A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Taupo vs. Cromwell for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Taupo or Cromwell?

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

Should I visit Taupo or Cromwell? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Taupo

Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.

Cromwell

Cromwell is a town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated between two of the main highways on the South Island and is close to Queenstown and Wanaka. Luckily, the town is surrounded by Lake Dunstan, which is good for those who love being near water as Cromwell is the furthest point from the sea in the entire country.

Which city is cheaper, Cromwell or Taupo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Taupo is $96, while the average daily cost in Cromwell is $70. 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 Taupo and Cromwell in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taupo $54
    Cromwell $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taupo $108
    Cromwell $66

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taupo $21
    Cromwell $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Taupo or Cromwell?

Prices for flights to both Cromwell and Taupo 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
    Taupo $20
    Cromwell $23

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taupo $30
    Cromwell $14
Typical Entertainment prices in Taupo

Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Bungy Jumping
    $162
  • Jet Boating
    $61

Tours and Activities in Taupo

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

  • Cruise Kakariki to the Maori Rock Carvings: $30
  • Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $26
  • Great Lake Trail Lake Taupo 2-Day Mountain Biking Tour: $175
  • Lake Taupo Maori Rock Carving 2.5-Hour Sailing Cruise: $33
  • Lake Maori Rock Carvings 1.5-Hour Scenic Cruise: $23
  • Maori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise: $26
  • Self-Guided Geothermal Tour in Orakei Korako: $30
  • Taupo Highlights Tour - Go Explore Scenic: $182

Tours and Activities in Cromwell

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cromwell.

  • Go Karts - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $37
  • Highlands Taxi - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $98
  • Supercar Fast Dash - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $136
  • Mustang V8 U-Drive - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $300
  • Radical U-Drive - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $326

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taupo $11
    Cromwell $7.84
Typical Alcohol prices in Taupo

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:


  • Wine
    $5.42

Sample the Local Flavors in Cromwell

Also in Cromwell, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • THE TIGER TOUR - Full-Day Guided Wine Tour of the Central Otago Wine Region.: $186
  • Wine Tasting at Altitude: $1,111
  • Heli Jeep Wine Tour from Cromwell, Central Otago: $2,371

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taupo and Cromwell, we can see that Taupo 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo than you might in Cromwell.

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Taupo vs. Cromwell Travel Comparison

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