Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Napier?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Napier or Whitsundays?
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 Whitsundays can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Napier or Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNapier $167Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Napier is $167, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNapier $101Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNapier $202Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Napier and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Napier or Whitsundays? 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Napier $30Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Napier or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
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Food Meals for one dayNapier $36Whitsundays $30
Typical Food Prices in Napier
For Napier, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casural Lunch$8.32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Napier $27Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Napier
For Napier, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2.5-Hour Napier Art Deco Tour: $58
- Beer, Wine, Cider and Gin Tour in New Zealand: $119
- Best of Napier & Hawkes Bay Tour: $91
- Cape Coast Wineries Self-Guided Scenic Bike Tour from Napier: $48
- Cape Winery Cycle Tour - 6 wineries, self-guided: $70
- Deco City Black Cab Tours and Shuttles: $106
- Half Day Sights and Tastes Tour in Napier : $97
- Hastings Earthquake Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Hawke's Bay: Self Guided Coastal Winery Cycle Tour: $48
- Hawkes Bay Wineries Electric Self-Guided Bike Tour: $59
- Hawkes Bay Wineries Self-Guided Bike Tour: $35
- Napier Art Deco Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNapier $16Whitsundays $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Napier
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Napier are as follows:
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Wine$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Napier
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Napier:
- Half Day Small-Group Hawkes Bay Wine Tour: $94
- Wine Tour and Tastings in Hawkes Bay: $167
- Private Sightseeing Tour + Wine Tasting: $627
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Napier and Whitsundays, we can see that Napier is more expensive. And not only is Whitsundays much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Whitsundays would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Napier Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
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.