Travel Budget for Kaikoura Visit Kaikoura on a Budget or Travel in Style

Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand

How much does it cost to travel to Kaikoura?

You should plan to spend around $139 (NZ$228) per day on your vacation in Kaikoura. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $39 (NZ$64) on meals
  • $18 (NZ$29) on local transportation
  • $99 (NZ$162) on hotels

A one week trip to Kaikoura for two people costs, on average, $1,945 (NZ$3,186). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $139
    NZ$228
  • One Week Per person
    $973
    NZ$1,593
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $1,945
    NZ$3,186
  • One Month Per person
    $4,168
    NZ$6,827
  • One Week For a couple
    $1,945
    NZ$3,186
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $3,891
    NZ$6,372
  • One Month For a couple
    $8,337
    NZ$13,654
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Kaikoura cost?

A one week trip to Kaikoura usually costs around $973 (NZ$1,593) for one person and $1,945 (NZ$3,186) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Kaikoura on average costs around $1,945 (NZ$3,186) for one person and $3,891 (NZ$6,372) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Kaikoura will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Kaikoura on average costs around $4,168 (NZ$6,827) for one person and $8,337 (NZ$13,654) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Kaikoura has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Kaikoura expensive to visit?

Prices in Kaikoura are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within the Pacific, which is known to be an expensive region, Kaikoura is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Byron Bay or Airlie Beach.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Kaikoura Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Kaikoura?

The average Kaikoura trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Kaikoura travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) NZ$162 ($99)
Local Transportation 1 NZ$29 ($18)
Food 2 NZ$64 ($39)
Entertainment 1 NZ$256 ($156)
Accommodation Budget in Kaikoura
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Kaikoura is $49 (NZ$81). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Kaikoura is $99 (NZ$162). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $49
    NZ$81
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $99
    NZ$162

Hotel Prices in Kaikoura

Looking for a hotel in Kaikoura? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Kaikoura based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $119. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Kaikoura
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Kaikoura is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 (NZ$29) per person, per day, on local transportation in Kaikoura.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $18
    NZ$29


Flights to Kaikoura
How much does it cost to go to Kaikoura? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Kaikoura
The price of renting a car in Kaikoura will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Kaikoura
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Kaikoura can vary, the average cost of food in Kaikoura is $39 (NZ$64) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Kaikoura should cost around $16 (NZ$26) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Kaikoura is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $39
    NZ$64


Entertainment Budget in Kaikoura
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Kaikoura typically cost an average of $156 (NZ$256) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $156
    NZ$256

Recommended Activities


Water Budget in Kaikoura
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $2.60 (NZ$4.25) on bottled water in Kaikoura per day. The public water in Kaikoura is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $2.60
    NZ$4.25


Kaikoura On a Budget
Kaikoura Kaikoura, New Zealand
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.
Sights
The main sights to see in Kaikoura are marine life. The most common species of wildlife in the area are sperm whales, dolphins, seals, and albatross. Different seasons bring different types of wildlife, so you could also spot Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Pilot Wales, Orca's, Petrels, and Shearwater birds. There are tons of companies in town that offer sightseeing excursions and tours. These tours can be taken on the water or above the water in a helicopter.

Another sight to see is the Fyffe House. It was the home of the first family that settled in Kaikoura, the Fyffe family. Today it is the oldest standing building in Kaikoura and was built on piles of whalebones back when the town was a whaling settlement in the 1770s. The house is operated by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Many Europeans used the town as a whaling station in earlier times, and you can still find the remains of pots that rendered whale blubber along the shores in town.
Neighborhoods
Kaikoura became part of the larger region of Canterbury in 1992. A few other cities in Canterbury are Christchurch, Timaru, Ashburton, Springfield, and Omarama. The region is quite large as a whole, so if you are planning to visit some of these towns and cities, you will need to allow for more time. Just north of the town is Waipapa Bay (30 kilometers) where you can often see dolphins and whales as well. There is a wonderful campsite there that doesn't cost much and offers a discount if you buy some of the crayfish they have for sale.

Activities
Swim with dolphins and seals! This is a one of a kind experience in Kaikoura. The New Zealand fur seals are extremely playful animals and it is quite a memorable activity. Hiking is a wonderful way to experience the dramatic landscapes of Kaikoura. The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway is a 3-hour trip that takes you along a beautiful path where you will see a seal and bird colony, as well as unique limestone formations.

Hike the Fyffe track, which takes you up Mt. Fyffe, and experience the panoramic views of the entire Kaikoura peninsula once you make it to the summit. The hike is about six hours return, but there is a hut half way up that is a perfect place to take a break and have lunch. If you are hiking in the summer, you can even camp near the hut and do the hike in two days instead of one. For a cultural activity, Maori Tours Kaikoura offers a genuine insight into the indigenous Maori people and their lifestyle.
Food and Dining
Seafood is the culinary expertise of Kaikoura. In Maori, the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand, kai means "food" and koura means "crayfish". You can get excellent fresh crayfish at a place called Waipapa Bay Lobsters, about 30 kilometers north of the town. Fish and Chips are another specialty in Kaikoura, especially the ones that The Top Shop Fish and Chips serves. The Strawberry Tree is a great restaurant to eat at and offers a cool and relaxing environment with fun activities on different nights of the week. They have quiz nights, jam nights, and proper bands that come and play live music on the weekends. There is a beer garden as well with a fire pit, and this restaurant serves almost any type of seafood you could imagine!

Transportation
Buses that run between Picton and Christchurch always stop in Kaikoura, so that is one option of getting to the town. There is also a scenic rail line between Picton and Christchurch that stops at Kaikoura twice a day. This is a great way to be able to see some beautiful views while you make your way to Kaikoura. The route takes you between where the mountains meet the sea and at one point gets so close to the shore that you can often see some seals basking in the sun. You can also get to Kaikoura by car; there are many rental car companies in New Zealand. Once in Kaikoura, you can get around on foot.


Related:

Looking for a party in Auckland or somewhere else in New Zealand?
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.