updated April 2022
Australia and New Zealand!
These far-away countries are on most travelers’ bucket list. But unlike countries in Southeast Asia or South America, Oz (Australia) and Aotearoa (Maori for “New Zealand”) tend to be quite expensive. After spending three months traveling extensively throughout Australia, Tasmania, and the North and South Islands of New Zealand, I have a couple of tips for you to help you make your travel money go further.
1. If you read no further than this paragraph in the blog, you will save a ton of money… remember this website: BookMe ( click here for New Zealand fun and here for great deals in Australia). You’ll find killer discounts on tours, attractions, and admissions – to the relaxing hot mineral pools at Hanmer Springs, NZ, helicopter rides to the stunning Franz Josef Glacier,
I scored a discounted ticket to the really interesting and immersive Nightfire By Tjapukai – Aboriginal Cultural Dinner and Show in Cairns, Australia, 
got a great price on the full-day tour to the spectacular and expansive Blue Mountains outside of Sydney, found a steal of a deal to see the iconic Great Ocean Road with the “12 Apostles” 
on the shore outside of Melbourne, got a good deal on kayaking in the Everglades as well as deep discounts on a Milford Sound boat ride, a “fan”tastic day of whale-watching in Kaikoura and more.
2. If you are thinking of going to the Whitsunday Islands at Airlie Beach to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef – and you absolutely must! – I have a great secret tip for you! I highly recommend this experience – one of my absolute favorite things I did in Australia. There are dozens of options for you to spend a day, an overnight, or a few nights on a sailboat exploring the Reef in the Whitsundays, a grouping of 74 mostly uninhabited islands scattered amongst the Great Barrier Reef. The sailing tours include meals, sleeping accommodations on the boat (private room or shared), snorkel masks and fins, stinger suits (full-body wetsuits to protect you from the possibility of being stung by box jellyfish, which are in season from November to May.) You can bring your own adult beverages, a change of clothes and your basic overnight necessities. Most tours take you to Whitehaven Beach one day and then to a couple of great spots for snorkeling (or diving) the second day. I hadn’t googled this beach, so when I hiked up the path to the lookout and saw it for the first time, my jaw dropped in absolute amazement. Pure white silica sands, scattered with perfect tiny pearls of the brilliant white sand created by the sand-bubbler crabs that scurry underneath. Turquoise waters. Azure and aquamarine seas. I have never, ever seen a more beautiful beach.
So here’s my advice – search online for a couple of different boats that meet your criteria (party boat? Quiet, relaxing trip? Budget-friendly? Luxurious? Geared toward families? ) and then head over to this website to start watching the prices of the two or three choices you’re comfortable with. The closer you get to the date of departure, the cheaper the prices get. For example, a 2 night/3 day sailing adventure on the Kiana is usually priced at $749 but if you were to book this trip a few days before it sets sail, you could save $200. My research led me to a few choices – Wings, Hammer, or Waltzing Matilda. I chose Matilda (because, well…the name!!!) and paid $289 rather than $399.
I had a magical time – Captain Mattie and his first mate Noelle were friendly, informative, super safety-conscious, fun and helpful. The food was delicious, the boat was clean and comfortable and I really truly loved it. And if you want to stay at Backpackers by the Bay hostel, you’ll get one night at the hostel for free, complimentary shuttle service to the marina, and free storage of your luggage while you’re on the boat! That’s an additional savings of around $30NZ bucks plus maybe $6 for a cab to the marina…and when you return to Airlie Beach after your time on the boat, you’re gonna be tired, sunburnt, and ready for a quiet night – and your bags and bed will be waiting!
3. Free walking tours. Yes, I know you know. I’m just reminding you… So google “free walking tours” in each city and see what’s available. By doing the walking tour, you’ll get interesting info and insights on the city, fun facts, and great recommendations for lunch or dinner around town (ask your guide where they like to go for a great meal.) At the end of the tour, you pay your guide whatever you think the tour was worth – most people pay $5-10 each for the 2-3 hour experience. You’ll also meet other travelers, thereby increasing your chances of making a new friend! And you’ll often get a discount code/coupon from your tour guide for other tours their company offers – haunted tours, “dark” tours (crime/murder tours), food tours, pub crawls and more. I went on a really cool “Hidden Laneways Bars” tour in Melbourne which included a drink at an old seamstress shop and a whiskey bar located in an alley that I would probably never have found on my own!
The Eumundi Market, 
held every Wednesday and Saturday on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, is quirky, cool and unique! If you go – make sure you grab a Portuguese pasteis de nata from the guy selling them hot and yummy from his cart (one of the best custard tarts I’ve ever had outside of Belem, Portugal!) and say “hi” to the talented, beautiful and bubbly Denise Powell at Global Vibe – she’s a dressmaker diva selling gorgeous dresses in modern Aboriginal prints! I also really liked the vibe at the Glebe Market on Saturdays in the fun and funky neighborhood of Glebe in Sydney, where they sell lots of vintage/upcycled clothes and accessories with super delicious food trucks lined up. But watch out for the “bin chickens” – you’ll find out soon enough what they are!!
5. Check the windows and bulletin boards of local coffee shops and cafes for flyers taped to the glass or pinned to the corkboard advertising fun stuff to do. You’ll discover notices for free open studio nights to view local artists’ work, learn about art gallery openings serving wine, find open mic sessions, author book signings, and discover free music or theater performances around town.
You’ll find comedy, plays, music and more – maybe not always free, but inexpensive options can be found in these magazines.
6. Hostels. Ahhh…But you knew I was gonna say that! Hostels offer cheap, interactive, fun accommodations. You can book a bed in a shared room or get a private room; however, private rooms are usually more expensive than an Airbnb, so the “hostel” option seems to work best for solo travelers. I always book a bed in the female dorm, and choose a room with no more than 6 beds if possible. I’ve met some awesome travelers this way, and have gone on to travel with them to the next destination or two! 
I found that the YHA brand of hostels in NZ and Australia was perfect for me – not a party scene, lots of older people (humans over 25!) and families staying. My favorite hostel on this trip was the YHA in Hanmer Springs 
I’ve NEVER seen a hostel this clean and well-managed. Other wonderful stays were at the Juno Hall YHA in Waitomo , the beautiful Waiheke Backpackers Hostel, and the Daintree Crocodylus Village – an eco-stay in the rainforest in platform tents with comfy beds for less than $21 NZ each night and offering delicious food at the restaurant and an awesome host!
Happy to share some of these cost-saving tips I discovered along the way on my travels Down Under. Every little bit saved helps me travel a little bit further, see a little bit more and do a little bit more…and it’s so much more fun for me when I’m enjoying myself while saving money and getting a good deal!
If you’re thinking of visiting Waiheke Island, a stunning wine connoisseur/island lover’s dream off the coast of Auckland NZ- and I HIGHLY recommend it – you’ll want to learn how I saved more than $100. Read all about it here!
Drop me a line if you find this blog helpful – and let me know if you were able to take advantage of these savings – or share a discount you found that I missed!
Want to follow and travel along with me? Join my adventures at Facebook or on Instagram…
See you there! 😉
Your time is limited. Don’t waste it living someone else’s life…don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Steve Jobs
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[…] $75 instead of $129!) You can read my post about the best sites for discounts in Oz and NZ by clicking here. Unfortunately, bookme didn’t have any discounts for Waiheke at this time. So I kept […]