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Thread: Is travelling expensive in NZ?

  1. #1
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    Default Is travelling expensive in NZ?

    Hi!

    I read a lot about how expensive are hobbies in NZ. In fact, after some short investigation i'm sure, that breeding reptiles is extremely expensive. However, i've read also, that travelling in New Zealand is much more expensive than in Europe. This is the thing i can not understand. What makes travelling so expensive? The fuel is cheapper, which is very important for long distance travels. Are hotels, meals expensive?

    Michał

  2. #2
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    That is a very difficult question to answer. It depends so much on your personal taste, how you like to travel, how much you are prepared to spend etc. New Zealand caters for all tastes from camping and backpacking to luxury lodges. You can camp, rent a camper van, stay in a motel or a bach (holiday cottage), these are the cheaper options. Motels and baches tend to have individual cooking facilities so you don't need to eat out every night even if you are not camping or backpacking. That is one of the great things about travelling in New Zealand. There are also lots of takeaway food options even in smaller places as long as you don't mean living on fish and chips and pies!
    You can find prices of hotels etc on the internet. These are informative sites:
    http://www.aatravel.co.nz/accommodation-newzealand/
    http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz/
    http://www.bookabach.co.nz/?cref=GOO...FUdxQgodIXsAQw
    It also obviously depends on the time of year, summer is going to be more expensive whereas in autumn/winter/early spring you can get some amazing accommodation deals. And outside the main Christmas/New Year period you can be quite flexible with accommodation, there are a lot of tourist information offices even in smaller places which are very helpful with finding accommodation for you. If you go late in the day they can also sometimes offer reduced rates for places to stay.

  3. #3
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    Motels - are usually about NZ$130 on up a night for a pretty basic place. I have trouble finding a single accommodation for under $100.

    Gas - $2.08 a litre.

    But on the other hand, compared to the U.S. where you can easily drive 500 miles a day on a road trip, distances between places aren't as far.

    Camping with tent or caravan is more affordable.

  4. #4
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    In general I would say the cost for travel here and in Central Europe are similar. One exemption is that last minute offers like in Europe are not well established (yet?).

    Quote Originally Posted by Dell View Post
    Gas - $2.08 a litre.
    Dell you are not in USA anymore but back in NZ
    So it is LPG that is around $1.40 and petrol around $2.10 ( http://www.fuelsaver.govt.nz/fuel.html )

  5. #5
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    Also, it can be really worth getting the Entertainment Book http://www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/home, which contains vouchers for deals on a great variety of eating out, activities, and accommodation. We bought an Auckland one at the beginning of a two-month stay in NZ, and saved the cost of the book by using just three vouchers in the first two days.

  6. #6
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    "The fuel is cheaper" - it depends on your point of comparison.
    "But on the other hand, compared to the U.S. where you can easily drive 500 miles a day on a road trip, distances between places aren't as far." - 500 miles across Montana on I-90 is easier than any 500 miles in New Zealand.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by ralf-nz View Post
    In general I would say the cost for travel here and in Central Europe are similar. One exemption is that last minute offers like in Europe are not well established (yet?).


    Dell you are not in USA anymore but back in NZ
    So it is LPG that is around $1.40 and petrol around $2.10 ( http://www.fuelsaver.govt.nz/fuel.html )
    Sorry - but then why are the petrol stations now referred to as 'gas stations'?

    Aging myself but didn't we also used to call petrol, 'benzine'?
    Last edited by Dell; 31st December 2012 at 05:53 PM.

  8. #8
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    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasolin...nd_terminology

    While many kiwis would say driving on US highways is boring (similar to the same statement that grided cities are boring), it is much safer to drive 500 miles in the US than in NZ. Using the US as an example is not a fair comparison.

  9. #9
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    Oh, petrol is not so cheap... Prises are quite similar to polish prises. However, diesel is much cheaper, in Poland costs about 2.2 NZD a litre. I love to drive this kind of routes i can find in NZ. Highways are completely boring. Unfortunaltelly, the speed limit in NZ is quite low. I would love to travel with my own car, this would be great.

    Motel about 130 NZD a night - this is for 1 person or 2?

  10. #10
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    About diesel - it's relatively cheap in NZ at point of sale, but you have to pay an extra premium to run a diesel car. http://www.vtnz.co.nz/road-user-charges This is not to offend all the boat owners by pricing up their fuel, but equalling out the costs on the road for drivers.

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