The Kiwi Experience Bus: An Honest Review (2023)
Booking the Kiwi Experience bus? Yay! The Kiwi Experience is one of the best and easiest ways to get around New Zealand. Not only will you see some of the most beautiful locations on the planet, but you’ll make friends at the same time!
The Kiwi Experience is a group tour which is set up to guide you from start to finish. It is the perfect experience for new or first-time backpackers, and whilst the tour is aimed at travellers aged 18-35, we found the majority to be between the ages of 18-25.
In the following post, I outline why the Kiwi Experience is the best way to travel around New Zealand, and how the pass actually works. As always, if you still have a question, or if this post has helped you to travel, let me know on Instagram! I’d love to hear from you, and it confirms I’m doing my job properly!
🇳🇿 If you decide the Kiwi Bus isn’t for you, check out this epic 2 Week Itinerary for South Island New Zealand. Travel New Zealand in a van, at your own pace!
Other Oceania posts:
- Best Places to Live in Melbourne as a Young Adult or Expat
- 10 Fun Things To Do in Melbourne Solo (+ 20 Extras!)
The Kiwi Experience Bus Review: A Summary
The Kiwi Experience Bus is a group tour for like-minded travellers wanting to travel across New Zealand. Travelling via a hop-on, hop-off system, you have the freedom and flexibility to visit locations for different durations and tick off bucket-list activities as you go.
Once you’ve chosen your pass, you will decide where you start (most start in Auckland), and travel around the country via a big, green bus. You will also get access to a Trip Planner and the Bus Timetables in order to organise parts of your trip in advance. But, if you’re more spontaneous, everything can be sorted whilst you’re actually on the bus.
So, what is the Kiwi Bus actually like? Well, the buses are full of other travellers wanting to experience the country in a fun way, with a big emphasis on partying and socialising. We loved this part of the Kiwi Bus, and joined in on all of the social activities such as boat parties, bar crawls and fancy dress nights.
If you’re someone who likes everything being organised for you, the Kiwi Bus is easily the best way to travel around New Zealand. Everything down to the routes, hostels and activities can be sorted for you, so you don’t need to use a lot of brain power at all!
Whilst you’re on the Kiwi Bus, you will spend the majority of your time mingling with other travellers and meeting new people. If you’re a solo traveller, it’s an easy and great way to make sure you’re not alone, and surrounded by people at all hours of the day.
It’s a crazy, wild and chaotic way to experience New Zealand, and it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. If you like to party and socialise whilst ticking off epic bucket list experiences, the Kiwi Experience is for you!
👩❤️💋👩 FUN FACT: The Kiwi Experience Bus was where I met my long-term partner, Tom! We have now been together for four years, and own a house together in London. We also work together whilst travelling the world, working as digital nomads. If that’s not a Kiwi Experience success story, I don’t know what is!
Kiwi Experience Bus Pass Information
You need to pre-book your Kiwi Experience Pass as soon as possible. Buses are extremely busy in the summer season, so booking early will help massively!
| Target audience age | 18-35 |
| Country | New Zealand only |
| Duration of passes | Shortest: One day Longest: 27 days |
| Visa needed | Many nationalities can visit New Zealand for less than 3 months without a visa. Check out the Immigration New Zealand website before booking your Kiwi Experience trip. |
| Daily budget needed | $70-100 NZD per day |
| Most popular Kiwi bus passes | Funky Chicken, Sheepdog or Buzzy Bee (both islands) South Island Explorer (south only) Bay and Cape (north only) |
| Most common starting point | Auckland |
| Kiwi Pass validity | 12 months |
Which Kiwi Experience bus pass shall I choose?
There are over twenty different Kiwi Bus passes to choose from. Which one you pick will be down to where you want to go, your budget and how long you have.
If you have enough time during your backpacking trip, I’d recommend doing both North and South Island. Both have a lot to offer and are special in their own way. We found the most popular both-island Kiwi bus passes to be:
- Funky Chicken
- Sheepdog
- Queen Bee
- Kea
- Buzzy Bee
If you’re short on time, I’d recommend the South Island Milford Explorer, or the South and Sound. Or if you’re sticking to the North, the Northern Express or Geyserland both stop at some incredible spots!
🥝 TOP TIP: Unsure of what you pass you’d like? Look at Kiwi bus passes that include at least: Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Franz Josef and Lake Wanaka. They were our highlights!
Kiwi Experience Hostels
You do not need to pre-book any activities, hostels or accommodations in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus. When on the trip, the Kiwi Experience will book your hostels for you.
Hostels in New Zealand are modern, clean and safe. By booking hostels with the Kiwi Experience Bus, you will get a group discount and the best rates. Most of the Kiwi Experience hostels are Base or Nomads.
Hostels are booked 24 hours before arrival, using a signup sheet that is passed around the Kiwi Bus. You can request to be with friends, boyfriends (or potential partners!) if wanted.
Unless you specifically opt out, you’ll be in a mixed shared dorm with people from your bus. All hostels have large kitchens to prepare your own meals, and most are located in a city or town centre if you want to eat out.
🥝 TOP TIP: For the beginning and start of your trip (before and after you board the bus) you need to book your own accommodation. I highly recommend booking this in advance. Hostels in Oceania book up fast! You can check out the best hostels in New Zealand here.
Who’s the Kiwi Experience bus for?
The Kiwi Experience bus is for backpackers aged around 18-35. There isn’t an age limit on booking the tour, but we found the majority of travellers on our bus were between the ages of 18-25.
Whilst on the Kiwi Experience Bus, you can expect a lot of ‘organised fun’. This includes activities such as bar crawls, fancy dress parties, speed dating on the bus and party games.
The Kiwi Experience targets solo travellers and small friendship groups wanting to meet others whilst backpacking. The social and party side is one of the biggest aspects of the tour.
🥝TOP TIP: If this isn’t your thing, and you’d rather experience New Zealand in a more civilised way, I recommend hiring a car or a van. If you’re looking to hire a car in New Zealand, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in New Zealand now!
How the Kiwi Experience bus works
Firstly, you need to decide where you would like to visit in New Zealand. The passes cover different parts of the country (some are both islands, some just north, some just south etc). Whichever pass you choose will determine the destinations your bus visits.
All Kiwi Experience Bus passes allow you to hop on and hop off in locations during the route. It’s then your choice how long you stay in each location (for example, you could do 14 nights in Queenstown, but only three nights in Franz Josef).
You do not need to pre-book any activities, hostels or accommodations in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus. This is all sorted for you whilst you are on the trip. But if you would like to pre-book your own accommodation, you will need to let the driver know and organise your own transport.
🥝 TOP TIP: My opinion? Don’t pre-book anything. We accidentally pre-booked a hotel and were separated from all of our friends in the hostel. You can just imagine how sad we were! Don’t pre-book, leave it down to the Kiwi bus!
How do I book accommodation and activities on the trip?
You do not need to pre-book any activities, hostels or accommodations in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus.
Every evening, you’ll be handed a clipboard to sign up for hostels and activities. Payments are usually taken at the hostel or activity when you arrive. Again, you don’t need to plan or book anything before you board the Kiwi Experience Bus.
🥝 TOP TIP: If you make friends on the bus, you can sign up to be in the same hostel dorm room or activity group. Just make sure it’s noted on the clipboard.
Minimum/Maximum Stays in Locations Whilst on the Kiwi Experience Bus
The only locations that have a maximum stay are destinations that are organised for the Kiwi Bus participants only.
For example, the Kiwi Experience organises a fancy dress party at the Lake Mahinapua pub, which is a one-night-only stay. There aren’t many of these, but it’s worth noting if you’re on a strict time scale.
Your Kiwi bus pass will also have a minimum amount of nightly stays in all destinations. This means that unless you sort your own transport, you cannot skip a location entirely. This is because the Kiwi driver will stay in the hostel with you, and will not continue the journey until the next day.
When buying your Kiwi bus pass, you will have an estimated time frame, which is the minimum amount of days the tour can be completed in. For example, the Funky Chicken says 22 days+. This means the Funky Chicken pass can be completed in 22 days or more (just not less, due to the minimum night rule).
Activities on the Kiwi Experience Bus
When you want to take part in an activity on the Kiwi Experience bus, you will sign up in the same way you do for hostels. The clipboard will be passed around the bus, and you can write your name to confirm you want to take part. It will also explain payment options.
You do not need to pre-book any activities in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus.
🥝 Activities on the Kiwi bus range from (but are not limited to!): white water rafting, skydiving, jet boating, Maori village tours, cave and glow worm tours, dolphin watching, helicopter rides, hot springs, bungee jumping, whale watching, zorbing, sailing, and kayaking.
Activity prices range from $10-$200, depending on how much of a ‘bucket list experience’ they are. For example, a helicopter ride to the Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most expensive Kiwi tours. But some activities are free, such as hiking and walking.
You can also organise tours without the help of Kiwi Experience. Just make sure that if it’s far away from the bus or hostel you’re staying at, you have a mode of transport to return. The Kiwi Bus will not pick you up for any tour organised independently.
How flexible is the Kiwi Experience bus pass?
The Kiwi Experience bus tour has good flexibility. Plans changed? Love a location and want to extend? No problem.
As long as you finish your Kiwi Experience trip within 365 days of purchase, you can change your plans as many times as desired. Start the trip in January, finish it in December, or just do it all in one go. The Kiwi Pass gives you total flexibility to backpack New Zealand at a speed that’s suited to you.
Popular destinations like Queenstown are often visited for a longer period of time. If you’ve only budgeted a few days there, but your new backpacker friends have planned a seven-day stay, you might want to switch things up and stay with them. This is totally doable on the Kiwi Experience. Plans can change last minute, and you don’t need to decide anything too far in advance.
Will I be with the same people for the whole trip?
This depends on how you complete the Kiwi Experience bus tour. Most people will stick to the designated time frame, adding a few extra nights in. For example, we did the Funky Chicken Kiwi bus tour, and although it was a 22-day route, we spent around 30 days completing it.
If you do extend your stay in one location, you will jump on a new Kiwi bus for your next location. This means new people. There are Kiwi buses running one after another, every day of the year, so if you miss one, you can easily catch up the following morning.
🥝 TOP TIP: During peak summer travel, you need to pre-book your Kiwi bus seat. Seats fill up quickly, so you need to decide at least 24 hours in advance when you will be leaving a location.
Best locations to visit in New Zealand
North Island of New Zealand locations
- Bay of Islands – Beaches, hikes and views. Great for a scenic stop in New Zealand.
- Auckland – The biggest city in the country. Great for nightlife, city vibes, and shopping.
- Hot Water Beach – A large beach full of hot springs. You’ll dig your own hole on the beach to lay and relax in the hot water.
- Waitomo – Glow worms in a labyrinth of underground caves.
- Rotorua – The ultimate culture stop. This is the perfect place to do your Maori Village tour which is a must-do when visiting New Zealand to learn more about the people and history of the country. Also, Rotorua is a chance to visit Hobbiton!
- Taupo – Lake Taupo is one of the prettiest lakes in New Zealand, great for watersports and boat tours. The nightlife is also fun!
- River Valley – This part of the trip is for Kiwi Experience travellers only. Secluded in the middle of a mountainous valley, you’ll party the night away in a log cabin with a cheap bar and night-long music. White water rafting is also available.
- Wellington – New Zealand’s capital is a great place for nightlife, restaurants, shopping and scenic views from Mount Victoria.
South Island of New Zealand locations
- Abel Tasman – White sandy beaches and jungle.
- Westport – A quiet town which offers surf lessons in the evenings.
- Lake Mahinapua – Another Kiwi Experience exclusive. A family-run pub hosts a fancy dress party with late-night music and easy access to the lake!
- Franz Josef – Franz Josef gives the opportunity to ride a helicopter to the height of the famous Franz Josef glacier. You’ll also stay in a rainforest-wood-cabin-style hostel with nightly entertainment and good food.
- Lake Wanaka – One of the most famous lakes in New Zealand. Great for watersports, hiking and mountain trekking.
- Queenstown – One of the more lively cities in New Zealand, and an adrenaline junkie’s paradise. From bungee jumping, luging down the side of a mountain, sky diving, jet boating…if it makes your heart race when you think about it, Queenstown has a chance to experience it.
- Milford Sound – An expensive but worth it day trip that can be taken from Queenstown. Sail up close to the famous Milford Sound and soak in the views of the mighty waterfall.
- Lake Tekapo – Known for its turquoise blue lake and star gazing. The area has next to no light pollution, making it one of the best stargazing locations in the world!
- Christchurch – Another New Zealand city which is on the smaller and quieter side.
- Kaikoura – If you’re a big fan of dolphins, you’re going to want to make sure your tour stops at Kaikoura.
Kiwi Experience Bus: FAQs
1) Is the Kiwi Experience bus worth the money?
Yes, yes and yes again! The Kiwi Experience is worth the money, especially if you’re unsure about travelling alone or are backpacking for the first time. I guarantee you’ll make friends, tick off bucket list experiences and have the trip of a lifetime!
2) Is the Kiwi Experience a party bus?
The Kiwi Experience group tour has a reputation for being a ‘party bus’, but it really depends on how you want to experience it. Yes, you can party with your new friends on the bus, or you can avoid this part and just spend your time exploring and doing bucket-list New Zealand activities.
3) Who started the Kiwi Experience bus?
Aucklanders Mike Warren and Neil Geddes founded Kiwi Experience in 1989. This means the bus has been going for over 30 years (although their first journey was a single bus between Auckland and Wellington via Rotorua and Ohakune).
4) How does the Kiwi Experience work?
The Kiwi Experience bus works by following a designated route, stopping off along the way for travellers to enjoy different locations in New Zealand. It is a hop-on, hop-off bus, meaning you can choose the amount of time you spend in each location.
5) Do I need a car to travel around New Zealand?
This is down to personal preference. We loved travelling around New Zealand via the Kiwi Experience bus, but of course, you can hire your own car instead.
You can hire a car and drive around the entire country at your own pace. Driving in New Zealand is safe and straightforward. Some of the main towns and cities are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car.
If you’re looking to hire a car in New Zealand, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in New Zealand now!
6) Do I need a SIM card to travel around Oceania?
Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive in either New Zealand or Australia.
ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
The Kiwi Experience Bus Review: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best areas and neighbourhoods to live in in Melbourne. When you’re planning a trip to Australia, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
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As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
🇳🇿 Where to next?
- 10 Fun Things To Do in Melbourne Solo (+ 20 Extras!)
- Living In Melbourne As An Expat On A Working Holiday Visa
- Best Places to Live in Melbourne as a Young Adult or Expat
🇳🇿 Have you been on the Kiwi Experience bus? I’d love to hear from you! Let me know your thoughts on Instagram!
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MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
Hi! Thank you for your informative blog about Kiwi experience and traveling with them. I’m going to travel with them next month. I’m little anxious because I’m not that social person all the time and I love my no social moments, always need a moment to just be by myself. Do you know if there’s some private rooms to book with or something? I’m doing the Backyard pass with both islands. I’ve also been thinking that do I need cash with me or can I pay with card? Thank you for your help ☺️