Make it a trip · Queenstown, New Zealand
What Queenstown costs
once you land
Real prices, from the airport ride to a room for the night, each with where we found it. Checked October 2026, around Queenstown town centre.
Prices as the source quoted them.
Arriving
-
Orbus bus from the airport to town Fixed
With a Bee Card, which costs 5 NZD plus a 5 NZD top up. 10 NZD in cash.
Sources: Orbus, fares (2026), Audiala, Queenstown passes (2026-04)
NZ$2.50 Book an airport pickup -
NZeTA plus the visitor levy Fixed
For GB, US, CA, IE, NL, DE, FR, SG passports.
NZ$17 for the NZeTA in the official app plus the NZ$100 International Visitor Levy, paid together. On the website the NZeTA costs NZ$23.
Sources: Wego, New Zealand visa fees and levy 2026 (2026), AirTraveler Club, IVL 2026 (2026-10)
NZ$117 -
No visa, NZeTA or levy Fixed
For AU passports.
Australian citizens are exempt from the NZeTA and the visitor levy.
Source: AirTraveler Club, IVL 2026 (2026-10)
Free -
Home Fixed
For NZ passports.
Nothing to pay.
Source: Wego, New Zealand visa fees and levy 2026 (2026)
Free
Getting around
-
NZ$2.50
Eating and drinking
-
Lunch menu at a cheap restaurant Many reports
Source: LivingCost, Queenstown (2026-06)
US$16 -
US$9.90
-
Dinner for two at a restaurant Many reports
Source: LivingCost, Queenstown (2026-06)
US$83 -
Cappuccino Many reports
Source: LivingCost, Queenstown (2026-06)
US$3.40 -
Beer at a pub, half a litre Many reports
Source: LivingCost, Queenstown (2026-06)
US$7.10
At the supermarket
-
Water, 1 litre Many reports
Source: LivingCost, Queenstown (2026-06)
US$0.90 -
Coca-Cola at a restaurant, half a litre Many reports
Source: LivingCost, Queenstown (2026-06)
US$2.30 -
Beer from a shop, half a litre Many reports
Source: LivingCost, Queenstown (2026-06)
US$4.50 -
Fergburger, classic Many reports
Gourmet burgers cost 9 to 12 EUR.
Source: Hostel Geeks, backpacking Queenstown (2026-05)
€7
Doing
-
€47 Get tickets
-
€132 Get tickets
Sleeping, per night
-
Hostel dorm bed, from Range
Usually 17 to 29 EUR. Per night.
Source: Hostel Geeks, backpacking Queenstown (2026-05)
€17 Find a hostel
Prices change. Fixed fees come from official or widely reported figures; ranges are what travellers and operators report for 2026. Some links are affiliate links: they never change what you pay. How we make money.
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