How much to budget for your New Zealand road trip guide

Many people fear that New Zealand is too expensive for a budget road trip. This is not true! In fact, if you plan your road trip and your budget accordingly, a little money can take you a long way in New Zealand.

This is thanks to the abundance of free activities and attractions such as national parks and museums!

In this article, we will explain how much to budget for your New Zealand road trip by breaking down the costs involved:

• Overall Costs (for a day, a weekend, a week and a month-long road trip)

• Accommodation

• Fuel

• Food

• Attractions and Activities

At the same time, we will also explain how you can save money on your road trip and travel further for less.

Overall Cost Of A New Zealand Road Trip

One-Day Road Trip

Average Cost: NZ$275 per person

Includes:

• 1-Day Campervan Hire (NZ$50)

• 1 Night at a Powered Campsite (NZ$35)

• Half Tank of Diesel (35L) (NZ$45)

• Food for 1 Day (NZ$45)

• 1-Day of Attractions and Sightseeing (NZ$100)

Weekend (2 Day) Road Trip

Average Cost: NZ$550 per person

Includes:

• 2-Day Campervan Hire (NZ$100)

• 2 Nights at a Powered Campsite (NZ$70)

• Full Tank of Diesel (70L) (NZ$90)

• Food for 2 Days (NZ$90)

• 2 Days of Attractions and Sightseeing (NZ$200)

Week-Long (7 Day) Road Trip

Average Cost: NZ$1,925 per person

Includes:

• 7-Day Campervan Hire (NZ$350)

• 7 Nights at a Powered Campsite (NZ$245)

• 3.5x Full Tanks of Diesel (70L) (NZ$315)

• Food for 7 Days (NZ$315)

• 7 Days of Attractions and Sightseeing (NZ$700)

Month-Long (28 Day) Road Trip

Average Cost: NZ$7,700 per person

Includes:

• 28-Day Campervan Hire (NZ$1,400)

• 28 Nights at a Powered Campsite (NZ$980)

• 14x Full Tanks of Diesel (70L) (NZ$1,260)

• Food for 28 Days (NZ$1,260)

• 28 Days of Attractions and Sightseeing (NZ$2,800)

Road Trip Campsites

How Much Per Day for Caravan Hire

On average, road trippers in New Zealand can spend anywhere from NZ$30-300 per day on hiring a campervan or motorhome.

The daily price of your caravan hire will depend on the quality of the van you are hiring, its size, year model and a heap of other considerations. The good news is that you can choose from thousands of vans and find one that suits your budget perfectly.

How Much Per Day for Campsite Fees

You also have to factor the price of campgrounds into your budget. The price of your campsite will largely depend on the location, crowds, facilities and whether or not the site is powered or unpowered.

Powered Sites

Average cost per night (for 2 people) = NZ$35-40

• Provides your campervan with access to power.

• Some holiday parks offer discounts for longer stays.

• Road tripping in the off-season can make your stay cheaper.

• Book in advance during peak seasons to ensure a spot.

Unpowered Sites

Average cost per night (for 2 people) = NZ$25-35

• Does not provide your campervan with access to power.

• A cheaper alternative to powered sites if your campervan is self-sufficient (e.g. fitted with solar panels or diesel generator).

• If your van is not self-sufficient, you can make the most of the camp facilities (e.g. cooking facilities and bathrooms).

Department of Conservation (DoC) Campsites:

Average cost per night (1 adult) = NZ$15-23

• 200+ campsites to choose from all over New Zealand.

• The facilities range. Some popular sites provide access to hot water, power points, laundry & barbecue facilities.

• Most sites are basic and offer few amenities (toilets and tap water).

Freedom Camping

Freedom camping is a great option for those on the tightest of budgets because it's pretty much free. In NZ, you can camp on certain areas of public land that aren’t necessarily recognised as a camping ground or holiday park. Often these sites are scenically spectacular.

There are certain rules that you must follow when freedom camping. Always respect the site and leave it as you found it. Fines are issued frequently for people who camp in non-registered Freedom Camping spots.

Only self-contained campers with an onboard toilet, greywater and freshwater systems are allowed to freedom camp.

Importantly, freedom camping is not allowed in all regions or districts.

How to Do Road Trip Camping On a Budget

When planning and budgeting for your New Zealand road trip, it is important to weigh up your options. Think about whether or not you really need power each night. If you don’t need a powered site and can use the campground facilities, this will save you money.

Naturally, there will be some nights where you want a comfortable night's rest before a long journey the next day. On these nights, consider spending that little bit extra so that you can enjoy the comfort of your own powered campervan.

If you can plan and book your road trip well in advance, this will save you money. Prices tend to go up the closer you get to your travel date.

Road Trip Fuel

How Much Per Day for Fuel

The amount that you will spend on fuel each day depends on the kind of vehicle you are driving, the distance of your road trip and where you choose to fill up.

Your fuel budget will also depend on what kind of fuel your vehicle uses: petrol (gas) or diesel. Diesel tends to be cheaper than petrol. Many campers and motorhomes in New Zealand run on diesel and have a 70L tank.

In 2020-21, the average price of diesel is NZ$1.35 per litre (NZ$5.13 per gallon). As such, a full tank of diesel (70L) will cost you NZ$94.50.

Comparatively, the average price of petrol is NZ$2.25 per litre (or NZ$8.52 per gallon). That means that a full tank of gas (70L) will cost you NZ$157.50.

How to Fuel Up On a Budget

The best way to save money when fuelling up on your road trip is to visit petrol stations in major New Zealand cities and towns (e.g. Christchurch, Auckland, Queenstown). Fuel prices tend to be a little cheaper in heavily populated areas.

Also, be sure to fully refill your camper before returning it to the owner. This is usually cheaper than paying the fuel fee.

Road Trip Food Costs

How Much Does Road Trip Food Cost?

On average, an individual tourist in New Zealand spends about NZ$45 per day on food. We can break this down by average price per meal:

• Coffee: $5.00

• Breakfast: $10.00

• Lunch: $15.00

• Dinner: $15.00

Be aware, this average takes into account those people who prefer to buy their meals from the supermarket and prepare food themselves. This dramatically lowers eating costs per day. If you were to eat out for every meal, you might spend closer to NZ$65 per day on food.

How to Eat On a Budget

You can save money on your road trip by buying food in a supermarket. Choosing to only eat one meal per day at a restaurant or cafe will save you a lot of money (up to NZ$40 a day). Breakfast is the cheapest meal to eat out but prices vary depending on location and cuisine type (fast food being the cheapest).

For example, the following grocery list (based on Countdown Supermarket New Zealand) might last you for 3 - 4 days and is very affordable:

• Breakfast: NZ$19.50

• 12 Pack Eggs ($4.70)

• Three Tins Baked Beans ($4.20)

• Loaf of Bread ($1.70)

• Milk ($2.90)

• Cereal ($3.50)

• Tea/Coffee 20 Pack ($2.50)

• Lunch: NZ$7.50

• Maggi Instant Noodles 12 Pack ($5.00)

• Instant Tomato Soup ($2.50)

• 200g Ham ($6.00)

• Dinner: NZ$7.50

• Kraft Mac n Cheese ($5.00)

• Bag of Carrots ($2.50)

• 6 Pack Sausages ($8.00)

• Total: NZ$34.50

Other Tips for Eating on a Budget

• Buy Food That Can Withstand Temperature Changes: Don’t waste money on perishable foods if you don’t have anywhere to refrigerate them. Opt for dry foods such as noodles or instant oatmeal/porridge. If you do want perishables, stay at powered campsites and don’t forget to bring an Esky (“Chilly Bin” in Kiwi!).

• Bulk Buy Staples: Keep snacks on hand at all times. Cereal/protein bars will stop stomachs rumbling and give you more energy for activities.

• Take Plenty of Water:

In towns and campsites where you know the drinking water is fine, fill up your water bottles to save you from buying water. If you’re not sure that the water is safe to drink, then you should spend money on bottled water. ****

• Fruit and Vegetable Stops: You might be lucky enough on your road trip to pass by local farms, many of which offer cheap produce via signage. Enjoy exotic fruits or munch on fresh groceries as a snack when the opportunity arises.

• Discounted Restaurants and Bundles: Sometimes when you buy a ticket to an attraction or stay at certain accommodation, you receive a discount at local restaurants or cafes.

Road Trip Activities and Attractions

How Much Per Day for Activities

On average, a tourist road tripping through NZ might easily spend NZ$100-150 per day on attractions and sightseeing (if they visited 1-2 paid attractions per day). However, this is counterbalanced by the days when they visit free attractions (e.g. national parks) and spend nothing at all.

Below, we have identified the entry price for some of New Zealand's most popular attractions and sightseeing spots.

Nature-Based Attractions:

• Fiordland National Park (including Milford Sound): Free Entry

• Tongariro National Park (including Lake Taupo): Free Entry

• Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers: Free Entry

• Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park: Free Entry

• Abel Tasman National Park: Free Entry

Museums and Galleries

• Te Papa Tongarewa: Free

• Auckland Museum: Free for Kiwi’s and NZ$28 for International Visitors (Adults)

• Waiting Treaty Grounds: NZ$25 for Kiwi’s and NZ$50 for International Visitors (Adults)

• Auckland Art Gallery: Free for Kiwi’s and NZ$20 for International Visitors (Adults)

Other Attractions

• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour: NZ$89 per adult

• Sky Tower (Auckland): NZ$32 per adult

• Waitomo Glowworm Cave Tours: NZ$55 per adult

• Auckland Zoo: NZ$24 per adult

• Wine Tasting in the Marlborough: Free (at most wineries)

How To Do Attractions on a Budget

The easiest way to save money on attractions in New Zealand is to focus on those that are free. All National Parks in New Zealand are free and are highly rewarding. There’s also a handful of free museums (particularly the Te Papa) which are highly renowned.

Before you set off on your road trip, plan the attractions that you feel are “must-do”. That way, you know which attractions to save your money for. This will help you stick to your budget.

If you are booking your road trip in advance, you can sometimes find cheaper tickets to attractions by booking online. Keep an eye out for any discount offers.

And if there are outdoor activities that you want to check out (e.g. surfing, biking, canoeing, etc.), why not take your own gear. Some Camplify vans are equipped to help you bring your sports gear with you, so factor this in when choosing your van.

Wrap Up: Road Trip Budget for New Zealand

We hope that the above information helps you plan your New Zealand road trip budget. New Zealand really does have something for everyone, so how much or how little you spend is up to you.

If you’d like more detailed information about how to budget for a New Zealand caravan trip, this linked article also discusses other expenses such as phone and internet data. And if you'd like to earn back some of your costs or travel on a larger budget, check out our guide on how to make money while road tripping.

Otherwise, you can start planning your adventure using our guide to road trips around New Zealand in campervans and motorhomes.