This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.
23.10.2023 - 15:37 / lonelyplanet.com
You’ve spent all that money on plane tickets getting to the bottom of the southern hemisphere. Now you want to make the rest of your travel fund stretch as far as possible. The good news is that affordable travel in New Zealand is possible – if you plan carefully.
Depending on your home currency and the exchange rate, New Zealand travel can be delightfully affordable or a bit of a stretch. Many travelers are shocked to discover how expensive food and goods are in New Zealand, the consequence of everything from gasoline to staples like rice having to travel a long way to get there. Meals out can seem expensive, but keep in mind that listed prices always include tax. You also don’t need to tip; New Zealand has one of the highest hourly minimum wages in the world.
Despite the high cost of living, you can still make your dollars stretch. Here’s how to travel through NZ on a budget.
Average daily cost: NZ$150 to $250, including three meals a day, cheaper accommodation and modest activities and transportation.
The InterCity bus network is the cheapest way to travel around New Zealand. The buses are reasonably comfortable with big windows, charging ports and regular stops. Tickets can be very cheap if you book ahead – Auckland to Wellington from NZ$68, for example.
A FlexiPass buys you “hours” on the bus so you can hop on and hop off, planning your own itinerary. InterCity also offers backpacker discounts if you have an association card such as YHA, BBH, ISIC or Hostelling International.
Although your itinerary will need to be flexible, one-way relocations of rental cars and campervans via websites such as Transfercar can save you money on travel, fuel and accommodation. Some will pay your ferry ticket if you have to cross between the North and South Islands.
Although it can seem like a big cost upfront, securing a campervan hire save money in the long run. With countless free and legal campsites across the country, you won’t have to shell out for accommodation and can cook your own food. Comparison sites, like Motorhome Republic, aggregate campervan offers so you can find the best deal.
If you’re staying longer, however, buying might be a better bet – it’s relatively easy to purchase, register and insure a vehicle in New Zealand. TradeMe (NZ’s online marketplace), hostel notice boards and backpacker Facebook pages are rife with vans for sale by travelers departing for home. If you have between NZ$7000 and $10,000 to spend on your ride, you’re likely to snag a van fully equipped with camping equipment. Provided you avoid misadventure and repairs, you probably won’t lose a lot of money when you sell it to the next eager budget traveler.
Whatever you do, choose the most economical vehicle you can, because fuel
This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.
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