Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Te Anau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Te Anau or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Te Anau and Whitsundays can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Te Anau or Whitsundays?
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.
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 G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTe Anau $98Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Te Anau is $98, 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 Te Anau and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTe Anau $44Whitsundays $69
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTe Anau $88Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Te Anau and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Te Anau 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: Te Anau Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Te Anau $27Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau
Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kepler Water Taxi Transfer across Lake Te Anau: $15
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 Te Anau or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
-
Food Meals for one dayTe Anau $27Whitsundays $30
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Te Anau $47Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Te Anau
For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Afternoon Te Anau Cruise on Historic Motor Yacht: $87
- Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $87
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau: $211
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri: $229
- Fiordland: Jet Boat & Nature Walk Experience from Te Anau: $106
- From 1-Day Milford Sound Coach & Cruise: $136
- From Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise: $110
- From Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks: $146
- From Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip: $122
- From Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Lunch: $154
- From Premium Doubtful Sound Coach & Cruise: $237
- Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau: $151
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTe Anau $14Whitsundays $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Te Anau and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Te Anau much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Te Anau would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Te Anau 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays than you might in Te Anau.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Te Anau 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.