Should you visit Fiordland National Park or Cromwell?
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 Fiordland National Park and Cromwell can help you decide which place is right for you.
Fiordland National Park
One of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, Fiordland National Park is New Zealand's largest park, as well as one of the largest in the world. Although it may be the largest, it is the least explored park in the country. The park takes up the southwest region of the south island. The Department of Conservation manages the park (like all of the other parks in the country) and they try to keep development minimal in efforts to protect the environment and manage human activity. When visiting the park, prepare for rain as the park as over 200 days of rain per year.
Cromwell
Cromwell is a town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated between two of the main highways on the South Island and is close to Queenstown and Wanaka. Luckily, the town is surrounded by Lake Dunstan, which is good for those who love being near water as Cromwell is the furthest point from the sea in the entire country.
Which city is cheaper, Cromwell or Fiordland National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Fiordland National Park is $94, while the average daily cost in Cromwell is $80. 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 Fiordland National Park and Cromwell in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $94 in Fiordland National Park For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around $76 for a double occupancy room in Cromwell If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Fiordland National Park $47
Cromwell $38
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Fiordland National Park
$94
Cromwell
$76
Food
The average traveler spends about $22 per day in Fiordland National Park for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
While meal prices in Cromwell can vary, the average travelers spends about $26 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Cromwell should cost around $10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cromwell is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Local Transportation
To get around in Fiordland National Park, the average visitor spends $41 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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Cromwell than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $24 on transportation in Cromwell on average per day.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Fiordland National Park $41
Cromwell $24
Entertainment
In Fiordland National Park, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Sightseeing expenses in Cromwell, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $16 per day, per person.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Fiordland National Park $19
Cromwell $16
Tours and Activities in Fiordland National Park
For Fiordland National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Cruise & Kayak Milford Sound:
$143
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From Te Anau: 1-Day Milford Sound Coach & Cruise:
$93
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Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walk from Te Anau:
$100
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Milford Sound Flight and Cruise:
$287
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Milford Sound Nature Cruise:
$50
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Milford Sound Nature Cruise on Premium Glass-Roof Catamaran:
$57
Tours and Activities in Cromwell
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cromwell.
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Go Karts - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park:
$37
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Highlands Taxi - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park:
$98
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Mustang V8 U-Drive - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park:
$300
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Radical U-Drive - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park:
$326
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Supercar Fast Dash - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park:
$136
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Fiordland National Park spend on average $7.88 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Cromwell, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $8.93.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cromwell
Also in Cromwell, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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THE TIGER TOUR - Full-Day Guided Wine Tour of the Central Otago Wine Region.:
$186
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Wine Tasting at Altitude:
$1,111
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Heli Jeep Wine Tour from Cromwell, Central Otago:
$2,371
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fiordland National Park and Cromwell, we can see that Fiordland National Park is more expensive. And not only is Cromwell much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cromwell would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cromwell 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 Fiordland National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fiordland National Park than you might in Cromwell.
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