A Travel Price Comparison for New Zealand Wellington vs. Te Anau for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Wellington or Te Anau?

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

Should I visit Wellington or Te Anau? 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 Te Anau?

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.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Te Anau or Wellington?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $101, while the average daily cost in Te Anau is $100. 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 Te Anau in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Wellington $57
    Te Anau $45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Wellington $114
    Te Anau $90
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Te Anau

Looking for a hotel in Wellington or Te Anau? 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 Te Anau


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 Te Anau Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Wellington $12
    Te Anau $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington

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

  • Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport: $13
  • Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels: $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau

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

  • Te Anau to Queenstown Transfer: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Te Anau?

Prices for flights to both Te Anau 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 $30
    Te Anau $27
Typical Food prices in Wellington

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


  • Dinner
    $9.10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington

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

  • Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $148
  • Martinborough Wine and Food Tour with Lunch from Wellington: $203
  • Local Delicacies Half-Day Food Tour: $204
  • A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $227
  • Full Day Wellington Food Tour: $264
  • Full Day Wellington Food Tour: $295

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Wellington $17
    Te Anau $48

Tours and Activities in Wellington

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

  • 10 day - South Island Tour (All inclusive): $1,370
  • 2 Hour Comfort Cruiser Bike Hire: $22
  • 3-Day Wellington to Auckland Tour: $666
  • 30 Mins Lamborghini Supercar Experience: $133
  • 30-Minute Romantic Helicopter Tour from Wellington: $682
  • 4-Day Wellington to Auckland via Rotorua Tour: $814
  • 7 Day - South Island Tour (All inclusive): $1,029
  • Bay of Many Coves Helicopter Tour with 3-Course Lunch from Wellington: $622
  • Beer tours in a Bubble for 10 people: $996
  • Beer tours in a Bubble for 2 people: $319
  • Beer tours in a Bubble for 4 people: $515
  • Beer tours in a Bubble for 6 people: $719

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: $94
  • Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $94
  • ENVY Experiences Exclusive Milford Day trip from Te Anau: $133
  • Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau: $132
  • Full-Day Milford Sound Hiking Tour with Cruise: $103
  • Lord of the Rings and Te Anau Highlights Small Group Tour from Te Anau: $111
  • Milford Sound Coach and Nature Cruise with Picnic Lunch from Te Anau: $103
  • Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise from Te Anau with Picnic Lunch: $103
  • Milford Sound Cruise and Helicopter Flight including Scenic Landings from Queenstown: $1,459
  • Milford Sound Experience Full Day from Te Anau: $124
  • Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Te Anau: $96
  • Milford Sound Premium Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown: $137

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Wellington $12
    Te Anau $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington

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

  • Wellington All-Inclusive Half-Day Brewery Tour: $92
  • Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $94
  • Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour: $95
  • Craft Beer Tours NZ Half Day Brewery Experience: $102
  • Craft Beer Tours NZ Full Day Brewery Experience: $133
  • Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch from Wellington: $189
  • Martinborough Wine Tour: $369

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Wellington and Te Anau, we can see that Wellington 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.

Related Articles for Te Anau
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Wellington vs. Te Anau Travel Comparison

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