The Kiwi Experience
Alright, first things first
Let me tell you why i made the decision to purchase a ticket for the Kiwi bus or also known as the green fuck bus. When i arrived in New Zealand, after traveling South East Asia for several months, civilization hit me with a big baseball bat. I simply wasn’t used to a „western“ life anymore, so I decided to take it slow and ease into it.
After spending a week in Auckland, enjoying New Zealands finest weather (rain all day) and getting absolutely shit-faced for my birthday, i knew that i needed to get out and so I booked myself onto the Kiwi Bus.
It is designed for people who want to see a good chunk of New Zealand, whilst giving you the freedom to hop on/off where ever you decide to spend more time along the Kiwi Route. It takes you to all the sweet spots around both islands and guarantees you a dorm bed in every place you stay over night, but here is some major advice to make sure you get the best out of your trip. I would highly recommend boarding the bus in Auckland and sticking to the minimum time on both islands.
For me, the major reason why i chose the bus was that i had been told that it would be a fun trip filled with sightseeing, party and relaxation, but I soon came to realize that it is all about finding the right group of people to ensure that you have the best experience. That being said, many groups tend to split up in Wellington and Queenstown. To my surprise most buses contained young travelers, away from home for the first time and a bus driver that couldn’t get hold in the comedy industry and constantly tries to sell you activities. You basically feel like the driver always has his hand in your wallet, this is why i highly recommend checking out bookme.co.nz for activities, the Intercity Bus for transport and local prices for accommodation to save yourself a few bucks. Intercity also visit areas which aren’t included in your Kiwi bus ticket. If you already know what kind of activities you would like to do and places you would like to visit, it might be sensible trying to find deals online.
My Highlights during the entire trip were the Glow Worm Caves in Waitomo, Mountain biking in Rotorua, Queenstown with its buzzing vibe (check out Ferg Burger) and Stargazing at Lake Tekapo. Besides all that ‚Fun Stuff‘ most days are consumed by sitting on the coach for hours, ticking off major sightseeing spots, short walks, taking Instagram Pictures and the activities booked through the Kiwi Experience.
After a couple weeks we made it to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, which is by far my favorite city in the country, although it did feel like I had been dropped off by „Doc“ in his Delorean. The city has a pretty relaxed vibe, consumed by coffee culture, draught beer and skateboarders. If you have a couple days to spend, make sure you head up Mount Vic for sunset, Ekim Burger on Cuba Street (best Burger in Town) and the weekly Sunday market to pick up some cheap veggies and fruits. Apart from that, you are best off just soaking up the Wellington Lifestyle.
So putting it all together….
I have to say that my Kiwi Experience has been good, even though it is not necessarily a country you might enjoy traveling alone. Still I managed to have some decent nights out, saw awesome places and made good friends, thats why i would recommend it to anybody who would like to go and see the beauty of New Zealand but does not want to spend a fortune on rental cars.
