The average price of a 7-day trip to Lake Tekapo is $2,014 for a solo traveler, $3,617 for a couple, and $6,781 for a family of 4. Lake Tekapo hotels range from $51 to $231 per night with an average of $89, while most vacation rentals will cost $280 to $380 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) are between $1,188 and $2,176 per person for economy flights and $3,728 to $6,828 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $38 to $73 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.
See below for average, budget, and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.
The Cheapest Times to Visit Lake Tekapo, NZ
On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to CHC and stay in a Lake Tekapo hotel:
- February 5th to March 25th (except the week of February 12th)
- April 16th to June 17th (except the week of April 30th)
- August 6th to October 7th
- October 22nd to November 18th (except the week of October 29th)
The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Lake Tekapo is usually late February and early March.
Average Lake Tekapo Trip Costs
Average Solo Traveler
The average cost for one person to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $1,274-$3,024($182-$432 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $38 to $73 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $624 to $1,763 for economy
Lodging: $64 to $85 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $103 to $125 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Couple’s Trip
The average cost for a couple to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $3,292-$6,124($470-$875 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $76 to $146 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,248 to $3,526 for economy
Lodging: $64 to $85 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room
or $103 to $125 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Average Family Vacation
The average cost for 4 people to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $4,328-$10,224($618-$1,461 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $152 to $292 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $2,496 to $7,052 for economy
Lodging: $128 to $170 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms
or $165 to $188 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Traveling Cheap to Lake Tekapo
How cheap can you make a vacation to Lake Tekapo? The cheapest trip to Lake Tekapo is about $143 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 0% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $280 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $41.
Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.
Budget Solo Traveler
The lowest cost for one person to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $1,003-$3,949($143-$564 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $19 to $38 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $624 to $1,763 for economy
Lodging: $41 to $51 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $280 to $320 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Couple’s Trip
The lowest cost for a couple to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $1,760-$5,978($251-$854 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $38 to $76 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,248 to $3,526 for economy
Lodging: $41 to $51 per night for one 1-star hotel room
or $280 to $320 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental
Budget Family Vacation
The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $3,520-$10,804($503-$1,543 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $76 to $152 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $2,496 to $7,052 for economy
Lodging: $82 to $102 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms
or $448 to $448 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental
Overall it is possible but not easy to travel to Lake Tekapo cheaply.
The Cost of a Luxury Lake Tekapo Trip
There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Lake Tekapo.
Luxury Solo Traveler
The high-end price for one person to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $2,963-$9,308($423-$1,330 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $84 to $139 per day for one person’s daily expenses
Flights: $1,691 to $4,231 for first class
Lodging: $114 to $231 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $380 to $684 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Couple’s Trip
The high-end price for a couple to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $5,242-$14,512($749-$2,073 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $168 to $278 per day for two people’s daily expenses
Flights: $3,382 to $8,462 for first class
Lodging: $114 to $231 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room
or $380 to $684 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Luxury Family Vacation
The high-end price for 4 people to visit Lake Tekapo for a week is $10,484-$26,972($1,498-$3,853 per day)
Food, Travel, and Sightseeing: $336 to $556 per day for four people’s daily expenses
Flights: $6,764 to $16,924 for first class
Lodging: $228 to $462 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms
or $532 to $1,026 per night for a preferred vacation rental
Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices
The cost of staying in Lake Tekapo is about average than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Lake Tekapo due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.
Lake Tekapo Lodging Cost by Star Status
The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.
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Prices are based on Lake Tekapo hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.
Vacation Rental Prices
The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.
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While there are a few options for vacation rentals here, the selection is somewhat limited in Lake Tekapo.
Flight Costs to Lake Tekapo
Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $2,176 average in late December to a low of $1,188 in late February and early March. Median flight price is $1,410. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Lake Tekapo our data includes 113 originating airports, and 60 airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations. Flying to Lake Tekapo from an airport like Henry E. Rohlsen (STX) in Christiansted, VI (the United States) for an average $5,708 trip fare will obviously cost a lot more than from an airport like Hokitika (HKK) in Hokitika (New Zealand) at an average of just $59.
Average Flight Cost by Season
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Average Flight Cost by Day of Week
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The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Lake Tekapo, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $988, so you can easily save about 83% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.
Daily Expenses Budget
Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Lake Tekapo can easily cost $290 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $19 per person. Private tours can cost $575 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.