Thanks for the insight! I travelled with Kiwi Experience back in 2011 in March and April. Back then the hostel in Wellington also had nasty moldy bathrooms and I changed accommodation! I’m looking to go back to New Zealand in 2025 but this time in October-November, so it was good to hear about how cold it was. Will be trying the InterCity bus this time to travel also in other places and stop for longer
Thank you that was really helpful! I will turn 30 right before starting my Kiwi Experience and was a bit worried bcs of my age as well, thanks for taking away my worries 😊
Ahhh I’m so glad 🥰🥰 I really felt those worries too but I had the best time and I’d do it all again! Don’t worry about being 30 at all, there were lots of people around 30 on my buses 😇 you’re gonna have a brilliant time! ❤️
If you’re going in the height of summer they recommend to book ahead as much as possible, especially for really busy places like Queenstown. We did most of ours a week or so ahead and we were okay but that might be because of when we’re were there ☺️
Hi Catherine! Thank you for this incredibly informative video! It cleared up so many of my doubts and concerns. Could you also share the places where you decided to extend your stay and the destinations you wish you had planned to stay longer?
Hi! So from my notes and what I can remember: - We added on the bay of islands trip - Spent an extra few days in Rotarua so we could do the spa baths, redwoods walks, Māori village and the kuirau park - Taupo spent extra time there to enjoy the lake - Wellington we did one night on our way down to the South Island then 3 nights at the end because we flew out from Wellington and wanted to go to the Weta workshop and botanical gardens - Abel Tasman we spent a few days here and booked a cabin so we could slow down, we did kayaking and some walks and spent time at the beach because our weather was great - Requested stop in Wanaka and spent a few days here to do wine tasting, hiking and spend time in the cute town, one of our friends did a pony trek in the mountains - Queenstown spent a week here for all the activities and night life and did the Ben Lomond hike, visited arrow town and did the Milford Sound trip from Queenstown - Christchurch we did 3 nights, we loved Christchurch but there’s not many activities unless you plan things yourself but it’s got really good restaurants and shops and museums Once you’re on the buses and see the schedule you can decide a bit easier based on when the next bus comes if you want to stick with the schedule or wait for the next bus and be a little bit flexible as long as you update with the kiwi team. It’s easy to do and the drivers are so helpful! Hope this helps!! ☺️☺️ x
Such a detailed video! I’m going at the end of year and finding it hard to find videos about the kiwi experience. I have flexible amount of time to explore so how long would you recommend you need to comfortably complete the same pass you bought? 💕
Hey! Thank you for your comment 😊 I would honestly say the more time the better! We did approx 7 weeks I think and that was with extending our stops in some places for a few extra days. We could have easily done longer though because there’s so many beautiful places and different activities to do/things to see. I’d say comfortably 6 or 7 weeks as it allows you to enjoy each stop rather than rushing through. That pass allows you to be really flexible though and the Kiwi Exp team are really quick on email replies if you want to add some stops on your route. If we could we would have gone back to Franz Josef to try again for the glacier activities and helicopter hike as there was a wild storm while we were there but we had already booked our flights out of NZ so couldn’t make that work to loop back. You will have an amazing time 🥰❤️ wish you all best on your travels!!
Fantastic shots! and with the music it's such a relaxing vibe
Thanks for the insight! I travelled with Kiwi Experience back in 2011 in March and April. Back then the hostel in Wellington also had nasty moldy bathrooms and I changed accommodation! I’m looking to go back to New Zealand in 2025 but this time in October-November, so it was good to hear about how cold it was. Will be trying the InterCity bus this time to travel also in other places and stop for longer
Wow! Can you believe you packed all that in! What a beautiful country!❤️
Thank you so much ! I’m going in September and this was so helpful. 💗
Ahhh thank you!! Have an amazing time!! 😊😊🫶🫶
Thank you that was really helpful! I will turn 30 right before starting my Kiwi Experience and was a bit worried bcs of my age as well, thanks for taking away my worries 😊
Ahhh I’m so glad 🥰🥰 I really felt those worries too but I had the best time and I’d do it all again! Don’t worry about being 30 at all, there were lots of people around 30 on my buses 😇 you’re gonna have a brilliant time! ❤️
This video was super helpful ! How far in advance did you book your hostels ?? I.e days or a week for example ??
If you’re going in the height of summer they recommend to book ahead as much as possible, especially for really busy places like Queenstown. We did most of ours a week or so ahead and we were okay but that might be because of when we’re were there ☺️
This is super helpful! I’ll go to New Zealand in September and I can’t wait 💞
Thank you!! Ahhh that’s so exciting!! You will have an incredible time 😊
thank u so much for sharing ur experience 🫶🏼
Hi Catherine!
Thank you for this incredibly informative video! It cleared up so many of my doubts and concerns. Could you also share the places where you decided to extend your stay and the destinations you wish you had planned to stay longer?
You’re welcome! Yes sure, I’ll go through my itinerary and update you in the comments later on/tomorrow ☺️ x
Hi! So from my notes and what I can remember:
- We added on the bay of islands trip
- Spent an extra few days in Rotarua so we could do the spa baths, redwoods walks, Māori village and the kuirau park
- Taupo spent extra time there to enjoy the lake
- Wellington we did one night on our way down to the South Island then 3 nights at the end because we flew out from Wellington and wanted to go to the Weta workshop and botanical gardens
- Abel Tasman we spent a few days here and booked a cabin so we could slow down, we did kayaking and some walks and spent time at the beach because our weather was great
- Requested stop in Wanaka and spent a few days here to do wine tasting, hiking and spend time in the cute town, one of our friends did a pony trek in the mountains
- Queenstown spent a week here for all the activities and night life and did the Ben Lomond hike, visited arrow town and did the Milford Sound trip from Queenstown
- Christchurch we did 3 nights, we loved Christchurch but there’s not many activities unless you plan things yourself but it’s got really good restaurants and shops and museums
Once you’re on the buses and see the schedule you can decide a bit easier based on when the next bus comes if you want to stick with the schedule or wait for the next bus and be a little bit flexible as long as you update with the kiwi team. It’s easy to do and the drivers are so helpful! Hope this helps!! ☺️☺️ x
@@seehowitgrows Thank you so much!
Such a detailed video! I’m going at the end of year and finding it hard to find videos about the kiwi experience. I have flexible amount of time to explore so how long would you recommend you need to comfortably complete the same pass you bought? 💕
Hey! Thank you for your comment 😊 I would honestly say the more time the better! We did approx 7 weeks I think and that was with extending our stops in some places for a few extra days. We could have easily done longer though because there’s so many beautiful places and different activities to do/things to see. I’d say comfortably 6 or 7 weeks as it allows you to enjoy each stop rather than rushing through. That pass allows you to be really flexible though and the Kiwi Exp team are really quick on email replies if you want to add some stops on your route. If we could we would have gone back to Franz Josef to try again for the glacier activities and helicopter hike as there was a wild storm while we were there but we had already booked our flights out of NZ so couldn’t make that work to loop back. You will have an amazing time 🥰❤️ wish you all best on your travels!!