Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FOOD
There's a lot of mouthwatering food here and some world-class wine. While you can splurge here and there,
eating out in New Zealand is always expensive. After all, at about $16 USD for a small meal, you'll bust
your budget quicker than Homer Simpson in a donut store!
Grocery shopping will cost typically $60 USD per week. You'll be able to get the basics: pasta, meats,
vegetables, and breads. I often found myself cooking a lot while there. I don't find the restaurants in New
Zealand to be as good of a value as in the United States, so by cooking most of your food, you aren't missing
out on a host of cultural dishes. There's no typical New Zealand food.
Cheap and inexpensive meals such as sandwiches, pizza, and grab-and-go eateries abound in this country
and cost around $8 USD for a sandwich and a drink. Kebabs and noodle shops are usually $10-12 USD, as
are fish-and-chip shops. As in Australia, sushi is very popular and there are a lot of fast-food sushi joints
that serve premade rolls in the $5-8 USD range. When I got tired of cooking, all these shops kept me fed on
a budget.
New Zealand cafés offer delicious gourmet food. I remember a beautiful summer salad with nuts, apples,
and blue cheese I ate in Auckland. Or that wonderful lamb steak I had in Queenstown while sitting outside
sipping a nice glass of white wine. New Zealanders take a lot of pride in their food. It's very artisanal but
sadly very expensive. An average meal will cost around $25 USD for a starter and main course. If you are
just looking for a starter, you can expect to pay $10-12 USD.
Besides grocery shopping, if you are looking to eat out in New Zealand, do so during lunchtime. Cafés
and restaurants have lunch menus until about 3 p.m. that cost as little as $15 USD, which is still expensive
compared to grocery shopping, but about half the price of dinner.
I like to mix eating out during lunch with cooking my own food for dinner. That way I enjoy some of
New Zealand's delicious cafés while still saving money.
TRANSPORTATION
The best way to get around cities in New Zealand is via their extensive bus network (cities don't have sub-
way systems in New Zealand). Local buses cost about $1 USD per trip for a trip around the city center.
Trains
New Zealand has a small train network that goes from Auckland down to Wellington in the North Island and
down the coast from Picton to Christchurch in the South Island. Though scenic, it's ridiculously expensive.
Prices for the Auckland-to-Christchurch route, which include the ferry between the north and south islands,
are more than $190 USD. However, a flight can be as low as $38 USD.
Kiwirail (kiwirail.co.nz) offers a fourteen-day pass for $400 USD, but at $28 USD per train ride, you
would have to travel every day just to have the price work out close to the bus price.
Unless you are a train enthusiast, this is not a good budget travel option. Skip the train, take the bus, or
fly.
Buses
New Zealand has two main bus companies: Intercity Line and Naked Bus (no one is actually naked on the
bus). Fares are typically between $15 USD and $25 USD on either line, with the Naked Bus being on the
cheaper end. With the Naked Bus, you can purchase fares for as little as 75 cents USD if you book at least
