Introduction
Queenstown, New Zealand, is an incredible destination for a family holiday, but planning a trip for four people means balancing accommodation, transport, activities, and costs.
For our family, the goal was to enjoy nine days in the South Island without making every day feel rushed. We wanted comfortable accommodation, the freedom to explore by car, and the chance to experience Milford Sound without taking on a long alpine drive ourselves.
In this first part of our Queenstown travel series, I’m sharing the costs and practical details from our eight-night, nine-day trip, including our Virgin Australia flights, stay at Pounamu Apartments on Frankton Road, Snap Rentals car hire, and Pure Milford day tour.
These figures are based on our own trip. Prices and entry requirements can change, so I’ve included official links where you can check current information before booking.
1. Our Queenstown Family Travel Budget
We travelled as a family of four and booked our flights around three months before departure. Accommodation and transport were the other major expenses, with Milford Sound being one of the main activities we planned ahead.
Here is a breakdown of the costs we recorded.
| Item | Details | Our cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Virgin Australia, family of four | Approx. AUD $3,800 |
| Accommodation | Pounamu Apartments, 8 nights | Approx. AUD $3,700 |
| Car rental | Snap Rentals, Mitsubishi Outlander, 6 days, including Premium Cover and snow chains | Approx. NZD $980 |
| Milford Sound tour | Pure Milford coach and cruise, booked through Viator, family of four | Approx. AUD $778 |
| NZeTA | Our recorded cost at the time of travel | Approx. NZD $17 |
The known costs above add up to approximately AUD $8,278 plus NZD $994. This is a subtotal of the items listed, not our complete holiday expenditure. It excludes meals, fuel, parking, groceries, and other incidental spending.
Keeping AUD and NZD separate also makes it easier to compare the actual charges without relying on an exchange rate that may differ from the one used for your own bookings.
Where most of our budget went
Flights and accommodation were our two largest recorded expenses. Together, they accounted for approximately AUD $7,500 before adding the car rental, Milford Sound tour, meals, and other travel costs.
For a family planning a similar trip, I would start by comparing flight dates and accommodation options. Once those two costs are understood, it becomes easier to decide how much to allocate to a rental car and paid excursions.
Budget tip: Keep a separate record of the costs paid in AUD and NZD. This helps avoid confusion when comparing bookings made through Australian websites with expenses charged in New Zealand dollars.
2. Staying at Pounamu Apartments on Frankton Road
We stayed at Pounamu Apartments on Frankton Road, which worked well as a base for exploring Queenstown and the surrounding area.
Lake views and a comfortable apartment
One of the best things about our accommodation was the view from the apartment’s large windows. Looking out towards the lake and mountains gave us a beautiful backdrop when we were relaxing between day trips.
Having an apartment rather than a standard hotel room was also convenient for our family. It gave us space to unwind after a full day of sightseeing and made it easier to organise our belongings for the next day’s plans.
The location offered a useful balance between access to central Queenstown and a quieter place to return to at the end of the day.
Walking or taking an Uber into town
From our accommodation, walking into central Queenstown took around 15 minutes, depending on our destination and pace.
When we didn’t feel like walking, we sometimes used Uber. Our trips into town cost around NZD $8–$9 each way at the time, based on our experience. Fares can vary with demand, pickup location, and destination, so treat that amount as a reference from our stay rather than a guaranteed fare.
For families travelling with children, this flexibility can be useful. You can walk when the weather is pleasant and take a short ride when everyone is tired after a day outdoors.
3. Renting a Car with Snap Rentals
We hired a Mitsubishi Outlander through Snap Rentals for six days. Having our own vehicle gave us flexibility to explore beyond central Queenstown and organise our days around the family’s schedule.
Our rental cost
Our recorded total was approximately NZD $980, including Premium Cover and snow chains. We paid an additional NZD $60 for the snow chains as part of the rental arrangement.
Before comparing rental quotes, check whether the quoted price includes the insurance or protection package you actually want, any excess payable after an incident, additional drivers, and winter equipment.
The cheapest advertised rental price may not be the cheapest final price once those extras are included.
Why we chose an SUV
The Outlander gave us useful boot space for our family luggage and day-trip essentials. It was also a comfortable option for longer drives through the South Island.
An SUV is not essential for every Queenstown itinerary, but luggage capacity and passenger comfort matter when travelling with children. If you are planning to visit alpine areas in winter, check the road conditions and any restrictions before setting out.
Snow chains and winter driving
We arranged snow chains with the rental car because we wanted to be prepared for possible winter conditions.
Snow chains are not a substitute for checking the weather, road closures, or local driving requirements. If you have never fitted chains before, ask the rental provider to explain how they work and review the instructions before you need them.
For current conditions and travel advice, check New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) before driving into alpine areas.
4. Milford Sound: Comparing Tour Options for a Family of Four
Milford Sound was one of the major experiences we wanted to include in our trip. There are several ways to visit, but the total cost and amount of driving involved can differ significantly.
Before booking, we compared three broad options.
| Travel option | Our planning estimate | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Coach and cruise | Approx. AUD $778 for our family of four | No need to drive the full route ourselves |
| Scenic flight and cruise | Approx. AUD $2,500 | Weather-dependent and significantly more expensive |
| Helicopter tour | Approx. AUD $3,800 | A premium experience with a much higher cost |
The flight and helicopter amounts were our planning estimates at the time, not current quotes or verified prices for every operator. Prices depend on the provider, itinerary, season, and what is included.
Why we chose the coach and cruise
We booked the Pure Milford day tour through Viator, at approximately AUD $778 for our family of four.
For us, the coach option was a practical compromise. We could enjoy the scenery along the way without taking responsibility for a long drive through unfamiliar roads, and the cruise allowed us to experience Milford Sound from the water.
It also kept the cost considerably lower than the flight-based options we considered.
When comparing tours, look beyond the headline price. Check the departure location, total duration, transport arrangements, cruise inclusions, cancellation policy, and whether meals or other extras are included.
If you are travelling with children, the overall length of the day is particularly important. Make sure everyone is prepared for an early start and a substantial amount of time spent travelling.
5. New Zealand Entry Requirements: NZeTA and NZTD
Entry requirements depend on the passport each traveller uses and their immigration status. This was an important part of our planning because our family members did not all travel on the same type of passport.
Australian citizens
Australian citizens generally do not need an NZeTA to enter New Zealand as visitors.
Australian permanent residents travelling on a Korean passport
My wife travelled on a Korean passport and held Australian permanent residency. Australian permanent residents generally need an NZeTA before travelling to New Zealand, even when they hold a passport from a visa-waiver country.
However, Australian permanent residents do not need to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) under the relevant entry arrangements.
Immigration New Zealand currently lists the NZeTA request fee as NZD $17 through the mobile app or NZD $23 through the website. Eligibility and fees should always be checked against the traveller’s own circumstances.
Use the official Immigration New Zealand NZeTA page to confirm the latest requirements and apply through an official channel.
Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration
The New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) is separate from the NZeTA. Travellers arriving by air must complete a declaration, including children.
The declaration is free. For air travel, you can submit it from 24 hours before starting your journey to New Zealand, and it must be completed before reaching passport control on arrival.
You can complete it online or through the official app at New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
Check the entry requirements for every family member before departure, and allow enough time for any NZeTA application to be processed.
Conclusion
Our Queenstown trip showed how quickly the major costs can add up for a family of four. Flights and accommodation made up most of our recorded expenses, while the rental car gave us flexibility and the Pure Milford coach tour offered a more budget-conscious way to visit Milford Sound.
For families planning a similar holiday, my main advice is to compare the full cost of each booking, think carefully about whether you need a rental car for the entire stay, and check entry requirements well before departure.
This is Part 1 of our Queenstown family trip series. In Part 2, I’ll cover our itinerary and the places and activities we experienced during the trip.
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