Solo Travel in New Zealand: How to Make it a Non-Solo Experience

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How to Have a Non-Solo Experience

Although you’re arriving in the country alone, it doesn’t mean you have to be alone. There are many easy ways to meet people while in New Zealand, which we’ll go through in this guide.

Spoiler alert: There are many people just like you travelling alone in New Zealand.

It’s true! Because of that very fact, there are other solo travellers out there who want to meet other solo travellers like you. You’ll find each other easily through your choice of transport, accommodations, work, activities and even online. Let’s go through them all now!

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Meet People Before Arriving in New Zealand

Wait, what?! You may have heard, but the power of the internet allows you to meet people from all over the world! One of the best places to find people who are going to be in New Zealand at the same time as you is via Facebook Groups. There are “heaps”, as we say in Kiwi Land, of New Zealand Travel Facebook Groups where people are finding travel buddies even before they arrive in New Zealand. Once your travels are underway in New Zealand, you can ask if other travellers in your area are free for a hike, activity or a drink – just ask the question.

For some guidance on backpacking Facebook Group etiquette, take a look at the 15 Simple Tips to Kill It on Backpacking Facebook Groups.

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Travel with a Backpacker Tour

Choosing the right way to get around the country is the easiest way to make friends on the road. While renting/buying a car or campervan is a popular option, this is a pretty lonely experience unless you put yourself out there to find some travel buddies. Plus, the national coach buses are more about getting a mix of locals and budget travellers from A to B rather than providing a social experience…

Alternatively, there are backpacker adventure tours. Hop on a tour with a bunch of like-minded travellers and you’ll instantly make friends! Adventure tours like Backyard Roadies put on trips for 18-40+-year-olds so that they can experience the awesome scenery and epic activities together. Many of the passengers will be solo travellers too. What’s more, you won’t have the stresses of organising a whole travel itinerary on your own, with a guide who will support you all the way.

Learn more about Backyard Roadies at backyardroadies.com or check out The Best Backpacker Bus Tours in New Zealand for more backpacker tours.

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Stay in Hostels

In backpacker hostels in New Zealand, there are communal areas and dorm rooms where people are pretty much unavoidable. That’s ideal for solo travel where you always have the opportunity to talk to other people. Sparking up conversations while making food in the communal kitchens or when you first check-in to your dorm room is the common thing to do in hostels.

Power tip: If you’re planning on doing a walk or another free activity, offer people you talk to in your hostel to join you! Backpackers don’t often say no to free things to do!

For more information on what it’s like to stay in a New Zealand hostel, head to What is a Hostel? A Beginner’s Guide to Backpacker Hostels.

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Go to the Bar

It’s the universal establishment for socialising, so believe it or not, it’s a good place to meet people. We all know that alcohol is the ultimate social catalyst, but whether you’re drinking or not, there are plenty of Kiwi bars where you can meet other people.

When there’s a pub quiz, a pool competition or other bar events, these make socialising with others even easier. However, to meet other solo travellers like yourself; hit the backpacker bars in the main cities like Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo and Queenstown. There are even backpacker bar crawls in Queenstown where you know you’ll be onto a winner.

Find out more in the 5 Best Backpacker Bars in New Zealand.

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Pack Some Playing Cards

Games: they’re a great way to bring strangers together. In any hostel or hiking trail huts, you often see a bunch of people looking bored. Be the one that offers to play a card game. You’ll be their saviour, you’ll break the ice, and it’s a lot of fun! All you need is a deck of playing cards and a couple of games up your sleeve (and you need to be able to explain how to play them, of course). Alternatively, check out these 20 Best Travel Board Games.

Lost for card game ideas? Take a look at The Card Game Every Backpacker Should Play in Their Hostel.

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Get a Job!

In New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa? Your workmates are probably going to be the people that you share the most experiences with! The most social jobs are those where you work as part of a team or with customers.

If you’re looking for a job to meet people, here are some suggestions:

• Hospitality – Working in a bar or restaurant often means working with customers AND a team. Boom!
• Fruit picking – Oten attracts other backpackers too, fruit picking is a seasonal job to make a quick buck while working in teams. You might find some travel buddies for after the picking season ends too!
• WWOOFing – This is work for accommodation where you stay with a Kiwi family and help with tasks. It’s a great way to spend time with the locals.
• Construction – New Zealand’s main cities are always looking for teams of backpackers to help with construction.
• Ski field work – Work on a New Zealand ski field, learn to ski and spend time with workers who all share a passion.

For more about the working holiday experience in New Zealand, browse our Work in New Zealand section.

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Get Out There!

Already by travelling to New Zealand, you are getting yourself out there. You’re exposing yourself to meeting new people in loads of different situations. However, if you still feel that you need more of that human-to-human contact, just remember to keep getting out there. Talk to people when you’re on hikes – people are often happy to see another face after hiking in the wilderness for a while. Do activities or tours which involve groups of other people. You’ll rarely find a tour that will have just you on it!

Every time you go out and start exploring New Zealand is a chance to meet new people.