LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Money & costs
In recent years the NZ dollar has made up some ground against stronger international currencies such as the greenback, and the country's growing tourist popularity has seen some prices rise in line with demand. However, it's still a fairly economical destination - unless you throw yourself out of a plane or cling to a jetboat every day of your trip, that is. In fact, the cost of activities figures prominently in the expense of every visit, and it helps to decide in advance what you'd prefer to spend your money on. Travellers who intend being very active should consider staying in cheaper accommodation to help finance their exertions, while more sedentary types who prefer sitting in front of a meal to dangling at the end of a bungy cord should limit their organised activities. Gastronomes will find that food is sometimes surprisingly pricey.
If you do a fair amount of sightseeing, eat out once or twice a day and stay in the least expensive motels or B&Bs, you should budget at least $90 to $110 per day (per person travelling as a pair), not including car hire or extra activities. Packing kids into your suitcases obviously means greater expense, but museums, cinemas and tour and activity organisers usually offer reasonable discounts for children, and there are plenty of open-air attractions available free of charge.
Self-catering travellers who camp, sleep in hired campervans or frequent hostels, and who tackle attractions independently, can explore NZ for as little as $50 per day. But if you want to enjoy the occasional restaurant-cooked meal and sip of beer or wine, then $70 per day is far more realistic.
HOW MUCH?
Litre of petrol $1.05
Litre of bottled water $2-3
Beer (DB) $3-5
Souvenir T-shirt $20
Hot pie $2.50-3.50
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
