Trip duration
64 Days
6 days with friends, 3 days Singapore, 54 campervan days in the James CookVisual Cost Overview
Daily average total
162.04 €
10,370.75 € ÷ 64 days – for 2 peopleTotal costs
10,370.75 €
Incl. train ride, flights, Singapore stay, ferries, camping, RUC & activitiesJames Cook borrowed from friends free of charge
Detailed Cost Breakdown
About the James Cook: The motorhome was provided to us free of charge by friends. Therefore, standard campervan rental costs were eliminated. Only actual expenses paid were included.
🛒 Note on household expenses: Regular supermarket shopping and cooking in the camper were treated as daily living expenses just like at home and are excluded from this budget.
Fixed reference exchange rate, November 2024: 1 EUR ≈ 1.80 NZD / 1.1782 USD – no live exchange rates.
The cost breakdown can be scrolled horizontally on small screens.
| Category | Details & Items | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Travel, Flights & Singapore | Amsterdam → Queenstown • AMS train journey (€140.00 return) • Flights (€4,300.00) • Taxi SIN/Hotel return (approx. €45.00) • Singapore Hotel (€355.00) • Singapore Activities (€100.00) • minus €85.00 Singapore Airlines compensation for lost luggage ;-) | 4,855.00 € |
| Mobility, Diesel & Ferry | Diesel 1,059 L / €1,060.00, Diesel Tax (RUC) €369.75 (€43.50/1,000km) • €200.00 Upholstery cleaning • 2x Ferry crossings South Island ↔ North Island (€400.00) | 2,029.75 € |
| Accommodation New Zealand | New Zealand campsites for 26 nights avg. €21.50 / 28 days freedom camping, DOC Sites – no hotels used | 560.00 € |
| Fees & Internet | SIM cards Singapore & New Zealand as well as mobile router: total €157.00 • Immigration Fee / NZeTA: €56.00 | 213.00 € |
| Activities New Zealand | Overnight Cruise (€921.00) • Helicopter flight (€271.00) • Hobbiton (€250.00) • Maori experience with Hangi (€172.50) • Abel Tasman boat tour (€125.00) • Gibbs Farm (€108.50) • Bike Trail (€89.00) • Waitomo Glowworms (€85.00) • Coromandel Boat (€84.50) • Creek Railway (€51.00) • Christchurch Tram Tour (€43.50) • Hundertwasser Museum (€38.50) • Te Papa Museum (€38.00) • Treewalk (€33.50) • Hanmer Springs Spa (€31.00) • Wai-Tapu Wonderland (€27.00) • Kauri Museum (€23.00) • Kiwi Museum (€22.00) • further activities | 2,713.00 € |
| Total Travel Costs | Exact sum for 64 travel days – 2 people | 10,370.75 € |
Vehicle Costs & Real Savings (Private Vehicle vs. Rental Camper)
Friendly loan: The motorhome was made available to us for free by friends in Queenstown. Adding the exemplary costs for a rented motorhome listed below to our expenses results in a realistic total travel budget of €15,085.75 or €17,081.75.
Comparison: What would a rental camper (54 days) have cost?
The benchmark used is the All-Inclusive "Worry-Free" Package from Wendekreisen (with excess reduction to NZ$ 250, coverage for glass, tire, and underbody damage, as well as included RUC and final cleaning). With a one-way rental (e.g., Auckland → Christchurch), only one ferry crossing would have been necessary.
Option A: Budget 2 (Older model with shower/toilet)
Regular rental (54 days): approx. €5,485.00 (NZ$ 10,890)
Calculation: €5,485.00 − €369.75 RUC − €200.00 cleaning − €200.00 2nd ferry
Net savings: approx. €4,715.00 (~€87 / day)
Option B: Koru Star 2 Freedom LDV (Newer premium model)
Regular rental (54 days): €7,480.73 (NZ$ 14,854.50)
Calculation: €7,480.73 − €369.75 RUC − €200.00 cleaning − €200.00 2nd ferry
Net savings: approx. €6,711.00 (~€124 / day)
* Price basis note: The rental prices above are based on the 2024 season (reference exchange rate: 1 EUR ≈ 1.80 NZD). Due to currency fluctuations (weaker Euro) and general inflation, regular rental costs for newly booked campervan trips are likely to be around 10–15% higher today.
* Logistics note: In exchange for saving on the 2nd ferry crossing with a one-way rental, our flight logistics (arrival and departure via Queenstown due to returning the vehicle to friends) were slightly more expensive than a standard open-jaw flight would have been.
3 Key Takeaways from Our Trip
1. A private camper makes a huge difference
Because the James Cook was provided to us free of charge, to be honest, we didn't count every penny on certain expenses and indulged in costly activities we might otherwise have skipped. Instead of a cheaper two-hour day cruise, we treated ourselves to the Milford Sound overnight cruise, the helicopter flight probably would have been canceled, and during our Hobbiton visit, we booked the fantastic Movie Set Dinner right away – plus the Maori experience with Hangi.
2. Nature and experiences were worth every cent
New Zealand thrives on its magnificent scenery – and some of the best memories are tied to admission fees, tours, or excursions. We consciously chose special experiences and realized: these specific expenses are the ones that stay in your memory for a long time.
3. 64 days offer room for relaxed travel
54 campervan days, plus time with friends and a stopover in Singapore: The long duration allowed us to experience New Zealand without constant time pressure. Freedom camping and affordable campsites helped keep ongoing expenses in check.
What can be optimized when planning your own trip
Anyone planning a similar trip can influence the budget mainly through arrival choices, campervan rental, and activity selection.
Flight routing & Singapore stopover
➔ Option: A different travel window, different routing, or skipping a stopover can significantly change the overall travel arrival costs.Campervan rental
➔ Biggest difference: A rented campervan with shower/toilet (like with Wendekreisen) would have increased our budget by a net amount of approx. €4,700 to €6,700. The friendly loan was by far the biggest money-saver of our trip.Activities & Extras
➔ Personal decision: You can save a lot on activities – however, we consciously did not want to miss out on certain special experiences.
Our conclusion: The welcoming nature of New Zealanders and the breathtaking landscapes remain unforgettable memories for us.