A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Fiordland National Park vs. Rotorua for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Fiordland National Park or Rotorua?

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 Fiordland National Park and Rotorua 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.

Rotorua

Located on the banks of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua is famous as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. The area has a variety of geothermal sights, but it is also close to several lakes and has more traditional activities as well, including fishing, boating and white water rafting.

Rotorua is located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which is the largest volcano in the area. There are four major volcanic calderas that now have lakes, and several other volcanoes in the area. Rotorua sits on top of a thermal hot spring, and there are many vents and hot pools throughout the area. Many of the hot pools and sights are located within parks, with some of the best being Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.

Rotorua has a warm, temperate climate. Because of the area's inland location, it has less wind than many places in New Zealand. Temperatures during the winter months can fall to below freezing, but snow is incredibly rare.

Which city is cheaper, Rotorua 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 $81, while the average daily cost in Rotorua is $77. 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 Fiordland National Park and Rotorua in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fiordland National Park $40
    Rotorua $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fiordland National Park $80
    Rotorua $82

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fiordland National Park $35
    Rotorua $4.22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotorua

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

  • Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms: $148
  • Departure Transfer: Rotorua City Centre Hotels to Rotorua Airport: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Fiordland National Park or Rotorua?

Prices for flights to both Rotorua and Fiordland National Park 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
    Fiordland National Park $19
    Rotorua $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotorua

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

  • Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner and Performance: $100
  • Lake Rotoiti Evening Kayak Tour including Hot Springs, Glowworm Caves and BBQ Dinner: $140

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fiordland National Park $17
    Rotorua $29

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:

  • Cruise & Kayak Milford Sound: $142
  • From Te Anau: 1-Day Milford Sound Coach & Cruise: $115
  • From Te Anau: Milford Sound Small Group Bus Tour and Cruise: $99
  • Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walk from Te Anau: $113
  • Milford Sound Cruise: $54
  • Milford Sound Flight and Cruise: $295
  • Milford Sound Nature Cruise on Premium Glass-Roof Catamaran: $67

Typical Entertainment prices in Rotorua

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


  • Lunch Out for Two
    $29

Tours and Activities in Rotorua

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

  • Auckland to Rotorua Private Tour: $488
  • Buried Village of Te Wairoa Tour: $19
  • Combo Day Tour Wai-O-Tapu, Lady Knox Geyser, Champagne Lake, Polynesian: $138
  • Hells Gate Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa Experience: $52
  • Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Small-Group Day Tour From Rotorua: $204
  • Kahukiwi Experiences Luxury 4WD 3hour Guided Maori Tour: $118
  • Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour White Water Sledging Experience: $80
  • Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour Whitewater Rafting Experience: $72
  • Kaituna White-Water Rafting Adventure: $62
  • Katoa Jet Boat & guided tour of the sacred Mokoia Island: $73
  • Katoa Jet Boat tour on Lake Rotorua: $63
  • Lake Rotorua Paddle Boat Cruise: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fiordland National Park $6.79
    Rotorua $9.76

Typical Alcohol prices in Rotorua

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rotorua:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $12

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Fiordland National Park and Rotorua, we can see that Fiordland National Park 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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Fiordland National Park vs. Rotorua Travel Comparison

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