How much does a trip to Nelson Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Nelson
Visitors to Nelson usually spend between $39 and $228 per day on average for one person and $77 to $455 for two people. While this is a wide range, the average daily cost averages $95 (NZ$159) per person. This average includes sightseeing, hotel, food, and local transportation expenses from other travelers. Your individual travel expenses may vary based on travel style and the locations visited, but if you plan wisely while visiting the most popular destinations, then you'll likely spend somewhere around this average cost during your trip. Further down we have a breakdown of expenses by category, as well as accommodation and activity prices.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Nelson?
Budget travelers to Nelson often spend around $39 per day. This usually includes a stay at a hostel and meals at affordable restaurants around town. Many budget travelers also prefer free activities over those that cost too much money. If you have a bit more money to spend, you should budget around $95 (NZ$159) per day. This average includes a mid-range hotel and more meals in restaurants, along with a higher budget for entertainment and activities. Luxury travelers should plan to spend around $228 a day which includes higher-end accommodations, restaurants, tours, and activities. For more details, see our average travel costs for Nelson here.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $17 | $41 | $96 |
| Local Transportation1 | $13 | $29 | $52 |
| Food2 | $11 | $27 | $72 |
| Water2 | $1 | $1 | $2 |
| Entertainment1 | $10 | $24 | $44 |
| Communication2 | $1 | $1 | $2 |
| Living Expenses2 | $16 | $52 | $199 |
| Alcohol2 | $6 | $13 | $26 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
How much does a weekend trip to Nelson cost?
Travelers spend, on average, $286 per person on a three-day trip to Nelson. This includes sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. You can stick close to this average price by staying at mid-range hotels and eating at mid-level restaurants, while also paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. If you wish to travel cheaper, it's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities. It's also common for many visitors to have a much higher travel budget, as many high-end hotels and restaurants can be found around town.
Archway Islands, Wharariki Beach, New Zealand
How much does a five day trip to Nelson cost?
With five days in Nelson, you can expect to spend about $476 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Nelson cost?
Most visitors spend between $270 and $1,593 for a one week trip to Nelson, with the average being $667. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Nelson. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in Nelson
With more than 6 hostels in Nelson, the average price is $19 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $16 and the most expensive is $22. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Nelson here.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Nelson.
- $20 for a dorm bed at Tasman Bay Backpackers in Nelson
- $20 for a dorm bed at YHA Nelson in Nelson
- $16 for a dorm bed at Bridge Backpackers in Nelson
Hotel Prices in Nelson
The average price for a hotel room in Nelson is $88 per night. This average is based on our detailed analysis of available hotels in the area. If you want to save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by location and amenities. You can see more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Nelson here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in Nelson
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 4 | $113 |
| 4 stars | 21 | $108 |
| 3 stars | 15 | $84 |
| 2 stars | 7 | $22 |
Should you do a tour in Nelson?
You'll find a wide range of guided tours in Nelson and many visitors enjoy the convenience of having an expert guide leading them through the chosen activity. Tours range in price from $29 for the Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided to $72 for the Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure.
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Full-Day Sailing Adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park: $159
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
- SKYWIRE Experience: $67
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
More for Nelson
If you're planning a trip to Nelson, New Zealand, check out these other informative travel guides.
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.
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.
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