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

Pacific / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Lake Tekapo or Fiordland National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lake Tekapo and Fiordland National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Lake Tekapo or Fiordland National Park?

Lake Tekapo

Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.

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 place is cheaper, Fiordland National Park or Lake Tekapo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Tekapo is $75, while the average daily cost in Fiordland National Park is $96. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lake Tekapo and Fiordland National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lake Tekapo $59
    Fiordland National Park $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lake Tekapo $118
    Fiordland National Park $96
Compare Hotels in Lake Tekapo and Fiordland National Park

Looking for a hotel in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo


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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lake Tekapo -
    Fiordland National Park $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Tekapo or Fiordland National Park?

Prices for flights to both Fiordland National Park and Lake Tekapo 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
    Lake Tekapo $13
    Fiordland National Park $23

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lake Tekapo -
    Fiordland National Park $20

Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo

Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Lake Tekapo Tour Scenic 4WD Mountains & Glaciers: $181
  • Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $71
  • Dark Sky Experience: $25
  • Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $165
  • Stargazing Experience: $65
  • Stargazing Experience (Mandarin中文): $65
  • Mt Cook Day Tour From Tekapo (Small Group, Carbon Neutral): $151
  • Scenic 4WD Tour Lake Tekapo Backcountry: $181
  • Summit Experience - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory: $99
  • Tekapo: Indoor Māori Heritage and Astronomy Experience: $24

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:

  • Te Anau: River Jet Boat and Bike Ride Tour with Local Guide: $123

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lake Tekapo -
    Fiordland National Park $8.01

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Tekapo and Fiordland National Park, we can see that Fiordland National Park is more expensive. And not only is Lake Tekapo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lake Tekapo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo.

Related Articles for Lake Tekapo
AucklandWellingtonChristchurchDunedinTaurangaRotorua
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
More City Comparisons
Wellington vs. Lake Tekapo
Wellington vs. Fiordland National Park
Te Anau vs. Lake Tekapo
Te Anau vs. Fiordland National Park
Taupo vs. Lake Tekapo
Taupo vs. Fiordland National Park
Paihia vs. Lake Tekapo
Paihia vs. Fiordland National Park
Nelson vs. Lake Tekapo
Nelson vs. Fiordland National Park
Napier vs. Lake Tekapo
Napier vs. Fiordland National Park
Mount Aspiring National Park vs. Lake Tekapo
Mount Aspiring National Park vs. Fiordland National Park
Lake Tekapo vs. Kaikoura
Lake Tekapo vs. Dunedin
Lake Tekapo vs. Christchurch
Lake Tekapo vs. Auckland
Lake Tekapo vs. Tauranga
Lake Tekapo vs. Queenstown
Lake Tekapo vs. Arrowtown
Lake Tekapo vs. Cromwell
Lake Tekapo vs. Rotorua
Lake Tekapo vs. Picton
Lake Tekapo vs. Aoraki Mount Cook
Kaikoura vs. Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park vs. Dunedin
Fiordland National Park vs. Christchurch
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Lake Tekapo vs. Fiordland National Park Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.