Tipping tour guides in NZ and AUS

[Torquer]

I'm an American but have been browsing these New Zealand and Australian forums to get a perspective for our upcoming cruise to your countries in February.  From everything I have read, tipping is not common and not expected in NZ/AUS.  I can live with that in restaurants/taxis/etc. but what about tour guides for shore excursions?  I could envision it might be more common and expected in that case since they interact more with foreigners.  Hopefully the NZ and AUS resident readers can give me some ideas on tips for tour guides:  no tip needed nor expected, a modest tip, or a full 10% of the tour price that we might give in other countries.

[buchhalm]

The short answer is NO tip needed. Ever. End of story. 

A tip is always entirely voluntary.

It doesn't matter for whom. (And you could stop reading now 🙂)

 

Especially on tours that are sold by cruise ships that are already a lot more expensive than locally bought tours. (And it is not my concern who gets all that extra money).

 

HOWEVER (cue the haters "WE don't tip in this country "):

If I really enjoy a tour (or hospitality service) I often DO leave a tip.

There is no magical % rule to this.

Say the cafe bill is $17, I round up to 20. If the bill is $182, I make it 200

Tour guide? $10 or 20, depending on duration and level of fun and enjoyment.  That's for me AND the wife. Not per person!

And ALWAYS cash.

Oh, and I ignore those "input discretionary tip " on these hand-held card readers. That 💩 is creeping in now. I refuse to be gently forced into tipping. In such situations I MAY still tip in cash. If I WANT TO.

 

[Galesa]

Hi Torquer. 

 

It's not generally expected. I can't remember ever doing a tour in Australia where I felt the tour guides were  expecting a tip.

 

But thanks for opening the can of worms:)

 

[Jean C]

Hi, as a NZ'er I can confirm that tipping is neither required nor expected in NZ. However, having said that, because of the ingrained tipping custom in the US, I fully imagine NZ tour bus drivers and guides etc inwardly cheer when they have US tourists on board as anything extra would be a bonus for them. If they do a good job, are informative and entertaining etc then I would suggest a modest tip rather than 10% of tour cost. With taxi drivers, being an ex Brit where tipping taxi drivers is common, out of habit I usually round up the fare.  Hope that helps.

[GUT2407]

Welcome? Yes?

 

Expected? No.

[Ozwoody]

I've lived in both NZ & Aust, and buchhalm's answer pretty well sums it up.

If you feel really impressed with service give if you want too, no body turns down free money.🤣

[lyndarra]

We would hope that employers don't get the idea that they can start cutting back on wages. I am I being cynical? There's no shortage of examples of even well known, and in some cases international as well as local businesses underpaying staff in service industries.

 

[Ozwoody]

16 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

We would hope that employers don't get the idea that they can start cutting back on wages. I am I being cynical? There's no shortage of examples of even well known, and in some cases international as well as local businesses underpaying staff in service industries.

 

Well maybe, but it is illegal, and if their caught, they will get prosecuted.

That's why people should know what they are entitled too, and report them asap.

Sometimes it can be accidental, but still no excuse.

 

[buchhalm]

39 minutes ago, Ozwoody said:

Well maybe, but it is illegal, and if their caught, they will get prosecuted.

That's why people should know what they are entitled too, and report them asap.

Sometimes it can be accidental, but still no excuse.

 

Well, reading through the jungle of Australian awards for the hospitality sector for example, the average person would need a lawyer specialising in labour law to REALLY work out what a - for example  - chef would be entitled to.

[RobinBancs]

Tipping isn't part of our culture and that's because our employers pay fair wage and hence you pay a higher price for everything here because it needs to cover those wages.  Tipping is essentially already included in the price you pay for things.  I wouldn't advise tipping anyone unless they provided extraordinary service that compelled it.

[Ozwoody]

41 minutes ago, buchhalm said:

Well, reading through the jungle of Australian awards for the hospitality sector for example, the average person would need a lawyer specialising in labour law to REALLY work out what a - for example  - chef would be entitled to.

That's why you supposedly have unions, you go to them if in doubt, they will quickly let you know if your getting paid correctly.

anyway we're getting of subject here.

Edited December 16, 2022 by Ozwoody

[NSWP]

Back in 97 we did a 14 day coach tour of NZ with Guthreys Pacific. I recollect on the last day the Tour Director passed the hat around for tips for him and driver. They were not backward in coming forward and from my observation just about every pax put some $ into ye olde hat.  It was a good tour so nobody really objected to the 'whip around.'

[Port Power]

22 hours ago, Torquer said:

I'm an American but have been browsing these New Zealand and Australian forums to get a perspective for our upcoming cruise to your countries in February.  From everything I have read, tipping is not common and not expected in NZ/AUS.  I can live with that in restaurants/taxis/etc. but what about tour guides for shore excursions?  I could envision it might be more common and expected in that case since they interact more with foreigners.  Hopefully the NZ and AUS resident readers can give me some ideas on tips for tour guides:  no tip needed nor expected, a modest tip, or a full 10% of the tour price that we might give in other countries.

NO TIPPING.  End of story.

 

Bus drivers and tour guides are paid well.  Better than waiters most likely.  It is annoying that Americans have brought in the idea of free money, undeclared and untaxed, into Australian society.  (This is not a personal attack on you.)

 

No tipping anyone, anywhere.

[nnps]

yep, gotta hate the tipping.

[Bubbeh]

Please do not tip.  We do not want to create a culture where this becomes part of the norm and thereby an expectation.  To the best of my knowledge, hospitality staff are not taxed on presumptive tips and if such a culture is introduced this may well become the case and then those who are not being tipped are effectively being disadvantaged for the same work.  

 

In Australia and New Zealand, laws ensure staff are paid a living wage and even the lowest paid workers are protected (theoretically) from exploitation by employers.  The fiscal relationship exists between an employee and the employer, not the employer's customer.  We don't want to give employers any justification for lowering wages or work standards.  People have died to protect this right.

 

In my opinion, the only tip acceptable is to be kind to your mother and look both ways before you cross the road.  Do not tip, please.

Edited December 17, 2022 by Bubbeh
insert 'theoretically'

[Bubbeh]

On 12/17/2022 at 6:16 AM, NSWP said:

It was a good tour so nobody really objected to the 'whip around.'

 Just out of interest, was part of the tour cost refunded based on how good it was?  Or, was the 'whip around' a way of shaming people into contributing?

[Bubbeh]

On 12/17/2022 at 4:50 AM, Ozwoody said:

Well maybe, but it is illegal, and if their caught, they will get prosecuted.

That's why people should know what they are entitled too, and report them asap.

Sometimes it can be accidental, but still no excuse.

 

Off topic but relevant to your response.  Our granddaughter when she was an apprentice hairdresser a few years ago, thought her penalty rates were not being properly applied.  She surreptitiously took photos of the appointment book back dated a while and went to see her Union.  The Union  investigated and discovered that the employer was also not paying the correct amount of Super into her account.  This was reported to the Govt and an audit was done which revealed that this was an across the board problem with the employer.  Fines were administered and the situation was retrospectively corrected for all 8 staff.

 

We were very proud of that 19 year girl who had everything to fear when she decided to investigate and take action.

[2022cruisey]

Please don’t tip.  It just makes it awkward for everyone involved, except you.  

[NSWP]

3 hours ago, Bubbeh said:

 Just out of interest, was part of the tour cost refunded based on how good it was?  Or, was the 'whip around' a way of shaming people into contributing?

Neither, pax were just appreciative of good service from tour director and driver.

Even locally I tip the waitstaff a few dollars if the service is good. Just my nature.

 

I tip my hairdresser $5, saying have a coffee on me.

[Aussieflyer]

33 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Neither, pax were just appreciative of good service from tour director and driver.

Even locally I tip the waitstaff a few dollars if the service is good. Just my nature.

 

I tip my hairdresser $5, saying have a coffee on me.

My hairdresser charges like a wounded bull so no tip for her.

However, hubby generally adds a bit for his barber to make up for the lack of hair.😉

 

To return to the topic we don't tip tour guides or drivers though I have seen the tour guide often stand at the bus door to say goodbye (and pop any cash into their pocket).

Edited December 18, 2022 by Aussieflyer

[buchhalm]

1 minute ago, Aussieflyer said:

My hairdresser charges like a wounded bull so no tip for her.

However, hubby generally adds a bit for his barber to make up for the lack of hair.😉

You mean Hubby is paying a finders fee?

[BRANDEE]

On 12/16/2022 at 12:27 PM, Torquer said:

I'm an American but have been browsing these New Zealand and Australian forums to get a perspective for our upcoming cruise to your countries in February.  From everything I have read, tipping is not common and not expected in NZ/AUS.  I can live with that in restaurants/taxis/etc. but what about tour guides for shore excursions?  I could envision it might be more common and expected in that case since they interact more with foreigners.  Hopefully the NZ and AUS resident readers can give me some ideas on tips for tour guides:  no tip needed nor expected, a modest tip, or a full 10% of the tour price that we might give in other countries.

When we visited in Feb/Mar 2020, we planned not to tip because we read it right here on cc.  Not needed, Not expected. Once they know you are an American..a tip is expected.  That happened in restaurants, hotels, taxis and tours in Sydney and NZ. As long as you can deal with the no tip policy don't.  In the end, do what makes you comfortable.  We did a Blue Mountain all day tour and the guide, who also was the driver,  was exceptional.  We tipped him as a thank you, not as an income supplement. 

[MMDown Under]

44 minutes ago, BRANDEE said:

When we visited in Feb/Mar 2020, we planned not to tip because we read it right here on cc.  Not needed, Not expected. Once they know you are an American..a tip is expected.  That happened in restaurants, hotels, taxis and tours in Sydney and NZ. As long as you can deal with the no tip policy don't.  In the end, do what makes you comfortable.  We did a Blue Mountain all day tour and the guide, who also was the driver,  was exceptional.  We tipped him as a thank you, not as an income supplement. 

I understand it must be hard for Americans visiting Australia not to tip because a tip is expected from Americans.   

[BRANDEE]

13 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I understand it must be hard for Americans visiting Australia not to tip because a tip is expected from Americans.   

We were made to feel uncomfortable for not tipping.  We were told a few times at some restaurants that tips should be left as cash, not put on the charge card.  One taxi driver told us it wasn't true that they do not accept tips.  He would appreciate it in cash.  This happened more in Sydney since we spent a week there.  Of course, on our cruise part of the vacation, we were charged tips daily automatically.. All of our OBC was converted into AUD dollars one for one, but tips were charged as US dollars...that was Princess' policy..not Australia or NZ.

[Port Power]

1 hour ago, BRANDEE said:

We were made to feel uncomfortable for not tipping.  We were told a few times at some restaurants that tips should be left as cash, not put on the charge card.  One taxi driver told us it wasn't true that they do not accept tips.  He would appreciate it in cash.  This happened more in Sydney since we spent a week there.  Of course, on our cruise part of the vacation, we were charged tips daily automatically.. All of our OBC was converted into AUD dollars one for one, but tips were charged as US dollars...that was Princess' policy..not Australia or NZ.

 

1 hour ago, BRANDEE said:

We were made to feel uncomfortable for not tipping.  We were told a few times at some restaurants that tips should be left as cash, not put on the charge card.  One taxi driver told us it wasn't true that they do not accept tips.  He would appreciate it in cash.  This happened more in Sydney since we spent a week there.  Of course, on our cruise part of the vacation, we were charged tips daily automatically.. All of our OBC was converted into AUD dollars one for one, but tips were charged as US dollars...that was Princess' policy..not Australia or NZ.

On ships, it is the American social norm as staff are poorly paid.  I am sorry you are pressured to tip on land in Australia, but unfortunately it is only because visiting Americans have previously tipped.  Some providers are simply greedy!  Australian prices are dearer because proper wages and taxation are included in the retail price.