aside for doing the big adventure activities.
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Also it's worth noting that because I was there peak season, a lot of the hostels were selling out fast and pretty far in advance.
Total Trip Costs ($US)
Flights from the UK:
Accommodation:
Transport:
Activities:
Cash spent:
Total:
$1,428
$595
$741
$774
$1,408
$4,946
Itinerary Summary
Wellington
Duration of stay
I had 3 stops in Wellington on my circle of 8 trip around the 2 islands.
Accommodation
Most of the time stayed with friends, but one night stayed at:
The Dwellington, dorm room: $29 NZ / $19 US per night
Activities
Weta Workshop Tour: $28 NZ / $18.50 US
Auckland
Duration of stay
2 nights and 1 full day
Accommodation
Frienz Backpackers, dorm room: $28 NZ / $18.50 US
Activities
Waiheke Island: $49 NZ / $33 US
Rotorua
Duration of stay
1 night and 1 full day
Accommodation
Rock Solid Backpackers, dorm room: $30 NZ / $20 US
Activities
-
Blue Spring Putaruru
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White Water Rafting: $85 NZ / $56 US
-
Kerosene Creek
Taupo
Duration of stay
2 nights and 1 full day
Accommodation
Taupo Urban Retreat, dorm room: $30 NZ / $22 US
Activities:
Tongariro Crossing
Nelson
Duration of stay
3 nights and 2 full days
Accommodation
Paradiso Backpackers, dorm room: $32 NZ / $21 US
Activities:
Abel Tasman National Park
Franz Josef
Duration of stay
2 nights and 1.5 days
Accommodation
Franz Josef Montrose, dorm room: $31 NZ / $20.50 US
Activities
-
Scenic Helicopter Ride
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Sky Dive: $299 NZ / $197 US
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Hot Pools: $30 NZ / $20 US
Wanaka
Duration of stay
3 nights and 2 full days
Accommodation
Wanaka Backpackers Bothy, dorm room: $31 NZ / $20.50 US
Activities
Roy's Peak
Queenstown
Duration of stay
8 nights and 7 full days
Accommodation
-
Base Backpackers, dorm room: $31 NZ / $20.50 US per night
-
De Lavender Lake View House: $162 NZ / $108 US per night
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Southern Laughter: $33 NZ / $22 US per night
Activities
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Luge: $61 NZ / $30 US
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Shotover Jet Boat: $119 NZ / $79
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Shotover Canyon Swing: $149 NZ / $99 US
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Shotover The Fox: $174 NZ / $116 US
Te Anau
Duration of stay
1 night and 1 full day
Accommodation
Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers - BBH, dorm room: $33 NZ / $22 US per night
Activities
Doubtful Sound trip: $235 NZ / $155 US
Mt Cook
Duration of stay
3 nights and 2 full days
Accommodation
-
Mt Cook Lodge, Aoraki Village, dorm room: $39 NZ / $26 US per night
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High Country Lodge & Backpackers, Twizel, dorm room: $39 NZ / $26 US per night
Christchurch
Duration of stay
2 nights and 1 full day
Accommodation
Kiwi Basecamp, dorm room: $31 NZ / $20.50 US per night
Activities
Christchurch Gondola: $30 NZ / $20 US
Accommodation
Auckland:
Frienz.com Backpackers Accommodation
27-31 Victoria Street East, Auckland,
Rotorua:
Rock Solid Backpackers
1140 Hinemoa street
Downtown Rotorua
Queenstown:
Base Queenstown
49 Shotover Street
PO Box 1658
Queenstown
Queenstown:
De Lavender Lake View House
36 Perkins road,
9300 Queenstown,
Te Anau:
Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers
48-50 Lakefront Drive
Te Anau
Aorkai Mt Cook Village:
Mt Cook Lodge and Motel
Private Bag,
7999 Mount Cook Village
Twizel:
High Country Lodge, Motels & Backpackers
23 Mackenzie Drive
7901 Twizel
Travel
-
Interislander Ferry from North to South Island
-
Car Rental from Picton, 26 Days: $1,015 NZ / $675 US
Activities
North Island:
-
Wetaworkshop Tour: $28 NZ / $18 US
-
Waitomo Black Water Rafting: $150 NZ / $99 US
-
Rotorua White Water Rafting: $85 NZ / $56 US
South Island:
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Franz Josef Snow Landing Helicopter Ride: $280 NZ / $186 US
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Sky Dive Franz Josef: $299 NZ (13,000ft) / $197 US
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Shotover Canyon Jet Boat: $119 NZ / $79 US
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Doubtful Sound trip: $235 NZ / $155 US
If you're looking to book some day trips in New Zealand, here are some other ideas:
Do this trip as a tour
Click on the tour to be taken to the Intrepid Travel page.
