Updated on September 8, 2017.
Kia Ora. Thanks heaps for checking out my blog. After you read this post, please head on over to my latest project – Planit NZ. Planit NZ is my New Zealand travel guide and booking website. You can research all things travel in New Zealand on the website, and you can also book hop on, hop off backpacker bus passes, small group tours or activities. Booking any aspect of your trip through Planit NZ supports my work and is most appreciated.
The Land of the Long White Cloud is a destination well worn onto the backpacker trail. And for all the right reasons. An epic combination of stunning scenery, adventure sports, and friendly locals combine to make New Zealand one hell of a place to travel to.
Not only is New Zealand beautiful, New Zealand is easy to travel around. In fact, New Zealand is arguably one of the most backpacker or independent budget traveler friendly countries in the world.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a better spot to break into the world of long term travel.
New Zealand is addictive. Trust me. I originally came for a 12 month working holiday, yet nearly seven years later I’m still living in New Zealand.
Be it the quality of life, the miles and miles of untouched, remote and spectacular scenery, or the laid-back no-worries outlook on life, something about New Zealand will grab you and not let you leave.
So you’re considering a trip backpacking in New Zealand? Sweet as (as we say). While New Zealand is welcoming and easy to get around, you might have some questions about your trip here. Consider these:
15 Tips for Your First Experience Backpacking in New Zealand
1 ) Travel North to South
Almost daily I get emails from backpackers planning their trip to New Zealand. One of the most common questions I get is:
Should I start on the North Island or the South Island?
While the North Island is stunning (be sure to check out the Bay of Islands and definitely don’t miss the chilled out Coromandel Region), the South Island is where it’s at. As it will be the highlight of your trip, it’s the logical place to finish.
The mountains are taller, the drives are more spectacular, the Great Walks are greater, and the beer is better so finish on New Zealand’s South Island.
2 ) Avoid the Chain Hostels
There is no shortage of budget accommodation throughout New Zealand. From hostels, to budget motels to holiday parks with self contained accommodation, you won’t have a problem finding a place to lay your head at night.
As New Zealand is frequented by thousands of young backpackers each year, the big chain hostels are present throughout the North and South Islands. Many of the major backpacking destinations have Nomads or Base Backpacker hostels that are filled with younger party hard backpackers.
While many of these are adequate – and some quite flash (I’m talking about you Nomads Queenstown) – there are heaps of character filled, independently owned hostels that will compliment your trip to this small island nation.
Check out the BBH backpackers (Budget Backpacker Hostels) and get to know their quirky owners, settle down with a glass of New Zealand wine next to their wood burners, or listen to the sea from their gardens.
Also growing in popularity in New Zealand, like many places around the world, is AirBNB. I was in Oamaru recently had grabbed an entire home with sea views, walking distance to town, for about the same price as a basic motel. If you haven’t used AirBNB before, you can get $29 NZD free credit when signing up via this link.
3 ) Arriving to New Zealand
Chances are your flight to New Zealand will arrive in Auckland. A city that often gets a bad rap amongst travellers into the country. It’s not my favorite city in the world, but there are plenty of funky neighborhoods and stunning beaches nearby to explore. If you have a couple days, be sure to head over to Waiheke Island ($36 return). Or, if you’re looking for a day tour this Zip, Wine, Dine package is a perfect mix of adventure and New Zealand wine, and is a great way to experience the island.
Before you travel to New Zealand, take care of your mailbox in advance. Choose the best virtual mailbox service for business and travelers at getnewmailbox.com.
The SkyBus Express will be your best choice for the quick, 45 minute trip to the Auckland CBD. Tickets are only $28 round trip and can be booked online so you’re set to go when you land.
Consider these Auckland budget travel tips for your first couple days in the city – and most importantly, don’t stay too long – there is too much to see outside of NZ’s largest city.
4 ) Consider Buying a Car or Campervan
New Zealand absolutely begs to be explored behind the steering wheel of your very own car or campervan.
You won’t realize how many of these converted, backpacker-filled vans flock New Zealand’s roads until you’re here yourself. If falling asleep to the sound of the surf and waking to the sunrise sounds appealing to you, then a campervan just might be the right mode of transportation for trip.
Traveling New Zealand by campervan gives you loads of flexibility, allows you to get off the beaten path, and you will ultimately save you heaps on accommodation costs.
Many backpackers in New Zealand buy a van when they arrive and sell it prior to their departure. Surprisingly, buying a campervan in New Zealand is a simple and straightforward process; however, do be aware that a certain amount of risk is involved and not all of the campvervans in New Zealand are good investment. I suggest you take your van to the VTNZ, and have them perform a pre-vehicle inspection on it. It’ll cost you $110, but might save you thousands if you buy a lemon. If you have anything less than 3 months, buying a van is a bad idea as you’ll waste too much time trying to buy / sell the van.
Freedom camping is possible in New Zealand, however over the past couple years this has become much more strictly regulated. Sadly, too many inconsiderate backpackers have created a bad name for all of us – disrespecting the countryside by leaving rubbish or worse behind. So, if you’re going to freedom camp, do it respectfully – more on this post here.
In areas where freedom camping is not allowing, the Department of Conservation runs basic campsites that are as little as $5/night.
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5 ) If Not, take the Hop-on, Hop-Off Backpacker Bus
If you’re not comfortable driving on the left side on New Zealand’s roads, then your next best bet is going on a hop on, hop off backpacker bus tour.
A hop-on, hop-off bus pass is the perfect balance between a fully-guided, small group tour and a self-guided trip that sees you creating your own itinerary and driving yourself around NZ. These buses run on set routes around the country, and that allows you to pick a pass that goes to the places YOU want to see most. You can organize your own activities or accommodation, but the driver-guide on board the bus can help you out if you wish. They’re an awesome way to meet other travellers, and a great way to get to some lesser known destinations in New Zealand.
I recommend Stray, and you can see their most popular passes on Planit NZ. I can offer an exclusive Stray discount code of 5% if you book your New Zealand trip through Planit NZ. Contact me to find out more.
6 ) Get a 2Degrees Sim Card
If you’re traveling with an unlocked cell phone, you’ll be able to pick up a sim card when you get into New Zealand. While there are a couple different providers to choose from, your best bet is undoubtedly 2Degrees.
They offer cheap, international calls back home to Mom & Dad as well as cheap calls throughout New Zealand – for $19 you can get unlimited calls, unlimited texts and 1GB of data.
7 ) 3…2…1 Bungy! Do it.
New Zealand is an adrenaline junkies’ paradise. If you can dream it, chances are you can do it in New Zealand.
You can jump off bridges or out of planes. You can roll down hills in giant, water filled balls. You can run off cliffs with parachutes strapped to your back. You can cruise down rivers narrowly missing canyon walls in a jet boat. Or you can go black water rafting deep below the earth’s surface. You can even learn to paraglide. By yourself. Really, you can do it all.
Whatever you do, make sure you do a bungy jump
AJ Hackett established the world’s first permanent, commercial bungy jumping operation in Queenstown in 1982. Today, there are three in Queenstown alone for you to choose from (K Bridge, Nevis Highwire Bungy, & The Ledge Bungy). You can also bungy on the North Island at the fantastic Taupo Bungy.
It’s a terrifying experience – arguably, one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do, yet it’s an absolute rush and a must for your trip to New Zealand.
8 ) Don’t Try to Fit Too Much In
Planning a trip to New Zealand isn’t an easy process. In fact, it’s bloody difficult. Why?
There is such a wide variety of things to do, landscapes to see, and experiences to be had, that you’ll not know how you can fit it all in.
To be honest, you probably can’t. Unless you’re committing two or three months to New Zealand, it’s impossible to see it all in one go. The biggest mistake you can make when coming to New Zealand is attempting to do too much in too little time.
You’ll enjoy your experience backpacking in New Zealand heaps more if you have time to relax and spend a little longer in those untouched little corners of New Zealand you’ll inevitably find.
9 ) Experience a Great Walk
A road trip around New Zealand will reveal a country considerably untouched by the human hand. Sure, tourism is big business in many of New Zealand’s destinations, yet a huge part of the country is as remote and untouched as it is stunning.
Almost 30% of land in New Zealand is publicly owned and much of this has been converted to National Parks.
There are a series of multi-day Great Walks throughout New Zealand and you should experience at least part of one on your trip here. Check out the Routeburn Track near Queenstown, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track near Nelson, or one of the other seven Great Walks.
10 ) Try WWOOFing
If you’ll be staying in New Zealand for more than a couple months, you might want to consider WWOOFING (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) for part of your trip.
Wwoofing is a host system where you can exchange a couple hours of work each day on an organic farm in return for free food and accommodation.
It’s a fantastic way to save some money, meet interesting local Kiwis, and get a feel for a different aspect of life in New Zealand. The majority of people swing through New Zealand, see the sites, jump off bridges and miss the small and out of the way places that make New Zealand so unique.
These Wwoofing experiences and tips are a great place to start if you’re considering this for part of your stay.
11 ) Walk on a Glacier
While most of these tips aren’t experience focused, walking on a glacier is one that undoubtedly deserves to make it on the list. New Zealand is filled with wonders, and you’ll find two on the West Coast of the South Island – the Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers.
These ancient pieces of ice start in the Southern Alps and stretch all the way to coastal, temperate rainforest only miles away from the sea at 300 metres above sea level.
Walking on one is an iconic New Zealand experience and one that you should have while you’re here.
Over recent years, the glacier has been retreating further up the valley. Previously you could go on a guided tour of the glacier, and would access it via foot up the valley. As it’s retreated over the years, now the only way to get on it is via a quick helicopter trip from the Franz Josef township. It’s consequently a bit more expensive, but is an epic experience nonetheless. You can book here on Planit NZ at the best price.
The West Coast itself is a unique and fascinating area of New Zealand, so be sure to spend at least a couple days exploring the rugged coastline from Karamea all the way to Haast.
12 ) Hitchhiking in New Zealand
If you decide to buy a campervan, rent a vehicle, or get around by bus, you’ll be shocked at the number of hitchikers you see in New Zealand. It’s quite common and a very budget-friendly way to see New Zealand.
Clearly, care should be taken – you shouldn’t hitchhike at night and you’re probably better off with a mate (might as well minimize your risk), yet it’s a bloody exciting way to see the country.
New Zealanders are a friendly lot and you’re bound to have some interesting chats once you do get picked up.
If you decided to give it a go, you’re best off on the outskirts of a town, and make sure there is room for the driver to pull over; if there isn’t, you won’t get picked up – it’s as simple as that. A smile never hurts and a sign saying where you want to go will probably speed up your chances of getting a lift.
13 ) Beware of New Zealand Internet
As any travel blogger, Facebook addict, or general internet using backpacker that has come to New Zealand knows, the state of the internet here is dreadful.
It’s often slow, more often expensive, always charged by data usage (Skyping is difficult), and almost never included with your stay in a hostel.
Slowly, more and more cafes are offering free internet yet without a doubt New Zealand is far behind the rest of the world. Your best bet for finding free WiFi is at the local library with the other backpackers who have figured the system out. Sadly, even though this post has been updated since 2011, the internet in New Zealand is still bloody dreadful.
14 ) Go Mountain Biking
Mountain biking in New Zealand is unsurpassed by few places in the world and Kiwis love their bikes about as much as they love “The Rugby.”
Wherever you are, you’re bound to find some single track trails (just ask at the bike shop in town, there is bound to be one), yet Rotorua on the North Island is arguably the mountain biking capital of New Zealand.
Hire a bike and spend the day exploring the miles (and miles) of single track trails in the Whakarewarewa Forest – chances are, you’ll want to go back for day two.
In a country where budget activities are few and far between, mountain biking is a fantastic way to spend a day and see the countryside (plus, you’ll burn off the calories from all those budget-saving meat pies you’ve been eating).
15 ) Get Off the Beaten Path
In a country the size of the state of Colorado, you have 4 million people, 40 million sheep and every possible landscape you could imagine.
There is so much to be seen that no guidebook (or blog post) will ever point you in all the right directions. Use this to your advantage, and seek out your own untouched areas of Aotearoa.
A highlight of your trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud should be getting off the beaten path and finding your own special corner of this idyllic part of the world.
So take it slow, make some wrong turns, start conversations with the locals, and get to know New Zealand for what it is – one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Have you been backpacking in New Zealand? Leave your tips in the comments section below.
Found this post useful? Awesome! Don’t leave, check out the posts below:
- Traveling the North Island with Stray New Zealand
- Kawhia: New Zealand’s Best Kept Secret
- North Island or South Island New Zealand?
- NZ Must Do: Experiencing the Waitomo Caves
Backpacking Matt 
When we went travelling through NZ, we too got the BBH card as it was recommended by friends.
You still get a couple of dodgy hostels but they are far outnumbered by the really good ones. We found staying in one that wasn’t in the centre of towns we visited worked out as the nicest. Our favourite was Te Nikau Retreat in Punakaiki.
Have to disagree with you on Auckland but maybe that’s because we ended up there for 6 months working so we got to see more of the area than just the city part which people tend to stay around.
@Paul The Te Nikau Retreat is fantastic! You’re right too, there is always the dodgy BBH hostel, yet for the most part they’re well maintained. A great review system on their website allows you to pick the best too. I arguably haven’t given AKL enough of a chance – plenty of beaches nearby and the Northland is only a quick trip away!
I spent a month in NZ traveling solo and I used the jump on jump off Magic Bus, it was a really great way to meet people and so flexible to use.
@Ayngelina Thanks for that – I’ve not had any experience with Magic Bus, glad to know you enjoyed the experience.
We spent nine and a half weeks here at the start of this year and totally agree with these tips. Did not bungy jump, though =)
@Andrea & John Next time!
Ahhh, this made me so excited for my trip there next month! New Zealand really is a travel gem, and I always get so excited when I find so many other people who love it as much as I do. It really does have SO much to offer.
@Amanda Good luck planning your #blog4NZ trip – see you soon eh?!
I too ended up staying in NZ after my WHV expired (legally, of course!) but found 16 (or 17, if you count my escape from summer in Oz!) months to be plenty of time to work and explore the country. Even though I lived in AKL (blah) for the entire time, I do agree that the Mainland (S. Island!) is where it’s at! With the exception of CHC, I loved everything about it!
Great tips re: BBH hostels and camper vans. I wish I had done some hitch hiking or picked someone up, but as a solo girl, it was probably better I didn’t. But I did think about and consider it, which just goes to show how safe and awesome the country is.
I did not bungy (and don’t feel like I missed out), but did loads of rafting trips (Waitomo, Rotorua and Rangitata are awesome!) for those wanting to stick close to the ground.
Gah, like you, I could talk forever on this! Time to stop now:-).
@Rebecca You might love NZ as much as @Amanda. Glad you can relate to the tips and thanks for the plugs on rafting – definitely on my list!
#8 is probably the main reason why I don’t have plans for NZ in the near future: I want to be able to explore it properly, not just jaunt over for a week or so while I’m in Australia! The bad internet and high cost of living makes it tough to figure out how to just travel there for a few months–but I’m certainly considering coming back down to this side of the world for a working holiday in NZ! Will definitely come back and review this post if I ever get it sorted 🙂
@Chistine Ditch Auzzie and come over now! The cost of living is HEAPS cheaper than Auz, especially if you’ve been earning US or AUD dollars!
These are really practical tips! A lot of the time lists like this are fairly useless, but I actually feel like I learned a number of important things about traveling in NZ. Very pleasant surprise – thanks! 🙂
@Christy Glad you found the tips useful. I looked at if from the direction of, “What do I know now that I wish I knew when I got off the plane in AKL?”
Great tips Matt. Totally agree that the best way to experience New Zealand is to travel from North to South in a campervan. One of my favourite travel memories or all time is just hanging out in our Jucy Campervan drinking Monteiths Ale by the campfire!
@Cam I’ve not traveled in a JUCY campervan, but their social media and branding strategy is fantastic. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great tips! Next time we visit New Zealand we’ll definitely buy ourselves an old van to get around the country and save on accommodation expenses.
There is nothing really to add here… 🙂
I agree, New Zealand got sooo many great independent hostels. Go for them & you won’t regret it! Also do a couple of hikes in the National Park. The ones over a couple of days are tough, but there are also day hikes… Someone shared a tip on my site, which seemed to be really cool.
My tip: Go to the Doubtful Sound! It’s harder to get to & more expensive than the Milford Sound, but worth it as it’s not touristy!
@Melvin Cheers for the feedback mate! Yes, I’ve heard that heaps as well – Doubtful Sound is a great alternative to MIlford Sound. They’re both stunning I’m sure, yet the boat terminal at Milford closely resembles JFK on a busy day – not exactly how you want to start your trip through the sounds.
Oh wow, you have me convinced. Bungy jumping in NZ has been my biggest dream since I was a kid, and those photos are glorious. Being in Australia, it’s just a hop and a skip away but I simply haven’t found the time to do it!
I think I may also be a little afraid of shoring up and never wanting to leave :p
@Mary Flights across the Tasman are cheap as! Come over and do a bungy! 🙂
Buying or renting a campervan is a great tip. Here’s one of my favorite stories about caravaning New Zealand, by a former @NatGeoTraveler researcher:
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2011/03/caravanning-kiwiland-blog-4nz.html
@Marilyn_Res It’s the best way to see the country! Thanks for the article suggestion.
@Tigmen Thanks for the hostel suggestion – I’ve not stayed there but will check it out the next time I’m headed up to Karamea. Looks like an epic place to stay!
I have been there twice now, the last time for almost 1 year, I love that country. So many amazing place to see. We bought and old van the first time and drove around, its great to be able to camp everywhere you want and save money on the accomodation. Had some great experience with hitchiking as well, I just finished a hike and walked down the road and without even bothering to get a ride. The first car that showed up pulled over and offerd me ride to town 🙂 On hostel that people shouldnt miss is the “old slaugtherhouse” in Hector on the West Coast on the South Island, has a great ocean view as well.
I will have to go to NZ to do a road trip eventually. I would love to jump in a Campervan and travel the South Island. Bungy on the other hand isn’t for me….I can jump out of a plane 100 time over and be the happiest man alive…but tie and rubber band to my ankles and tell me to jump off a bridge and I won’t move a muscle. I might do it one day but I will stick to skydiving for now
@Anthony Funny how people have different perception of fears and danger – the thought of skydiving terrifies me! I’m quite keen to do it, however I just can’t help but think the risks of – well, death – are significantly higher. 15,000 feet and an airplane or 300 feet and a bungy cord? I’ll take the bungy!
Wow this is fantastic! I am not someone who wants to run around like a crazy person when traveling, and was thinking 2 weeks in New Zealand, now I think I may have to up it to 3 in order just to see the South Island!
@Liz I’d say 2.5 weeks for the North and the South Island is about the minimum. Any less than that and you’re simply too rushed!
I’m just beginning the process of planning a trip to New Zealand.I would love to backpack,hike,bike,etc. through the country and experience the beautiful scenery NZ has to offer. Ideally, the trip would last about 3 or 4 months. I was wondering if there was any sort of group or program that offered this sort of trip to young adults who are looking for a few months to explore. Any suggestions?
It is better to go from South to North if somebody is short on money and planning to rent campervan. As a lot of people are renting cars at AKL and leaving at CHC, so rental agencies need to relocate their cars North and have much better rates.
@Vi If you could score a cheap as campervan, I’d say going South to North would be good but not ideal. The South Island is where it’s at and where I’d recommend a trip to Aotearoa end here! Campervan relocation though is a bloody great tip as those deals are always going!
Nice tips Matt! Hope to WWOOF one day.
@Matt I definitely don’t want to be rushed, so am a very content ‘slow’ traveler, if it’s just doing the South Island that’s fine with me. I want to experience life, not tick off boxes!
As a local, I was curious to see what you thought of our little corner of the world. As an Aucklander, sure the city is just a city, but there is plenty to do here- the wild surf of the West Coast, the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke Island, jumping off the SkyTower (we do like to throw oursleves off high things!). But, as any Aucklander will tell you, given half a chance, we’re out of there! The great thing about NZ is nowhere is very far- you’re never more than a couple of hours from the ocean or the mountains. If you’re in the North Island, I recommend Coromadel, Northland, Rotorua and Taupo- down South, I’d like to add to your list the whole West Coast and Fiordland. The south Island truly is magical- but the East Coast, other than Kaikoura (whale watching) is just farming. Stick to the west, and head inland for Queenstown.Vi’s comment about using relocation deals from campervan and car rental companies is a great way to get back up north- $1 a day plus gas!
Enjoy our country- even Kiwis get amazed, and we live here!
@DeeWhy Thanks for sounding off, appreciate the extra tips!
I was just about to tweet you to ask if I could pick your brains about NZ for next year but now I’ve found this I might not need to! Good tip about the hostels, as they tend to be the cheapest option. Have you done any couchsurfing in NZ? And are the Bay of Islands worth visiting?
@Julia Glad you found the post useful; feel free to email me any NZ questions at matt@backpackingmatt.com. I haven’t done any couchsurfing here, but I know plenty of people have and I’ve hosted a few. There is a pretty solid network of hosts scattered about the country. The Bay of Islands is fantastic and absolutely worth a visit; check out Rock the Boat for a really good value overnight cruise that lets you take in the best of the bay in the course of 22 hours. Well worth the money!
Is it best to work in a place a few weeks and then move on (per orientation session) or to tour the whole country, pick your town/city, and then work for a longer period of time at a place and possibly get a flat. Have a work visa for a year. What do you think? Or is is just personal preference.
@Kathy I think it really is personal preference, however my suggestion would be to spend time touring the entire country (or one island) before settling down to find work and a flat. You can get a feel for heaps of different places before ultimately picking the one to spend a bit of time working and living in.
Hey Matt,
These are great tips. Although I’ve yet to visit NZ I can say it’s a high priority on my backpacking list. To be honest I’ve never heard anybody say anything bad about it before.
Me and my boyfriend are seriously analyzing the option of leaving our current life in Sydney and embrace a journey to New Zealand, and we’ve just bumped into this article and I couldn’t thank you enough. You just made our whole decision so much easier. Thing is, we’ve been trying to figure out things financially and we couldn’t come up with an estimative mainly because we’re not so experience when it comes to backpacking. We are thinking of mainly camping, not so much spending nights in hostels, and to walk or take the bus and hitchhiking, not so much owning or renting a van. So it would be amazing if you could tell me how much would we spend (estimative) on those standards if staying for a month. Thank you once again for boosting our confidence on doing this. We sure need life changing experiences, and you made us believe this is going to be just that.
@Madalena Thanks heaps for the compliments on the post – VERY glad you’ve found it useful and ‘good on ya’ for considering a go at New Zealand. If you were camping, doing your own meal and getting around via hitchhiking or bus, I’d say you could get by on $50NZD or less. This would go up depending on what you’ll do by way of activities – ie bungy jumping, skydiving etc! Shoot any more questions to matt at backpackingmatt dot com.
Hi
Cool blogs.
Its given me some ideas now for potentially my 1st visit to NZ!.
I havent booked it yet, but it looks like Ill only have 12 days in Nov 2012 in NZ before i have to fly home (thats after visiting friends in Oz), but I was thinking of flying into Auckland (not stay long there after thankfully reading this blog) get the train to Wellington.
The i was thinking of getting one the flexi passes (again that i saw on here) and travel to Abel Tasman, the whole west coast, check out queenstown / dunedin and Chistchurch, then fly out.
Is that feasible, am i deluded?. any tips much appreciated.
@Frye Cheers for the comment – in short, that itinerary sounds pretty choice. I’ll email you with more!
I am so siked to find your website, Matt. A friend and me backpacked through NZ in September 2010-December 2010. I am dying to get back. I am frequently checking airplane ticket prices, looking at pictures, and day dreaming about our experience. Unfortunately, I had to come back to the US to finish my schooling so that I can get a real job, make some real money, but just to head back to Nzed! 🙂
For my lengthy stay in NZ, I applied for the Holiday working Scheme. Obviously, that particular visa is offered to each individual once per life time. I am looking to return for work in about a year and I’m exploring visa possibilities. Any advice? I may want to see citizenship in the long run. What do you know about this?
Thanks 🙂
@Lacie Thanks heaps for the comment – glad you’ve enjoyed it and are itching to get back to NZ. Similar to yourself, I arrived first on a working holiday visa for 12 months. I was able to line up an employer who sponsored me to remain for an extra 12 months and am in the process of renewing that again now. If you’re unable to land a visa/job before coming back, just enter as a ‘tourist’ and hit the ground running looking for work when you arrive. Good luck!
Fantastic tips Matt, a great help! I am in the process of planning a trip to NZ, i plan on hiring a campervan and traveling from North to South. Possibly leaving this year either November-February or January-April. I have £4000 which will hopefully last me a minimum of 4 months but i would be going over there on a working visa. Do you think this is reasonable? I will try to do most activities, i.e bungy jumping, kayaking, rock climbing, cycling, walking the list goes on..!
@Brett Glad you enjoyed the tips! Yes, I think £4000 sounds pretty reasonable yet remember the activities you mentioned add up quickly! If you’re keen to get work at some point during your visit, I’d saw you’re sweet as!
Just a bit of expanding the info on number 10/ Wwoofing. “A couple of hours work” in exchange for wwoofing will in reality always be at least 4 if not 5…
As a wwoofing host we love to have others involved in our organic orchard production who are at least interested in organics. If you’re trying to find a place to stay for cheap travel there are a lot of hosts these days who are backpacker hostels or B & B’s happy to have anyone.
An alternative is”Helpex” which is a similar set up for people not necessarily interested in learning about growing things.
On the other hand if you are into learning about organics and helping out those involved in it if you choose profiles of properties that are Biogro certified (the kiwi organic certification) then you can be sure you’ll not be ending up with child care/house cleaning.
@Jennie Cheers for the feedback and advice!
Hi
I am flying to Christchurch in July, after being to Thailand and Oz, and will have 8 days in New Zealand. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about things I should do in this time as I know it isn’t very long. I was considering using magic buses. Thanks
What a brilliant blog post! I know it sounds cheesy, but it brought tears to my eyes reading it because it made me think of how amazing my working holiday in NZ was back in 2009/2010 and how that experience changed my life. I agree, NZ is truly amazing and I’m so glad I went! I hope to go back again someday.
@Kelly So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 I hope you get to return sooner rather than later!
Hey Matt, how’s it going over there?
I’ve already asked a similar question and don’t know who else to ask.
I am leaving the uk on the 1st may 2013 for 2 months think i am due on 29 June, flights already paid for so that price is not a factor. I have put back £1000 which is just short of 2000 NZ dollars is this enough? I will be staying in hostels and with friends. I aim to do 1-2 activities a week possibly none at all on some weeks. I ask anyone who reads this for advice is this enough cash? I am a simple bloke just a roof over my head and food occasional activities, plus bus fair. I won’t be traveling a lot as I will be staying wih friends over there. Thank you in advance for a advice, much appriciated 🙂
@Brett I’d say that $2k nzd is just about enough, but it depends entirely on what and how many activities you decide to do and how much of your time is spent in hostels. Just considering basic travel, food and accommodation costs, I’d guess you could skimp by on $50 per day.
wow..you have tons of information in this post:)..Last time when I went to NZ I didn’t do any bungee jumping as my days were short! I only have 3 weeks from north to south! and there’s tons of things to do. Now, after seeing your post, i am so interested to go,….it’s an amazing country afterall:)
Thanks Matt 🙂 I’m really looking forward to this adventure. It’s nice to be able to talk to someone who has the experience and knowledge. Hope things are going well for you bud 🙂
@Brett Sweet, good luck planning!
Hey Matt! Don’t forget about YHA as a great place to lay your head. We have hostels all over New Zealand along the backpacker trail! We also offer 10% discount on all accommodation for members and a free night when you sign up.
hey Matt,
you’ve a great page here. myself and girlfriend coming to NZ for first time, we’ve got over 3 weeks and looking to hostel our way round the South island. Any good blogs, websites for personal itineraries you know about?
@Shane Cheers mate! Check out PlanitNZ.com – filled with NZ regional advice, travel tips and itineraries. Also feel free to fire any questions to me direct via email.
Hey all,
Were coming to New Zealand in september and we really want to do one if not more of the great walks. Problem is we’re travelling for a year so we have gigantic and way too heavy backpacks. Is there something set up for the like of us where you can leave your main bag somewhere and take a smaller bag. Bus station lockers have crossed my mind but I really don’t know.
Any advice or help appreciated.
Thanks
Sarah
Hi Sarah
Most hostels you stay in will generally have a luggage storage room that you can take advantage of whilst you’re out walking the Great Walks.
is 1 month enough for vanning across NZ?
Yes – you can see heaps in a month. I’d suggest two weeks on each island, or maybe a bit longer on the South Island.
I really wish I can go back to NZ for a vacation. The last time I was there was for work reasons. Seminars in Auckland. Matt, your blog includes very informative and useful tips! I can’t wait to get a leave from work and experience NZ again, but this time its all about exploration and fun times. I’m really looking forward for Bungy jumping and Mountain Biking. I’m always on the gear for intense types of adventure. Thank you for the tips, Matt. Big help for planning.
Glad you enjoyed!
Things not to do:
Rotorua: the fact that it is a tourism destination is one of the great cons of all time.
Hamilton: dangerous after dark, nothing to see in the day.
renting a wacky camper van: you’re not advertising yourself as carefree and fancy free when you drive these graffiti-covered boxy vans, you’re advertising yourself as a tourist and liable to have your stuff nicked.
Things to do:
The South Island (avoiding Christchurch which is and always has been a hole) – it’s all beautiful.
Cuba St Wellington – most interesting city street in NZ by a country mile.
Come to NZ Dec to April. The weather sucks outside of these months
Agree with almost all of your feedback. Rotovegas isn’t my favorite place on the North Island, but it’s worth a visit – at the very least driving through and getting a couple whiffs of the sulfur rich air! I don’t agree that you should skip Christchurch. Even post-quote, there is so much to see and experience. What the people of Christchurch have done with their demolished city is truly inspirational. Check out the Bare Kiwi videos for a taste of what they’ve done to the city.
okay, I’m bookmarking this post for my first visit to NZ..
Yes! Check back often! And don’t forget to check out PlanitNZ.com too.
Excellent post! Do you have any recomendations for affordable flights from the US to New Zealand?
Hi Laura – just dropped you an email. NZ is a pretty hard place to get to on a budget, I’m afraid! Your best bet is checking the LAX – AKL route, and aiming to book about 3-4 months prior to your trip. Good luck…
I’m planning on living in Australia at the beginning of next year, and spending a minimum of 2 weeks in NZ is a must for me! Although you recommend starting in the north then heading to the south, I have a friend who rented a camper van for $1 per day because she decided to start south and head north (since it’s a less popular route). So if you’re on a budget, that could be another consideration! Great tips!
Can’t beat a $1 per day rental – good luck planning your two weeks in New Zealand!