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Backpackers' experiences with Kiwi Experience

"Taking the Kiwi Experience bus allowed me to fully explore the real New Zealand. It is flexible, takes you to some amazing places and offers loads of activities on top. The best thing about it is that you meet all sorts of lovely backpackers without even trying. If you're sick of new friends, I suggest you start walking..." - Joe

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"I used Kiwi Experience and really enjoyed it, if you have heard bad things about Oz Experience, don't automatically think that Kiwi Experience is the same - it may share names and themes but its run quite differently to the Australia one. Kiwi is a lot better. I was 23 when I went on it I and didn't really have a problem with immature 18 year olds as I'd expected. Everyone was just up for enjoying themselves but they weren't mad!" - Terry

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"I used Kiwi Experience for the South Island. You meet loads of young cool peeps who are well up for a good laugh, and you generally stay together. You also get pre-booked accomidation if you want it which is helpful. I had a wicked time and met some cool friends on the buses." - brendonlaing

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"I would definitely use the Kiwi Experience, I had a great time doing the South Island with them. It is more close knit than Oz Experience with it being a smaller place but it was really good to make friends with others, particualarly if you've been travelling with the same person for ages!" - edd_b

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"I had the best time on the Kiwi Experience - met great people, saw amazing places and just had a fantastic time! The great thing about Kiwi is that they take you to some places that other operators don't go to. An example being River Valley, which is this tiny hostel in a valley by a river that you can go white water rafting on the next day if you want. It was one of the best nights I had whilst I was out there and I couldn't have done it without the Kiwi Experience!" - Zoe2307

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"The best thing I did on the Kiwi Experience was the full day hike of Franz Josef... it was great, one of my all-time favourite things in New Zealand. Queenstown is great so if you have time spend more than the normal two days there. I ended staying for a week and loved every minute. There is so much to do and the mountains around it are wicked." - Mush

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"I only went on the Kiwi Experience for three days and I am going back for the full wack this year - I loved it! After all it is what you make it! Generally there are a wide range of people on the buses and the whole idea of it is to do your own thing. Getting out to Milford Sound from there is awesome! One of the best things you'll do in New Zealand! The Kiwi bus trip out to Milford is fairly well priced and one of the better ones as they part own the boat company so they get that for next to nothing! Apart from every adventure sport in the world ever invented there are also amazing mountains and scenery in Queenstown and a look up the gondala is pretty cool! Don't stay any longer than one night at Mahinapua. Its good fun at the "Poo Pub" but there isn't anything much there to do during the day. Also, have fun dressing up and go and see the glow worms. but don't skinny dip in the lake cause its freezing!" - danabanana

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"Five great things about Kiwi Experience are...

1. They take you to places that you may not know are there. For instance, one of my best experiences was going to Kiakoura and swimming with wild dolphins or climbing the Franz Josef glacier. You can obviously go to these places yourself but there are lots of other small places to visit that people would probably miss without a guide.
2. You get to meet lots of people in the same situation and have a great laugh. Kiwi Experience also organise lots of events for the evenings, but you don't have to take part if you fancy a quiet one.
3. They get you good deals at lots of places like bungy jumping, skydiving and lots of other things.
4. You get a year to complete the journey so can stay in places for three or four months and then phone and get a seat for the next day.
5. In my experience the drivers were all a really good laugh and were always happy to help or make suggestions." - pabbott

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"The best thing about Kiwi Experience for me was making friends with everyone on the bus and the driver, so you have such a good time doing all the activities and going out with everyone. Can be a bit hard making the bus at 8am sometimes though after a heavy night before!" - Lunny

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"I'm a New Zealander, but the Kiwi Experience buses seem to get a thumbs up from most tourists I have spoken to, and they get absolutely everywhere" - Meryl

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