Should you visit Arrowtown or Picton?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Arrowtown and Picton can help you decide which place is right for you.
Arrowtown
Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.
Picton
Picton, New Zealand is located in the picturesque Marlborough Region on the South Island. With beachfront access in a central location and near the Marlborough Sounds, Picton is an ideal place for anyone looking for both adventure and relaxation in one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world.
The weather in Picton is fairly mild, ranging from the low fifties to high sixties, Fahrenheit, throughout the year. Their summer months are December through March, this is when you'll find temperatures in the high sixties. During the winter, June through August, Picton experiences averages of fifty degree Fahrenheit. This means you can visit any time of the year without having to worry about weather inhibiting any of your outdoor activities!
Which city is cheaper, Picton or Arrowtown?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Arrowtown is $110, while the average daily cost in Picton is $83. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Arrowtown and Picton in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $128 in Arrowtown For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $70 for a double occupancy room in Picton.
Food
Food in Arrowtown costs travelers about $29 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
While meal prices in Picton can vary, the average travelers spends about $19 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Picton should cost around $7.60 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Picton is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Arrowtown $29
Picton $19
Local Transportation
To get around in Arrowtown, the average visitor spends $26 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Picton
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Picton:
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Private One Way Transfer Tour between Picton & Christchurch:
$1,264
Is it cheaper to fly into Arrowtown or Picton?
Prices for flights to both Picton and Arrowtown change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
In Arrowtown, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $105 per person, per day in Picton. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Arrowtown
For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Queenstown: Self-Guided Biking Experience from Arrowtown:
$31
Tours and Activities in Picton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Picton are as follows:
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3 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise:
$72
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Bird Watching and Dolphin Eco-Tour from Picton:
$96
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Captain Cook and Dolphin Cruise:
$98
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Dolphin Swimming and Watching E-Ko-Tour from Picton:
$133
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Early Bird Eco Cruise:
$79
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Ecoworld New Zealand tour from Marlborough Sounds:
$18
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From Private Wine and Gourmet Tour of Marlborough:
$644
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Full Day Queen Charlotte Kayak and Walking Tour from Picton:
$137
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Full day Guided Sea Kayak Tour from Picton:
$99
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Half day Sea Kayak Guided Tour from Picton:
$72
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Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton:
$66
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Half-Day Dolphin Viewing Eco-Tour from Picton:
$96
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Arrowtown spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $33 on alcoholic beverages in Picton per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Picton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Picton:
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Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Marlborough:
$53
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Half-Day Wine Tour from Picton:
$80
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Full-Day Wine Tour from Picton:
$110
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Picton Shore Excursion : Marlborough Wine Tour:
$113
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Picton Shore Excursion: Wings of Omaka and Marlborough Wine Tour:
$129
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Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour from Picton or Blenheim:
$144
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Marlborough Sounds Icons: Wine Tour and Seafood Cruise:
$156
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Marlborough Wine Tour and Cruise from Picton or Blenheim:
$163
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arrowtown and Picton, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. And not only is Picton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Picton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Picton and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown than you might in Picton.
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