Contiki VS DIY

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.

Well now... Got a response from a rental car place... My age is not a problem, they would rent a car to me for $30USD a day, pick up in Auckland and drop off in Christchurch.

That changes things a lot!

If you check the YHA and BBH websites, you can plot a course via hostels through all highlights you wish to see, if you go the rental car option. Need to organise a ferry trip to the South Island as well (Wellington-Picton).

#4, I'd love to put petrol in my car at NZ$1.50/litre. Right now its NZ$1.63 and highly likely to go up again before long. No sight in end for the increases.

I did the Stray bus in NZ in Feb/March of this year and I'll tell you that Contiki made the Kiwi bus kids look sweet and inncocent (for everyone that thinks Kiwi is the party bus, which it is, you should realize that means that Contiki was the "hard-core" party bus compared to any of the backpacker buses). One of my Stray drivers came from Contiki and he explained a lot about it to me (as did a girl who did a trek in a group with me on the south island who was on a Contiki bus)...

A few things to keep in mind with Contiki-- they market their NZ and OZ tours almost exclusively to us north Americans, so you're not going to get many people from around the world on your bus. Do you want to go all the way to NZ to hang out with other Americans 24/7? The people travelling on it tend to be on a short "spring break" type of trip, ready to spend all of their money on everything there is to do in a short period of time-- this means, they have the money to spend to go drink tons and party every night because their entire trip is their Contiki bus tour. This is different from the people who tend to be on any of the backpacker buses (as much of "rivals" as they may all be), who are on more of a budget and trying to make it last. So I guess it depends what you're looking for-- but yes, it is a party bus so be prepared for that. They even have a second guide whose job it is is to "make sure" that the people on the bus "see a good time at night" and is required to "socialize" with the group. This person is different from the driver so that the driver is uh, sober when they drive.

From my experiences on Stray, I highly recommend checking out one of the Stray passes (if the hardcore party experience with tons of other Americans isn't what you want) as an alternative. Or even Magic or Kiwi if you're desperate (haha, I have an allegiance to Stray...). You don't have to "hop off" and they make sure to take you to the major sites during your drive as well-- it's a good way to see a lot fast without having to have your own car. And almost every bus driver was AWESOME and I met so many awesome people from all over the world. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. NDL51583@aol.com

Thanks Nicole! I'm not into the hardcore partying... or hanging out with Americans 24/7. I've got one American friend here in Oz while studying and thats good enough for me. ^_^ Lots of Europeans and Aussies and Asians instead.

I'm actually looking at convincing my boyfriend to come out and take the trip with me... He's got to talk to work but there's a good chance that may work. In which case, all will be good and I definitely won't be taking the tour, or being alone.

you might want to check out flexipass for something different. it's probably the only way you'll mix with kiwis on a day to day basis. not as flexible as a car but still gets you to all the main places and it's pretty cheap too.

If your boyfriend goes wqith you, I have 16 hours remaining on a flexi-pass for 2 people(valid til May 2008).
I have it listed in the Classifieds. It seems an awful waste for no-one to use it since it's been paid for - at this stage, I'd give someone the details of it for free. You are welcome to it if you want. PM me.

If you do decide to go on a Contiki or similar - it is what you make it - you don't have to join in the drinking. My son has done two Contiki tours (USA & Europe) he is not one to party - although the drinkers did become annoying they didn't detract from the over all trip.

You can go on a tour that's a bit quieter with Hiking new Zealand. Groups are only 12 people, but you might be limited on departure dates. From my experience, hiking New Zealand are really authentic and there's people aged from 18 - 65 on their tours.

CONTIKI is not all about drinking! It's so sad to think that this is what people think of such a great experience! Both you and your boyfriend should do the Contiki. It takes the guesswork out of everything! It really allows you to enjoy your trip a lot more than haivng to worry about where you're going in a place you're not familiar with. And the people on my tour were from all over the world! The middle east, South Africa, the U.S., the Carribean, everywhere! I had such a well-rounded experience! And the difference between the two guides isn't their sobriety level. Each has a specific purpose. The driver concentrates on driving the bus (obviously!) while the tour guide concentrates on giving you the greatest insider tips ever! Contiki tour guides are the best! they tell you things that no guidebook could ever keep up with! Stick with Contiki and you and your boyfriend will have a blast!