How to Get Around New Zealand on a Budget (Updated for 2025)

"I like how the Kiwi Experience actively fosters socializing — drivers play games and icebreakers and there are group dinners most nights — which makes it ideal if you’re 25 or younger or looking for a party atmosphere; the downside is the large ~55-seat buses can get cliquey when full and the passengers are often focused on drinking (the bus’s affectionate nickname is “The Green Fuck Bus”). Tours range from 2–23 days and cost about 159–1,989 NZD for hop-on/hop-off options, while small-group tours run 7–24 days and cost roughly 1,699–5,999 NZD per person." - Matthew Kepnes