Image via Wikipedia
The total damage for Wellington?
$1120.
That’s $470 spent over four days, plus $200 for concert tickets and $450 for accommodation, both paid for last month.
Whew! We spent a lot. For one, petrol was up to $2.10 a litre when we left, and we drove back not a moment too soon ($2.15 by the evening we got back to Auckland.) I swear, everytime I leave Auckland the drive gets longer. City sprawl! It felt like it took an hour from the CBD to the outskirts of the Bombays – on the motorway, with hardly any traffic. Then again, my perception of time isn’t the most reliable. (ETA: Just asked Google Maps, and the trip can apparently take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. BOOYAH).
So that was $240, rather than $200, on gas.
Then there was expensive chocolate, sushi lunch, groceries while we were down there, and some drinks and food while socialising. Yep, I definitely underestimated our food costs. Aside from that, all our entertainment was free, except for $12 for two return rides on the Wellington cable car.
TOTALLY WORTH IT.
For Rarotonga, I want to have an almost entirely cash budget (probably also a good idea as I imagine a lot of places on the island won’t take Eftpos). I have no idea how much we’ll want to spend over there, but that’s a post for later!
The only places in Raro to use eftpos is at an ATM, or a Visa at hotels (well that was the case 2 years ago).
For meals if you eat at a restaurant, they can be pretty pricey ($100 meal for two), or you can shop at the supermarket, however as its all imported from NZ that is alot pricer too. It is totally legal to take food there – and often the locals stock up on fast food (i.e. Burger King) at the airport in Auckland to reheat once home in Raro!
Another option is the local markets for fresh fish and veges, and there are also roadside stalls all around the island with fresh fruit – yummy!!
The best thing I look was those Glad ice bags, which you can boil the water (so it’s safe to drink) and then freeze for ice – which is great with the local tropical fruit for shakes – of the alcoholic or non variety!
I went to Rarotonga for my honeymoon. VERY EXPENSIVE!!! We stayed at the Rarotongan beach spa and resort, and it was disappointing. Poor service, awful food, and very expensive. If you want to know more, send me an email. Also, the food in Rarotonga is very pricey, even for something basic like burger and fries. If you want recommendations of fun things to do there let me know!
Man..I never tally up my vacation expenses. I try to pay for as much as I can ahead of time. I just don’t want to know the exact numbers usually.
OZ is expensive..but I still think it would be cool to live there.
We spent an exorbitant amount when we went to the UK last summer, but why not? You only live once – I’d much rather be paying off my Visa bill for the next 8 months and have the experience and memories to last a lifetime, than sit on my paychecks and go about the day to day never doing anything exciting 🙂
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