My Spending Habits Collapsed in New Zealand: Six Months of Savings Wasted 😭
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Before embarking on my adventure, I delved into extensive research, yet I still stumbled upon numerous challenges. Today, I’m sharing all the lessons I learned to help you avoid these pitfalls and make the most of your trip.
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[Travel Expenses]
🍲 Meals: Approximately 200 RMB per day on average
🚘 Small Group: 11,000 RMB per person (4-person small group)
👉 We rented a 7-seater business car for 8 days
💰 This includes accommodation, activities, tickets, transportation, and a local guide
📇 Visa: 1,263 RMB
✈️ Round-trip flight: 8,000 RMB (booked 3 months in advance)
💰 Total cost: 27,000 RMB per person
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[My Suggestions]
❌ Suggestion 1: Avoid buying souvenirs in Queenstown; they are exorbitantly priced.
❌ Suggestion 2: There’s no need to carry a lot of cash in New Zealand 💵; most places accept credit cards and popular payment apps.
❌ Suggestion 3: Get a SIM card in advance and ensure you have ample data; many areas lack 🛜 WiFi.
❌ Suggestion 4: If the weather is ☀️ sunny after arriving in Queenstown, skip the trip to Milford Sound. The view might not be as impressive as the Three Gorges, and it’s a long journey.
❌ Suggestion 5: If you’re fishing by the sea, always check the signs. Catching more than the allowed amount can result in hefty ⚠️ fines.
❌ Suggestion 6: Consider joining a small group tour. Seeing those large buses crawling along the roads, wouldn’t it be better to spend more time at the attractions? 🚌
❌ Suggestion 7: If you’re not visiting during autumn, skip Arrowtown; it’s not worth the detour.
❌ Suggestion 8: The toilet paper in New Zealand 🧻 is quite thin, so it’s wise to bring your own.
❌ Suggestion 9: For lunch, aim for 11:30 AM or after 2:00 PM to avoid long queues 👩❤️👩.
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[My Itinerary]
🍒 Day 1: Christchurch – Greymouth
🍒 Day 2: Greymouth – Hokitika – Fox Glacier Town
🍒 Day 3: Fox Glacier Town – Wanaka – Arrowtown – Queenstown
🍒 Day 4: Free activity in Queenstown
🍒 Day 5: Queenstown – Milford Sound – Te Anau
🍒 Day 6: Te Anau – Dunedin – Oamaru
🍒 Day 7: Oamaru – Mount Cook – Tekapo
🍒 Day 8: Tekapo – Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Christchurch
Wow, those meal costs are way higher than I expected! Did you find any budget-friendly grocery stores where you could cook your own meals? Also, renting a car seems smart but must have been pricey – did you split it with other travelers?
Thanks for your questions! Yes, there are some budget-friendly supermarkets like Countdown or Pak’nSave where I could’ve cooked at home, but I didn’t explore them enough. Renting a car was indeed costly, and while I considered splitting the cost, I ended up using public transport more often to save money. It’s always good to weigh the options based on your travel style!