A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Auckland vs. Arrowtown for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Auckland or Arrowtown?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

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 Auckland and Arrowtown can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Auckland or Arrowtown?

Auckland

Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Arrowtown or Auckland?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Auckland is $139, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $114. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Auckland and Arrowtown in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Auckland $88
    Arrowtown $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Auckland $176
    Arrowtown $134
Compare Hotels in Auckland and Arrowtown

Looking for a hotel in Auckland or Arrowtown? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Auckland


Hotels in Arrowtown


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Auckland Hotel Prices and Arrowtown Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Auckland $16
    Arrowtown $27
Typical Local Transportation prices in Auckland

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:


  • Bus from Airport
    $9.44
  • Airport Shuttle
    $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland

Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland HTL-APT (AKL): $57
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland APT-HTL (AKL): $57
  • Private Transfers - Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Coromandel, Raglan: $545
  • Private Transfer from Auckland city to Tauranga Cruise Port: $92
  • Private Transfer from Auckland city to Bay Of Islands Cruise Port: $114
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Port to Auckland Airport (AKL): $43
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Cruise Port to Auckland city: $26
  • Private Transfer from Auckland City to Auckland Cruise Port: $26
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Airport or City to Rotorua: $303
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Bay Of Islands Port: $114
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Tauranga Port: $92
  • Private Transfer from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Auckland Port: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Auckland or Arrowtown?

Prices for flights to both Arrowtown and Auckland 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Auckland $26
    Arrowtown $30
Typical Food prices in Auckland

For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $4.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland

For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Auckland Harbour 3-Course Dinner Cruise with Welcome Drink: $89
  • Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $91
  • Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $104
  • Auckland Insider Tour: Food Tour with Local Expert: $167

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Auckland $27
    Arrowtown $15
Typical Entertainment prices in Auckland

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)
    $33
  • Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)
    $119

Tours and Activities in Auckland

For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Auckland Classic Tour in our Electric Van: $127
  • Hobbiton Movie Set Experience: Private Tour From Auckland: $484
  • “City to Surf” - private tour with German tour guide: $91
  • "City of Sails" highlights - private tour with German tour guide: $91
  • (Private) Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Auckland : $351
  • 10 Day Northern Trail Haka Plus Tour: $2,663
  • 12-Hour LOTR Trollshaws & Waitomo Glowworm Tour : $354
  • 13,000 Feet Tandem Skydive Adventure Private Tour in Auckland: $726
  • 16,000 Feet Tandem Skydive Adventure Private Tour in Auckland: $787
  • 18,000 Feet Tandem Skydive Adventure Private Tour in Auckland: $847
  • 2 Day Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo Caves and Rotorua Private Tour from Auckland: $635
  • 2 Day Rotorua Experience: Waitomo Caves, Maori Culture & Ziplining from Auckland: $787

Tours and Activities in Arrowtown

For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Queenstown: Arrowtown Mountain Biking Adventure: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Auckland $13
    Arrowtown $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland

Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • From Waiheke Island Boutique Rustic Wine Tour: $80
  • Wild West Coast & Black Sand Beach Tour incl Craft Beer Brewery Lunch & Tasting: $91
  • Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $94
  • Muriwai Scenic Wine Tour from Auckland: $100
  • Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $128
  • Waiheke Wine Tour with Lunch at an Award Winning Restaurant: $134
  • Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $140
  • Kumeu Wine Tour: $151
  • From Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $152
  • From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $161
  • Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour Includes Wine Tastings & Lunch: $163
  • Kumeu Wineries / Brewery : $167

Sample the Local Flavors in Arrowtown

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arrowtown:

  • From Scenic Valley of the Vines Bike & Wine Tour: $69


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Auckland and Arrowtown, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Arrowtown much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Arrowtown would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arrowtown 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland than you might in Arrowtown.

Which is Bigger, Auckland or Arrowtown?

Auckland is bigger, and its population is about 194.3 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the population of Auckland vs. Arrowtown, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit and the activities that interest you.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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Auckland vs. Arrowtown Travel Comparison

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