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

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Should you visit Kaikoura or Fiordland National Park?

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

Should I visit Kaikoura or Fiordland National Park? 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: Kaikoura or Fiordland National Park?

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Fiordland National Park or Kaikoura?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kaikoura is $118, while the average daily cost in Fiordland National Park 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Kaikoura and Fiordland National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kaikoura $42
    Fiordland National Park $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kaikoura $84
    Fiordland National Park $84
Compare Hotels in Kaikoura and Fiordland National Park

Looking for a hotel in Kaikoura or Fiordland National Park? 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 Kaikoura


Hotels in Fiordland National Park


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: Kaikoura Hotel Prices and Fiordland National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kaikoura $15
    Fiordland National Park $36

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

Prices for flights to both Fiordland National Park and Kaikoura 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
    Kaikoura $33
    Fiordland National Park $20

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kaikoura $133
    Fiordland National Park $17

Tours and Activities in Kaikoura

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

  • 30-Minute Whale Watching Helicopter Tour: $269
  • Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
  • Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $85
  • Sunset Kayaking Tour: $89
  • Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura: $70
  • Private Wildlife Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $178
  • Seal Swimming Tour from Kaikoura: $89
  • Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $89

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:

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kaikoura -
    Fiordland National Park $7.05

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kaikoura and Fiordland National Park, we can see that Kaikoura is more expensive. And not only is Fiordland National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fiordland National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fiordland National Park 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura than you might in Fiordland National Park.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Kaikoura vs. Fiordland National Park Travel Comparison

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