Want to know more about travelling with Kiwi Experience? Here are some of the frequently asked questions we get asked that we hope will support you with your travel plans:
I’m a solo traveller... will I meet other solo travellers?
Absolutely! The majority of our passengers are travelling solo. Kiwi Experience is a social experience guaranteed to leave with new friends for life from across the globe.
I’m travelling with my partner / best friend – can we book our buses, activities and accommodation together?
Yes. If you are booking and travelling together, we can book you on the same bus with the exact dates. Not a biggie!
Am I too old/young for Kiwi Experience?
We welcome the young and the young at heart aboard our buses; there is no upper limit! There is however a lower limit; you’ll need to be 18 at the time of travel.
Can you help me book my trip across New Zealand? I totes need help.
We’d love to! Just get in touch with our Reservations Team via phone/ email/ social and we will happily help you plan your trip with us.
email: travel@kiwiex.co.nz or phone +64 (09) 336 4286
What visas do I need?
Luckily, many nationalities can visit New Zealand for less than 3 months without a visa. However, if you are not from one of these countries, obtaining your visa is your responsibility. We ask that you check out the Immigration New Zealand website before booking your Kiwi Experience trip.
Do I need travel insurance?
While not mandatory, travel insurance is highly recommended and should be taken out when travelling with us. As well as making sure your expensive stuff is covered, you should also get comprehensive travel insurance (covering you for all medical expenses you could incur while travelling).
How much should I budget for each day?
We recommend you budget between $70 - $100 daily to cover food and super fun times. Accommodation costs an average of 40-50$ per night. From time to time, it may be worth putting a little more aside to pay for the really crazy stuff like skydiving.
How much luggage am I allowed to bring?
Passengers are allowed one 23kg suitcase/backpack and one day bag, as our buses have strict weight restrictions.
What is your no-show policy?
Should you fail to show for any of your booked buses, we will charge a $50 rebooking fee for you next departure. The Cape Day trip and Milford Sound both have a $100 rebooking fee.
Do I have enough time to do everything?
We schedule our buses so you have enough time for most of the activities – but feel free to chat to your driver guide about what you can fit into your plans!
Should I bring a suitcase or a backpack?
Whatever you are most comfortable with! Remember, you’ll be taking your luggage off the bus to your accommodation most days (unless you are hopping off the bus for longer)
Do you pick up from the airport?
Our service doesn’t pick up or drop off from airports. Check out Supershuttle as an alternative to Uber or Taxi’s available at most New Zealand airports
Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Passes
Do we have to stay in the accommodation you recommend or can we stay elsewhere?
We give you the freedom and flexibility to choose any accommodation style you like. However, we select the best value for money-option in each stopover (and we do recommend staying with the group); if you’d like to stay somewhere else, that’s absolutely no problem at all. This is your experience. You can make all of your accommodation bookings via the online Trip Planner by signing up with the same email you used for purchasing your bus pass. Remember to book at least by 7 AM two days in prior to arriving at each destination.
Can I start anywhere on the hop-on-hop-off network?
Most of our passengers start their trip in Auckland (this is where our main airport is). However, some of our travel passes allow you to start and finish anywhere you like on our travel network.
Do I have to pre-book my buses?
We highly recommend, once you have a plan, to pre-book your buses, especially in the Kiwi Summer (Dec-Mar) the buses are super busy, and to avoid missing out on your preferred travel dates, it's best to pre-book. This includes accommodation as well. Your online Trip Planner provides lets you book and pays online.
My plans have changed, and I want to catch an earlier bus. How do I do this?
Simply sign into your Online Trip Planner and jump into our ‘book my bus’ portal. You can change your bus dates here. Check out our handy Book my bus guide for more information.
I see there is a hop off location on your website, but I cannot book this myself. What can I do?
For some of our less common pick up and drop off points, you will need to get in touch with our reservations team for help altering your booking
Accommodation
What happens if I miss my 48h window for booking my accommodation?
If you do not book your accommodation by 7am 2 days before you are meant to arrive at a location, you will need to contact the hostel directly to arrange your beds.
Can I book my accommodation for whenever I want it?
You can only book accommodation for the date you are travelling by bus to each location. For example, if you are travelling from Franz – Queenstown on Apr 24, you can book 3 nights accommodation in Queenstown starting on Apr 24.
Where can I book private accommodation?
We only offer shared accommodation. If you want to book a private room you will need to book this separately for yourself.
I’ve decided to change my buses but I have already booked my accommodation, what can I do?
You can change your accommodation dates through the ‘reschedule’ option under ‘my accommodation’ as long as you let us know by 7am, 2 days before. For more info, please see our handy how to guide in our E-book.
Why can’t I choose a date for my activities?
Your driver guide will book your activities for specific dates, feel free to chat to them about which days best suit you.
What happens if my activity is cancelled?
If your activity is cancelled by the operator (e.g., due to bad weather) you will be refunded in full. Please email our reservations team to request the refund
