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Transport > Bus Travel > New Zealand > Backpackers Buses > Kiwi Experience
Kiwi ExperienceKiwi Experience (tel (09) 366 9830; website www.kiwiexperience.co.nz) is the longest established of the backpacker bus companies and boasts flash new coaches with a full-on party atmosphere. The various passes allow travel along pre-defined routes, although the names of each route provide little idea of the destinations covered. It's confusing to work out but there's bound to be something for everyone among the different passes available. NATIONAL PASSES (START ANYWHERE)You can start the following national passes anywhere en route. Full MontyThis pass covers pretty much the whole country and takes you to Cape Reinga at the tip of the North Island, Paihia in the Bay of Islands, Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, East Cape, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo and Wellington on the North Island. On the South Island it goes to Picton, Nelson and Westport and then down the west coast and in to Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Invercargill and through the Catlins to Dunedin and then up to Christchurch and Kaikoura. Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Curio Bay (Catlins), Dunedin, East Cape, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Napier, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Te Anau, Te Kaha, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and WestportCost $1850 Minimum trip 31 days Maximum trip six months Funky ChickenThis pass covers the North Island between Auckland and Wellington plus the South Island north of Queenstown. It takes you to Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo and Wellington on the North Island plus Picton, Nelson, the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown, Christchurch and Kaikoura on the South Island. Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Nelson, Queenstown, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and WestportCost $ 960 Minimum trip 21 days Maximum trip six months RangiThis pass covers most of New Zealand, although in the North Island it doesn't include Taranaki, Hawkes Bay and East Cape or anywhere north of Paihia and on the South Island it doesn't include Dunedin or anywhere south of Queenstown. Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and WestportCost $1049 Minimum trip 22 days Maximum trip six months Whole Kit & KaboodleThis pass covers most of the country except the East Cape, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki. It takes you from Auckland up to Cape Reinga, to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, to the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo and Wellington in the North Island. On the South Island it goes to Picton, Nelson and Westport and then down the west coast and in to Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Invercargill and through the Catlins to Dunedin and then up to Christchurch and Kaikoura. Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Curio Bay (Catlins), Dunedin, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Te Anau, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and WestportCost $1519 Minimum trip 27 days Maximum trip six months NATIONAL PASSES (START AUCKLAND)The following passes start in Auckland and finish in Christchurch: The Kitchen SinkThe Kitchen Sink takes you from Auckland to Cape Reinga and back, then over to Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, down to Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo, Tongariro National Park and Wellington, across to Picton on the South Island, then onto Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Westport, down the west coast to Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau and Milford Sound, then down to Invercargill and through the Catlins to Dunedin, then back to Queenstown and up to Christchurch. Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Curio Bay (Catlins), Dunedin, Franz Josef, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Te Anau, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $1309 Minimum trip 23 days Maximum trip six months Joint MulletsThe Joint Mullets Pass lets you travel between Auckland and Christchurch. In the North Island it includes Mercury Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Waitomo and Taupo, plus the East Cape, Napier and Wellington. On the South Island it includes Nelson, then travel down the West Coast to Wanaka, Queenstown and up to Christchurch. Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, East Cape, Franz Josef, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Napier, Nelson, Queenstown, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Te Kaha, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $1099 Minimum trip 20 days Maximum trip six months Sheep DogThis pass takes you from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula, down to Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo, Tongariro National Park and Wellington, across to Picton, then onto Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Westport, down the west coast to Wanaka, Queenstown, then up to Christchurch via Twizel. Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Nelson, Queenstown, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $5759 Minimum trip 16 days Maximum trip six months ZephyrThe Zephyr Pass takes you from Auckland to Christchurch. On the North Island it includes Paihia in the Bay of Islands, Mercury Bay in the Coromandel Peninsula plus Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Taupo and Wellington. On the South Island it includes Nelson, then travel down the West Coast to Wanaka, Queenstown and up to Christchurch. Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Lake Mahinapua, Mercury Bay, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $845 Minimum trip 17 days Maximum trip six months NATIONAL PASSES (START CHRISTCHURCH)The following passes start in Christchurch and finish in Auckland: Dog LegThe Dog Leg goes from Christchurch to Queenstown, then up to Wanaka and Franz Josef before heading back to Christchurch over Arthurs Pass, then up to Picton via Kaikoura and over to Wellington on the North Island. You then travel from Wellington to Auckland stopping en route at Taupo, Rotorua and Waitomo. Starts Christchurch, finishes Auckland.Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $729 Minimum trip 14 days Maximum trip six months GumbootThe Gumboot Pass takes you from Christchurch to Auckland. In the South Island it takes you down to Queenstown and Wanaka, then up the West Coast to Westport, back to Christchurch and up to Picton via Kaikoura. Stops on the North Island include Wellington, Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Auckland and Paihia. Starts Christchurch, finishes AucklandOvernight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Queenstown, Paihia, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $815 Minimum trip 15 days Maximum trip six months KeaThe Kea pass allows you to circle around the South Island taking in Christchurch, Twizel, Queenstown, Wanaka, the west coast, Nelson, Picton and Kaikoura before heading over to Wellington on the North Island and up to Auckland via Taupo, Rotorua and Waitomo. Starts Christchurch, finishes Auckland.Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $739 Minimum trip 16 days Maximum trip six months Top DogThe Top Dog Pass takes you from Christchurch to Auckland. In the South Island it includes Kaikoura, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, the West Coast and Nelson. Stops on the North Island include Wellington, Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Auckland and Paihia. Starts Christchurch, finishes AucklandOvernight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Lake Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Wanaka, Wellington and Westport Cost $825 Minimum trip 181 days Maximum trip six months NORTH ISLAND PASSESThe following Kiwi Experience passes are restricted to travel on the North Island: AwesomeAwesome is a quick one-day excursion from Auckland to Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Starts/finishes AucklandCost $89 Minimum trip 1-2 days Maximum trip six months Awesome & Top BitThis three-day excursion from Auckland takes you all the way to Cape Reinga at the tip of the North Island with a stop in the Bay of Islands. Starts/finishes AucklandOvernight stop Paihia Cost $178 Minimum trip 3 days Maximum trip six months East AsThis circuit takes you to the rarely visited East Cape region. It includes East Cape, New Zealand's most eastern point, as well as Gisborne and Napier. Overnight stops East Cape, Napier, Taupo, Te KahaCost $340 Minimum trip 4 days Maximum trip six months GeyserlandThis trip goes from Auckland to Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, then down to Rotorua, across to Waitomo and back up to Auckland. Starts/finishes AucklandOvernight stops Auckland, Mercury Bay, Rotorua Cost $249 Minimum trip 4-6 days Maximum trip six months Geyserland & LakeThis trip goes from Auckland to Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula, then down to Rotorua, across to Waitomo, Taupo and back up to Auckland. Starts/finishes AucklandOvernight stops Auckland, Mercury Bay, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo Cost $275 Minimum trip 4-6 days Maximum trip six months SOUTH ISLAND PASSES
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