A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Dunedin vs. Tauranga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Dunedin or Tauranga?

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

Should I visit Dunedin or Tauranga? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Dunedin or Tauranga?

Dunedin

Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the southeast coast and is largely Scottish in its heritage. It is part of the Otago region and has mild temperatures during the spring and summer, but extremely cold temperatures during the end of fall and winter. Dunedin is a university town; The University of Otago is the oldest in New Zealand, established in 1869. The students make up over a tenth of the entire city's population.

Tauranga

Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.

Which city is cheaper, Tauranga or Dunedin?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Dunedin is $89, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $90. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dunedin and Tauranga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dunedin $45
    Tauranga $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dunedin $90
    Tauranga $130
Compare Hotels in Dunedin and Tauranga

Looking for a hotel in Dunedin or Tauranga? 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 Dunedin


Hotels in Tauranga


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: Dunedin Hotel Prices and Tauranga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dunedin $24
    Tauranga $5.92

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dunedin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dunedin:

  • Arrival Transfer: Dunedin Airport to Central Dunedin City Centre Hotels: $17
  • Departure Transfer: Dunedin Central City Centre Hotels to Dunedin Airport: $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Dunedin or Tauranga?

Prices for flights to both Tauranga and Dunedin 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
    Dunedin $25
    Tauranga $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dunedin $15
    Tauranga $9.04

Tours and Activities in Dunedin

Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Otago Peninsula's remote and craggy coastline driving audio tour: $5.00
  • Dunedin's Renowned OCHO Chocolate Tasting Experience: $8.89
  • Self-Guided Street Art Adventure Game in Dunedin | The Tagger's Influence: $15
  • Self-Guided City Adventure Game in Dunedin | The Tailor's Secrets: $15
  • Self-Guided City Adventure Game in Dunedin | The Temporal Incident: $15
  • Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour: $18
  • Skip the Line: Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket: $26
  • Otago Peninsula: Royal Albatross Centre Tour: $35
  • Glow Worm Tours Dunedin: $38
  • Forest walk, Natural Heritage - Join us on our URBAN ESCAPE tour: $46
  • A 2 hour Small Group Dunedin City Highlights Tour: $48
  • Private Zoom Tour of World's Steepest Street!: $50

Tours and Activities in Tauranga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:

  • Mount Maunganui Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Mount Maunganui: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Harley Tour of the Mount 20mins: $30
  • Waimarino Adventure Park: $35
  • 3hr Tauranga Sun-downer History Tour COMPLIMENTARY Wine or Beer: $43
  • 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Ice Cream: $61
  • Deluxe small group Cruise Day Tour, Rotorua, Tauranga & Mt Maunganui highlights: $83
  • Evening Glow Worm Kayak Tour in Tauranga: $100
  • From Half Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour: $102
  • Half-Day Tauranga Guided Tour by Minivan with port Pickup: $104

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dunedin $12
    Tauranga $8.94

Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:

  • Speight Brewery Small Group Guided Tour from Dunedin: $19

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Dunedin and Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Budget Your Trip

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Dunedin vs. Tauranga Travel Comparison

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