Should you visit Nelson or Fiordland National Park?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Nelson and Fiordland National Park can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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 Nelson?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nelson is $86, while the average daily cost in Fiordland National Park is $89. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Nelson and Fiordland National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Nelson is $74. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $88 in Fiordland National Park For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Nelson $37
Fiordland National Park $44
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Nelson
$74
Fiordland National Park
$88
Food
The price of a meal in Nelson can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $25 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $10 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The average traveler spends about $21 per day in Fiordland National Park for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Nelson is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $26 per person, per day, on local transportation in Nelson.
To get around in Fiordland National Park, the average visitor spends $38 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Nelson $26
Fiordland National Park $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nelson
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nelson:
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Departure Transfer: Nelson City Centre Hotels to Nelson Airport:
$43
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Arrival Transfer: Nelson Airport to Nelson City Centre Hotels:
$43
Is it cheaper to fly into Nelson or Fiordland National Park?
Prices for flights to both Fiordland National Park and Nelson 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Nelson typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
In Fiordland National Park, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $18 per person, per day.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Nelson $22
Fiordland National Park $18
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
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Abel Tasman and Golden Bay Tour:
$149
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Dragon Hunt Archery Experience in Pristine Native Forest:
$115
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Fly Golden Bay & Cruise Abel Tasman Day Tour from Nelson:
$341
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Full-Day Abel Tasman National Park Hiking Tour with Cruise:
$354
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Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided:
$36
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Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure:
$67
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Skywire Experience:
$72
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SKYWIRE Experience:
$78
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Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure:
$75
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Tunnel to Town - Day Adventure - Option A Via Mapua:
$125
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Tunnel to Town - Day Adventure Option B Nelson City:
$100
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:
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Milford Sound Cruise:
$54
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Milford Sound Nature Cruise on Premium Glass-Roof Catamaran:
$67
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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Small Group Bus Tour and Cruise:
$99
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Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walk from Te Anau:
$113
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From Te Anau: 1-Day Milford Sound Coach & Cruise:
$115
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Cruise & Kayak Milford Sound:
$142
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Milford Sound Flight and Cruise:
$306
Alcohol
The average person spends about $12 on alcoholic beverages in Nelson per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Fiordland National Park spend on average $7.38 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
When comparing the travel costs between Nelson and Fiordland National Park, we can see that Fiordland National Park is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Pacific, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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