40 Auckland Money Saving Tips
Visit the City of Sails and Save on Accommodation, Dining, Attractions and Travel Costs
Updated April 2018
Auckland is one of New Zealand’s most popular cities to visit, and its reputation for high prices extends beyond just houses. Fortunately, we have put together 40 money-saving tips for Auckland to help cut the cost while maximizing your experience.
Know something we don't? Tell us!
As this is the first release of this guide, we welcome any tips. Please email our team with anything you'd like to share.
Know something we don't? Tell us!
As this is the first release of this guide, we welcome any tips. Please email our team with anything you'd like to share.
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Go up the Sky Tower for “$1”It is $29 for one adult to visit the Sky Tower, but you can dine at the Orbit restaurant with a minimum spend of $30 per person and enjoy complimentary Sky Tower admission 45 minutes before and/or after your dining experience. So this means you can go to the viewing platform before and after eating. We think this offers fantastic value and a better experience than just doing the Sky Tower visit by itself.
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Get to and from the airport for much lessDon’t waste money on a taxi if you’re alone, travelling as a couple or with your family – the 24/7 SkyBus gets you into Auckland from as little as $16 each way for individuals and $32 for two adults and up to four kids. Buy in advance to maximise savings. Taxis can be an eyewatering $100+ each way, so the bus is always going to save the most.
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Book a room from $65/night by avoiding hotelsIt’s widely publicised Auckland has a housing crisis, but it also has a hotel shortage. If you’re thinking of staying in the CBD, hotels start from a staggering $175+ a night. However, you don’t have to stay miles away from the action to save big. Airbnb offers 5-star reviewed rooms from $65 a night throughout the CBD.
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Want a local experience? Airbnb in one of Auckland’s charming neighbourhoods and save moreAuckland’s inner city suburbs are a lot more attractive than the CBD and offer cheaper even better value Airbnb experiences. Newmarket and Ponsonby are hubs for shopping, and Takapuna is close to the city and by arguably Auckland’s finest beach. Or try harbour bridge-fronting Northcote and Ponsonby. With prices well below hotels and the convenience of free parking, Airbnb makes Auckland that little bit cheaper to experience.
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Staying for a week or so during the summer? Look for University accommodationIf you’re planning to be in the city for an extended time during the summer months of December and January, consider the University of Auckland’s central city accommodation options.
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Hostels are cheap and (mostly) cheerful – pick the best oneHostels are located all over Auckland. All of them are rated by Booking.com, Tripadvisor and/or the BBH guide so you know what you’re getting before you book. Popular well-rated options are scattered across the city, most of them close to public transport options.
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Bus, Ferry and Trains for lessIf you’re going to be in Auckland for at least 2-3 days, the Auckland Transport (AT) HOP Card may be worth the $10 (non-refundable) investment as it saves up 35%-50% off all local transport. For example, a ferry to Devonport is $6.90 from the counter or $4.80 with an AT HOP card, so a return trip saves you $4.20 already. You can top up the card throughout Auckland and get any leftover money refunded to you when you leave the city. The AT HOP card saves you buying “paper tickets” and you won’t need to carry cash to pay for fares either. There are no peak and off-peak fares, so travel whenever you want for the same price.
Kids under 5 travel free, and kids between 5-15 get cheap fares but you’ll need to register with Auckland Transport first. A reader tip:
For quick trips around the city, the red, green and orange buses are a great (cheap) way to go further than walking distance of Queen Street. I've done the orange circuit a couple of times on short breaks in Auckland - it's quick and cheap and the routes have very interesting places to stop at as well - Lorrainne, Northland |
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BYO (Bring Your Own) restaurants can be much cheaper when it’s time to get the billAuckland is the city of the $10 bottle of beer and $12 glass of wine. Going out and wanting to sample local flavours may end up costing a lot more than you expected it to. Thankfully, Auckland has plenty of BYO restaurants. This BYO list from VIVA Magazine highlights the ones they consider to be the best, but you can also do a Google map search. Supermarkets and wine shops all over Auckland sell quality New Zealand wine for $9-15 per bottle.
MoneyHub reader David writes “I always go to my favourite BYO when I come to Auckland. It’s a great place to catch up with friends and not leave with a huge bill. We can be there all night and there’s even a wine shop over the road. It makes for a good night out”. |
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Foodcourts punch above their weight and save on the walletForget creamy curries and bad Chinese, Auckland knows how to do foodcourts. The Ponsonby International Food Court and the Atrium in the CBD are two examples of places where you can have a fantastic lunch or dinner for around or little more than $10. The selection at both of these establishments is enormous and locals chow down on a regular basis.
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Get a fantastic dining experience by knowing the best local places and/or using a voucherFirst off, Groupon offers year-round dining vouchers, as does Grabone. Secondly, lists like best eats under $15 and Metro Magazine’s best cheap dining help pick the perfect place. Also, check out our Kids Eat Free page which offers additional value.
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You don’t need to do a Harbour Cruise, take the local ferry instead$120+ for a family to do a 1.5 hour harbour cruise is big money, but you don’t need to spend even a fraction of that to get out into the Auckland water. Return ferries to Devonport cost dollars and go frequently. From there you can climb Devenport’s volcano (Mount Victoria) and see 360 degree views all over Auckland, and the kids will love the adventure. Best of all, it’s free.
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Go on a free walking tour of AucklandThe popular Auckland free walking tours collective leaves from Quay Street (Viaduct) 10am daily, and 2pm Thursday to Sunday. There is no better way to explore Auckland than on foot, with plenty of regeneration areas and green spaces to take your interest.
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Coming to Auckland for an event? Save time and money by getting to the venue in advanceIf you’re in Auckland for a sports event at Eden Park, Mt. Smart Stadium, Western Springs Stadium or the QBE Stadium then work out well in advance how to get there. Auckland’s roads can get gridlocked at a moment's notice, so plan in advance and arrive early with a backup plan just in case. This will avoid last-minute taxis, ubers and the stress of being late.
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Apartments and home rentals will often be cheaper than hotels, especially if there are a few of youIf you’re coming as a group, it’s almost certain that renting an entire property from AirBnB or a similar site will save significant money. You’ll get more space and can save money on restaurants if you’re willing to cook. For example, we found a two bedroom apartment in the Quadrant (beside the five star Pullman hotel) for $150 per night, sleeping up to six people. The Pullman, which offers rooms for two people, charged $300+ per room per night. The more people joining you, the cheaper per room your accommodation will be.
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In Auckland for summer? Check out Summer CinemaThe Silo Park Cinema has scheduled free cinema throughout summer. Many are blockbusters and the atmosphere is family friendly.
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Find cheap parkingParking can be expensive in Auckland, but there are several ways to cut the cost. Firstly, you can park in the CBD at the weekend for a lot less than during the week, and on Sunday certain areas are free (see “Zone 2” on the Auckland Transport map). Check out Parkopedia for daily prices on parking around the city.
Auckland has a terrible reputation for traffic, so you’ll want to avoid going into the city from 7am – 9am and 4pm - 6pm if you’re travelling from further afield than the inner suburbs. For this reason, public transport is a cheap and reliable option even if you have a car. |
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Be aware of the unwritten "rules" when it comes to Tow Trucks and ClampingWhen it comes to tow trucks and clamping, Auckland has a wild west image. There are TWO key ways to avoid any parking dramas:
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Visit HALF of the top 30 attractions on Tripadvisor, for free!Explore the beautiful Tiritiri Matangi Island (#4), Waitakere Ranges (#6) or cruise on the Hauraki Gulf (#7) and Waiheke Island (#8) for free (you’ll just pay ferry costs*). Closer to the heart of the city, Cornwall Park (#9), Mount Eden (#12), North Head Historic Reserve (#15) and One Tree Hill (#19) make for excellent visits.
Further out but recommended are Bethells Beach (#16), St. Helier's Bay (#17), Devonport (#18) and Takapuna Beach (#23). And right in the city you have the Viaduct Harbour (#21), Auckland Art Gallery (#29) and the Auckland Domain’s Winter Garden (#30). *Fullers offers an excellent package for return ferry and hop-on hop-off bus for $60 ($30 for children). See more details here. |
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Movie tickets can cost as much as $19 - how to go for lessThere are many cinemas all over Auckland, ranging from the quaint neighbourhood-types to the massive multiplexes. Helpfully Flick.co.nz outlines where and what days are best for getting tickets for as low as $5.
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Free events throughout the yearThere are heaps of free events going on around Auckland all year round. Here are some free ones:
The events listed above are very popular and they can get busy. To make the most of what's on, you'll need to spend some money but all of the events listed above are free to attend/watch. |
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Coming to Auckland for your birthday? Claim your free stuff!You are entitled to quite a lot. GeorgeFM has put together this massive list that highlights a fantastic array of freebies. Examples include free vouchers for bar and restaurant spends, free meals and free drinks. Check to see that what you like still applies as the list was last updated in February of 2017.
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Staying out late and staying out of the CBD? Buses, ferries and trains stop around midnightAuckland public transport is fast and frequent during the day, but it’s important to know that after around midnight everything pretty much stops running. If you need to get back over the harbour bridge, you’ll need to plan. UBER and similar apps offer cheap rides, with ride-sharing an option to save even more money.
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Get a cheap rental car if you plan to explore outside of AucklandForget paying $100+ a day for some corporate/branded rental car. Auckland is one of the largest rental car markets in the southern hemisphere and prices are ferociously competitive. Price comparison websites like Kayak Car Rental reveal the cheapest companies. You may also be able to get a cheaper deal if you contact companies directly – it’s worth a shot. Sample dates we plugged in gave us NZ$20-25/day rentals which is a great deal for what you get.
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Bike around the CBD for freeWaterfront Auckland offers free bike-hire letting you explore the Waterfront area and beyond by bike. With two kiosks located around the viaduct, rental is free for the first two hours.
The details:
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Book flights from $30 each way to AucklandYou can pick up cheap flights to Auckland, especially from Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, Queenstown and Dunedin.
Check out our guide to domestic flights which has everything you need to know to save the most on flights, perfect for your Auckland visit. |
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Tire the kids out at seriously cool free playgroundsAuckland has some fairly impressive playgrounds. Auckland for Kids has put together a “Top 10” list, with 2-3 located in the CBD. If your kids need to burn off some energy, the list has a playground in all four corners of Auckland.
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Get to an Outlet mallOut-of-towners speak well of Auckland's outlet shops and the Dress Smart mall. The Urban List has several popular shopping options in this niche guide, mainly aimed at females.
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Pick the right beach for the perfect dayAuckland is the city of beaches, but many visitors don’t make it outside of the CBD. There’s no reason to stay in the central city when wondrous waves await. You can drive or easily take a bus out to the iconic Mission Bay, the premier east Auckland beach. But the North Shore beaches are often overlooked by visitors. Takapuna beach is an easy drive or bus trip, and if you want something more off-the-tourist trail it’s worth considering Long Bay (with ample walking trails) and Browns Bay (a beach suburb with a popular town centre). Take a towel, some sunscreen (read our guide for the best and cheapest) and something to eat and drink for a great day out.
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Heading to festivals or other big events? Book ahead and saveAuckland City Limits, Cirque du Soleil and Ed Sheeran are just some of many events that hit Auckland. When you book your tickets, get on to flights and accommodation quickly. Auckland can get very busy when these events are on and sorting out a place to stay could get more expensive the closer you get to the event.
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Book Rainbow’s End tickets in advanceIf you’re heading for a day of roller coasters and rides at Rainbow’s End, you’ll save $4 per ticket by buying them in advance rather than at the gate. If you want entry but don’t plan to ride, you can leave the kids to it and save around 70% on your ticket price with a “spectator pass”. Check out the ticket prices here.
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Tipping is welcomed but not expectedAuckland may get its fair share of foreign visitors but you don’t need to tip, although no one is going to shy away any generosity. Service won’t be added on to an invoice, unless it’s a public holiday whereby it will be (or should be) displayed that there’s an extra service charge.
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Walking is the cheapest and probably best way to see the citySuggested walking routes can be found online, but the newly launched Lightpath and Nelson Street Cycleway offers a different vantage point of the city. Some stretches will need a bike, but you can rent these for free (see point 24). Auckland's surrounding neighbourhoods have a lot of diversity, from Ponsonby to Parnell or Grafton, Kingland and St Mary's Bay.
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Don’t neglect the wonders of outer AucklandEast or West, North or South, the Auckland region has so much to offer. But you will most likely need a car to explore it. Iconic Piha beach is around 45 minutes drive from the CBD. You can head into the north of Auckland in less than half and hour and find yourself stopping at beach after beach. Download a PDF map (see Tip 35. below) for the details on popular beach and nature options outside the CBD.
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Visiting in summer? Stay somewhere with air-con, it's worth the extra moneyAuckland had a record-temperature summer in 2017/2018, so if you are visiting during December, January or February, aircon may be a good idea if you don't like sleeping in unbearable heat. Air conditioning isn't a feature of many Auckland homes or apartments, but most hotels offer it. It's well worth paying a bit more to secure a place with aircon so you can sleep without worrying about the uncontrollable heat.
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Grab a free map to tour the cityAuckland Council offers a number of maps which highlight a number of areas in the city and to the north and south along the coast. They are in PDF form and can be useful if you're planning to travel outside of the CBD. The northern coast beach section is particularly useful. You can also pick up a free Auckland City map from most tourism businesses along Quay Street and around the city.
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Avoid the convenience stores and head to a supermarketAuckland city is filled with convenience shops, but with sandwiches north of $7+ it's much cheaper to head to a supermarket. Fortunately there are a few in the central city - Countdown Auckland City (76 Quay St) is open 24 hours, and the New World Metro (125 Queen St) and Countdown Auckland Metro (19/25 Victoria Street West) have decent opening hours. All of these supermarkets offer an excellent range and have takeaway food options.
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Don't have UBER? Install it and get a discount on your first ridePromotions running in 2017 and 2018 included a $20 credit towards a ride or similar. Search for a code using our suggested search term and get the app installed. You will need a credit card, EFTPOS/debit card or Paypal to use UBER. The free credit is deducted from the total price of the first journey you make with the app.
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Meet locals at a Meetup eventAuckland's population make it a perfect place to explore a range of activities, and the Auckland Meetups website includes groups for hiking and walking, outdoor adventures, tech and startups, cycling, tennis, TED-style talks, meditation and hundreds of others. You can search using the calendar - many events are free and it's a great way to feel more connected to the city you are visiting.
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Make some time for Auckland's Art GalleryWhile most of Auckland's museums charge entry fees (unless you have any form of proof that you live in Auckland), the excellent and centrally located Auckland Art Gallery has free exhibitions year-round. The gallery is buzzing seven days a week, and there is a popular cafe. Located just near Albert Park, if there's a children's exhibition on then it makes a perfect place for a couple of hours.
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Get Sky Tower-high views for freeAt 220m, the SkyTower commands Auckland’s best views, but thanks to the city’s volcanoes there are several free alternatives with great views. These include Mt Eden (196 metres), the expansive Auckland Domain and iconic One Tree Hill. Crossing on the ferry to Devonport takes you to Mount Victoria which has the best ocean views.
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Know something we don't? Tell us!
As this is the first release of this guide, we welcome any tips. Please email our team with anything you'd like to share.
As this is the first release of this guide, we welcome any tips. Please email our team with anything you'd like to share.
