Should you visit Fiordland National Park or Rotorua?
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 $89, while the average daily cost in Rotorua is $84. 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 Rotorua in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $88 in Fiordland National Park For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around $88 for a double occupancy room in Rotorua 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 $44
Rotorua $44
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Fiordland National Park
$88
Rotorua
$88
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Rotorua cost around $24 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $9.60.
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner and Performance:
$100
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Lake Rotoiti Evening Kayak Tour including Hot Springs, Glowworm Caves and BBQ Dinner:
$140
Local Transportation
To get around in Fiordland National Park, the average visitor spends $38 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.
Rotorua's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $4.59 per person, per day on transportation in Rotorua.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Fiordland National Park $38
Rotorua $4.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotorua
Also for Rotorua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms:
$148
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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.
Entertainment
In Fiordland National Park, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $18 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Rotorua can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $32 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Fiordland National Park $18
Rotorua $32
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:
$142
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From Te Anau: 1-Day Milford Sound Coach & Cruise:
$115
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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Small Group Bus Tour and Cruise:
$98
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Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walk from Te Anau:
$112
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Milford Sound Cruise:
$54
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Milford Sound Flight and Cruise:
$304
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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:
Tours and Activities in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Auckland to Rotorua Private Tour:
$277
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Auckland: Full Day Rotorua Private Tour:
$325
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Buried Village of Te Wairoa Tour:
$19
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Combo Day Tour Wai-O-Tapu, Lady Knox Geyser, Champagne Lake, Polynesian:
$138
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From Eco Cultural & Wildlife Full-Day Tour:
$205
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Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves Small-Group Day Tour From Rotorua:
$204
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Kahukiwi Experiences Luxury 4WD 3hour Guided Maori Tour:
$118
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Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour Whitewater Rafting Experience:
$78
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Kaituna White-Water Rafting Adventure:
$62
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Katoa Jet Boat & guided tour of the sacred Mokoia Island:
$73
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Katoa Jet Boat tour on Lake Rotorua:
$63
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Lake Rotorua Paddle Boat Cruise:
$14
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Fiordland National Park spend on average $7.38 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Rotorua spend on average $11 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Rotorua
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rotorua:
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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