Way back when I had first booked my flight coming out to AU for the semester, I put in a stop-over in NZ for 10 days.... Since I wasn't too sure I'd be able to get around all that easily, and still see the sights, I put myself on an 8 day contiki tour, starting in Auckland and ending in Christchurch.
After the tour date got bumped back a bit, leaving me only a day to visit some friends in Christchurch before I fly out again, and after hearing that Contiki is pretty much a booze bus/college partiers, i'm starting to rethink my decision. So, was wondering if I should cancel the Contiki and travel by myself?
The problem for me seems to be transportation and accomodation. I'm 19, so don't think I'd be able to rent a car even though I have a US license and haven't ever gotten in an accident or anything like that... :P Also, as a college student, I'm kinda poor so on a budget. Would prefer to get by in under $700 USD for the 1st-7th and make it from Auckland to wherever you get over to the South Island... is that possible?
I look forward to hearing your oppinions and suggestions.. Thanks! :)
There are a number of bus companies that will be more flexible than a Contiki tour, and will take you from hostel to hostel pretty well. There is Magic, Stray, Naked, Kiwi Experience, and others, all with varying levels of backpacker-ness. I've not used them so cannot make a recommendation. And this site shows a long list of options too, from mainstream to budget - <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.tourism.net.nz/tours/bus-and-coach-tours/more2.html">NZ Bus Tours</a>. Good luck with the planning.
Didnt think Contiki in New Zealand was a boozy tour. There are other companies with that reputation.
You might as well stick with the tour, because with such a limited period of time to see stuff it will be difficult using public transport. There are some backpacker buses (eg Global Shuttles) but you would literally be doing a whistlestop tour to try and cram stuff in - too hard, whereas with Contiki they would have an itinerary that would fit in the main sights.
Leave the independent wandering to sometime that you have more time on your hands
Car hire in NZ (even if possible for under 21s which is doubtful) is NZD $50 per day NZD $22 insurance levy, petrol costs NZD $1.50 per LITRE (not gallon, litre as in 1000mls) a small car would use may 8 litres per 100km. You would spend most of your budget just on the vehicle and fuel, and eating out is not cheap (though food is quite cheap in supermarkets) by US standards, never saw any main meals under the NZD $25 mark, cup of coffee $3.50 etc etc.
Christchurch is really nice though, is there no chance you could pay a fee to extend your stay there by a few days?
Not having ever been on a Contiki tour, let alone one of NZ, let me still put my two cents worth in.
Group tours certainly aren't for everyone, but given your parameters, (time, budget and age), it would seem that this will probably fit your needs.
You are 19 yourself, so you are hardly going to be out of place if the crowd is young. The Tour will take you to a number of interesting, signigicant, outstanding highlights, with a minimum of fuss. You will get to see more of NZ than if you were there trying to make it round by yourself, independently in a hire car, even supposing you could solve all the logistical problems associated with this.
Really, don't listen to group tour knockers - there are times when a group tour provides exactly what a person needs. Nobody says you have to leave your brain at the door when you get on the bus. It's just a lot of the hard work has been done for you. Stick to your original plan and enjoy yourself - let the independent adventure begin when you arrive for your studies.
Thank you. :)
Looking into it more, it would be easier certainly to stay with the tour... Course, I could always look into extending my trip another 10 days. Hmm.. ;p
Just to reiterate OP, there are options between Contiki (fully self-contained), and public transport or rental car. There are hop on hop off buses that will call into hostels in all holiday places - the operators plan it that way. Quite easy to arrange I would think. They are suggested if you want greater flexibility of dates, but not the hassle of having to travel independently. Enjoy New Zealand.
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