Queenstown Tourism

Queenstown Tourism on a Budget

Tourist orientated towns are often expensive, and Queenstown is no exception.  Savvy tourists can save money by asking questions and shopping around.  If you are planning on undertaking any extreme activities, such as bungee jumping, ask for an itemised account of the charges.  Often, these organisations will charge you extra for a certificate, T-shirt or video tape of the experience.  You can choose not to purchase these items, making the cost significantly lower.

If you are planning on taking a jet ride or helicopter sight-seeing tour, research the different companies before committing to one.  Some companies charge higher prices for a shorter or less varied experience.

When purchasing souvenirs, always shop around.  Some tourist stores charge exorbitant prices for items that are a lot cheaper in another store.
Queenstown is renowned for its vibrant nightlife and while many aspects of Queenstown living can be costly, this is one facet that is not.  With many bars and clubs offering nightly happy hours and discounted drink deals, a night out in Queenstown can be very affordable.

Swedish Rounding

Many businesses in Queenstown have adopted the practice of Swedish Rounding, where prices that end in increments of one cent are rounded up or down to the nearest ten.  Anything from one to five cents is rounded down, while anything from six to ten cents is rounded up; so an item that is marked at $5.52 will come to $5.50 at check out, while an item marked $5.57 will come to $5.60.

Most businesses post signs at the front of the store notifying customers that they use this practice.  Not all do, so as a rule of thumb, you should keep this in mind when calculating purchases.