[Donny]

What is the better way to travel. Is it true that Kiwi Experience takes a long time to get anywhere as it stops off all the time?
About to buy a pass but don't know which one.....can any-one help?

[laurarwells]

Hi,
Why not wait till you get out there? I know it seems all very organised if you buy them before- hand but, if you buy passes out there you will have much more flexibility and from what i've heard the competition between companies makes the prices very competitive, so you can often get really good deals. Also, suppose at the first hostel you stay at, you meet some fantastic people who you want to spend time with, but because you've already bought you're passes you can't, it may ruin your trip!!! That would be awful. Only a suggestion but i think it's worth thinking about.
Ciao for now, Laura

[GLITTERGIRL5299]

know what u mean-think the whole kiwi vs Magic is a long running debate!!i am trying to choose at the moment, magic apparently is more flexiable with travel but Kiwi is more a "party bus" with a set route and is hard to "hop on hop off"..but what do i know, never been!?!?!?!
Choosing one is starting to hurt m [img]redface.gif[/img] y head!
anyone got any suggestions?

[Tim Uden]

The three main backpacker bus companies - Kiwi Experience, Magic and Stray - all follow a set route and have compulsory overnight stays. They also all let you hop on and off when you want although it can be difficult to go your own way when everyone else on the bus is going somewhere different.

None of these buses go to the Taranaki region and only Stray goes to Raglan.

Generally Kiwi is perceived as the "party bus" and has the newest buses, Stray tries to portray a more independent image and has the oldest buses and Magic fits somewhere in between.

One problem with the backpacker buses is that they generally stop at the larger hostels (the hostels have to be big enough to accommodate a full bus). New Zealand's best hostels are small hostels in out-of-the-way locations that are best accessed by car. You'll miss out on many of the country's best hostels if you take one of these backpacker buses.

[bigbeff]

I spent 2 months on the kiwi bus and made some brilliant friends! The drivers were wicked - great fun and well up for a laugh and they really know their stuff! Magic and Kiwi stop near enough at the same places and yes they do advise bigger hostels - they will fix you up at certain ones, however it is possible to book your own smaller ones and the bus drivers will drop you there. Ok - so the kiwi bus is meant to be a party bus, however you don't have to. I found that although there are people going out every night, they don't pressure you into going if you don't want to! And people I met in hostels on the magic bus said there were a few older people on the bus but they also had a chance to go out most nights so they are much of a muchness! But kiwi go to Lake Mahinapua to meet Uncle Les who is about 70 and throws a huge fancy dress party for you! Its hilarious and great fun! I'd recommend them apart from the breaking down thing - only 2 or 3 times in 2 months but hey they are coaches, you have to expect it!

[poppageorge]

Just go there. Stay in hostel and plan your trip from there. NZ is really a small country and so organised. join up with other hostel people if u reqire companions. Many tours available at good discounts from hostel bulletin board.No need to pre book any thing before arrrivel other than the hostel stay. Aucland is the most expensive place u will encounter while in New zealand so in and out is recommended.

[travellers legs]

the classic question, i reckon it depends what you are after, kiwi experience is good for a full on experience but does carry that reputation. i went on a trip with www.flyingkiwi.com frmo a recommendation from a friend and it was outstanding. Met loads of cool people and found it quite flexible too, they even sorted out my transport to/from airport. only word of wanring is their trips are for people who like the outdoors, everyday i was kayaking, biking or doing something i thought it was a superb way to see nz and becuase they arent as well known as the others works out much cheaper.
otherwise its buy a car and do it yourself!

[purplehel]

I went intercity in the end but decided when i got to NZ. I made this decision after seeing Magic and Kiwi Ex in north island and everyone seemed to be between the ages of 18-25 so great if you are that age group - go for it (although the lads seemed to like having their shirts off and the girls seemed to be in singlet tops!!).

I am a few years older (note only a few not a lot!!) so decided I would be an old granny if i had done either of those two so I bought an hours pass from Intercity. They were great they dropped me off at most hostels (which I booked at the i centres and were the smaller quieter hostels which was very very nice better standards) and i saw some of the same people on the buses whilst travelling around too so wasnt travelling "alone" as such. Intercity although take locals most travelling are tourists. The drivers do commentary which is great, but not OTT and do stop off at certain points (for example Pancake Rocks and other photo opportunity places). There are also cafe stop offs. Doing the west coast was great - we did it in a day where as Magic do it in 2 days (stop off at Greymouth I believe and there isnt much at Greymouth) there were times of course that i wish we could have stopped off but you cant win them all. Bus drivers were all very friendly and even when one coach broke down the day before they shipped another one in and were highly efficient in getting it all sorted. (Which was a Newmans bus - same thing really) So if you are slightly older and want less of a party type atmosphere then dont be afraid to go intercity. You can top up your hours as I did in order to take in Mount Cook (4 hours diversion but well worth it if you are going Queenstown > Christchurch) you get a good hour at mount cook to wander about. So easy to book either online or at any place where you see the intercity sign and there are loads of places to book it through. I didnt do the Newmans trip to Milford Sound i did another company but saw the Newmans bus and it did the same stop offs as the one I did. Note that you can use the pass for Newmans and for Abel Tasmen Coaches though i was told otherwise. Abel Tasmen coaches were fab as I got stranded via a local company (K Bus DONT go near them) and Abel Tasmen sorted me out and dropped me off at my hostel and were just brilliant. Hurrah to Intercity!!!

[kiwiguide]

I run a private tour bus company that has a focus on Taranaki, Wanganui and the central plateau regions. Many of my passangers have used the various bus companies: Stray, kiwi Experience, Magic Bus, Intercity (Newmans) From their feedback and my own experiences they all offer a great service with knowledgable and friendly drivers. Stray as a newer company still has a few teething problems. Kiwi Experience is known to be a party bus and sometimes can get a bit tiring. Intercity which also includes Newmans has the best network of buses throughout New Zealand and offers a time travel pass which makes it more economical that the other buses. They don't stop at as many of the adventure activity locations throughout New Zealand but do stop at all the major towns. From the Information Centres in the tourist towns you can usually arrange free shuttle services which are provided by many of the activity providers.