So you’re considering a trip to New Zealand? Why wouldn’t you? It’s a country known for dramatic landscapes, friendly people, succulent lamb, and stunning vistas. There is something here on each island to please the thrill seeking backpacker, the wine sipping connoisseur, or lovers of the outdoors. It’s an excellent place to come to as a backpacker (so long as you’re not on a strict budget). Yet you’re wondering the best way to travel around the country.
Check out the list below for five of the best ways to travel around the land of the long white cloud as a backpacker or budget traveler:
1) Campervans
Creative Commons: darrenkw
New Zealand is a prime spot for backpackers who want to travel around the country in their own vehicle. It’s easy to rent cars, or as many backpackers do – campervans. There are many joys of traveling in your own campervan. You can determine your own schedule, stop when and where you want, and you’ll inevitably see more of both islands if you have your own transportation. While a van will cost you more than a car, you’ll save money on accommodation costs by either staying in campervan parks or freedom camping where it’s allowed. Does spending the night in your van listening to the sound of the surf sound appealing? If so, consider seeing New Zealand from behind the wheel of your campervan.
If you’ll be here for a month or more, consider buying your own campervan. Assuming your van doesn’t blow up (as mine did) this will potentially be a cheaper option than renting. Whether you rent or buy, beware that gas prices in New Zealand are quite expensive.
2) Bus Passes
Creative Commons: devonaire
There are a number of companies in New Zealand that run terrific, budget friendly services around the country. Seeing New Zealand by bus is a budget friendly option and still affords you plenty of flexibility. Intercity or Naked Bus both run frequent services between most towns and cities in New Zealand. As long as you’re willing to put up with longer bus rides, there aren’t many places that you can’t get to in New Zealand with one of these companies.
If you’re considering this option, don’t book your journeys individually. Instead, consider buying one of the backpacker passes each company sells. These will give you a certain number of journeys around New Zealand and will often include a ferry crossing from the North to South Island.
3) Hitchhiking
Creative Commons: Bob Elderberry
Hitchhiking is a very realistic way to travel around New Zealand for the dedicated backpacker or budget traveler. I spent three months touring New Zealand in my campervan and saw very few hitchhikers. Not because they’re not here, rather because they get picked up so quickly. Clearly common sense should be utilized when hitchhiking – you’re better off as a pair, and solo travelers (especially women) may want to think twice before considering the option.
If you think it is right for you, it’s a cheap (free) way to get around the country. You’ll have to be flexible and willing to to wait when getting to out of the way places, yet you stand a chance of meeting friendly locals and fellow travelers. Here are some tips for hitchhiking around New Zealand:
- Stand on the side of the road with traffic gong in the direction you want to go
- Position yourself on the outskirts of town so the traffic that passes is definitely going the direction you want to go
- Use more than a thumb – make a sign which says the town you’re hoping to get to
- Make sure there is room for your potential ride to pull over allowing you to get in safely
4) Backpacker Buses
Creative Commons: Velvet Android
One popular way for backpackers to get across New Zealand is by a backpacker bus. This option allows you to hop on and hop off throughout New Zealand. You’ll be guaranteed flexibility, convenience, and have the added bonus of meeting other travelers. If this is your first major trip abroad, one benefit is your travel activities and accommodation can be booked for you – often with a significant discount. There are three major backpacker bus operators in New Zealand: Kiwi Experience, Stray, and Magic Bus. Check out Nomadic Matt’s review of his experience with Kiwi Experience and Stray.
If you’re considering this option, shop around before choosing your pass. At the start of last summer, many of the companies were offering a ‘buy one island, get the second island free’ promotion.
5) Train Travel
Creative Commons: much ado about nothing
Traveling by train isn’t a common way to get around New Zealand. You can’t get to smaller, out of the way destinations. Yet considering the breathtaking scenery which New Zealand is known for, you can imagine there are a couple epic train journeys you might want to fit into your schedule while traveling here.
The Tranz Alpine journey takes you from the West Coast of the South Island in Greymouth to Christchurch over the rugged Southern Alps. It’s ranked as being one of the world’s greatest train journeys and is worth your time. Also, consider leaving Christchurch on the Tranz Coastal route which heads north along the Pacific Coast. You’ll pass beautiful Kaikoura where you can stop to go whale watching. The journey ends in the ferry town of Picton where you can head to the North Island.
New Zealand is a small country by all practical standards and is quite easy to get around. Consider all or some of the above options on your backpacking trip to New Zealand.
Have you been to New Zealand? How did you choose to travel around the country? Leave your comments below.
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30 June 2010 at 4:40 pm
Hi Matt,
I have never done the buses or hitchhiking, but totally agree with your post. Love driving in NZ, it’s super safe and the camping sites are great!
Another good tip for the budget traveller is that flying in New Zealand can also be extremely cheap. It’s not difficult to find tickets as cheap as NZD 29 or 39. I have bought Wgtn-Auck for $19 once! And even when they’re not THAT cheap, flying is still cheaper than the trains.
Even though I normally prefer driving – I have done both islands with a campervan twice, and with my car twice as well -, for those who are here for a short period, flying to strategic points and then renting a car for a few days can be a great option too.
30 June 2010 at 11:03 pm
Wow, some of those pics are great! I have to say, the campervan is top of our list – we are planning to do this when we go to New Zealand (which will prob be the last stop on our overland trip from London). I daresay we’ll have had enough of buses and trains by then, and judging by the first photo in your post – the campervan is the most awesome option!
1 July 2010 at 1:05 am
A few years ago I traveled solo and took a backpacker bus. If someone is considering it they should know they aren’t all created equal. While I don’t think the Kiwi Experience would be good for me (I’m in my 30s) I did take the Magic Bus and loved it.
1 July 2010 at 1:33 am
Now that you’ve mentioned, trying out the hitchhiking option in about 3 weeks (yup, that’s when I come down to Queenstown from Auckland)…wish me luck!
1 July 2010 at 5:57 am
When I was in NZ, my friends and I tried out all sorts of transportation options. We flew, took buses and trains, and even rented a car here and there. You’re right when you say that New Zealand is generally an easy country to get around.
I have to agree with Cris, though — sometimes the best option ended up being booking a cheap short flight to a jumping off point, and then renting a car from there. The flights were never all that expensive, and they certainly saved a lot of time. But buses are great, too, especially if you want to see a little of the countryside along the way.
1 July 2010 at 9:08 am
We went to new Zealand for our honeymoon and hired a car for a few days before getting the campervan. We had a campervan from a company called Escape. All of their vans are individually painted by artists which makes them a great conversation starter – especially ours as it had a cartoon bird on it that was played before the shutdown on NZ TV for years!
P.S. Thanks for using my shot of the campervan overlooking Lake Wakatipu!
1 July 2010 at 12:15 pm
@Cris & @Amanda Flying can certainly be a cheap way to get around New Zealand. Air New Zealand often runs $1 fares on their Grab A Seat website. My only concern with flying in New Zealand is you miss everything between the two places you’re trying to get two. So much of New Zealand is best experienced by just taking in the views of the countryside you pass.
@Aisleen Campervans are a pretty epic way to get around. It’s shocking the number of backpackers in vans you see here!
@Ayngelina I’m sure that is true. Thanks for your feedback.
@Dylan Hitchhiking in the off season could prove to be more of a challenge, yet should still be doable.
@DarrenKW Thanks for the comment! Your photo was excellent. Far better than most featuring my campervan, Max.
1 July 2010 at 8:07 pm
I rented a car for the vast majority of my 2.5 months in NZ. With all the nooks and crannies that NZ has, I couldn’t imagine any other way besides having your own car/campervan to see it all.
2 July 2010 at 1:16 am
Cool. I guess we can add New Zealand to the “good countries for hitching” list. Thanks for the post.
4 July 2010 at 3:12 pm
@Dustin – Exactly.
@Stephen – Really great place to hitch.
18 July 2010 at 11:40 am
SOOO refreshing to see someone actually talking about hitch-hiking realistically instead of just saying, “If you hitch-hike, you’ll be chopped into itty-bitty pieces by an axe murderer.” Hopefully my parents don’t read this, but I’ve hitched a couple of times in NZ and been perfectly fine, and when I got my car, some of my best experiences have come from picking up strangers…. that came out wrong. You’re right, of course, about being careful, but with small distances and friendy people, I think it’s worth trying. (Though maybe not telling your parents about.)
19 July 2010 at 9:40 am
@Skiffer Glad you agree! How are things up North? Certainly warmer than Queenstown!
18 August 2010 at 10:38 am
This website has a million good ideas, and leaves me with a million questions. I recently went to Italy, and having to schedule everything with busses and trains can get hard. I’m going to New Zealand soon and buying a van seems like a really good idea, but it seems hard to do, especially if you are travelling alone. I’m meeting up with a friend who lives in Christchurch, and traveling the southern island with her for a few weeks. But the rest of the time im in New Zealand i’ll be alone, so I wonder if there are any backpacking websites where one could look for people to share a van with, or just to look up some cool people who will be travelling the same area around the same time?
18 August 2010 at 11:04 am
Do you have a blog about good travel routes to take in New Zealand? Or does anyone have any preferences? I know we all have to do it our own way, but I’m trying to decide if i should travel the south island and then fly from Christchurch to Auckland, or take a ferry to Wellington. If anyone has any advice let me know!
Thanks!
18 August 2010 at 9:13 pm
Nice post! I’ve heard of many travelers hitch hiking & they told me how easy it was. Next time that’s my way as well!
What about buying & selling your own car? That’s what we did & it was quite easy & would recommend it to others as well! Best is to buy it in the south & sell it on a big car market in Auckland.
The paper work is also much easier compared to Australia, where travelers do it all the time.
21 August 2010 at 3:39 pm
@Daniele Thanks fr the comment! I’m really glad you’re finding Backpackingmatt resourceful. That is my goal! Buying a van is extremely easy in New Zealand (see How to Buy a Campervan in New Zealand). Depending on when you’re coming to NZ, you stand a decent chance of finding one cheap before summer comes around and selling it in the high season – ultimately making a bit of money. Just be sure whatever you buy you have checked out by a independent mechanic so you don’t end up with a lemon!
Check out BackpackerBoard.co.nz for finding a travel buddy. Also there are often notes in hostels for people looking for rides / travel mates.
Happy to help you plan your trip here I’d just need to know some more specifics about how much time you had!
21 August 2010 at 3:43 pm
@Melvin It is very, very easy to buy a car in NZ. Too easy! I think it’s a great option so long as you’ve had the car/van checked out by an independent mechanic to make sure you’re not getting a lemon.
11 September 2010 at 8:04 am
Thanks for the information! I really want to plan a trip to New Zealand. I am going to look up more information on the Tranz Alpine journey.
12 September 2010 at 11:20 am
@Melissa Glad you enjoyed the post – hopefully it helps you plan your trip.
15 October 2010 at 1:31 am
Lots of good tips, nice work! Fond memories and an unexpected surprise to stumble across my photo of the Kiwi Experience bus at Haast!!
15 October 2010 at 11:46 am
@Velvet – Glad to use your photo! Thanks for stopping by.
9 April 2011 at 8:47 am
I think #1(campervan) is the only way you should travel around New Zealand. Tranz Alpine railway is exception
27 September 2011 at 2:56 am
Hey Matt,
What site is a good resource for campervan parks? I’ve read somewhere that average cost is $30-$50/night during high season. Seems a little pricey? We’re traveling during the month of January. We’re also considering doing a rental car w/ couchsurfing/hosteling as a more cost-effective option. But we’re considered about hostel availability during high season.
4 January 2012 at 12:01 pm
Hello
A quality article which has kind of answered some questions i’ve recently been having. I might be in NZ in November 2012 but travelling alone, so Im thinking of flying into Auckland spend max 2 days there then get the train to Wellington then ferry across to SI.
Im thinking of then getting a bus pass that will allow me to see Abel Tasman Park, the west coast, maybe Dunedin than back to Christchurch and fly home.
I know it may take ages, but it looks soo pretty the south island and im willing to suffer butt ache to see the country!
As ive never been to this part of world, does anyone else have other tips for me?
Thanks!
5 January 2012 at 8:06 pm
@Frye Cheers for the comment – in short, that itinerary sounds pretty choice. I’ll email you with more!