Which place is cheaper, Cromwell or Napier?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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 Napier and Cromwell can help you decide which place is right for you.
Napier is a relaxed, character-filled, and coastal town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking. See Napier travel costs.
Cromwell is a historical, cultural, and outdoorsy town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Cromwell travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Napier. Although Napier and Cromwell are popular destinations, Napier has more sights and attractions for tourists. Napier is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, and beaches, while Cromwell attracts visitors for its skiing and small town charm. Napier is more touristy than Cromwell and is known for its many art deco buildings, its beautiful vineyards, and the area's long sandy beaches. It is also well known for the art deco architecture. Cromwell is famous for its fruit farms, orchards, and vineyards.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cromwell and Napier. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Cromwell is very good for skiing and snowboarding. However, Napier is not a skiing destination.
Cromwell is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. The town isn't far from several ski fields, so it attracts winter sports enthusiasts when the weather gets cold.
Napier is not a skiing destination.
Napier is a great town for its historical sights. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.
You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Napier. Considered an "Art Deco capital", there are many interesting buildings around town and it's worth taking an Art Deco Walk. The National Aquarium of New Zealand is also impressive as is the MTG Hawke's Bay, which is a museum, gallery, and theater in one. For something a little outside the box, you can visit the Napier Prison, which is New Zealand's oldest place of incarceration, dating back to 1862.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Cromwell. There are some interesting historical activities around town like Goldfields Mining Centre.
Napier is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Napier has a huge number of terrific restaurants. With its many wineries and big mix of fine dining restaurants, there is plenty for a foodie to enjoy around town. You'll find restaurants that serve up New Zealand favorites as well as those that experiment with modern and trendy recipes.
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Cromwell area. There are charming cafes and bakeries where you can grab a light meal or snack. There are also quaint restaurants and wineries with nice meals available.
Napier is a great town for nightlife and partying. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its evening party scene.
The nightlife in Napier has something for everybody. The nightlife scene is diverse and fun. Whether you're looking for a wild party or just want to relax with a drink and some friends, there are plenty of places where you can hang out.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Cromwell. There are a few breweries and a number of wineries around town where you can have a relaxing night out.
Napier is very popular for the beach. However, Cromwell is not a beach destination.
Napier is considered to be a world-class beach destination. It's a popular beach destination and you'll find plenty of beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and playing with the kids. You'll want to head out of town to find the best and most beautiful beaches. For hidden beaches and some of the area's best surf, head to Mahia Peninsula. To escape the tourists and hang out with the locals, go to Waipatiki Beach. And for a picnic, Westshore Beach is a favorite. Waimarama Beach is another favorite in the area as well.
Cromwell is not a beach destination.
You'll find superb hiking in both Napier and Cromwell.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Napier. Hawke's Bay is filled with wonderful walks and hikes. There are easy coastal paths as well as mult-day treks around Lake Waikaremoana. It's not hard to find somewhere to stretch your legs and explore the scenery.
You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Cromwell. There are many beautiful walks in the area that take you through diverse landscapes and to impressive views.
Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Napier and Cromwell.
Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Napier. You'll find all of the standard New Zealand retail chains as well antique and boutique shops. With its many Art Deco buildings, the city has character and personality.
Cromwell offers some nice shopping areas. There's a farmers market in town as well as several local vendors and cute shops.
You'll find superb kid-friendly activities in either Napier or Cromwell.
Napier is a very family-friendly destination. This coastal city has a waterpark, a waterfall walk, and plenty of beaches where the family can hang out. There's also a waterfront promenade that is filled with water features and playgrounds where the kids can run around. You can also check out Hawke's Bay Farmyard Zoo or on a rainy day head to the Faraday Museum of Technology.
Cromwell is a very kid-friendly town. The lakefront setting means that there are water activities during the warmer months. There are also ski fields nearby for the winter months. Biking and walking are also popular in the area.
Both Napier and Cromwell are superb destinations to visit as a couple.
Napier makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Surrounded by vineyards and lined with beaches, this is a great place for a romantic getaway or a honeymoon. Hop on a bike and explore the wineries or enjoy a beautiful hike through nature. There are also adrenaline-filled activities for thrill seekers or fine dining restaurants for the foodies.
Couples visit Cromwell frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Cycling, walking, kayaking, and skiing all make this a romantic a charming town to visit as a couple. There are also wineries in the area with beautiful vineyards.
Napier is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Cromwell is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.
Many backpackers visit Napier. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of fun activities like mountain biking or white water rafting that you can enjoy.
Plenty of backpackers visit Cromwell. There are a handful of great hostels in the area and plenty of things to keep backpackers entertained.
Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Napier and Cromwell.
Public transit is mostly limited in Napier. Public transit to most of the beaches is limited or nonexistent, so you really need a car if you want to get around and see everything.
Public transit is generally limited in Cromwell. Public transit around town is limited to a couple of buses.
Cromwell is very good for its walkability. However, Napier is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.
Cromwell is somewhat walkable. Parts of the town are walkable.
Napier is generally not very walkable. If you stay in town you can walk to cafes and restaurants, but you really need a car if you're planning to visit beaches or explore the area in depth.
For even more information, also check out Is Napier Worth Visiting? and Is Cromwell Worth Visiting?.
You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Napier or Cromwell to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Napier than Cromwell because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Napier, and 1-2 days is enough time in Cromwell.
Families should spend more time in Napier than Cromwell. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Napier, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Napier than Cromwell. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Napier that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Napier than Cromwell if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Napier.
The town of Napier offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Cromwell. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.
Napier is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Napier, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
Cromwell is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Napier is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cromwell. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Napier is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.
Travelers enjoy the skiing and nightlife when visiting the historical destination of Cromwell. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Napier is $194, while the average daily cost in Cromwell is $101. 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 Napier and Cromwell in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Napier or Cromwell? 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.
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Prices for flights to both Cromwell and Napier 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.
For Napier, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Napier, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cromwell.
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Napier are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Napier:
Also in Cromwell, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Napier and Cromwell, we can see that Napier is more expensive. And not only is Cromwell much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cromwell would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cromwell 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 Napier would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Napier than you might in Cromwell.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Napier Expensive? and Is Cromwell Expensive?.