If you’re travelling New Zealand on a budget, Bookme is going to revolutionize your trip. That might sound dramatic, but it’s such an underrated way to find activities, and they’re usually discounted between 20-50% off. So if you’re doing lots of stuff, those savings add up. Here’s how to actually find the good stuff on Bookme NZ, plus some of the best deals I’ve spotted by region.
This post may contain affiliate links. Bookings or purchases through these links generate a small commission for me at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Is Bookme NZ legit?
Bookme NZ is totally legit. I live in New Zealand and use it all the time to get discounts on activities. It’s totally underrated in my opinion, and has always been reliable. What’s also nice is that you don’t need a Bookme promotion code, the discount is built-in.
I’ve used it for white water rafting, kayaking with dolphins, exploring glow worm caves, accessing the Hilton’s indoor pool and the Polynesian Spa, doing an escape room, visiting Time Tripper in Queenstown, and more. We’ve never had any issues, but there is a support team if something goes wrong.
How to use Bookme NZ the right way
I’m not kidding when I say you can find some once-in-a-lifetime activities in New Zealand with Bookme. Skydiving, cruises through Milford Sound, kayaking past seal colonies, that kinda thing.
But it’s not just a coupon book with automatic discount wherever or whenever you feel like going — you need to know how to use it for the best results. Here’s how to use Bookme NZ correctly.
- Search specific regions. Figure out where you’re going (or where you already are) and search that region for activities. Note some might be several towns away, because Bookme groups entire areas like Hamilton, Raglan, and Waikato together.
- Find great deals. There’s a little box in the bottom left corner of every Bookme listing that shows you how serious the discount is. Most are orange, but anything in red is over 40% off. So yes, you want something with the best sale, but you’re also really just looking for the best activities, so keep your eyes on the prize.
- Check your dates, and try to be flexible. The best discounts are often only available on certain days or time slots. For example, you can get into the Polynesian Spa for 35 bucks, but you have to go before 9 AM or after 9 PM. (I’ve done this, and it’s still worth it.) Last-minute deals are usually the best.
- Compare to other booking sites. You never know, there might be a better promotion on other booking sites, including the company’s direct page. However, the point of Bookme is to help businesses fill spaces, so it’s usually the lowest price. But it’s worth cross-checking. This is especially true for hotel bookings as there are so many competitor sites.
- Lock it in. There are usually only a few available spots for the really good deals. So if you find one, it’s wise to lock it in rather than waiting too long and having someone else snap it up.
Best Bookme NZ deals by region
Here are some examples of common promotions on Bookme New Zealand broken into different regions. It’s a great way to find activities you didn’t even know exist, and then snag them at at a discount. Win-win.
Please note deals change all the time, so the exact discounts and availability may not be identical to what you see here. These are just some good examples to introduce you to the magic of Bookme NZ.
Bookme Queenstown
Queenstown is one of the most expensive places to be in New Zealand. So getting some discounts is the best way to afford more fun activities. You can always find Milford Sound cruises discounted, and sometimes even scenic flights via float plane from Queenstown to Milford Sound. Here are some examples of great deals regularly on Bookme Queenstown.
Bookme Auckland
You’ll probably start or end your trip in Auckland, and Bookme has a lot of fun indoor and outdoor activities to check out. Things like a harbour cruise are probably a bit steep full price, but on sale? Totally worthwhile. Here are some examples of discounted activities in Auckland.
Bookme Christchurch
Christchurch is still pretty underrated, and a city lots of visitors skip. But they’re wrong! Scroll through the activities page and you’ll see there’s lots to do in and around the city.
One hot tip: If there’s a discount on the International Antarctic Centre, get it. It’s soooo expensive to go otherwise, but people rave about the experience.
I also see Bookme NZ is dabbling in some hotel deals, which could be a bit of a game changer. But I haven’t had the opportunity to test one out yet. Here are some examples of activities and hotel discounts in Christchurch.
Bookme Rotorua
Rotorua is my favourite place in New Zealand. Just ignore the sulfur smell and you’ll have the best time! It’s the home of geothermal wonders, adrenaline activities like Zorbing and white water rafting, and opportunities to learn about Maori culture.
In fact, the first time I ever used Bookme was to get 50% off white water rafting down the Kaituna River! Here are some great value deals you can find in Rotorua.
Read more: Things to Do in Rotorua on Any Budget
Bookme in other parts of New Zealand
Bookme has deals for stuff all over New Zealand, not just the major cities and tourist hubs. It’s all organized by region, so when you’re looking up activities in Queenstown, you’ll also be able to see things to do around places like Milford Sound and Wanaka. That reminds me: You might be able to find Bookme discounts on the epic Wildwire via ferata adventure in Wanaka.
In Te Anau, on the way from Queenstown to Milford Sound, you can visit one of the best Glow Worm Caves in New Zealand. And Te Anau glow worm cave tours are often listed on Bookme.
Other regions include Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Taranaki/New Plymouth, the Waikato, Franz Josef, Abel Tasman, Northland, and more. It basically covers the whole country, though.
Travel essentials for New Zealand
📶 eSIM
Stay connected with internet access across the north and south islands.
💸 TravelSpend
Track your budget easily (ft. a colourful doughnut chart with stats).
✈️ Traveller Declaration
You'll need to fill this in before you arrive in New Zealand to go through customs/immigration.
💳 Wise or Revolut
Compare the best multicurrency cards for spending in NZD like a local.
You can also use it for restaurant discounts
Bookme NZ’s main thing is activities, but you can also find great discounts on restaurants, too. For example, one common system is that you pay $2 for a coupon on Bookme that gives you 50% off your entire food bill at a restaurant. There are usually some caveats, like drinks are rarely included and you need one coupon for every person at the table, but these change from restaurant to restaurant. All the details are at the bottom of each listings.
Then there’s straight discounts on all-you-can-eat restaurants’ set price. For example, Fogo in Queenstown does AYCE Brazilian barbecue, but it doesn’t come cheap. So a 30-50% makes the experience way more affordable.
If you’re after more food deals, make sure you download FirstTable. It has a similar system where you pay $5-10 upfront for a reservation in exchange for 50% off your total bill. It has a far bigger list of restaurants across New Zealand than Bookme does. (Use this link to create your FirstTable account and we’ll both get $5 off.)
Bookme vs Groupon vs Get Your Guide
Bookme, Groupon, and Get Your Guide are all good resources for finding activities on a budget in New Zealand. But they all serve a different purpose.
- Bookme deals are posted by local NZ tour operators to fill empty spaces. So you’re usually getting a genuine last-minute discount from the source. Discounts are typically 10-50% off.
- Groupon is one you’re probably already familiar with, but it’s not travel-specific. It covers everything from restaurants and clothing stores to beauty treatments and activities in New Zealand.
- GetYourGuide has an amazing catalogue of activities but rarely has major discounts like Bookme. It’s better suited to guaranteeing a spot on a popular tour, like the Hobbiton Movie Set, well (WELL) in advance. That said, GYG does often have some pretty good price cuts of around 20%.
New Zealand also has GrabOne, which has the most random stuff, from professional carpet cleaning and weekend getaway packages to hair treatments and clothing.
New Zealand Travel Tips (NZTT) lists discounts on its site and doubles as a helpful, supportive Facebook group for travellers. I’m in it, and it’s actually a really nice community of locals helping visitors planning their trips.
What about Bookme Australia?
Bookme is also available in Australia — it’s the same company with the same array of rotating deals. If you’re booking a trip to both NZ and Aus, don’t sleep on using Bookme Australia, too. There are also one or two activities listed for Fiji.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
More about Naomi →