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

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Should you visit Taupo or Picton?

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

Should I visit Taupo or Picton? 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.

Where Should I go: Taupo or Picton?

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.

Picton

Picton, New Zealand is located in the picturesque Marlborough Region on the South Island. With beachfront access in a central location and near the Marlborough Sounds, Picton is an ideal place for anyone looking for both adventure and relaxation in one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world.

The weather in Picton is fairly mild, ranging from the low fifties to high sixties, Fahrenheit, throughout the year. Their summer months are December through March, this is when you'll find temperatures in the high sixties. During the winter, June through August, Picton experiences averages of fifty degree Fahrenheit. This means you can visit any time of the year without having to worry about weather inhibiting any of your outdoor activities!

Which place is cheaper, Picton or Taupo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Taupo is $114, while the average daily cost in Picton is $88. 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 Taupo and Picton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taupo $64
    Picton $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taupo $128
    Picton $76
Compare Hotels in Taupo and Picton

Looking for a hotel in Taupo or Picton? 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 Taupo


Hotels in Picton


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: Taupo Hotel Prices and Picton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taupo $25
    Picton -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Picton

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Picton:

  • Private One Way Transfer Tour between Picton & Christchurch: $1,264

Is it cheaper to fly into Taupo or Picton?

Prices for flights to both Picton 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 $24
    Picton $20

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taupo $35
    Picton $112
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
    $155
  • Jet Boating
    $58

Tours and Activities in Taupo

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

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

Tours and Activities in Picton

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Picton are as follows:

  • Picton Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Koru Native Wildlife Centre Tour: $16
  • Ecoworld New Zealand tour from Marlborough Sounds: $18
  • Queen Charlotte Track: Cruise & Self-Guided Hike from Picton: $58
  • Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton: $66
  • Marlborough Sounds Cruise & 3-Hour Scenic Walk: $67
  • Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton: $69
  • Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise from Picton: $70
  • 3 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise: $72
  • Half day Sea Kayak Guided Tour from Picton: $72
  • Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise: $78
  • Early Bird Eco Cruise: $79

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taupo $13
    Picton $35
Typical Alcohol prices in Taupo

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


  • Wine
    $5.15

Sample the Local Flavors in Picton

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Picton:

  • Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Marlborough: $53
  • Half-Day Wine Tour from Picton: $80
  • Full-Day Wine Tour from Picton: $110
  • Picton Shore Excursion : Marlborough Wine Tour: $113
  • Picton Shore Excursion: Wings of Omaka and Marlborough Wine Tour: $129
  • Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour from Picton or Blenheim: $144
  • Marlborough Wine Tour and Cruise from Picton or Blenheim: $163

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taupo and Picton, we can see that Taupo is more expensive. And not only is Picton much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Picton would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Picton 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 Picton.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Taupo vs. Picton Travel Comparison

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