A day hike with our kids at Mount Cook
How Much Does it Cost to Travel New Zealand With Kids?
This is a summary of costs for 44 days traveling both the north and south islands of New Zealand by car with our family of 4 including all airfare, car rental, transportation, accommodations, excursions, food, groceries and everything down to a stick of gum.
Want to know how much you should pay for a car rental, a basket of fish and chips, or a kayak ride in Abel Tasman? Then take a look at our chart below – be forewarned, things are not always grammatically correct.
Quick Summary
- Total cost for 44 days: $8,989.61USD
- Daily average: $204.31
- Accommodation: $3,572.10
- Transport (including 44 day rental car): $2,175.09
- Excursions: $1,122.96
- Restaurant: $129.26 (we hardly ever ate out)
- Groceries: $1,154.98
What would this trip cost today?
We road-tripped New Zealand in October and November 2014. US prices have risen about 42% since then, so inflation alone would turn our $8,990 into roughly $12,800. Many New Zealand prices rose faster than that, but the Kiwi dollar has also fallen to about 56 US cents, which helps American families. Here’s what the same things cost in 2026 for a family of four with two kids under 11.
| What | We paid (2014) | Same thing in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry: NZeTA + tourist levy x4 | didn’t exist | NZD 468 (~$263); kids pay too |
| Interislander ferry with car, family | NZD 208 | NZD 530 (~$298); NZD 585 in peak season |
| Hobbiton tour | NZD 160 | NZD 260 (~$146); kids 10 and under now free |
| Waitomo Glowworm Caves | NZD 118 | NZD 154 family (~$87) |
| Te Puia, Rotorua | NZD 142 | NZD 315 (~$177) |
| Skyline Rotorua gondola + luge | NZD 90 | NZD 145 family gondola pass; up to NZD 336 with luge rides |
| Abel Tasman water taxi, one way | NZD 91 | NZD 162–399, depending on route |
| Holiday park cabin, per night | NZD 80–117 | NZD 50–185, depending on unit |
| Rental car, per day | about NZD 39 | about NZD 50–100 (estimate) |
| Petrol (91), per liter | about NZD 2.10 | NZD 3.51 (~$1.97) |
The bottom line: New Zealand got noticeably pricier. The new entry levy alone costs a family more than our ferry did, petrol is up by two-thirds, and big attractions like Te Puia more than doubled. The weak Kiwi dollar takes some of the sting out. A family traveling like we did, cooking most meals and staying in holiday parks, should budget roughly $260–320 a day in 2026.
2026 prices checked in October 2026 from New Zealand Immigration and MBIE, Interislander fares, Hobbiton, Skyline, Tourism New Zealand listings, and national petrol price data. Dollar figures use about 0.56 US dollars per Kiwi dollar. Some figures are estimates; always confirm before you book.
New Zealand Family Travel Expense Worksheet
| Date | What we bought | Category | Local price | US$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12 | Books for Layla | School supplies | NZD 18.5 | $18.50 |
| Oct 12 | Mcdonald’s | Restaurant | NZD 30.5 | $23.85 |
| Oct 12 | Car x25 days | Transport | NZD 975 | $762.43 |
| Oct 13 | Groceries + b-day cake | Groceries | NZD 89.29 | $69.82 |
| Oct 13 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 162.94 | $127.42 |
| Oct 13 | Aquarium | Excursions | NZD 76 | $59.43 |
| Oct 13 | Cheese | Groceries | NZD 5.5 | $4.30 |
| Oct 14 | Museum | Excursions | NZD 50 | $39.10 |
| Oct 14 | Movies | Entertainment | NZD 8 | $6.26 |
| Oct 14 | Scooters | Gear | NZD 58 | $45.36 |
| Oct 15 | Jackets and tops for kids | Clothes | NZD 55 | $43.01 |
| Oct 15 | Ferry to davenport | Excursions | NZD 29 | $22.68 |
| Oct 15 | Notebooks | School supplies | NZD 5.5 | $4.30 |
| Oct 15 | Ice skating | Excursions | NZD 27 | $21.11 |
| Oct 15 | Phone NZ | Phone | NZD 48 | $37.54 |
| Oct 15 | Soup | Groceries | NZD 11.4 | $8.91 |
| Oct 15 | Australian visa 20 Australian each | Visa | $70.00 | |
| Oct 16 | 1. Night auckland | Accommodation | NZD 188.7 | $147.56 |
| Oct 16 | Bedding | Gear | NZD 35.5 | $27.76 |
| Oct 16 | Coffee | Restaurant | NZD 3 | $2.35 |
| Oct 16 | Bay of island holiday park 2 nights | Accommodation | NZD 169 | $132.16 |
| Oct 16 | Food | Groceries | NZD 75.18 | $58.79 |
| Oct 17 | Kitchen gear knife cutting board clips | Gear | NZD 16 | $12.51 |
| Oct 17 | School art | School supplies | NZD 13 | $10.17 |
| Oct 17 | Gas | Transport | NZD 61 | $47.70 |
| Oct 18 | Groceries | Groceries | IDR 23.69 | $0.00 |
| Oct 18 | Adventure world trapeze circus | Excursions | NZD 65 | $50.83 |
| Oct 18 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 13 | $10.17 |
| Oct 19 | Bay of island holiday park | Accommodation | NZD 80 | $62.56 |
| Oct 19 | Internet 3 days | Internet | NZD 18 | $14.08 |
| Oct 19 | Blanket | Gear | NZD 12 | $9.38 |
| Oct 19 | Shoes | Clothes | NZD 10 | $7.82 |
| Oct 19 | Groceries Kaitaia | Groceries | NZD 116.26 | $90.91 |
| Oct 19 | Kiwi discount card | Accommodation | NZD 30 | $23.46 |
| Oct 19 | Ahipara holiday park x2 nights | Accommodation | NZD 230 | $179.86 |
| Oct 21 | Coffee | Restaurant | NZD 3 | $2.35 |
| Oct 21 | Gas | Transport | NZD 58.4 | $45.67 |
| Oct 21 | Toll | Transport | NZD 4.8 | $3.75 |
| Oct 21 | Mcdonald’s | Restaurant | NZD 24.6 | $19.24 |
| Oct 21 | 2 nights raglan kopua holiday | Accommodation | NZD 210 | $164.22 |
| Oct 22 | Surf board | Excursions | NZD 60 | $46.92 |
| Oct 22 | Groceries teglan | Groceries | NZD 85.29 | $66.70 |
| Oct 23 | Laundry | Laundry | NZD 9 | $7.04 |
| Oct 23 | Sweets | Restaurant | NZD 4.5 | $3.52 |
| Oct 23 | School | School supplies | NZD 15.9 | $12.43 |
| Oct 23 | 2 hand store sleeping bag needles yarn coffee | Gear | NZD 10.2 | $7.98 |
| Oct 23 | Internet | Internet | NZD 15 | $11.73 |
| Oct 23 | Reglan holiday park 1 nght | Accommodation | NZD 100 | $78.20 |
| Oct 23 | Car rental 8 days | Transport | $203.00 | |
| Oct 24 | Glow worm caves | Excursions | NZD 118 | $92.27 |
| Oct 24 | Waiting caves top ten park 1 night | Accommodation | NZD 117 | $91.49 |
| Oct 24 | Internet | Internet | NZD 7 | $5.47 |
| Oct 25 | Gas | Transport | NZD 79 | $61.78 |
| Oct 25 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 45.56 | $35.63 |
| Oct 25 | Hobbit town | Excursions | NZD 160 | $125.12 |
| Oct 25 | Rotorua 2 nights cosy cottages | Accommodation | NZD 154.8 | $121.05 |
| Oct 25 | Milk | Groceries | NZD 5.5 | $4.30 |
| Oct 25 | Fruit | Groceries | NZD 10 | $7.82 |
| Oct 25 | Bread | Groceries | NZD 4 | $3.13 |
| Oct 26 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 75 | $58.65 |
| Oct 27 | Skyline luge | Excursions | NZD 89.5 | $69.99 |
| Oct 27 | Luge lunch | Restaurant | NZD 15.5 | $12.12 |
| Oct 27 | Post cards | Souvenir | NZD 5.6 | $4.38 |
| Oct 27 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 80.86 | $63.23 |
| Oct 27 | Rotorua 2 night affordable willow haven holiday park | Accommodation | NZD 180 | $140.76 |
| Oct 28 | Swimming | Excursions | NZD 18 | $14.08 |
| Oct 28 | Towels | Gear | NZD 23 | $17.99 |
| Oct 28 | Shirt | Clothes | NZD 12 | $9.38 |
| Oct 28 | White wate river rats | Excursions | NZD 118 | $92.27 |
| Oct 28 | Internet | Internet | NZD 7 | $5.47 |
| Oct 29 | Taihapo coachman motel | Accommodation | NZD 130 | $101.66 |
| Oct 29 | Te puia | Excursions | NZD 141.6 | $110.73 |
| Oct 29 | Gas Rotorua | Transport | NZD 64.14 | $50.16 |
| Oct 30 | Gas | Transport | NZD 43 | $33.63 |
| Oct 30 | Top ten pass | Accommodation | NZD 20 | $15.64 |
| Oct 30 | Wellington top ten holiday park 3 nights | Accommodation | NZD 331.4 | $259.15 |
| Oct 30 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 124.81 | $97.60 |
| Oct 31 | Parking te tapa museum | Excursions | NZD 20 | $15.64 |
| Nov 1 | Weta museum | Excursions | NZD 60 | $46.92 |
| Nov 1 | Cable car Wellington | Excursions | NZD 10 | $7.82 |
| Nov 2 | Inter island ferry | Transport | NZD 208 | $162.65 |
| Nov 2 | Hot cocoa | Restaurant | NZD 14.7 | $11.50 |
| Nov 2 | Internet Wellington holiday park | Internet | NZD 17 | $13.29 |
| Nov 2 | Gas | Transport | NZD 58.3 | $45.59 |
| Nov 2 | Shirt | Clothes | NZD 15 | $11.73 |
| Nov 2 | Layla | Allowance for kids | NZD 20 | $15.64 |
| Nov 2 | 3 nights Nelson Nikau apts | Accommodation | NZD 360 | $281.51 |
| Nov 2 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 66.1 | $51.69 |
| Nov 3 | Laundry | Laundry | NZD 6 | $4.69 |
| Nov 4 | Hair cutter | Gear | NZD 20 | $15.64 |
| Nov 4 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 83 | $64.90 |
| Nov 5 | Kaiteriteri motor park | Accommodation | NZD 109 | $85.24 |
| Nov 5 | Lunch fish and chips | Restaurant | NZD 8 | $6.26 |
| Nov 5 | Cloths book candy | Miscellaneous | NZD 24 | $18.77 |
| Nov 6 | Griceries | Groceries | NZD 7.5 | $5.86 |
| Nov 6 | Able Tasman boat | Excursions | NZD 90.7 | $70.93 |
| Nov 6 | Dinner out! | Restaurant | NZD 41.5 | $32.45 |
| Nov 6 | Kaiteriteri 1 night | Accommodation | NZD 109 | $85.24 |
| Nov 7 | Chocolate | Groceries | NZD 6.6 | $5.16 |
| Nov 7 | Gas | Transport | NZD 56.53 | $44.21 |
| Nov 7 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 19.03 | $14.88 |
| Nov 7 | Hokitika | Accommodation | NZD 83.7 | $65.45 |
| Nov 7 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 15.45 | $12.08 |
| Nov 8 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 27.97 | $21.87 |
| Nov 8 | Gas | Transport | NZD 61.87 | $48.38 |
| Nov 8 | Gas | Transport | NZD 58.25 | $45.55 |
| Nov 8 | Haast 1 night | Accommodation | NZD 112 | $87.58 |
| Nov 9 | Queenstown balmoral lodge 3 nights | Accommodation | NZD 585 | $457.46 |
| Nov 11 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 54.75 | $42.81 |
| Nov 11 | Ice Skating | Excursions | NZD 51 | $39.88 |
| Nov 12 | Books | School supplies | NZD 4.6 | $3.60 |
| Nov 12 | Candy | Groceries | NZD 9.41 | $7.36 |
| Nov 12 | Gas | Transport | NZD 57.46 | $44.93 |
| Nov 12 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 19.53 | $15.27 |
| Nov 12 | Balmoral lodge 1 night | Accommodation | NZD 195 | $152.49 |
| Nov 13 | Dunedin 2 nights | Accommodation | NZD 178 | $139.19 |
| Nov 14 | Gas | Transport | NZD 53.79 | $42.06 |
| Nov 14 | Castle | Excursions | NZD 31 | $24.24 |
| Nov 14 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 71.39 | $55.83 |
| Nov 14 | Internet x2 days | Internet | NZD 10 | $7.82 |
| Nov 15 | Omarama x 1 night Ahuriri motels | Accommodation | NZD 125 | $97.75 |
| Nov 16 | Gas | Transport | NZD 31.12 | $24.34 |
| Nov 16 | Cadbury chocolate | Souvenir | NZD 13.9 | $10.87 |
| Nov 16 | Cadbury world | Excursions | NZD 40 | $31.28 |
| Nov 16 | Post card | Souvenir | NZD 1 | $0.78 |
| Nov 16 | Clay cliffs oamaru hiking | Excursions | NZD 5 | $3.91 |
| Nov 16 | Motel omarama | Accommodation | NZD 125 | $97.75 |
| Nov 17 | Gas | Transport | NZD 60.71 | $47.47 |
| Nov 17 | Lake tekapo | Accommodation | NZD 145 | $113.39 |
| Nov 17 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 55 | $43.01 |
| Nov 19 | Groceries Christchurch | Groceries | NZD 31.23 | $24.42 |
| Nov 19 | Christchurch top ten x2nghts | Accommodation | NZD 176.4 | $137.94 |
| Nov 19 | Internet | Internet | NZD 14 | $10.95 |
| Nov 20 | Car rental | Transport | NZD 468 | $365.97 |
| Nov 20 | Bus tour Christchurch | Excursions | NZD 84.24 | $65.87 |
| Nov 20 | Gas | Transport | NZD 64.04 | $50.08 |
| Nov 20 | Hanmer x2 | Accommodation | NZD 162 | $126.68 |
| Nov 20 | Groceries hanmer springs | Groceries | NZD 61.02 | $47.72 |
| Nov 21 | Parking christchurch | Transport | NZD 9.8 | $7.66 |
| Nov 22 | Internet | Internet | NZD 10 | $7.82 |
| Nov 22 | Dinner | Restaurant | NZD 20 | $15.64 |
| Nov 22 | Hot springs hanMer springs | Excursions | NZD 92 | $71.94 |
| Nov 22 | Groceries | Groceries | NZD 26.42 | $20.66 |
| Nov 22 | Beer milk | Groceries | NZD 18 | $14.08 |
| Nov 23 | Laundry | Laundry | NZD 8 | $6.26 |
| Nov 23 | Hanmer springs x2 nights | Accommodation | NZD 162 | $126.68 |
| Nov 23 | Postage home & amara gift | Miscellaneous | NZD 127.72 | $99.87 |
| Nov 24 | Stuffed kiwi | Souvenir | NZD 19.99 | $15.63 |
| Nov 24 | Gas | Transport | NZD 48.7 | $38.08 |
| Nov 24 | Checked luggage | Gear | NZD 260 | $203.32 |
| Total | $8,989.61 | |||
150 line items, straight from our travel spreadsheet. Scroll inside the table to see them all.