Taking a Backpacker Bus in New Zealand
If you have done any sort of retìm kiếm into travelling around New Zealvà, you will probably have heard about “hop-on hop-off”. Hop-on hop-off is a type of backpacker bus network in New Zealand, which, simply put, is a flexible bus tour for adventurous travellers!
Unlượt thích the national coach buses, the hop-on hop-off bus is a guided route with an emphasis on activities and social experiences with like-minded travellers. Get the full comparison in What is the Difference Between Hop-on Hop-off và National Coach.
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With a mix of không tính tiền & optional pay-as-go activities, the bus trip around New Zealvà is action-packed. What’s more, the “hop-on hop-off” aspect of the bus trip means you can opt lớn get off the bus and enjoy some independent travelling at most points during the route, making hop-on hop-off a popular means of transport for backpackers.
Kiwi Experience, Stray & Flying Kiwi
The hop-on hop-off bus companies operating in New Zeal& are Kiwi Experience, Stray và Flying Kiwi. Kiwi Experience & Stray work in very similar ways in terms of how they operate và what’s included, offering you a method of transport around the country with your first night of hostel accommodation guaranteed and the option khổng lồ book activities with them. Flying Kiwi works slightly differently with camping accommodation and at least one meal per day included in the bus pass. Of course, there are other differences, & we’ll get lớn that later.
The rest of this article will explain mostly how Stray & Kiwi Experience work in more general terms. However, should you want to lớn compare the bus companies take a look at What is the Difference Between Stray và Kiwi Experience? For more information on Flying Kiwi, take a look at That New Zealvà Hop-On Hop-Off Bus You’ve Never Heard Of…


What is the Price of Hop-on Hop-off Travel with Kiwi Experience and Stray?
With Stray & Kiwi Experience there are a number of costs you need khổng lồ consider when taking the bus because these are not all-inclusive tours.
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Price of the Hop-on Hop-off Bus PassThe prices of bus passes fluctuate with sales. Plus, prices really depkết thúc on which bus pass you buy. For a full national pass, the price can be anywhere between NZ$1000-$2000. Keep an eye on those sales và read our 5 Tips to lớn Get a Better Deal for a Backpacker Bus Pass.
Price of Activities and AccommodationAlthough the bus driver can book accommodation & activities for you, you pay for these as you go. You can expect khổng lồ pay around NZ$20-30 per night for accommodation (with a couple of exceptions, which you can read more about in our How khổng lồ Budget for a Hop-on Hop-off Trip Around New Zealand). For activities, the prices can range from NZ$10 lớn NZ$400+, so making your own personal activities budget is essential. We’ve made a list of typical activity prices in The Cost of Backpacking in New Zealand.
Price of FoodYou will need khổng lồ provide your own food & drink on the trip. By either stopping in a destination with a supermarket or making a supermarket stop during the day, the bus will give sầu you regular access lớn a supermarket lớn buy your own food lớn cook at the hostel, which is the best way lớn keep food costs low. Having group meals with your fellow bus passengers is another way khổng lồ reduce food expenses.
For more money-saving tips & how much you can expect to pay on the Kiwi Experience or Stray bus, kiểm tra out How to lớn Budget for Hop-on Hop-off Trip Around New Zealvà.
Budgeting with Flying KiwiAs mentioned, Flying Kiwi works a little differently. You don’t need khổng lồ worry about an accommodation budget, as accommodation is included in the trip. Although Flying Kiwi does offer at least one meal a day (some days it’s three times a day, sometimes it’s two), there are going to be some occasions where you are going to lớn need to lớn buy your own meals. This is usually when there is no access to a kitchen so you’ll be buying food from cafes, take-aways and restaurants, so budgeting for some meals is a must. Take a look at typical takeaway prices in What is the Cost of Backpacking in New Zealand?
Other Ways to lớn Travel Around New Zealand
How you want lớn travel around New Zealvà is a personal and important decision lớn give sầu yourself the best gap year or backpacking experience possible. That’s why we have ‘heaps’ of articles on backpacker transport, so you can make a well-informed decision! Take a look at these beauties: