Welcome to the
KIWI EXPERIENCE BLOG

​ Carla Bragagnini (@carla.writes) recently jumped on the Big Green Bus and is now a self-proclaimed Kiwi Experience-er, so we thought we’d ask for her personal advice for travelling on the bus!

​ This relatively small region is packed to the brim with fun activities, with something to please almost every traveller.

​ If you’re getting ready to spend some time in our little corner of the globe, we reckon you should take a page out of our book and take it easy!

​ The Bay of Islands is situated at the top of the stunning North Island. This region basks in sunshine almost all year round and is home to some of the greatest walks that New Zealand has to offer!

​ Heading to New Zealand for an adventure of a lifetime? We’re excited to host you in our little corner of the world. There’s so much to see and do in this little paradise that we don’t blame you if you want to take your time here and live like a Kiwi for a while.

​ It might not be the first place you think of to venture to, but New Zealand is the perfect place to end your travels, and worth every air mile to get here.

​ New Zealand food is tasty and satisfying. With a focus on fresh, local food, our reputation as a foodie heaven is growing! You really are spoilt for choice when you visit New Zealand. From the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, your taste buds will be able to experience every kind of food you could imagine. As our saying goes “embrace the unexpected.”

​ Put misty mountains, volcanic craters, glacial rainforests and a healthy dose of Lord of the Rings in a blender, and you’d finish up with New Zealand’s South Island.

​ If you’re a budget-conscious backpacker, you’re in luck! Here’s why New Zealand is a mecca for travellers and an easy place to make your travel money stretch a little further.

​ As the days get longer, those golden rays beam down and flower buds turn to full blooms; there’s no mistaking that spring has arrived. Before the summer rush and after the short winter days comes one of the best times of the year to travel New Zealand. Here are the best things about backpacking New Zealand in spring.

​ Shred powder, not your bank account

​ New Zealand is a small country with a big heart. Drastic in beauty and humble in charm, Aotearoa redefines the notion of 'mind-blowing'.

​ New Zealand is a diverse landscape waiting to be explored. From Volcanoes and Rainforests to Native Bush and Glaciers the great outdoors is simply that, great!

​ We've done the hard work and scooped up New Zealand's greatest walks. The best thing, they can all be done on the Kiwi Experience Route.

​ Our friend Efia, who travelled the South Island with us recently, is sharing five reasons not to let that stop you from booking that trip.

​ So you're trying to decide if it's worth leaving the Northern Hemisphere's tropical (or not so) mid-year months to head to New Zealand mid-winter? As the cold descends upon the southern hemisphere like a chilly mist floating down onto a valley, it actually provides the perfect opportunity to visit New Zealand.

​ Our mates the Roadrebelz spent 2 months travelling extensively across our bus network.

​ Years ago, I used to pack SO MUCH stuff with me on trips, and it always felt overwhelming. Most of the extra things I'd bring with me were left untouched, and I'd always end up just wearing my usual comfy clothes anyway! I knew I had to make a change.

​ Take a break from pasta & tomato sauce; here’s our top picks for cheap eats around New Zealand. The backpacker budget doesn’t usually stretch so far on the dining out front, but if you're savvy you can get some top meals without breaking the bank.

​ As soon as you leave any city in New Zealand and see the scenery, you will definitely start to get some Middle Earth vibes going on! Rolling green hills remind you of The Shire and places like Fiordland evoke the Lord of the Rings soundtrack in your mind.

​ Our guide to riding the green bus and blue slabs across New Zealand!

​ New Zealand. A small country with a big heart. Drastic in beauty and humble in charm, it regularly makes a mockery of Instagram filters.

​ When asked about what food New Zealand is famous for, it is hard to pick just one thing. We are a diverse country in many ways and we love our food!

​ If you’re in New Zealand when the clock strikes midnight on the 31st of December you will be one of the first people in the world to celebrate the start of 2019.

​ Travelling with Kiwi Experience between now and Mid-January? Check out these helpful hints!

​ Auckland is consistently featured on top 10 lists of places to visit and live.

​ The jewel in the crown that is the South Island.

​ Choose the best NZ SIM Card and stay connected during your travels

​ We are not afraid to say: traveling is one of the gretest things you can do in your life. It sounds cheesy, but travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer. So… Going on an adventure opens your eyes, puts you in contact with a new culture and takes you to visit all the incredible corners of this beautiful world. Travel can however do a number on Mother Earth and if we don’t adopt an eco-friendly mindset, many of the world’s beautiful attractions will be spoilt.

​ Whether you’re a backpacker on holiday or a snow seeker, this guide will help you to make the most of the New Zealand ski season - one of the best ski destinations in the world.

​ Kaikoura, where mountains drop down to aquamarine waters and whales dwell in the deep blue depths.

​ Chilling in the bottom right hand corner of a traditional world map, New Zealand is situated as far from most other countries as you can get and that can make it harder for budget travellers (hi, nice to meet you!) to take the first step towards their dream holiday: finding a low-cost flight.

​ Travelling with Kiwi Experience allows you to explore New Zealand and experience unique moments which can see you grow and evolve in ways you never could have imagined.

​ When travelling with Kiwi Experience there are experiences to suit all budgets and appetites for adventure and there are heaps of free activities to do along the way.

​ All around the world on March 17th people jump on board the Green bandwagon and celebrate the best of Ireland. New Zealand has rich Irish connections, in fact, three of our prime ministers were born in Ireland. There is a large number of Irish people who call New Zealand home, making it easy to find a local Irish pub (always a good time and a pint of the black stuff is never too far away).

​ Autumn is the best time to explore New Zealand's incredible landscapes as they burst to life with red and gold shades.

​ Kiwi Experiences cares about the environment. Here are 5 ways we're helping keep New Zealand beautiful.

​ Looking for something extra special to impress your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Take a look at our most loved destinations and be inspired to try something new.

​ When discussing travelling NZ, we often get asked the question "Is it better to travel New Zealand by...

​ There's no doubt that Queenstown is one of the best places in New Zealand to be. So we've put together 10 "must eats" for you to try while you work your way around the picturesque little town. You can thank us later...

​ Get ready to go underground, swap the skyline for inky cave depths and illuminated crags.

​ Māori have been in New Zealand since approximately 1350 AD, based on tracing the navigational steps of their ancestor, Kupe, from his homeland of Hawaiiki.

​ New Zealand has a large camping culture, and it is easy to see why. Our beautiful landscapes and friendly wildlife make for some of the best backdrops for getting closer to nature. We know camping isn’t for everyone though, so we’ve come up with a way to bring glamour to camping, and hence glamping was born.

​ Coming from your all American kind of hunting family, being outdoors was always engrained in me.

​ KIWI EXPERIENCE TAKES HOME A DOUBLE WIN AT THE GOLDEN BACKPACKER AWARDS!

​ We here at Kiwi Experience have been aware of a huge waste problem regarding plastic bags, disposable cups, and plastic water bottles.

​ New Zealand’s serene shores rank second in the Global Peace Index’s list of the world’s safest countries, just behind Iceland. We think it’s no coincidence we’re both stunning countries whose sheep population significantly outnumbers the human population…

​ 5 MUST DO'S FOR THRILL SEEKERS

​ Kiwi Experience is stoked to be awarded its first Gold Award for the Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Evaluation!

​ Lake Tekapo offers the perfect chance to switch off and recharge your batteries without needing to root around in your bag for that elusive adaptor!

​ You’ve packed up your life, and you’re on the backpacking adventure of a lifetime. You’ve headed away on a jet plane, and you don’t know when you’ll be back again.

​ Always dreamed of strolling along in Bilbo’s footsteps, popping into quaint Hobbit Holes and sipping a malty ale at the Green Dragon pub?

​ SO, YOU’VE BOOKED YOUR ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND AND NOW YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT TO BUDGET FOR AND HOW MUCH SPENDING MONEY YOU MIGHT NEED?

​ Kiwi Experience is proud to have won the 2016 Mega Efficiency Impact Award at the NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards.

​ Why We Love Bungy Jumping

​ 10 BEST NEW ZEALAND LANDSCAPES

​ Rising from cities, small towns and country paddocks filled with farmers’ stock, no part of New Zealand’s landscape is quite complete without a set of rugby goal posts.

​ TRAVELLING NEW ZEALAND'S BEST SCENERY | MY TOP 5

​ EPIC LANDSCAPES, DRAMATIC SKIES, AND PHOTOGENIC TRAVEL BUDDIES.