New Zealand is a mid-to-upper budget destination — comparable to Australia or Canada, more expensive than South-East Asia or Latin America, less expensive than Switzerland or Norway. The reference budget of €130/day/person corresponds to a road trip as a couple with a mid-range campervan, mixed meals (own cooking + occasional restaurant) and essential activities.
A campervan road tripper for 14 days as a couple in high season (December-February) will plan: campervan €150-250/day (rental + insurance + km charges), campground/holiday park NZD 30-60/night (powered site with bathrooms and kitchen), DOC campsites NZD 8-15/night (basic, in nature), fuel €100-150/week (NZD 2/litre petrol, NZD 1.80/litre diesel), supermarket shopping Countdown/Pak'nSave €50-80/day to cook, activities €50-200/day depending on programme. Total estimate: €7,000-10,000/couple for 14 campervan days all-in.
A classic hotel + car traveller for 14 days as a couple in high season: flight €1,800-2,800/person return, rental car €50-90/day (Hertz, Avis, Apex, Jucy), 3-4* hotels €120-220/night (Scenic Hotel, Quality Inn, Heritage), family motel €100-180/night (TOP10 Holiday Parks, BK's Motels), restaurants €50-90/person (dinner), activities €50-200/day. Total estimate: €8,000-13,000/couple for 14 comfort days all-in.
A backpacker traveller can drop to €60-90/day with: hostels Base, Nomads, YHA (€30-50/night), InterCity long-distance bus (passes 15-50 trips from NZD 200), hostel cooking, selected activities. Plan €3,500-5,000/person for 21 backpacker days.
By expense category: transport (25-35% of budget) — international flight, campervan or car, domestic flights, ferry. Accommodation (15-25%) — variable by mode (campervan saves) Food (15-25%) — supermarket-cooking strongly reduces, restaurants NZD 50-90. Activities (20-30%) — THE category that can blow the budget: Milford Sound cruise NZD 80-120 (€45-70), Hobbiton tour NZD 130 (€75), Kawarau bungee NZD 235 (€130), Queenstown skydive NZD 539 15,000 ft (€300), Shotover jet boat NZD 169 (€95), helicopter Aoraki/glaciers NZD 400-600 (€225-340), Te Papa Museum free, zoos/national parks generally free (DOC sites). Connectivity (5-10%) — recommended Vodafone NZ or Spark SIM NZD 30-50 for 30 days with unlimited data.
Practical tips: the currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD), €1 ≈ NZD 1.78 (so 1 NZD ≈ €0.56). Visa/Mastercard cards are accepted everywhere, including for small amounts — New Zealand is largely cashless. Withdraw NZD 200-300 for DOC campsites, markets and remote areas. Tipping is not mandatory or expected (except in fine dining). Pharmacies (chemists) are numerous, medical care excellent but costly for tourists (consultation NZD 80-150, emergencies NZD 300-500) — travel insurance mandatory. The 230V voltage with type I plugs (3 angled pins) requires a specific adapter (different from European standard) — buy on arrival at Auckland Airport (NZD 15-20).
Read also
- North Island — Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Hobbiton: the populated, geothermal and cultural half.
- South Island — Queenstown, Milford Sound, Aoraki/Mt Cook, Christchurch: the wild, alpine half.
- Wellington and the southern North Island — The capital, Te Papa Museum, Cuba Street, Martinborough wines and the southern coast.
- Queenstown — World capital of adrenaline: bungee jumping (invented in 1988), jet boat, skydive.
- Milford Sound — The iconic fjord of Fiordland National Park, UNESCO-listed, a must-do cruise.