Should you visit Fiordland National Park or Dunedin?
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 Dunedin 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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Dunedin 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 $90, while the average daily cost in Dunedin is $95. 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 Dunedin in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $90 in Fiordland National Park For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $48. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Dunedin the cost is $96 on average.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Fiordland National Park $45
Dunedin $48
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Fiordland National Park
$90
Dunedin
$96
Food
The average traveler spends about $21 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.
In Dunedin travelers spend around $27 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Local Transportation
To get around in Fiordland National Park, the average visitor spends $39 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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $26 per day to get around in Dunedin.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Fiordland National Park $39
Dunedin $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dunedin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dunedin:
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Departure Transfer: Dunedin Central City Centre Hotels to Dunedin Airport:
$17
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Arrival Transfer: Dunedin Airport to Central Dunedin City Centre Hotels:
$17
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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $16 per person, per day in Dunedin. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Fiordland National Park $19
Dunedin $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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Milford Sound Nature Cruise:
$50
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Milford Sound Nature Cruise on Premium Glass-Roof Catamaran:
$57
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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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Cruise & Kayak Milford Sound:
$143
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Milford Sound Flight and Cruise:
$287
Tours and Activities in Dunedin
Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Day Private Tour with Basic Landscape Photography Around Dunedin:
$341
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5-Day Stewart Island Tour with Small Group from Dunedin:
$2,666
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A 2 hour Small Group Dunedin City Highlights Tour:
$48
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Carbon-free transport and tour through Orokonui Ecosanctuary:
$96
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Culture in Context Tour on the Otago Peninsula:
$114
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Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Albatross Guided Tour:
$178
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Dunedin City and Coastal Views 3-Hour Small-Group Guided Tour:
$72
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Dunedin City and Otago Peninsula Small-Group Tour:
$156
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Dunedin City, Wildlife and Scenery Tour:
$119
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Dunedin Gardens and City Highlights Tour:
$148
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Dunedin Onshore Cruise Group Tour:
$118
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Dunedin Shore Excursion: Half-Day Wildlife Cruise and Portobello Village:
$114
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Fiordland National Park spend on average $7.53 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Dunedin may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:
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Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting:
$18
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Speight Brewery Small Group Guided Tour from Dunedin:
$19
When comparing the travel costs between Fiordland National Park and Dunedin, we can see that Dunedin 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.
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