The 10 Best Backpacker Bus Tours in New Zealand 🎒 [2023]

Wild Kiwi

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

Wild Kiwi runs bus tours following a set route around the country. Accommodations and all breakfasts are included, as is one group dinner per week of travel. Some activities are included in the pass with options to add on paid activities. Flights between islands on the national pass are also included. For more information, see our guide to Wild Kiwi or head straight to wildkiwi.com.

Activities with Wild Kiwi

Paid activities are on an optional pay-as-you-go scheme which you book with your driver. There are some paid activities included in the pass, such as the breathtaking geothermal park of Wai-O-Tapu and wine tasting in Marlborough. There’s also the opportunity to do free activities like hikes and stop by free attractions along the way.

Accommodation and Food with Wild Kiwi

Accommodations are also included in the form of hostels and cabins where you will share a room with fellow passengers. Private room upgrades are available at an additional cost. What’s more, breakfast is also included each day, as well as one group dinner per week of travel (so if you travel for the full three weeks you get three group dinners).

Typical Passengers on Wild Kiwi

Wild Kiwi passengers are 18-30-somethings. In other words, they welcome anyone up until their late 30s. There is a range of nationalities, usually from Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. Group sizes are kept small with up to 18 passengers.

Destinations Visited with Wild Kiwi

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times. Wild Kiwi’s full national bus pass has a minimum travel time of 21 days hitting the following locations:

• Auckland
• Coromandel
• Rotorua
• Taupo
• Waitomo
• Raglan
• Christchurch
• Punakaiki
• Marlborough
• Kaikoura
• Abel Tasman
• Golden Bay
• Lake Tekapo
• Franz Josef
• Queenstown

Typical Prices

The full price for a national pass (21 days) with Wild Kiwi is NZ$5,632 per person.

Haka Tours

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

Haka Tours‘ bus tours follow set routes around the country with specialised tours in snowsports, mountain biking and adventure. They also offer private tours and premium tours with extra comforts. They have a set of tours for 18 to 49-year-olds and tours for 30 to 70-year-olds. Accommodations and breakfasts are included. Some activities are included in the passes with options to add on paid activities.

Activities with Haka Tours

Paid activities are optional for either pre-booking before the tour or on a pay-as-you-go scheme during the tour. There are a few paid activities included in the tours (depending on which tour you choose), such as mountain bike rentals, ski field lift passes, Maori hangi experience, Maori cultural night, pounamu/greenstone carving and more. There are always free activities such as hikes and stopping at free attractions along the way.

Accommodation and Food with Haka Tours

Accommodation and breakfasts are already arranged, with the accommodation being twin-share rooms in 3-4-star hotels on their Haka Plus Tours and in 4-6-bed dorms on all other tours. Accommodation upgrades are available. Breakfasts are included but all other meals are at your own expense.

Typical Passengers on Haka Tours

Haka Tours does a good job and making sure passengers are either with a younger or older crowd, depending on what you prefer. Their “Adventure Tours” are set for 18-49 years old, while their “Haka Plus Tours” are for 30-70 years old. Passengers are usually from the UK, the US and Australia. Group sizes are an average of 12 people with a maximum of 16. Around 70% of passengers on Haka Tours are travelling solo.

Destinations Visited with Haka Tours

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times and interests, particularly snowsports and mountain biking. Haka Tours’ full national bus pass has a minimum travel time of 23 days hitting the following locations:

• Auckland
• Paihia
• Coromandel
• Waitomo
• Rotorua
• Murupara
• Taupo
• Wellington
• Kaikoura
• Christchurch
• MacKenzie Country
• Queenstown
• Wanaka
• Franz Josef
• Punakaiki
• Abel Tasman

Typical Price of Haka Tours

The price for a full national pass with Haka Tours is approximately NZ$5,900 for Adventure Tours (23 days) and NZ$8,100 for Haka Plus Tours (20 days).

Flying Kiwi

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Flying Kiwi is mainly travelled as a set bus tour taking one set route around the country. Food (mainly breakfast and dinner) is included as well as camping accommodation. However, there is the option to “hop off” the bus anywhere along the route and then “hop on” another bus at an arranged time and date. For more information on how Flying Kiwi works, see this guide to Flying Kiwi.

Activities with Flying Kiwi

Paid activities are on an optional pay-as-you-go scheme where the bus driver will book activities and transport you to those activities. There is the odd paid activity included in the tour, such as Marlborough wine tasting. There are always free options such as hikes and stopping at free attractions along the way. Hiring a bike is a popular option with Flying Kiwi, where the team will have your hired bike on board and stop at plenty of bike trails along the way.

Accommodation and Food on Flying Kiwi

Accommodation and food are already arranged, with the accommodation being in two-man tents, with upgrades available in some campsites.

Typical Passengers on Flying Kiwi

Although Flying Kiwi claims to have passengers of 16-60 years old, they mostly have passengers aged between 20 years old to 40 years old with an average being the mid-20s. The trips are popular with UK and European travellers, however, you will still find the odd mix of travellers from the Americas. Group sizes are around 10-20 people per bus.

Destinations Visited with Flying Kiwi

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times. Flying Kiwi’s full national bus pass has a minimum travel time of 23 days hitting the following locations:

• Auckland
• Coromandel
• Rotorua
• Tongariro National Park
• Kapiti Coast
• Picton
• Kaikoura
• Christchurch
• Lake Tekapo
• Moeraki
• Dunedin
• Milford Sound
• Te Anau
• Queenstown
• Wanaka
• Glacier Country
• Okarito
• Punakaiki
• Marahau
• Wellington
• New Plymouth

Typical Price of Flying Kiwi

The full price for a national pass (23 days) with Flying Kiwi is approximately NZ$6,100.

InterCity

Type of Tour: National Coach Network

InterCity is a coach service used by locals and travellers alike in New Zealand. It’s used mostly as an affordable way to get between towns and cities across the country. InterCity offers a couple of different bus passes to travellers: the FlexiPass and the TravelPass. FlexiPass gives travellers a set amount of “hours” to travel anywhere in the country, while the TravelPass is a set route around the country typical of other backpacker bus tours in New Zealand. Find out more about how they work in What’s the Difference Between InterCity Backpacker Bus Passes?

Activities with InterCity

Travelling with InterCity is a much more independent travel option in comparison to other bus tours, so accommodation and activities are not typically included in your bus ticket. However, some TravelPass bus passes have activities included, such as a Milford Sound day trip and cruise, Hobbiton Movie Set and a Cape Reinga day tour. The ferry between the North Island and the South Island is also included in the national TravelPass. You will need to book other activities and accommodations, as well as buy food independently.

Typical Passengers on InterCity

InterCity has the broadest range of passengers out of all the backpacker bus tours on this list due to the fact that it is the largest (and only) national coach network in New Zealand. There will be a mix of travellers from all over the world and New Zealanders.

Destinations Visited with InterCity

With InterCity, you can travel almost anywhere in New Zealand with more than 140 daily departures. With the FlexiPass, you decide the destinations. With the TravelPass, you choose one of the set routes on offer. It’s best to browse the InterCity website to see the vastness of their network.

Typical Prices with InterCity

A full national TravelPass with activities included is NZ$530, while a 60-hour FlexiPass costs around NZ$520 (which will get you to around 13 destinations from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island and back again).

Contiki

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

Contiki is a bus tour following a set route around the country. At least one meal a day is included (usually breakfast), as well as accommodation and some activities. For more information on how Contiki works, see Contiki Vs. G Adventures: Comparison for New Zealand.

Activities with Contiki

Some activities are included in your bus pass, such as a Maori hangi meal, a visit to a wildlife rescue centre and more. For other paid activities you can either add them to your tour when booking your pass or book with the driver as you travel.

Accommodation and Food with Contiki

Accommodation is included in Contiki bus tours in the form of hotels and lodges. You may share a room with 1-4 other passengers or upgrade to get a private room. Food is also included in Contiki tours, usually breakfast and dinner and occasionally lunch or dinner.

Typical Passengers on Contiki

Contiki tours are aimed at 18-35-year-olds with the majority of passengers being 18-25. There is usually a ratio of more females to males. There can be a mix of nationalities, however, most passengers are from the Americas and Australia. Group sizes are usually a full large coach in the peak season and about half a large coach in the shoulder seasons.

Destinations Visited with Contiki

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times. Contiki’s full national bus pass has a minimum travel time of 21 days hitting the following locations:

• Paihia
• Auckland
• Rotorua
• Taupo
• Tongariro
• Wellington
• Kaikoura
• Christchurch
• Franz Josef
• Queenstown
• Te Anau
• Lake Ohau

Typical Prices of Contiki

A full national pass with Contiki is around NZ$5,320 but the pass is very often on sale. You can usually pick up a national pass for around NZ$4,800.

Kiwi Experience

Type of Tour: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and All-Inclusive Bus Tours

The hop-on hop-off bus with Kiwi Experience follows a set route in one direction around the country. Passengers have the opportunity to “hop off” the bus anywhere along the route and “hop on” another bus at a prearranged time and date. Certain passes allow “unlimited travel” meaning you can do the route multiple times while your pass is valid (usually 12 months from your start date) as long as you travel in order and when there is availability. For a complete review of Kiwi Experience, head to What is it Really Like to Travel with Kiwi Experience?

Kiwi Experience also operates a number of all-inclusive bus tours called “Small Group Tours“. They follow a set route around the country in a predetermined number of days. Accommodations and some meals are included (mostly breakfast). Some activities are included in the pass with options to add on paid activities.

Activities and Accommodations on Kiwi Experience’s Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

Paid activities are on an optional pay-as-you-go scheme where the bus driver will book activities and accommodation (mainly hostels) for you as you travel. However, you can choose to arrange your own activities and accommodation as you wish. There are opportunities to do free activities as you go, as your driver will stop at free walks and attractions along the route. Learn more about what it’s like to travel with Kiwi Experience in A Day in the Life of a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Passenger.

Activities, Accommodation and Food on Kiwi Experience’s Small Group Tours

On Kiwi Experience’s Small Group Tours, accommodation is included in hostels, usually on a shared basis but there are opportunities to upgrade to a private room at an extra cost. Activities included are a guided tour of Te Puia geothermal park, a stargazing tour with Dark Sky Project, the Ruakuri Cave tour in Waitomo, wine tasting in Marlborough, greenstone carving and more. The tour also stops for plenty of free walks and hikes. Most breakfasts are also included, as well as a couple of dinners.

Typical Passengers on Kiwi Experience

Kiwi Experience’s hop-on hop-off tours boast a bus tour experience for 20-something adventurous backpackers. 18-25-year-old passengers from the UK and Europe are often the majority with a larger ratio of females to males. Nevertheless, you will still find a diverse range of people outside of the “typical” age range and nationality. Expect group sizes to fill two large coach buses in the peak season and almost fill one large coach bus in the low season.

On the Small Group tours, the maximum group size is 16. While the age limit is between 18 and 49 years old, the tours attract those in their early 20s to early 30s.

Destinations Visited with Kiwi Experience

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times. Kiwi Experience’s full national bus pass has a minimum travel time of 25 days hitting the following locations:

• Bay of Islands & Cape Reinga
• Auckland
• Coromandel
• Waitomo
• Rotorua
• Taupo
• Wellington
• Kaiteriteri (Abel Tasman)
• Westport
• Lake Mahinapua (Hokitika)
• Franz Josef
• Queenstown & Milford Sound
• Lake Tekapo
• Christchurch
• Kaikoura

Typical Prices for Kiwi Experience

The full price for a national pass (25+ days) is around NZ$1,900 but you will never pay the full retail price for a Kiwi Experience bus pass. Sales on bus passes happen year-round, usually bringing you around NZ$1,500 for a full national bus pass. Small Group Tours cost approximately NZ$4,600 for their most complete tour (19 days).

For budget tips for hop-on hop-off bus travel, check out How to Budget for a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Trip Around New Zealand.

Stray Travel

Note that Stray’s hop-on hop-off bus passes are suspended until further notice. Their all-inclusive bus tours (Journey Tours) are currently operating. 

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

Stray Travel follows a set route around the country in a predetermined number of days. Accommodations and some meals are included (mostly breakfast). Some activities are included in the pass with options to add on paid activities.

Activities, Accommodation and Food on Stray

On Stray’s tours, accommodation is included in a mix of hotels, boutique accommodations and lodges, usually on a shared basis but there are opportunities to upgrade to a private room at an extra cost. Activities included are a cultural and Maori hangi experience, a canoe trip on the Whanganui River and a Milford Sound cruise. Most breakfasts are also included.

Typical Passengers on Stray

Stray boasts tours for 20-something-year-old backpackers wanting to get more “off the beaten track”. While you will find a diverse range of ages and nationalities, Stray passengers are more likely to be anywhere between 18 and 30 years old. There is usually a ratio of more females to males, mainly coming from the UK, Europe and the US. They typically have a smaller group size to a maximum of 24 people.

Destinations Visited with Stray

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times. Stray’s full national tour lasts 24 days and stays in the following destinations:

• Auckland
• Hahei (Coromandel)
• Rotorua
• Lake Aniwhenua
• Taupo
• Ohakune
• Wellington
• Marahau (Abel Tasman)
• Franz Josef
• Queenstown
• Lake Tekapo
• Christchurch
• Kaikoura
• Raglan

Typical Prices

Stray’s longest all-inclusive tour (24 days) is approximately NZ$6,200 but can usually be found on sale for around NZ$5,600.

G Adventures

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

G Adventures offers bus tours following set routes around the country. At least two meals a day are included, as well as accommodation with some activities. For more information on how G Adventures works, see Contiki Vs. G Adventures: Comparison for New Zealand.

Activities with G Adventures

Some activities are included in your bus pass, such as boat tours, kayaking tours, surf lessons, Maori cultural experiences and more. For other paid activities you can book with the driver as you travel.

Accommodation and Food with G Adventures

Accommodation is included in G Adventures bus tours in the form of hostels, lodges and budget hotels. You may share a room with other passengers or upgrade to a private room. Food is also included on tours with G Adventures, usually, breakfast every day and some dinners.

Typical Passengers on G Adventures

Most of G Adventures’ classic New Zealand tours are aimed at “18-30-something” year-olds. The majority of passengers are usually in their mid-20s. A mix of nationalities can be found on the G Adventures buses from Europe, the Americas, Australia and more.

Different tour styles that G Adventures offers are slightly catered to different groups, such as the “National Geographic” tours and “Multisport” tours have a more welcoming age range of anyone over 12 years old (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). Therefore, expect these classes of tours to not quite be “backpacker”.

Destinations Visited with G Adventures

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times and styles of travel. G Adventures’ full national bus pass has a minimum travel time of 21 days hitting the following locations:

• Auckland
• Raglan
• Rotorua
• Taupo
• Wellington
• Abel Tasman
• Westport
• Franz Josef
• Queenstown
• Milford Sound
• Lake Tekapo
• Christchurch
• Kaikoura

Typical Prices

A full national pass (21 days) with G Adventures is around NZ$5,400 but the pass is very often on sale.

Topdeck

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

Topdeck offers a bus tour following a set route around the country. Breakfasts and a couple of dinners are included, as well as accommodation and some activities. The ferry between the North Island and South Island is also included.

Activities and Accommodations with Topdeck

Accommodation is included in Topdeck bus tours in the form of hotels, lodges, cabins, hostels and a Maori marae. You may share a room with 1-4 other passengers or upgrade to get a private room. Some activities are included in your bus pass, such as a Maori cultural performance and the ferry between the North and South Islands. Other optional paid activities are booked with the driver as you travel. Food is also included in Topdeck tours, all breakfasts and a couple of dinners if you are taking the full national pass.

Typical Passengers on Topdeck

Topdeck tours are aimed at 18-30-year-olds with the majority of passengers usually 18-25 years old. There is usually an even ratio of males and females. There can be a mix of nationalities, however, most passengers are from the Americas and Australia. Group sizes are usually a full large coach (36 people) in the peak season and about half a large coach in the shoulder seasons.

Destinations Visited with Topdeck

There are a limited number of passes with Topdeck: a North Island tour, a South Island tour and a national tour. Topdeck’s full national bus pass has a minimum travel time of 17 days hitting the following locations:

• Auckland
• Rotorua
• Tongariro National Park
• Wellington
• Nelson
• Kaikoura
• Christchurch
• Franz Josef
• Queenstown
• Lake Ohau

Typical Prices

A full national pass with Topdeck is around NZ$3,850, but the pass is very often on sale. You can usually pick up a national pass for around NZ$3,300.

Cheeky Kea Tours

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

Cheeky Kea offers bus tours following set routes around the South Island. Breakfast and some other meals are included, as well as accommodation with some activities.

Activities and Accommodations

Accommodation is included with Cheeky Kea bus tours. Some activities are included in your bus pass, such as a Milford Sound cruise, wine tasting and more. For other paid activities you can book with the driver as you travel. Breakfast is also included every day with some days having dinner included.

Typical Passengers

Cheeky Kea aims tours at 18 to 30-something-year-olds.

Destinations Visited

Cheeky Kea’s South Island bus pass has a minimum travel time of 14 days hitting the following locations:

• Christchurch
• Akaroa
• Mt Cook
• Queenstown (& Milford Sound)
• Te Anau
• Wanaka
• Franz Josef
• Murchison
• Abel Tasman National Park
• Nelson
• Picton
• Kaikoura

Typical Prices

A South Island bus pass with Cheeky Kea is around NZ$3,000.

[SUSPENDED] Sweet As Travel

Sweet As Travel has yet to announce its reopening dates post the COVID pandemic. We will update this page once their tours become available again. 

Type of Tour: All-Inclusive Bus Tour

Sweet As Travel offers bus tours that follow a set route around the North Island that include all travel, accommodation, three meals a day and a variety of paid and free activities for 18-35-year-olds.

Activities and Accommodation

Accommodation is included in Sweet As bus tours in the form of hostels & lodges where you will share a room with 4-8 passengers. Tours offer optional extras such as private room upgrades and excursions that include boats or campsites. Some paid activities are included or can be booked in your bus pass, such as a Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Park, Hawkes Bay Wine Tour, Waitomo Caves Tour, Raglan Boat Party and more. You can add further paid activities onto your tour when booking your pass or book with the driver as you travel. Otherwise, there are plenty of free activities, sights and attractions visited on the tour almost every day. Additionally, tours cater for all breakfasts, lunches and dinners that can also be optionally included if not in your package.

Typical Passengers

Sweet As Travel bus tours attract a diverse bunch of passengers due to their varied locations and activities. Aimed at 18-35-year-olds, you’ll find passengers across that entire age range and a mix of nationalities on board, coming from the UK, Europe, the US and Canada. Expect group sizes to between 6-22 people per bus.

Destinations Visited

There are multiple passes to suit travellers’ different travel times. Sweet As Travel’s full North Island bus pass has a minimum travel time of 1 day hitting the following locations:

• Auckland
• Paihia
• Cape Reinga
• Coromandel
• Tauranga
• Rotorua
• Taupo
• Tongariro National Park
• Napier
• Wellington
• New Plymouth
• Raglan

Typical Prices

A full national pass with Sweet As Travel starts at NZ$1,250, but you’ll never pay the full retail price. Sales on bus passes happen year-round with discounts made to returning passengers, group bookings, last-minute bookings and paying early for your trip. Contact them directly for discounts.

[CLOSED] Naked Bus / Manabus

Naked Bus and Manabus are no longer operating in New Zealand.

We thought it would be worth mentioning them at the end of this backpacker bus tour comparison, as they have a long-standing reputation that will have a few of you wondering: “What about Naked Bus?” But it’s true, they are no longer around.

The closest comparison to Naked Bus and Manabus is InterCity.