NZ MMMers - vacation rental questions

[Splashncash]

Hello New Zealand MMMers,
We are planning a trip to NZ in June and July and looking for vacation rentals.  We are using VRBO right now but having a hard time figuring out the bottom line rental cost.  When we get to the booking page, that nice per night fee results in a much more expensive total stay cost because of added charges.

The VRBO site has also pushed us along to two NZ sites: Good Stays and Book a Bach.  We found that Good Stays adds quite a bit with booking fees, linen rentals, cleaning fees, etc.  The Book a Bach site adds $30 per night per child.

For example, we found a cool place which sleeps 4 and is advertised for $106 per night.  By the time we got to the booking page, it turned out it was over $160 per night.  Although the place slept 4, they charged us $30 per person per night for each person over 2 adults.

So, I have a couple of questions -
 - is it common to have a surcharge for more than 2 people?
 - are we idiots for telling them we have 2 kids?  Should we not mention having 2 kids (15 and 10 years old)?
 - are there other/better sites locals use to set up vacation rentals?   

Thanks for any insight you can offer.

[RunningintoFI]

Following - also planning a trip to NZ this year so I'd like to see any great local resources this might generate Splash. 

[gooki]

Bookabatch
Nzholidayhomes
Airbnb

Not every home charges extra for more than two guests, but it isn’t uncommon. Also expect to pay a premium if staying during our summer.

We budget around $200 NZD per night for a family of four.

If you want to save money, try renting a cabin at a holiday park, or motel room, or a bed at a DOC hut.

[Splashncash]

Thanks, Gooki.

Good to know the reference point of $200 NZD.  We will be in NZ for your winter.  We are planning on one ski week on the south island.

SnC

[TheExplorer]

I second gooki's comment. Bookabatch and airbnb are two of the main ones.

I don't know what the average price is, but I do know that there is currently a real shortage of tourist accommodation in the country at the moment due to high levels of tourism, so that might be pushing up the prices a bit.

[gooki]

Awesome. Where in the South island are you planning ski?

[Splashncash]

Cardrona, staying in Wanaka.

[gooki]

Nice choice, my favorite ski field in NZ. Good luck finding something reasonably priced.