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

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Should you visit Napier or Lake Tekapo?

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 Napier and Lake Tekapo can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Napier or Lake Tekapo?

Napier

Napier is city on the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Hawke's Bay Region, a famous area for wine vineyards. Napier has a population of 61,000 people and is known for its Art Deco architecture and of course, wine.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Napier?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Napier is $146, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $66. 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 Napier and Lake Tekapo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Napier $88
    Lake Tekapo $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Napier $176
    Lake Tekapo $104
Compare Hotels in Napier and Lake Tekapo

Looking for a hotel in Napier or Lake Tekapo? 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 Napier


Hotels in Lake Tekapo


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: Napier Hotel Prices and Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Napier $26
    Lake Tekapo -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Napier

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

  • Arrival Transfer: Hawkes Bay Airport to Central Napier City Centre: $21
  • Departure Transfer: Napier and Hastings City Centre to Hawkes Bay Airport: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Napier or Lake Tekapo?

Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Napier $32
    Lake Tekapo $11
Typical Food prices in Napier

For Napier, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casural Lunch
    $9.09

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Napier $24
    Lake Tekapo -

Tours and Activities in Napier

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

  • Napier Earthquake Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Napier Art Deco Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Napier Prison Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
  • Legacy and Winery Experience: $26
  • 75-minute Art Deco City Highlights Tour: $39
  • Versatility of the Grape Experience in Napier: $52
  • 2.5-Hour Napier Art Deco Tour: $53
  • Small Group 2.5-Hour Napier History and Art Deco Tour: $53
  • Cruise Ship Shore Excursion: $68
  • 2-Hour Guided Bicycle Tour: $71
  • Shore Excursion: 4-Hour Discover Hawkes Bay and Napier Tour: $76
  • 60-Minute Napier Deco City Tour by Vintage Car: $76

Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo

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

  • Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $96
  • Dark Sky Experience: $33
  • Summit Experience - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory: $133

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Napier $14
    Lake Tekapo -
Typical Alcohol prices in Napier

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Napier are as follows:


  • Wine
    $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Napier

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Napier:

  • Hawke's Bay Wine Tour Including Pick Up From Napier or Hastings: $78
  • Wine Tour - 3 wineries in an afternoon: $81
  • Half Day Small-Group Hawkes Bay Wine Tour: $84
  • Full Day Small-Group Hawke's Bay Wine Tour: $95
  • Napier Afternoon Wine Tour + Optional Beer Tasting: $100
  • Napier Gourmet Luncheon including Afternoon Wine Tour: $133
  • Small Group Hawke's Bay Premium Afternoon Wine Tour: $144
  • Small Group Half-Day Ultimate Wine Tour in Napier: $171
  • Hawke's Bay Morning Wine Tour and Te Mata Peak Including Winery Lunch: $175
  • Vintage Car & Wine Tasting Experience: $220
  • Private Tour & Wine Tasting (90 mins): $293

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Napier and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Napier 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 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 Lake Tekapo.

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Napier vs. Lake Tekapo Travel Comparison

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