Should you visit Wellington or Arrowtown?
Should I visit Wellington or Arrowtown? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
Arrowtown
Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.
Which city is cheaper, Arrowtown or Wellington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $94, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $108. 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 Wellington and Arrowtown in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $106 in Wellington For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $126 in Arrowtown For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Wellington food costs typically run travelers around $28 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Food in Arrowtown costs travelers about $28 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Wellington $28
Arrowtown $28
Typical Food prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Walking Food Tour Of Wellington:
$148
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Martinborough Wine and Food Tour with Lunch from Wellington:
$204
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Local Delicacies Half-Day Food Tour:
$215
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A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day):
$227
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Full Day Wellington Food Tour:
$279
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Full Day Wellington Food Tour:
$295
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Wellington than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $11 on transportation in Wellington on average per day.
To get around in Arrowtown, the average visitor spends $26 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Shared Transfer Between Airport & City CBD:
$12
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Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport:
$13
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Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels:
$13
Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Arrowtown?
Prices for flights to both Arrowtown and Wellington 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
Sightseeing expenses in Wellington, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 per day, per person.
In Arrowtown, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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10 day - South Island Tour (All inclusive):
$1,370
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2 Hour Comfort Cruiser Bike Hire:
$22
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3-Day Wellington to Auckland Tour:
$666
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30 Mins Lamborghini Supercar Experience:
$133
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30-Minute Romantic Helicopter Tour from Wellington:
$682
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4-Day Wellington to Auckland via Rotorua Tour:
$814
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7 Day - South Island Tour (All inclusive):
$1,029
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Bay of Many Coves Helicopter Tour with 3-Course Lunch from Wellington:
$622
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Beer tours in a Bubble for 10 people:
$996
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Beer tours in a Bubble for 2 people:
$319
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Beer tours in a Bubble for 4 people:
$515
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Beer tours in a Bubble for 6 people:
$719
Tours and Activities in Arrowtown
For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Queenstown: Self-Guided Biking Experience from Arrowtown:
$31
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Wellington spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Arrowtown spend on average $12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings:
$91
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Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour:
$95
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Wellington All-Inclusive Half-Day Brewery Tour:
$97
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Craft Beer Tours NZ Half Day Brewery Experience:
$102
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Craft Beer Tours NZ Full Day Brewery Experience:
$133
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Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch from Wellington:
$189
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Martinborough Wine Tour:
$369
When comparing the travel costs between Wellington and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown 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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