Accommodation

Basic motel rates are about $NZ85-$120 per night. Farmstays are slightly more but often include meals. Luxury lodges begin at NZ$400 per day and can run up to $NZ1,000 per day without added services like guiding or helicopters. At the opposite end of the spectrum, high-country huts administered by the Department of Conservation begin at $NZ10 per person a night for older, basic lodging, to $NZ40 per night for newer accommodations on designated “Great Walks” like the Milford or Kepler.

If you’re more interested in great fishing, scenery, and meeting local people than staying at a lodge, I’d recommend a combination of motels, fishing huts and a few nights of camping to get a flavour of the country. Although it’s always helpful to have reservations, New Zealand weather is fickle and necessitates a flexible approach.