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Plan Your Trip

DownUnder Holiday Budget 2025: How to Plan Your Trip with Our Cost-saving Guidelines

  • Budget Tips

Excitement, new places, adventures and a raft of experiences all become possibilities. Your holiday plans are filled with opportunities and places to go you’ve only just discovered. Let’s get you started on how to prepare a holiday budget for lifetime holiday memories DOWNUNDER.

Cost-savings, budgeting for a holiday does not ‘spoil’ the holiday. 

 

LET’S START BY ASKING QUESTIONS TO HELP WITH PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY BUDGET…

The first thing to consider when planning a holiday in New Zealand is translating the dream into checking out activities and attractions. Browsing BEST BITS for holiday inspiration is a great way to start the process…

STEP ONE

THE BUDGET,  HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE FOR A HOLIDAY IN NEW ZEALAND?

Step one breaks your New Zealand holliday into key components. You are going to find out how much a holiday in New Zealand will cost you and compare with your proposed budget.

@beltroadholidaypark
@beltroadholidaypark

KEY COMPONENTS OF A HOLIDAY BUDGET ARE:

  • Getting there (flights, trains, boats, rental vehicles, motorhomes, bikes). New Zealand is a long way from everywhere, including Australia (a minimum flight time Sydney to Auckland 3 hours). Australia is slightly closer to North America and Europe however it is still a considerable expense. 
  • Getting around DownUnder, New Zealand, while the country is small, it’s an elongated narrow island with key attractions throughout the country. Australia is a massive continental island. 
  • Accommodation, similar to many places, offer low and shoulder season discounted rates
  • Daily expenses, food, eating out, check out where the local supermarket is in relation to the attraction and pack snacks to avoid more expensive cafes
  • Attractions, entrance fees, check for combo deals
  • Gifts, souvenirs, check nzjane articles on key attractions and whether the attraction has a gift shop

 

STEP TWO

GETTING THERE – RESEARCH FLIGHTS & DATES

You have chosen the bucket list destinations within New Zealand. Now the nitty gritty about the cost of getting there and getting around.

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You really do not want to organise the holiday details and book everything. Simply use Best Bits for inspiration and or ask your travel agent to do the rest of the hard work for you.

 

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TIP

 

  • High season in New Zealand is between December to mid-March
  • The more time you have to plan your holiday the more savings you will make with travel deals usually 2 – 3 months in advance of your proposed holiday dates
  • Be flexible with holiday dates to book flights on less popular week days
  • Avoid where possible red eye commuter flights, they are never cheap

 

 

STEP THREE

ATTRACTIONS, ENTRANCE COST

You’ve got the destination sorted and the attraction on your must-do list is becoming a reality.

  • Check whether the hotel offers a two for one deal with a discount for the attraction, compare prices beforehand to ensure it is not an advertising ploy
  • Check if the attraction offers combo deals with nearby attractions
  • Check the fine print and ensure there is flexibility with offered tickets otherwise you could be locked into a specific time and date
  • Check the attraction’s location and any potential additional costs such as getting there
Uluru, Ayers Rock an iconic red centre landmark, Alice Springs, Australia
Uluru, Ayers Rock an iconic red centre landmark, Alice Springs

 

STEP FOUR

LOOK FOR TRAVEL DEALS

Historic Nelson viewed from Cathedral steps, New Zealand
Historic Nelson viewed from Cathedral steps, New Zealand

Airline companies, hotels and tourism operators offer travel deals to entice visitors.

  • Check out local online sites for travel deals
  • Get yourself on the email subscriber list as a person interested in notifications
  • Always compare deals with TripAdvisor or Viator as well as the destination website

Deals on TripAdvisor

 

STEP FIVE

WHERE TO STAY

You know the cost of flights (getting there) and the cost of visiting your must-go attractions now it’s about where to stay.

  • Where to stay is all about location, location, location
  • It’s a bargain however when you turn up you realise you are 10 km from the centre of town and there is not reliable transport
  • Check out BEST BITS WHERE TO STAY for tips and advice on locations and what is available to do and see nearby

Accommodation Deals

@SkyCity Hotel Auckland
@SkyCity Hotel Auckland

 

STEP SIX

KEEP THE DREAM HOLIDAY ALIVE

Screen save a glorious photo of your destination and start saving.

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Keep checking out BEST BITS latest posts for holiday inspiration.

And the best bit is the excitement of planning your trip to DownUnder. Start here with a quick scroll through New Zealand, attractions, things to do and places to visit, the definitive travel guide

 

 

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Our editors independently visit tour operators, purchase tickets, pay for accommodation, and rate products and places. We are not paid to go on a tour or visit a place. We only make money if you decide to purchase a product through our website links. We promise to never accept free products from manufacturers in return for boosting their products. Read more about our affiliate programme in the terms and conditions HERE.

 

BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE

Best Bits travel guide is published by nzjane.com. Owned and managed by PacificJane Ltd.

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