A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Wellington vs. Nadi (Port Denarau) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Wellington or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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

Should I visit Wellington or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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: Wellington or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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.

Nadi (Port Denarau)

Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) or Wellington?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Wellington Prices
    New Zealand Prices
    Nadi (Port Denarau) Prices
    Fiji Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Wellington $124
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $198

The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $124, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198. 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 Wellington and Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wellington $60
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wellington $120
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $212
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Nadi (Port Denarau)

Looking for a hotel in Wellington or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Wellington


Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau)


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: Wellington Hotel Prices and Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wellington $12
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington

Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
  • Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
  • Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
  • Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $58
  • Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
  • Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
  • Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
  • Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):

  • Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $169
  • Shuttle transfer to Nadi Airport : $49
  • Shared transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $92
  • Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.15
  • Shared Departure Transfer : Hotel to Airport: $18
  • Roundtrip Transfer Nadi Int Airport -Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay(CFC APPROVED): $53
  • Roundtrip Transfer :Nadi Airport to Crowne Plaza Hotel Nadi bay: $27
  • Roundtrip Nadi Airport -Sofitel Resort & Spa(Private Transfer]: $30
  • Round Trip Private Transfer From Nadi Airport To Your Resort : $23
  • Private vehicle transfer Fiji Marriot Momi Bay to Nadi Airport : $108
  • Private Transfers Nadi Airport Fiji to Intercontinental Resort / Yatule Resort: $32
  • Private Transfer: Nadi Int Airport - Denarau Island Hotels: $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Wellington $51
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $69
Typical Food Prices in Wellington

For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner
    $8.87

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington

For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $126

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wellington $16
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $32

Tours and Activities in Wellington

For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Return Cable Car Ticket: $7.03
  • Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa: Māori Highlights Tour: $12
  • Wellington Zoo General Entry Tickets: $15
  • Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Atlantis: $27
  • Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
  • Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $27
  • Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Entry Ticket: $28
  • Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket: $32
  • Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour - Wellington: $33
  • Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
  • Wētā Workshop Creative Classes Experience Ticket: $33
  • Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38

Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:

  • "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $118
  • 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $163
  • Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
  • Best Sightseeing Tour : $132
  • Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
  • CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $105
  • Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
  • Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
  • Fiji Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Dunes hiking Combo Tour!: $135
  • Fiji Island Cultural Experience with Lunch : $184
  • Fiji Lautoka Shore Excursions Tour : $92
  • Fiji's Full-Day Sabeto Safari 4WD Adventure : $124

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wellington $12
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington

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

  • Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $100
  • From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $170
  • Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
  • Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $395


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wellington and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) is more expensive. And not only is Wellington much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wellington would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wellington 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) than you might in Wellington.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Wellington Expensive? and Is Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Wellington or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Wellington has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Wellington and Nadi (Port Denarau), keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.