Three months in NZ

Hey everyone!

I'm a recently graduated student presenting at a forensics conference in Auckland in September, and I've decided to go for a solo adventure so have booked my return flights three months afterwards in December. However, I'm really not sure what's the best way to experience/travel around NZ on a budget, so I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to what I shouldn't miss out, best ways to get around etc?

Thanks!

Robbie

Welcome Robbie ... nothing like jumping in the deep end.

There is a very god system of buses (InterCity, Newman;s, Atomic Shuttle, Naked, etc) that will take you to most of the places you are likely to want to see.

I suggest you start with a week or so in Northland / Bay of Islands, and then migrate to the geothermal area around Rotorua / Taupo / Ruapehu. After three weeks in the country you will have good information. Then after Wellington, have seven or eight weeks circumnavigating the South Island, perhaps at the end flying from Christchurch to Auckland for your trip home.

There is a god system of hostels (both YHA and BBH), and before Christmas availability won't be too bad.

Alternatively, you could have six weeks in New Zealand and six weeks in Australia ... that works well too.r

Thanks very much for this! It's great to have the reassurance of a good public transport system. Do you think I can afford (both risk and money wise) to wing it in terms of hostels, i.e. turn up on the day in the hope of a room?

Thanks again,

Robbie

"on a Budget" means different things to different people.

Hard for readers to offer ideas on this unless you outline some specifics - how much are you budgeting per day?

As above, the public transport system throughout the country may work well for you?
Backpackers / Hostels / Camping Grounds (would you bring a tent and camp to save some $$??)
Couch Surfing could be an option?

As for what to do and where to go - the same applies......what are your interests, what do you like to do when you travel etc?
If you reveal more about these things, folks on here can offer more detailed / specific replies to help you out.

I'd spend more time in the South, than the North....but thats just me.
I'd get my hands on a Lonely Planet NZ Edition (maybe from a friend, the Library etc) and start researching more about NZ and what appeals as a result?

I think camping and public transport are not a very good mix.

I interpret "on a budget" to mean the least expensive way possible, and with three months, you have the time to do things cheaply, since you're not paying a premium to do things at speed.

I think if you're ending this trip by 15 December or so, then the likelihood of hostel dorms being fully booked would be pretty low. There are a few very popular places with few hostels, and they might be a bit busy, but I can't really advise, since we've always visited in January..

Places like National Park (Tongariro Crossing ... recommended), Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Aoraki/Mt Cook.

You might find bus passes might work for you as well.

A lot of assumptions by me here, ok...
1.Under 31...
2.Personally, and kick my tail for being wrong, but if I were in your shoes, I would have, (maybe too late now), would have gone for the conference, stay a few days to basically see Auckland or the city the conference is in/at, coming in a visa less entry (UK citizens, I assume you are so, don't need a visa for stays up to 6 months)...
Then come back and do an NZ WHV, where you could work to get some money to travel, work and see NZ.
3.Unless you do plan to come back to NZ one day in the future to do the WHV...
Though not as a backpacker or a rich well off Pooch, I have been to NZ 8 or 9 times now since 2013! Love the country. I don't drive, have used town busses and trains to get around and a domestic Air NZ flight.
Will be going again in Jul flying over the NZ alps! Day flight.
Naked bus is a well know company, and I am sure they don't expect you to travel starkers.
Getting from Auckland to Wellington can be done by train as well as flying.
There are cheap foods galore, a lot of Asian grocers, greengrocers/butchers/superettes/supermarkets, stores, pop up markets (Wellington has a great one on the Harbor)...
I would not wing it and appear at a hostel hoping for a spot, personally would do planning.

Hi Robbie,

If you are the adventurous type, in my opinion the best way to see NZ is in a campervan! It does depend on your budget though. There are heaps for sale in Auckland, and you can find a good one for between 2000-3500 NZD. There are loads of campsites all over New Zealand that range from free to 30 NZD per night, but there is no issue finding sites in the 5-10 NZD range. This gives you complete freedom as you don't have to book buses or other transport. And when your done with it, you can sell it for pretty much the same coin that you bought it for!

You may have trouble finding campsites near major cities, so this is where I would recommend hostels/Air BnB.

Also, the great thing for you is that you have 3 months, so there is no real need for a solid itinerary!

PS I currently live in Christchurch so if you need any South Island advice just let me know =)

Cheers

Hey everyone!

Thanks so much for all the advice - I'm gradually beginning to feel less daunted by this trip. To answer all the queries here, I'm 21, if I meet my budgeting target I'll have about 70-75 NZD per day (but that has to cover accommodation too) and I enjoy pretty much anything, I think however meeting new people/experiencing firmly New Zealand activities I wouldn't be able to do or see elsewhere are the priorities.

I do already have a WHV, but am not sure what my employment prospects would be; I'm trying to save enough at the moment so as to be in theory able to survive without a job. If anyone has any advice as to how to look for temporary jobs though that'd be ace!

A lot of hostels I can see online seem to average about 14-15 GBP per night, so around 25-30 NZD - if that's the case I could probably afford that wherever I end up. Hilariously I can't yet drive (I'd basically completed my lessons when my driving instructor had a personal tragedy and stopped teaching me) so the campervan is sadly off the table, however if there is a good system of buses which aren't too expensive then that would be fantastic.

One of my chief concerns I think is that once the conference is over, once my fellow forensic scientists have all disappeared, I'll suddenly be standing there in Auckland, with three months to go and no idea what to do. As you've said, there's no need to have a set itinerary (which is very exciting!) but if anybody has any advice as to how to meet new people when abroad, I'd really appreciate it, so I don't get too worried about loneliness.

Thanks again everybody for the advice!

Robbie

Hop on a bus in Auckland and head to the YHA hostel in Paihia Bay of Islands ... after a few days you'll be a seasoned pro ... no need to stress at all. NZ is an extremely easy country to travel in and enjoy.

I think you've already been given advice on the bus companies.

if I meet my budgeting target I'll have about 70-75 NZD per day

That's pretty skinny, but doable ... you will need to be disciplined and use dorms plus self-cater to work it on that. I would join the HI association too.

Unless you plan to buy a car, get yourself a AT HOP card at iSite at Auckland Airport.
If you are flying via Emirates into Christchurch, you can also get a Metrocard from the MetroInfo place at the new Christchurch bus station, if planning to be in Christchurch for the conference, if its there.
Work in the fruit picking zones might be a bit tight at this time of the year, but later on, as summer comes along, you will make it $$$.
One thing to keep in mind, you say you do have a WHV, note that (for Australia), you cannot have 2 visas at the same time, not sure about NZ, whether your visa free entry will kick in when you arrive for the conference, or whether you will be given a visa free entry for 6 months.
On your arrival, don't use NZ Smartgate, go to the row of counters and ask. Might hold up the queue, but at the least you will know which sort of stamp has been provided in your passport.
Best of luck, do your best.

This article is good reading in terms of accommodation options in NZ -http://travellingtwo.com/resources/newzealand/accommodation

Have you looked at the H0-Ho buses like Kiwi Experience, Stray & Haka Tours? They are specifically designed for travellers like you and make more stops for photos & activities than the Intercity buses do. If you get one of the longest passes (say around 28 days minimum) you can then stop for a few days or even a week at any place that appeals. The passes are valid for a year. The main limitation is that you cannot backtrack.
Three months travelling is not very compatible with a WHV, but November-December is the start of the harvest season so you could pick up a week's work here-and-there picking asparagus or cherries. Google the harvest calendar websites for jobs in Hawkes Bay or Cromwell.

If you really want to save money on accommodation, get yourself a car! :) I traveled twice to New Zealand: once on a Working Holiday Visa (11 months) and once just for holiday (3months). Both times I bought a van (with a bed in the back) and saved a lot in accommodation. I know, at the beginning you'll see it as a big investment, but then you know what? You can resell your vehicle and sometimes you can even earn money from it! The good thing is that you're going there in September, which is not high season yet. You might find something good for like NZD $2000 and because you're leaving in the middle of the high season, you might be able to re-sell it for the same price you bought it for, or more. I wrote a detailed guide on how to buy and re-sell a second-hand car in New Zealand, please read it here and let me know if you need more details!

There are heaps of cheap campgrounds around both islands, sometimes even free ones! Public transport are not the cheap and you can't do whatever you want, you need to respect fixed time and you can reach only selected places. Still better to buy a vehicle :)

Jessica

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