Should you visit Te Anau or Picton?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Te Anau and Picton can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, best-known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is a major destination for ecotourism as it is home to rare species like the endangered flightless takahe bird and natural features like caves, waterfalls, forests, lakes, glacial valleys, and mountains.
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 city is cheaper, Picton or Te Anau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Te Anau is $85, while the average daily cost in Picton is $75. 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 Te Anau and Picton in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $76 for a double occupancy room in Te Anau If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $64 for a double occupancy room in Picton.
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Te Anau than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $23 on transportation in Te Anau on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau
Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Te Anau to Queenstown Transfer:
$39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Picton
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Picton:
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Private One Way Transfer Tour between Picton & Christchurch:
$1,264
Is it cheaper to fly into Te Anau or Picton?
Prices for flights to both Picton and Te Anau 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
The price of a meal in Te Anau can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $23 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $9.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
While meal prices in Picton can vary, the average travelers spends about $17 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Picton should cost around $6.80 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Picton is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Te Anau $23
Picton $17
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Te Anau, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $41 per day, per person.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $94 per person, per day in Picton. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Te Anau
For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour:
$73
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Morning Tea Cruise on Historic Motor Yacht from Te Anau:
$94
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Afternoon Te Anau Cruise on Historic Motor Yacht:
$94
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Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau:
$94
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Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Te Anau:
$96
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Milford Sound Coach and Nature Cruise with Picnic Lunch from Te Anau:
$103
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Full-Day Milford Sound Hiking Tour with Cruise:
$103
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Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise from Te Anau with Picnic Lunch:
$103
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Lord of the Rings and Te Anau Highlights Small Group Tour from Te Anau:
$111
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VIP Milford Sound All Inclusive Tour:
$117
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Milford Sound Experience Full Day from Te Anau:
$124
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Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau:
$132
Tours and Activities in Picton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Picton are as follows:
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3 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise:
$72
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Bird Watching and Dolphin Eco-Tour from Picton:
$96
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Captain Cook and Dolphin Cruise:
$98
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Dolphin Swimming and Watching E-Ko-Tour from Picton:
$133
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Early Bird Eco Cruise:
$79
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Ecoworld New Zealand tour from Marlborough Sounds:
$18
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From Private Wine and Gourmet Tour of Marlborough:
$594
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Full Day Queen Charlotte Kayak and Walking Tour from Picton:
$137
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Full day Guided Sea Kayak Tour from Picton:
$99
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Half day Sea Kayak Guided Tour from Picton:
$72
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Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton:
$66
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Half-Day Dolphin Viewing Eco-Tour from Picton:
$96
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Te Anau spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $30 on alcoholic beverages in Picton per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Picton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Picton:
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Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Marlborough:
$53
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Half-Day Wine Tour from Picton:
$80
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Full-Day Wine Tour from Picton:
$110
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Picton Shore Excursion : Marlborough Wine Tour:
$113
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Picton Shore Excursion: Wings of Omaka and Marlborough Wine Tour:
$129
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Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour from Picton or Blenheim:
$144
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Marlborough Wine Tour and Cruise from Picton or Blenheim:
$163
When comparing the travel costs between Te Anau and Picton, we can see that Te Anau 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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