Things You Can Do in New Zealand on a Student Budget

New Zealand has a high cost of living, and for travelers, food, accommodation, and transportation may cost them a lot. However, if you are a student staying in New Zealand for a short or long-term study program, there are various ways to enjoy the place at a cheaper price, or even for free. In fact, you can take various forms of public transportation and travel the country at a discount, as long as you bring with you your student ID. 

Read below to know the places you can visit and activities you can do in New Zealand on a student budget. 

Visit the Museums of Auckland for Free

If you love learning about your host country’s culture, and at the same time, want a quiet or relaxing environment, then you should visit Auckland’s museums. The city, also known as the “City of Sails” due to its rich maritime heritage has more to offer than just its maritime history. In fact, it has diverse types of museums, from art galleries to war museums, and so on. What’s more, many of the city’s museums can be accessed for free, with some also offering free guided tours. 

Some of the famous museums in Auckland that you can visit are the following: 

• One of the biggest museum in New Zealand, the Auckland War Memorial Museum 
• Its naval-themed museum, the Maritime Museum
• The Auckland Art Gallery showcasing historic and contemporary art 
• Te Toi Uku: Crown Lynn and Clayworks Museum showcasing a huge collection of ceramics from the famous Kiwi brand. 

Stargaze at the Mt John Observatory at the Mackenzie Region 

Whether you are a student of astronomy, or an enthusiast, as long as you love watching the stars, the observatory of the University of Canterbury, near Lake Tekapo, at Mt. John is a must-visit place for you. Lake Tekapo has one of the most amazing night skies in the world, and you don’t even need a telescope to see the stars since you can just watch them with your naked eyes. 

The observatory at Mt. John was opened in 1965 and was originally handpicked by the University of Pennsylvania itself as a good place for an observatory due to its large size, clear nights, and unpolluted sky. It is also not too far from a major city and has power and water sources. 

The observatory offers nightly astronomical tours that can cost between NZD 45 to NZD 175 per person. However, if it seems too expensive for you, you can just go to the place and bring your own blanket, and stargaze for free. 

Visit Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market

Every Sunday morning, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, you can check out the many wares, food, and produce at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market. The market started in the year 2000 and is one of the biggest farmers’ markets in New Zealand. Here, you can buy various things including local roast coffees, fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, meat, fish, various types of cheese, wines, and even wood-fired pizza at a cheaper price. Moreover, aside from the things you can buy, there are also buskers playing music in the background. 

Entrance to the market is free. 

Aside from the places listed above, there are other ways you can enjoy New Zealand on a student budget. For example, by doing recreation activities including sports. To learn the different sports you should try while staying in New Zealand, check out MSMUnify article on Fun Sports To Try in New Zealand.