kiwi experience bus tours

The Kiwi Experience Bus: An Honest Review (2023)

Booking the Kiwi Experience bus? Yay! The Kiwi Experience is one of the best and easiest ways to get around New Zealand. Not only will you see some of the most beautiful locations on the planet, but you’ll make friends at the same time!

The Kiwi Experience is a group tour which is set up to guide you from start to finish. It is the perfect experience for new or first-time backpackers, and whilst the tour is aimed at travellers aged 18-35, we found the majority to be between the ages of 18-25.

In the following post, I outline why the Kiwi Experience is the best way to travel around New Zealand, and how the pass actually works. As always, if you still have a question, or if this post has helped you to travel, let me know on Instagram ! I’d love to hear from you, and it confirms I’m doing my job properly!

🇳🇿 If you decide the Kiwi Bus isn’t for you, check out this epic 2 Week Itinerary for South Island New Zealand . Travel New Zealand in a van, at your own pace!

Other Oceania posts:

• Best Places to Live in Melbourne as a Young Adult or Expat
• 10 Fun Things To Do in Melbourne Solo (+ 20 Extras!)

Want to see epic photos and videos from these experiences?

Follow me on Instagram! As we travel, I post everything live on Instagram, so check out my recent highlights and posts. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, drop me a DM!

The Kiwi Experience Bus Review: A Summary

The Kiwi Experience Bus is a group tour for like-minded travellers wanting to travel across New Zealand. Travelling via a hop-on, hop-off system, you have the freedom and flexibility to visit locations for different durations and tick off bucket-list activities as you go.

Once you’ve chosen your pass, you will decide where you start (most start in Auckland), and travel around the country via a big, green bus. You will also get access to a Trip Planner and the Bus Timetables in order to organise parts of your trip in advance. But, if you’re more spontaneous, everything can be sorted whilst you’re actually on the bus.

So, what is the Kiwi Bus actually like? Well, the buses are full of other travellers wanting to experience the country in a fun way, with a big emphasis on partying and socialising. We loved this part of the Kiwi Bus, and joined in on all of the social activities such as boat parties, bar crawls and fancy dress nights.

If you’re someone who likes everything being organised for you, the Kiwi Bus is easily the best way to travel around New Zealand. Everything down to the routes, hostels and activities can be sorted for you, so you don’t need to use a lot of brain power at all!

Whilst you’re on the Kiwi Bus, you will spend the majority of your time mingling with other travellers and meeting new people. If you’re a solo traveller, it’s an easy and great way to make sure you’re not alone, and surrounded by people at all hours of the day.

It’s a crazy, wild and chaotic way to experience New Zealand, and it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. If you like to party and socialise whilst ticking off epic bucket list experiences, the Kiwi Experience is for you!

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 FUN FACT: The Kiwi Experience Bus was where I met my long-term partner, Tom! We have now been together for four years, and own a house together in London. We also work together whilst travelling the world, working as digital nomads . If that’s not a Kiwi Experience success story, I don’t know what is!

Kiwi Experience Bus Pass Information

You need to pre-book your Kiwi Experience Pass as soon as possible. Buses are extremely busy in the summer season, so booking early will help massively!

Which Kiwi Experience bus pass shall I choose?

There are over twenty different Kiwi Bus passes to choose from. Which one you pick will be down to where you want to go, your budget and how long you have.

If you have enough time during your backpacking trip, I’d recommend doing both North and South Island. Both have a lot to offer and are special in their own way. We found the most popular both-island Kiwi bus passes to be:

• Funky Chicken

If you’re short on time, I’d recommend the South Island Milford Explorer, or the South and Sound. Or if you’re sticking to the North, the Northern Express or Geyserland both stop at some incredible spots!

🥝 TOP TIP: Unsure of what you pass you’d like? Look at Kiwi bus passes that include at least: Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Franz Josef and Lake Wanaka. They were our highlights!

Kiwi Experience Hostels

You do not need to pre-book any activities, hostels or accommodations in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus. When on the trip, the Kiwi Experience will book your hostels for you.

Hostels in New Zealand are modern, clean and safe. By booking hostels with the Kiwi Experience Bus, you will get a group discount and the best rates. Most of the Kiwi Experience hostels are Base or Nomads .

Hostels are booked 24 hours before arrival, using a signup sheet that is passed around the Kiwi Bus. You can request to be with friends, boyfriends (or potential partners!) if wanted.

Unless you specifically opt out, you’ll be in a mixed shared dorm with people from your bus. All hostels have large kitchens to prepare your own meals, and most are located in a city or town centre if you want to eat out.

🥝 TOP TIP: For the beginning and start of your trip (before and after you board the bus) you need to book your own accommodation . I highly recommend booking this in advance. Hostels in Oceania book up fast! You can check out the best hostels in New Zealand here.

Want to start your digital nomad life?

Check out my ebook page (click here!) to see if there’s a guide that suits you. I’m here to help you leave the 9-5 and work remotely around the world! 💻 🌎

Who’s the Kiwi Experience bus for?

The Kiwi Experience bus is for backpackers aged around 18-35.  There isn’t an age limit on booking the tour, but we found the majority of travellers on our bus were between the ages of 18-25.  

Whilst on the Kiwi Experience Bus, you can expect a lot of ‘organised fun’. This includes activities such as bar crawls, fancy dress parties, speed dating on the bus and party games.

The Kiwi Experience targets solo travellers and small friendship groups wanting to meet others whilst backpacking. The social and party side is one of the biggest aspects of the tour.

🥝TOP TIP: If this isn’t your thing, and you’d rather experience New Zealand in a more civilised way, I recommend hiring a car or a van. If you’re looking to hire a car in New Zealand, we rent our cars from this company . They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in New Zealand now!

How the Kiwi Experience bus works

Firstly, you need to decide where you would like to visit in New Zealand. The passes cover different parts of the country (some are both islands, some just north, some just south etc). Whichever pass you choose will determine the destinations your bus visits.

All Kiwi Experience Bus passes allow you to hop on and hop off in locations during the route. It’s then your choice how long you stay in each location (for example, you could do 14 nights in Queenstown, but only three nights in Franz Josef).

You do not need to pre-book any activities, hostels or accommodations in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus. This is all sorted for you whilst you are on the trip. But if you would like to pre-book your own accommodation, you will need to let the driver know and organise your own transport .

🥝 TOP TIP: My opinion? Don’t pre-book anything. We accidentally pre-booked a hotel and were separated from all of our friends in the hostel. You can just imagine how sad we were! Don’t pre-book, leave it down to the Kiwi bus!

How do I book accommodation and activities on the trip?

You do not need to pre-book any activities, hostels or accommodations in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus.

Every evening, you’ll be handed a clipboard to sign up for hostels and activities. Payments are usually taken at the hostel or activity when you arrive. Again, you don’t need to plan or book anything before you board the Kiwi Experience Bus.

🥝 TOP TIP: If you make friends on the bus, you can sign up to be in the same hostel dorm room or activity group. Just make sure it’s noted on the clipboard.

Minimum/Maximum Stays in Locations Whilst on the Kiwi Experience Bus

The only locations that have a maximum stay are destinations that are organised for the Kiwi Bus participants only.

For example, the Kiwi Experience organises a fancy dress party at the Lake Mahinapua pub, which is a one-night-only stay. There aren’t many of these, but it’s worth noting if you’re on a strict time scale.

Your Kiwi bus pass will also have a minimum amount of nightly stays in all destinations. This means that unless you sort your own transport, you cannot skip a location entirely. This is because the Kiwi driver will stay in the hostel with you, and will not continue the journey until the next day.

When buying your Kiwi bus pass, you will have an estimated time frame, which is the minimum amount of days the tour can be completed in. For example, the Funky Chicken says 22 days+. This means the Funky Chicken pass can be completed in 22 days or more (just not less, due to the minimum night rule).

Activities on the Kiwi Experience Bus

When you want to take part in an activity on the Kiwi Experience bus, you will sign up in the same way you do for hostels. The clipboard will be passed around the bus, and you can write your name to confirm you want to take part. It will also explain payment options.

You do not need to pre-book any activities in advance when travelling on the Kiwi Experience Bus.

🥝 Activities on the Kiwi bus range from (but are not limited to!): white water rafting, skydiving, jet boating, Maori village tours, cave and glow worm tours, dolphin watching, helicopter rides, hot springs, bungee jumping, whale watching, zorbing, sailing, and kayaking.

Activity prices range from $10-$200, depending on how much of a ‘bucket list experience’ they are. For example, a helicopter ride to the Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most expensive Kiwi tours. But some activities are free, such as hiking and walking.

You can also organise tours without the help of Kiwi Experience. Just make sure that if it’s far away from the bus or hostel you’re staying at, you have a mode of transport to return. The Kiwi Bus will not pick you up for any tour organised independently.

How flexible is the Kiwi Experience bus pass?

The Kiwi Experience bus tour has good flexibility. Plans changed? Love a location and want to extend? No problem.

As long as you finish your Kiwi Experience trip within 365 days of purchase , you can change your plans as many times as desired. Start the trip in January, finish it in December, or just do it all in one go. The Kiwi Pass gives you total flexibility to backpack New Zealand at a speed that’s suited to you.

Popular destinations like Queenstown are often visited for a longer period of time. If you’ve only budgeted a few days there, but your new backpacker friends have planned a seven-day stay, you might want to switch things up and stay with them. This is totally doable on the Kiwi Experience. Plans can change last minute, and you don’t need to decide anything too far in advance.

Will I be with the same people for the whole trip?

This depends on how you complete the Kiwi Experience bus tour. Most people will stick to the designated time frame, adding a few extra nights in. For example, we did the Funky Chicken Kiwi bus tour, and although it was a 22-day route, we spent around 30 days completing it.

If you do extend your stay in one location, you will jump on a new Kiwi bus for your next location. This means new people. There are Kiwi buses running one after another, every day of the year, so if you miss one, you can easily catch up the following morning.

🥝 TOP TIP: During peak summer travel, you need to pre-book your Kiwi bus seat. Seats fill up quickly, so you need to decide at least 24 hours in advance when you will be leaving a location.

Best locations to visit in New Zealand

North island of new zealand locations.

• Bay of Islands – Beaches, hikes and views. Great for a scenic stop in New Zealand.
• Auckland – The biggest city in the country. Great for nightlife, city vibes, and shopping.
• Hot Water Beach – A large beach full of hot springs. You’ll dig your own hole on the beach to lay and relax in the hot water.
• Waitomo – Glow worms in a labyrinth of underground caves.
• Rotorua – The ultimate culture stop. This is the perfect place to do your Maori Village tour which is a must-do when visiting New Zealand to learn more about the people and history of the country. Also, Rotorua is a chance to visit Hobbiton!
• Taupo – Lake Taupo is one of the prettiest lakes in New Zealand, great for watersports and boat tours. The nightlife is also fun!
• River Valley – This part of the trip is for Kiwi Experience travellers only. Secluded in the middle of a mountainous valley, you’ll party the night away in a log cabin with a cheap bar and night-long music. White water rafting is also available.
• Wellington – New Zealand’s capital is a great place for nightlife, restaurants, shopping and scenic views from Mount Victoria.

South Island of New Zealand locations

• Abel Tasman – White sandy beaches and jungle.
• Westport – A quiet town which offers surf lessons in the evenings.
• Lake Mahinapua – Another Kiwi Experience exclusive. A family-run pub hosts a fancy dress party with late-night music and easy access to the lake!
• Franz Josef – Franz Josef gives the opportunity to ride a helicopter to the height of the famous Franz Josef glacier.  You’ll also stay in a rainforest-wood-cabin-style hostel with nightly entertainment and good food. 
• Lake Wanaka – One of the most famous lakes in New Zealand. Great for watersports, hiking and mountain trekking.
• Queenstown – One of the more lively cities in New Zealand, and an adrenaline junkie’s paradise. From bungee jumping, luging down the side of a mountain, sky diving, jet boating…if it makes your heart race when you think about it, Queenstown has a chance to experience it.
• Milford Sound – An expensive but worth it day trip that can be taken from Queenstown. Sail up close to the famous Milford Sound and soak in the views of the mighty waterfall.
• Lake Tekapo – Known for its turquoise blue lake and star gazing. The area has next to no light pollution, making it one of the best stargazing locations in the world!
• Christchurch – Another New Zealand city which is on the smaller and quieter side.
• Kaikoura – If you’re a big fan of dolphins, you’re going to want to make sure your tour stops at Kaikoura.

Kiwi Experience Bus: FAQs

1) is the kiwi experience bus worth the money.

Yes, yes and yes again! The Kiwi Experience is worth the money, especially if you’re unsure about travelling alone or are backpacking for the first time. I guarantee you’ll make friends, tick off bucket list experiences and have the trip of a lifetime!

2) Is the Kiwi Experience a party bus?

The Kiwi Experience group tour has a reputation for being a ‘party bus’, but it really depends on how you want to experience it. Yes, you can party with your new friends on the bus, or you can avoid this part and just spend your time exploring and doing bucket-list New Zealand activities.

3) Who started the Kiwi Experience bus?

Aucklanders Mike Warren and Neil Geddes   founded Kiwi Experience in 1989. This means the bus has been going for over 30 years (although their first journey was a single bus between Auckland and Wellington via Rotorua and Ohakune).

4) How does the Kiwi Experience work?

The Kiwi Experience bus works by following a designated route, stopping off along the way for travellers to enjoy different locations in New Zealand. It is a hop-on, hop-off bus, meaning you can choose the amount of time you spend in each location.

5) Do I need a car to travel around New Zealand?

This is down to personal preference. We loved travelling around New Zealand via the Kiwi Experience bus, but of course, you can hire your own car instead.

You can hire a car and drive around the entire country at your own pace. D riving in New Zealand is safe and straightforward. Some of the main towns and cities are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car . 

If you’re looking to hire a car in New Zealand, we rent our cars from this company . They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in New Zealand now!

6) Do I need a SIM card to travel around Oceania? 

Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive in either New Zealand or Australia.

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

The Kiwi Experience Bus Review: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best areas and neighbourhoods to live in in Melbourne . When you’re planning a trip to Australia, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here !), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Australian content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

🇳🇿 Where to next?

Living In Melbourne As An Expat On A Working Holiday Visa

🇳🇿 Have you been on the Kiwi Experience bus? I’d love to hear from you! Let me know your thoughts on Instagram!

📍 PIN IT FOR LATER! 📍

MEET THE AUTHOR!

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).

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Hi! Thank you for your informative blog about Kiwi experience and traveling with them. I’m going to travel with them next month. I’m little anxious because I’m not that social person all the time and I love my no social moments, always need a moment to just be by myself. Do you know if there’s some private rooms to book with or something? I’m doing the Backyard pass with both islands. I’ve also been thinking that do I need cash with me or can I pay with card? Thank you for your help ☺️

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Kiwi Experience Review: What is it Really Like to Travel with Kiwi Experience?

Nz pocket guide is 10 years old. thank you for trusting us with your trip for over a decade, a kiwi experience review.

It’s like a bus tour that’s not a bus tour… What?! Yep, some of the Kiwi Experience reviews can be pretty confusing. That’s why we’re giving it a go ourselves to finally answer the question: what is it really like to travel on the Kiwi Experience bus? We’ll go through the experience of booking your Kiwi Experience bus pass, what a typical day is like on the bus, about hopping on and off the bus, what the vibe is like, and most importantly, is a Kiwi Experience bus pass really worth it?

Note that this is a review of Kiwi Experience’s hop-on hop-off bus tours; not their small-group tours. What’s the difference? T ake a look at What is the Difference Between the Buses in New Zealand? and   What is a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus?

Where to Book a Kiwi Experience Bus Pass

The first thing to note about Kiwi Experience is how easy it is to book your hop-on hop-off bus pass with them. You don’t need to decide on a travel date right here, right now. Your bus pass is valid to activate for up to 12 months after purchase. Only once activated (i.e. you book your first day travelling on the bus) does your 12 months of unlimited travel with Kiwi Experience start.

There are four easy ways to book your bus pass that we recommend:

• Kiwi Experience website – Perfect for those who love to have travel plans sorted early! Be sure to keep an eye out for seasonal deals.
• The Kiwi Experience shop in Auckland – Go straight to the source at Kiwi’s Experience’s HQ on Beach Road, Auckland
• TourRadar – They have regular sales and the tour website is a good place to compare routes, prices and reviews with other New Zealand bus tour companies
• Travel agents in New Zealand – We always find it cheaper to book with travel agents in New Zealand than with agents overseas. It’s likely that the first hostel you stay at will be able to book a Kiwi Experience bus pass for you.

A Typical Day With Kiwi Experience

One of the things that other Kiwi Experience reviews tend to be unclear about is what is it actually like to spend a typical day with them. One thing is for sure: every day is an adventure! There is, of course, some method to it all and you can expect the following:

Morning on the Kiwi Experience Bus

You’ll catch the bus at a prearranged time and place, usually between 7 am to 10 am outside of the accommodation that the bus passengers stayed the previous night. Your Driver Guide will tick you off the list, put your luggage on board, and on you go! Before setting off, your Driver Guide will tell everyone the plan for the day then you’ll hit the road.

Part way through the morning journey, you’ll stop for refreshments and a toilet break. By this time, you’ll already have met some new mates on the bus or reminisced on the antics from the day before.

Afternoon on the Kiwi Experience Bus

Clipboards will start making their way around the bus with some simple forms to fill out to let the driver know which accommodation you are staying at, what type of room, how many nights, and what activities you want to be booked for you at today’s end destination. You have the flexibility to either choose the hostel or lodge recommended by Kiwi Experience (which is where most passengers choose to stay) or let the driver know if you have other arrangements.

As for activities, your Driver Guide, who has tried them all countless times, lets you know what each experience is like so you know what you’re getting yourself into. But just remember, the Driver Guide is on commission to sell as many tours as possible. With that in mind, some guides can be a little pushy, saying that every skydive the bus tours come across are “the best in New Zealand”. For activities that can be done in multiple locations, like skydiving, we definitely recommend doing some prior research on NZ Pocket Guide *cheeky wink*.

Once you have chosen your accommodation and activities, all you have to do is sit back and mingle with your fellow travellers while your driver sorts out all the nitty-gritty stuff.

Throughout the afternoon, you’ll stop for lunch, be given the opportunity to stock up on supplies at a supermarket and stop at a few free attractions along the way. Mind-blowing hikes to majestic waterfalls are a regular occurrence! Or scenic coastal walks to seal colonies! Not to mention all the photo stops along the way! It’s the sort of experience you would never get if you were, for example, taking the InterCity bus .

Early Afternoon on the Kiwi Experience Bus

You’ll arrive at today’s final destination right outside of your accommodation. You will have ample time to check in, check out the hostel you are staying in (some have stunning riverside and lakeside locations), and then start one of the paid activities that your driver booked for you: white water rafting, bungy jumping, zorbing, horse trekking, sailing… New Zealand is your playground. All paid activities are optional. Your driver takes out the hassle of getting to your activity by either driving you straight there (and picking you up when you’re done) or recommending more free activities within walking distance of your accommodation.

Need more clarification on what it’s like to travel on a hop-on hop-off bus like Kiwi Experience, check out A Day in the Life of a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Passenger .

Booking the Next Trip

Following on from our typical Kiwi Experience day, the next day you can experience another day on the bus adventuring and heading toward the next destination on the route. Alternatively, you can choose to stay off the bus and “hop on” at a late date. Here’s what it’s like to book back onto the next bus:

How to Hop Back on the Bus

As soon as you know what date you want to get the next bus and continue on the route, you need to let the Kiwi Experience team know! You can only get back on the bus if there is a seat available for you, which can be a bit of a mission in the busy summer months. The best way to book your place on the bus is to give Kiwi Experience a call (+64 9 336 4286). They will tell you the next available dates to get back on the bus from your location. The booking process over the phone is super quick and simple – just make sure you have your passenger number handy!

How Often Do the Kiwi Experience Buses Run?

In the summer months ( December – February ) there’s a Kiwi Experience bus departing from each location they visit every day. There are departures around five times per week during March , October and November . In winter, the low season, buses depart once every two days.

For advice on when to visit New Zealand, check out  When is the Best Time to Visit New Zealand?

Departure times and pick-up points are super easy to look up on the Kiwi Experience website, with all their latest timetables posted!

Some Exceptions

Some days on the Kiwi Experience bus are a little different, so we thought we’d let you know some exceptions (or more like exceptional days)!

Trip to Milford Sound

It’s on everyone’s bucket list: the towering majestic mountains and glimmering waters of the breathtaking Milford Sound ! When you arrive in Queenstown with Kiwi Experience, you have the option to take a day trip to Milford Sound on the Kiwi Experience bus the next day. The day trip starts and ends in Queenstown, taking you to Milford Sound for a stunning cruise . The day still includes refreshment stops, but you’ll be on the bus a little longer than usual. A must-do!

North Island-South Island Ferry Crossing

To get between the North Island and the South Island , you’ll need to take the ferry. Kiwi Experience will book your ferry crossing, as if it were any other activity, for you. After your driver drops you off at the ferry terminal, you’ll enjoy a scenic cruise through the Wellington Harbour and Marlborough Sounds before getting into a different Kiwi Experience waiting for your group at the other end. The day will continue like any normal day on the bus.

For more details about the ferry, check out  The Ferry Between the North Island and South Island: Full Guide .

The General Vibe on the Bus

Most of us don’t necessarily want to develop memories on a bus, but Kiwi Experience makes it feel like a totally different experience than just commuting. The social vibe on the bus, as you travel with like-minded travellers, gives the bus a real “vacation” vibe as everyone is here to have fun and experience New Zealand! There are travellers from all over the world, some couples, some small groups of friends, and many travelling solo .

Is Kiwi Experience a Party Bus?

Kiwi Experience gets a reputation for being a “party bus” but that really depends on the crowd, as well as what you want to make of your experience. You can choose to join the party crowd if there is one and you want to get stuck in. Otherwise, there’s usually a few people that prefer to relax or go for evening strolls along the beach. Kiwi Experience throws one party on the route at Lake Mahinapua .

The final thing to note about the Kiwi Experience buses is that the vibe usually depends on the people and your driver. We have only had positive experiences, as well as only hearing positive experiences, but the beauty of a hop-on hop-off bus is that you can always hop off the bus if you don’t like the crowd and get on the next bus.

Is it Good Value for Money?

Most importantly, is Kiwi Experience worth it?

The best way to work that out is to work out how much your pass is worth per day. Simply divide the price of your chosen bus pass by the number of minimum travel days the bus pass allows. A good deal is when your bus pass works out to be around NZ$35 per day! This is especially considering that a normal coach trip in New Zealand, with none of the services that Kiwi Experience provides, usually costs NZ$30-$45 per day.

If you are on a shorter time, you should also check out the Kiwi Experience Small Group Tours with travel, accommodation and activities included whilst travelling with a small group. We detail their Small Group Tours more in  The 10 Best Backpacker Bus Tours in New Zealand .

Kiwi Experience often has some great deals on their bus passes, so keep an eye out on TourRadar and let the adventure begin!

How Much Does Kiwi Experience Cost?

The full price for a national hop-on hop-off pass is around NZ$1,600 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$1,000 for a full national bus pass. Their Small Group Tours cost approximately NZ$3,600 for their most complete tour.

How to Budget for a Kiwi Experience Tour

Learn more about getting a good deal with our 5 Tips to Get a Better Deal on a Backpacker Bus Pass in New Zealand . Plus, check out how to keep the costs to a minimum on the Kiwi Experience bus by following our advice in How to Budget for a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Trip Around New Zealand .

More Kiwi Experience Reviews

That’s it for our complete review of what it is like to travel with Kiwi Experience. For more Kiwi Experience reviews, check out the following bus guides:

• What is the Difference Between Stray and Kiwi Experience ?
• 10 Things We Like About the Hop-on Hop-off Buses
• How Does the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Network in New Zealand Work ?

Finally, plan all things “bus” in New Zealand using our Travel by Bus in New Zealand: The Ultimate Guide and get more budget travel tips from  The Travel Guide to New Zealand on a Budget .

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Immigration New Zealand (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2024])
• New Zealand Customs Service (Customs and Biosecurity - Updated [2024])
• New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD online platform - Updated [2024])
• Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
• Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
• Stats NZ (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2024])
• Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
• DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
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This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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Kiwi Experience

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Kiwi Experience - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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New Zealand

A complete guide to the kiwi experience, new zealand.

Oh wow.  Kiwi experience . Where do I even begin?

I have so many ridiculously special memories that stem from my choice to travel around New Zealand in your big green buses.

I first hopped aboard the famous green bus back in 2015 and went on to spend three weeks cruising and circulating the surreal offerings of the South Island, NZ. I always knew that uncovering just one of the islands on my trip wouldn’t suffice long term, but time had restricted my explorations.

After this incredible trip I let my NZ wanderlust continue to grow from images on Pinterest back in the UK, until I was given an incredible opportunity to return to the land of the long white cloud  by Tourism NZ in October 2016.

If any of you have been on the Kiwi Experience, I think you’ll agree when I say that it is  impossible to deny the fun , adventurous and true  grab-life-by-the-balls backpacker experience  that the Kiwi Experience offers.

I really wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to backpackers solo, group or coupled that are heading out to New Zealand.

What is the Kiwi Experience?

The Kiwi Experience is  New Zealand’s original backpacker bus  company and now boasts over 25 buses that roam continually (7 days a week) in the summer months through both the north and south island. In the winter the frequency of buses is slightly less but goes no lower than 3 times a week on the different routes. Kiwi Experience allows you to hop on and hop off of different buses, allowing you to choose how long you spend in each location.

Note:  From the day of activation your pass will be valid for 1 year and you will need to complete your route within that time.

Just to confirm…  the Kiwi Experience is a HOP-ON-HOP-OFF bus service  that will transport you to all the best places in New Zealand.

How does it work? How do you book on?

You simply buy a pass ( see the different passes and routes available here ), book your flight to where you’d like to join the bus, activate your pass for the day you arrive and eagerly await the meeting of your new adventure squad and bus driver.

Together you will cover the most popular destinations on the Kiwi map and you will complete them together. Each destination will bring you a choice of activities which you can then pay for and book on to, to enhance your experience.  This is where your money goes… there are SO many insane activities and things to experience in NZ.

My good friend Sammy owns RatPack Travel (a discounted booking platform). The team at RatPack are ready to help you plan and book all your trips and transport for your adventure in New Zealand. Click here to send RatPack a WhatsApp message (+61 450381801) and start planning your trip today.  Don’t forget you can use my code MOLLIE10 for 10% off any trip or transport booking you make, including your Kiwi Experience ticket !

Check out my top tips for budgeting for New Zealand here .

I have to say, some of the bus drivers actually MAKE the trips. They aren’t just bus drivers.  They all under go pretty extensive training and double up as epic tour guides that inform you on all the history and knowledge of your surroundings, as you drive. Most of them have actually travelled a lot themselves and know exactly how to get the party started too… BONUS.

Important:  You must be 18+ to climb aboard Kiwi Experience but there is no maximum age! (Most people are 18-30!)

Tip:  Most people start their pass from Auckland or Christchurch, so if you can, do the same! Starting the journey together at the popular points will maximise the time you have with your crew ! Trust me, you will make friends really quickly and will not want to go your separate ways!

My Kiwi Experience location highlights…

I’ve completed the whole of New Zealand with Kiwi Experience except for: Northland (because I did a self drive roadtrip see here ), River Valley and Wellington.

Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

• See my guide to completing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing here
• See my Tongariro photo diary here
• Watch the full experience and come with my on the adventure here

Skydive over Lake Taupo

Kiwi squad members can also get a $10 pizza and sunset cruise in Taupo!

• Click here to read my backpackers guide to Taupo
• Click here to read my guide to skydiving

• See my backpacker’s guide to Queenstown here

Black abyss caving adventure with the glow worms

• See the tour details here

Is Kiwi Experience the transport for you?

To help you decide I’ve popped together the pros and cons from my two experiences…

• The drives are incredible.

As you’ll be a passenger you can snap snap snap away and truly lose yourself in your surroundings.

• Group discounts on tours and activities.

Because the Kiwi Experience are effectively making group bookings at every hostel and activity, you will benefit from the discount of them doing so and will often pay less than if you booked alone.  See an example of the activities on offer and the prices on my blog post here .

• You don’t have to do the driving.

Distances between locations in New Zealand can be pretty length with some drives being 2-3 hours. Instead of arguing about who’s taking the wheel and who’s sleeping off last nights hangover, you have someone to do the driving for you!

• You are guaranteed accommodation for the first night in each location (with some locations guaranteed 2/3 nights).

During peak season, popular hostels can get fully booked out and for a trip with a spontaneous nature, if you were travelling alone, this may leave you without a bed. With Kiwi Experience you know that if you’re on the bus you have a guaranteed bed available for you upon arrival.

• You’ll never be alone.

Whilst there are many spots within New Zealand that are filled with people, a lot of it is pretty rural and I for one would definitely prefer to travel New Zealand with friends if I was going for longer than a week. Kiwi Experience ensures you’re always with people which is certainly reassuring. Some of my favourite Kiwi memories were more about the people I was with, not where we were.

• Everything is pretty much organised for you.

For those of you heading out on your first adventure or for those you who’s strength don’t lie in organisation… Kiwi Experience have you covered. You’ll be driven to the correct places, advised on the best things to do and be given a million insider tips from the most knowledgeable people out there.

• Great for solo travellers.

So many people travel solo on the Kiwi Experience so you most certainly won’t be alone and you will immediately become part of one big family!

• Groups can change and you can change groups.

This can be seen as both a positive and a negative. Basically a lot of people will do the minimum route because they are restricted for time but some people will choose to stay in one of the locations longer. If that person is you, obviously your bus driver and your friends will move on to the next location and you will join a new bus passing through when you’re ready to leave. This can be good if you fancy meeting new people or didn’t quite gel with your initial crew.

• You get the best advice and it’s free.

Not only do you have the bus guides sharing their wealth of New Zealand knowledge with you but you will also have 30+ other travellers on hand to pass on their recommendations for New Zealand and beyond. Quite often people have come from Australia or are heading their after, as I’m sure you plan to. You will either have awesome advice or new travel buddies!

• It can be a bit like a school trip structure wise.

This is the biggest drawback for me, but to be honest I think the advantages outweighs the cons overall. Sometimes you just want to have a lie in or explore at your own pace but with the Kiwi Experience you have to bear in mind that you are one of a big group and there isn’t the flexibility to tailor to everyone’s needs. The buses run on a schedule and you have to stick to it.

• Sometimes it is cheaper to book on your own.

Even though you benefit from the group discount on accommodation, if you’re trying to save money wherever possible have a cheeky check online at the prices and of hostels nearby to see if you can get it cheaper. Saying that, you’ll probably want to stay with your new friends so the extra $2-3 dollar bill, I think, is worth it.

Click here to contact Ratpack Travel and see if the 10% discount with the code MOLLIE10 saves you a bit of money!

• Sometimes you cannot get on a bus.

This only really applies if you’re a last minute kind of person. You’ll usually be fine but in peak seasons if you try and jump onto a bus leaving in the morning, in the morning, it might not be possible. This is when having some flexibility in your schedule is really valuable.

• Little freedom to roam.

If you stick to the minimum time on your route, the itinerary is wonderfully jam packed. This is a real good thing for those that need some assistance in planning and ensures you make the most out of your time, but for those of us more experienced travellers that want to go off and explore the hidden roads and paths, doing a road trip of your own may be more suitable.

Check out my Northland New Zealand road trip here .

Still unsure? Check out this post which will help you decide if group travel or solo travel is better for you!

Mollie’s tips and tricks for the Kiwi Experience…

• Sit at the front!  Honestly, I don’t know when that became ‘uncool’. You hear the driver’s tips and information the best, you get the best view in the house and you’re first in the queue to check into the hostel! WORD.
• Download the FREE Kiwi Experience app  to access information, must do’s, free activities and more. Basically… get the most of of your experience!
• As soon as you know when you want to travel to the next destination, book your seat on the bus!  During peak times, buses get filled up and if there’s no seats, there’s no seats. Should you plan to move on last minute, you will have to hope for a cancellation or take the next available bus.
• Check hostels online for prices , sometimes you can get cheaper than what Kiwi offers.
• Be flexible with your itinerary so that you can change buses, stick with your friends and/or wait around if an activity is called off due to weather. For example the Tongariro Crossing was number one on my NZ bucket list last year and I knew it was weather dependent, so I left 5 days for it (it’s a day hike) and it was only on the 5th day it re-opened. Had I not left that time, I would have missed out ! New Zealand is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most, make sure you prioritise your bucket list activities!
• Grab a food bag in the supermarket  (or bring one from home) to transport your groceries in
• Buy alcohol in Pak N Save (if you’re on a backpacker budget!)
• Read my ‘ways to save money when backpacking New Zealand’ here

See more information and the Kiwi Experience passes available on the official website here.

What do Where’s Mollie Global Travellers say about Kiwi Experience?

“Fantastic experience !! Top 3 things (so hard to pick!) – Taupo Skydive, River Valley and Queenstown. Top tip would be to research the activities before you go…otherwise spontaneity kicks in and you spend soooo much!” Sam Pagan

“I absolutely loved my time on the Kiwi Experience! Such an easy and fun way to travel NZ, especially as a solo traveler as you make so many friends. Beware a lot of time spent on the coach travelling but the scenery is always stunning and you’ll have great company! Also make sure you save a good amount of money as you’ll want to do all the activities and they are quite costly!”  Hannah Smith

“River Valley was one of my favourite places, it was a hostel that resembled a massive cabin and there was no phone signal so everyone actually had to talk and play games. The 4 and a half hour monopoly game was definately a highlight! I also loved that the drivers were so approachable and joined in with activities and group socials!”  James Steel

“Louis and I loved it, which we were surprised at because we did it as a couple! Top 2 things to do are the white water rafting in River Valley (incredible and in the middle of no where) and the gondola / luge in Queenstown which is like real life mario kart with an amazing view! Lastly, the scenery whilst driving along is beautiful, I found myself grabbing my phone for a photo at nearly every turn! I’d do it all over again, so worth the money.”  Lauren Algar

“Such a good way to travel if you’re new to the whole thing and solo. Was my first time travelling alone and really helped me get into the swing of things. You just fill out what you want to do/ stay and they sort it out. One of my favourites was the Tamaki Maori village. With the bus you get to stay over night and actually get to know the people on your bus and the people who run the village.”  Jenny Hill

Have you been to New Zealand with Kiwi Experience?

What did you think? I’d love to know!

Love as always and happy adventuring,

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It's easy to get swept up in travel - that's the point after all. When you're in the travel moment you don't want to sweat the small stuff: how you'll get there, who you'll go with or where you'll stay.

Kiwi Experience

85 Beach Road , Auckland Central , New Zealand .

New Zealand's Best Bus Tour Network. Award-winning Hop-On-Hop-Off bus passes and Small Group Tours that take you to the heart of New Zealand.

Pricing and Conditions

Standard Kiwi Experience terms & conditions apply to travel. Under 18s may travel if accompanied by a guardian.

A Kiwi Experience bus adventure is quite simply the best way to experience New Zealand. Our local guides know the country and culture better than anyone else and have hosted over 500,000 passengers in our 30 years. Flexible, hassle-free, guided tours, tailored to your appetite for adventure and budget. We take care of it all, leaving you guys to focus on the memory making and unrivalled experiences. At Kiwi Experience, we are all about adventure, fun, exhilaration and excitement. If you’re looking for a relaxing 2 weeks by a pool, this is not for you. It’s your time to break out of that comfort zone. Embrace the butterflies in your stomach, stars in your eyes and perhaps a few early starts. This is what travelling is all about.

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What’s It Like To Travel New Zealand On The Kiwi Experience Bus?!

Heading to New Zealand soon and not sure how to travel around? Well the Kiwi Experience Bus Passes are a great option – here’s what you can expect from it…

New Zealand is an epic place to explore, I totally fall in love with the rolling mountains, sprawling lakes and friendly locals every time I visit the land of the long white cloud – there’s something about those two islands that keep drawing me back for more!

A few years ago I had a good bounce around the south island and was stoked with how much there is to see and do , but unfortunately I totally neglected the north!

So despite spending the bulk of my last trip there surfing and chilling in Raglan ( an amazing little surf town on the west coast of the north island ) I also took the opportunity to explore some more of what the north has to offer and teamed up with the guys from Kiwi Experience , both to explore some more and find out why these buses are one of the most popular travel options in New Zealand.

Here’s how I got on!

Kiwi Experience Bus Passes

Hop on, hop off.

As with most places on the backpacker trail New Zealand comes with plenty of options when it comes to transport.

The Kiwi Experience  has been running for over 25 years now  so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing!

One of the biggest draws is the fact they offer a flexible hop on, hop off bus service that allows travellers to do just that – with up to a year to complete your pass there’s plenty of time to explore each stop off.

This flexibility and time frame means it fits people on fixed time frames and open dated trips as well as working holiday visas.

If you like a place heaps, simply stick around a bit longer.

Not so keen? No worries, it’s easy to change your bus departure to an earlier one…although keep in mind in peak season buses can fill up pretty quickly so the more advance notice you have the better!

Despite the 12 month validity many people on the Kiwi Experience stick with the minimum travel times, which vary from a few days to a month, depending on the pass you’re on.

On one hand this creates a great group dynamic where you effectively travel with a heap of new buddies and share the whole experience with them.

Personally though if you have more time to play with then make the most of it and extend some stops as I found the minimum travel time pretty rushed in some stops.

Take Rotorua for instance – the Kiwi Experience has a one night stop over there and if you opt for the Maori Homestay you don’t even make it into the town!

I on the other hand ended up spending 4 days here and packed out every day with something epic; white water rafting, zorbing, the Maori homestay and even an afternoon at Agroventures – things I would never have experienced if I’d stuck with the group.

I guess that comes down to how you like to travel though and how much time you have to spare – so do some research on each stop before you lock in your time frame and make the most of everywhere you’re passing through.

Who’s On The Kiwi Experience

Although the Kiwi Experience has a pretty open policy on age ranges ( there were even people in their late 30s on some of my buses! ) from what I saw on the few buses I joined there was a pretty big leaning towards the 18-22 demographic of younger travellers on their gap years and RTW trips.

Even though a lot were Brits there was a good mix of nationalities, which is always welcome!

With this came a pretty big party vibe and most nights were spent with a few beers enjoying the local nightlife. For many that would be no issue – but if you’re looking for a slightly more relaxed and chilled atmosphere or are at the higher end of your 20s then it might not be the right fit for you.

Still, age is just a mentality and I got on heaps well with most people on my trip ( I’m 27 incase you were wondering! ) so it really boils down to how you personally want to travel and what kinda of traveller you are!

What you can be guaranteed though is that you’ll have an epic time and if you don’t like the people on your bus, you can simply hop off for an extra night and jump onto another…problem solved!hahaha!

Which Pass Should You Choose?

With limited time on my hands I opted for the Lakes and Geysers Pass, which covers Auckland, Hot Water Beach, Waitomo, Rotorua and Taupo before looping back to Auckland again.

For me it was the perfect option for cramming in heaps of North Island goodness and there was more than enough en route to keep me busy – from white water rafting to hiking the Tongariro Crossing , zorbing ( sorry I mean sphering! ) to visiting Hobbiton !

But the Kiwi Experience isn’t just the north Island – there’s plenty of pass option to fit all time scales, routes and of course budgets.

Whether you go all out with the Whole Kit And Caboodle which takes in everything on both islands, start in Auckland and finish in Christchurch, just take in the north island or stick to the south there’s something to suit.

If you visit the South Island too expect things like swimming with dolphins , hiking glaciers , eating the famous Fergburger , bungee jumping and skydiving to be on the cards too!

The are 6 main pass types though to help narrow it down;

• Start anywhere/finish anywhere
• Start Auckland, finish Christchurch
• Start Christchurch, finish Auckland
• North Island only
• South Island only
• Whole country passes

In fact across the 2 islands there’s 20 overnight stops and heaps of other optional ones to add in too, so there’s plenty to keep you busy whatever your plans and route.

Which pass you choose is a pretty personal choice but there’s also heaps of special offers going on so keep an eye out for some heavily discounted passes and nab yourself a bargain!

Value For Money?

As with everything travel getting value for money is always a big priority and overland travel is no exception.

If you’re travelling solo then the Kiwi Experience is a solid call when it comes down to value for money – you can cover a lot of ground much easier and cheaper than public transport or renting a van.

If however you’re travelling as a group it becomes a bit more tricky as camper vans and cars come into play. That being said though the Kiwi Experience bus passes mean you don’t have to worry about fuel, navigating and all those other things that come with other ways to get around!

With the Whole Kit and Caboodle RRP at $2032NZD ( about £1,000 ) it’s not a small amount of cash to part with, but if you break it down it works out great value for money – even more so if you grab it on sale! They also have some great monthly deal so keep an eye out for some bargains!

Also keep in mind that when you’re travelling on the Kiwi Experience you also get heaps of awesome discounts on accommodation ( they also guarantee your bed for the first night in every stop ) and activities and if you’re planning on making the most of your time in New Zealand these will quickly mount up.

So although it looks like you’re just paying for a bus pass it’s got lots of added value to it too.

And of course with all the crazy activities New Zealand has to offer the Kiwi Experience guys will help showcase all the options available to you – in many stops I had no idea what I was going to do to fill my time but there’s always a good variety on offer.

As you head between stop offs your guide will clue you up on what you can expect and they can also book your activities for you – allowing you to kick back and relax as well as making the most of your time in each place.

If you want some more info on the activities on offer and budgeting for New Zealand here’s my New Zealand budget breakdown .

The Bottom Line

Although the Kiwi Experience is essentially a hop on, hop off bus service it packs way more than simply a bus from place to place.

You’ll easily make heaps of new travel friends, save dollar on loads of activities and stop off en route to explore more of what New Zealand has to offer – whether that’s short hikes, scenic view points or even chilling with baby seals!

The drivers aren’t simply there to put pedal to the metal, they’re an essential part of the experience too – providing loads of information, helping you book all your activities, getting some serious group bonding going on and they’re always a good laugh!

I loved jumping on the Kiwi Experience for my North Island trip and I’d have no issues with using them again when I head back to explore even more of what New Zealand has to offer…something I plan on doing pretty soon.

Admittedly yes it’s not going to suit everyone, but for those looking for an easy, value for money way to get around and meet heaps of like minded travellers it’s a solid choice.

So if you’re heading that way check out their range of travel passes , there’s an option in there for most travel plans!

And as an added bonus grab $100 off the Kitchen Sink or Tiki Bus Passes anytime over at RTW Backpackers – just use the code KIWI100

Have you travelled on the Kiwi Experience? Which pass did you go with and how was it?

**PLEASE NOTE – I received a free Kiwi Experience Bus Pass for my North Island Trip, but rest assured all opinions are honest and my own**

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Loved reading this. Brought back so many memories! I used the Kiwi Experience to travel around New Zealand a fair few years back now and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

I was travelling solo and was a young whipper snapper at the time, so it really was the perfect way to meet people and make connections with like minded travellers. Only negative (as you’ve touched upon) is that I made so many good mates, it deterred me from staying as long in some places as I wish I had.

Just a good excuse to go back though aye ;). Great post!

Glad to hear you had an epic experience with them Gaby! Indeed the travel buddy side of thing is a bit of a double edge sword hey – but at least it gives you the excuse to return ;)

Great review, thanks! I am just planning my trip and thinking of doing the same route you did. One question I would love to know though, is if you did it all in the minimum time or did you allow extra days?

Hey Hannah, I personally added some extra nights onto my North Island itinerary as there’s heaps to do in Rotorua and Taupo, but you’ll find a lot of people stick with the minimum itinerary, especially for the Whole Kit and Caboodle Pass. My advice though – if you have the time and money to stay longer, DO IT! Also let me know if you want me to hook you up with some discounts!

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Detailed itineraries + travel guides

Flying Kiwi New Zealand Adventure Bus Tour – Reverse Traverse Itinerary Review

Last Updated March 18, 2024 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Companies » Flying Kiwi New Zealand Adventure Bus Tour – Reverse Traverse Itinerary Review

Flying Kiwi is as uniquely different as bus tours come and it’s just what you want for New Zealand

New Zealand is known for a lot of things but what I love the most about it are the pristine outdoors, the larger-than-life sweeping landscapes, their utter addiction to adventure, and how dynamic the travel experience is as you go from the South to the North or vice versa.  It’s almost as if the country is geared to make sure you cross off items on your bucket list.

The one way we were able to achieve epic moment after moment in New Zealand was with an adventure bus tour company called Flying Kiwi.  Hopping on from Queenstown, we embarked on an adventure of a lifetime.  We didn’t know what to expect going into it as you know we typically favour independent travel but we were blown away by what we’ve been missing out all these years.  Read more to find out my full review of our Reverse Traverse itinerary.

• New Zealand is a packed with adventure – you really need to see it all

2024 Update

I don’t believe there was an official announcement on their website but we just learned that Flying Kiwi was acquired by Stray and will be operating independently under the same brand so you could say it’s business as usual!

Save 10% off for tours departing March or April 2024.

Okay first you need to know something about New Zealand .  As small as it is geographically it is also massive at the same time.  That’s why you can’t just pop into the country and expect to see it all in a week.  You really need to dedicate at least 2 or more weeks to see a big chunk of it.

As I started doing research for my latest trip to New Zealand, I was quickly overwhelmed.  The funny thing is, I’ve been to New Zealand before too.  Since the idea of doing this trip was really last minute , I literally had 3 weeks to plan this trip with my wife.  Knowing there was no way I could figure it all out, I looked to see what other options were out there.

What I was looking for was a tour that we could jump in on that would be focused on experiences, had flexibility, and would allow us to see a big part of somewhere I hadn’t seen of New Zealand – the western coast.  That’s when I learned about Flying Kiwi  and led to us signing up for the 14 day Reverse Traverse trip that would see us go from Queenstown all the way up to the Bay of Islands.

Alright enough jibber jabber, let me jump into what you’re probably most interested in – how was Flying Kiwi as an adventure bus tour and should you book with them?

Read more about New Zealand

• How To Visit The Hobbitown in New Zealand
• Skydive New Zealand
• The Comprehensive New Zealand Travel Guide
• The Ultimate 3 Week New Zealand Itinerary

How to get the best deals in travel

• Hottest deals  – Bookmark the  travel deals page .
• Car rentals  – stop getting ripped off and  learn about car rental coupon codes .
• Hotels  – Use  corporate codes  or get  Genius 2 tier  with Booking.
• Flights  – Have you ever heard of the  “Everywhere” feature ?
• Insurance  – Make sure you’re covered and learn more about  where to buy the best travel insurance .

In This Article

Itinerary map

A day in a life , why flying kiwi over doing it yourself , how did we like flying kiwi , what sets flying kiwi aside from the competition , top tips you need to know , the reverse traverse .

Falling under Flying Kiwi’s “Full New Zealand Tours”, this is one half of the Ultimate Explorer which does the full loop of the country.  Since we couldn’t make the full 28 days fit on our schedule, we did the next best thing which is the Reverse Traverse .

A heads up that the Reverse Traverse is currently not offered by Flying Kiwi due to the pandemic but there is the Grand Traverse which does the other half of the Ultimate Explorer.

This picks up from Queenstown in the South Island and meticulously follows the western coast for 14 days .   We joined this tour near the beginning of our full 3 week trip to New Zealand .

We did so many incredible things on our Flying Kiwi bus tour and while these activities are specific to the Reverse Traverse, the availability of excursions will really vary based on the itinerary you choose.

If I had to rank the best experiences, it would:

• Skydiving Abel Tasman
• Black Water Rafting
• Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki
• Bay of Islands
• Sand Boarding

Back to the top

Over the course of our 14 days, I wanted to capture what it’s really   like to be on a Flying Kiwi adventure bus tour .  The video player provides a full look at what you can expect from waking up in the morning to calling it a night in the evening.

This was the biggest question I got from friends and fans.  It’s true that we don’t often do group tours but hear me out because Flying Kiwi makes a lot of sense even for us as a couple.

Don’t have a lot of time to plan

This is the obvious one and true in our case.  Whether you’re not a fan of complex trip planning or don’t have the time, it’s nice to have someone else do it all for you.  You sign up and off you go!

Since New Zealand is also quite spread out, it’s also not the most straight forward when it comes to planning either.  You’re constantly on the move and that means lots of driving, stops to decide on, figuring out what is a must-do, lots of accommodations to book, and food places to research.

Stress of driving taken away

While I do love my road trips like the one we did in Ireland, there’s a ton of driving to do in New Zealand.  It was really nice not to have to worry about that everyday.

That camping lifestyle

Whether you’re travelling alone or as a group, camping, campervans, RV-ing is often not a feasible option for a lot of reasons.  1) campervans and RVs can get very expensive and 2) travelling to New Zealand with camping gear is inconvenient or you might not have everything you need so that means you end up having to rent equipment.

Let’s just say I wouldn’t have thought camping to be possible if I did my own trip.   Flying Kiwi makes all of that happen because it’s their bread and butter.

Travel with like-minded travellers

Perhaps the best part about being on a Flying Kiwi tour is just how much of a travel family you become with everyone on the bus.  With the amount of time you spend with your travelling mates, doing activities together, chatting on the bus, at camp, and cook groups, you truly develop genuine bonds with everyone.

The other part that surprised me is just how diverse the travellers are.  In our group, we had the full spectrum from those just graduating high school to retirees.  The amazing thing is that we all got along and we enjoyed getting to know everyone and their story.

Excellent value

Let’s look at this breakdown.  If we were to do this trip on our own, we’d be looking at something like this over 14 days for one person:

• Accommodations (hostels) – NZ$80 per night
• Food (average restaurants) – NZ$35 per person per day –  you’d be surprised how quickly this expense grows as meals in New Zealand are not cheap
• Car rental – NZ$20 per day
• Gas – NZ$25 per day –  gas is insanely expensive
• TOTAL – NZ$2240

Compare this to the cost of the Reverse Traverse which is NZ$2545.

You’d think the “mark up” would be much more significant but it’s not.  Sure you could argue on both sides of the coin but when you factor in that you have a crew that takes care of you all the way through, logistics are completely out of your hands, and bonuses like the ferry and wine tasting are included, you’re looking at equal, if not better value .

Our trip to New Zealand was truly a dream come true.  Coming back to the country for a second time, I vowed to see it more thoroughly and go deeper than the surface.  While adventure activities was a given with Flying Kiwi, there were many other aspects to the trip that we really liked.

It was the perfect balance for us.  Not having an unlimited amount of time while wanting flexibility, this was everything we were looking for.

• Fast but also slow  – We covered a lot of ground every day which is what allows you to see so many highlights along the tour but at the same time you stop at way more places than I would’ve planned in my own trip.
• Rigid but also flexible – There’s a plan of attack everyday but when it comes to what you do at the pitstops, what you want to see after making camp, whether you want to bike or not, or what adventure excursion you want to pick is all up to you.
• Soft to hard – Labelled as an adventure bus tour doesn’t mean everything they offer is crazy adrenaline.  Yes, activities like skydiving and multi-day kayaking trips are available but if you just want to go for a stroll by the beach or explore on your own, you can do that too

One thing we unexpectedly loved more than we thought we would, was the camping life .  We thought we’d miss having a proper bed but the provided sleeping mats were so surprisingly comfortable and the tents ultra spacious.  Sure putting it up and taking them down was a bit tedious but we got a good hang of it after a couple of days.   On top of this, we were blown away by how clean and complete the facilities were at each holiday park we camped at.  There were always hot showers, large bathrooms, and kitchens available.

You’d also think that the communal group cooking would be lame but the truth is, it was a great way to get to know others in your group.  I was also continuously amazed at how the bus carried everything we needed to make the amazing meals we had each and every day.

Speaking of food, I think one of the undervalued things when you travel is being able to have nutritious and balanced meals .  I’m probably coming off as an uncool Dad right now but anyone that’s travelled a lot knows that it’s hard to always get your veggies in to make sure you “stay regular”.  It’s the bad eating that will also often lead to sore throats and colds so I really appreciated the meals we had each day.  After all, there’s only so much fish & chip and meat pie meals you can eat.

Lastly, as corny as it sounds, being able to travel with all these people from all walks of life was truly special.  It’s probably not what you expect to hear when you travel with your significant other but I quite enjoyed mixing things up by being able to chat with other people and making new friends.  We’ve all remained friends post-trip and even have our own private Facebook group.

I think it’s no secret that there are a bunch of other companies out there that are probably on your radar as you’re trying to plan your trip to New Zealand.  I can’t speak for them specifically because we didn’t travel with them but we did meet travellers at our activities from Kiwi Experience and Haka Tours.

What makes Flying Kiwi unique :

• Camping – Every other tour out there focuses on hostel accommodations.  Cut out those crummy and possibly ghetto 4-6 bed dorms and trade that in for a good night’s sleep every night in your tent (maximum of 2) and under the stars.  I’m telling you, camping is the way to go in New Zealand especially when the facilities are so good.
• Majority of meals included – Whether you’re looking at Haka Tours, Kiwi Experience, G Adventures, or Contiki, you’ll notice that barely any lunches and dinners are included.  This means that there is a significant hidden cost with other companies that doesn’t apply for Flying Kiwi.
• Affordable –  When you compare against companies like G Adventures, Flying Kiwi is significantly cheaper especially when you start comparing pound for pound what each offers in terms of highlights you see.

• Off the beaten path itinerary – I’ve noticed that with Haka Tours, the only way you can go to the Abel Tasman and that whole stretch of the north west of the South Island is if you do the full 20+ days or if you only focus on the south island.  The Reverse Traverse is a very off-the-beaten-path selection that I can’t find replicated anywhere else.
• Thorough – I’m going to take the above even further.  Flying Kiwi’s Reverse Traverse is the ONLY itinerary that is less than 15 days and covers the highlights of Queenstown, Abel Tasman, Waitomo, and Bay of Islands all in one.

Here’s what Flying Kiwi is not :

• Not a party bus – If that’s what you’re looking for, it’s the what Kiwi Experience is best known for.
• Not hop on and hop off – In theory it’s something you could do with Flying Kiwi but the whole idea is to stick with your crew throughout your trip.  Again, this is Kiwi Experience’s bread and butter so if you want ultimate flexibility, consider them but the feeling I got from talking to others is that it’s hard to get to know others and even more so if you’re not into partying.
• Not fully inclusive of all activities – Now you might think this is a bad thing but this speaks to how flexible things really are.  Unlike other companies, they don’t include let’s say the jet boat tours if you’re not interested.  You get to choose what you want to do which also helps to keep the costs lower.
• Not a get pampered type of trip – This is a kind of trip where everyone gets involved – helping cleaning up, cooking, and load things onto the bus. I thought this was actually a great thing because that’s how we got to know everyone else much faster.

Where Flying Kiwi could be improved :

As a blogger, contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about positive reviews all the time.  Here are a few things that I thought where there was room for improvement.

• More photo stops – While we did make a few photos stops while on the road, you definitely don’t have as much flexibility to make stops at will mainly because the bus needs to make it our activities or the campsite
• Icebreakers – I thought one thing that was a bit challenging was joining the group midway through another tour.  As a newcomer, you need to build your own friendships amongst the existing groups.  Additional ice breaker activities could’ve alleviated this.
• Activity guidance – I noticed that while the activity board was passed around, the guides never really talked about their thoughts and recommendations.  That’s why I was glad I did all of my research ahead of time.

I’ve let Flying Kiwi know about my feedback and as a company that takes all recommendations seriously, they’ve already made changes internally to make sure it’s a better experience for future travellers.  I love that they actually read the feedback forms we filled out and pro-actively act on them to improve the product.

If you read any of my travel itineraries , you know that I love getting into the details and providing you guys with the information you need to feel comfortable with spending your hard earned money and being prepared for your upcoming trip.

Tip #1:  What should I pack?

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out our New Zealand packing guide .  This is a super comprehensive article about everything I brought for the trip including analysis of things that I missed and items I packed that ended up being super helpful for Flying Kiwi.

Another key thing to keep in mind is to dress for the weather.  Spring and Fall periods are quite unpredictable so always prepare for wet weather which means having as much waterproof gear as possible.

Tip #2:  Staying charged

Depending on how many devices you bring with you, it can be easy to stay fully charged or a bit of a struggle.  First of all, there are two USB outlets on the bus per 2 seats.  This means that during the day, you’ll be able to keep things like your phone topped up.  Just make sure you have the charging cables with you.

When you’re at camp, it’s a different story.  Most holiday parks and camp sites you stay at will have a lounge and kitchen facilities.  There are always electrical outlets here so you can charge in the evening after making camp.  What isn’t a guarantee is whether these facilities are exclusive for Flying Kiwi or not.  When they’re completely open, you more or less need to camp out near the outlet to make sure your devices don’t get stolen.

Your best bet is to make sure you always have a back up power bank  so you can charge things via USB in your tent overnight and keep it charged during the day on the bus.

Tip #3:  Keeping your bags organized on the bus

One of the biggest learning curves of being on a bus is that you need to have a strategy for where you keep your things.

Back of the bus – This is where you keep your suitcase and/or your backpack.  You’re not going to be able to access this from the bus and in between stops it’s expected you won’t need things in there either.

On the bus – These are your comfort items for the bus that you want to quick access to but there are a few places where this can be.  There’s your day pack which you’ll put in the overhead, loose items in the overhead, space under the seat in front, and on your seat.  You likely won’t want to take away from your leg room which leaves the limited space on your seat (on your lap or wedged somewhere on the side) or in the overhead.  Getting to the overhead isn’t always convenient when the bus is moving or if you have the window seat.

The key I learned was to have a reusable shopping bag or large stuff sack designated as the “bus bag”.  We’d throw in things in here like my chargers, power bank, snacks, camera gear, and accessories such as gloves.

What I’d then do is clip this bag with a carabiner to the handle on the seat in front of me for quick access.  This also doubles as a handy hook for in the tent as well.

In your tent – You’ll be moving your suitcase/backpack into your tent most likely along with your day pack but what I found very helpful was to have that same reusable shopping bag to quickly get organized on the bus (i.e. throw everything in) to transfer everything into your tent.

When you’re getting ready to break down camp, I always made sure I had what I needed in my “bus bag” while in the tent.  So for instance, if I knew I needed my GoPro accessories during the day, I’d make sure I pull those things out of the suitcase and into the bag.

Tip #4:  Getting online

I’ll get the first thing out of the way, there’s no free wifi on the bus.

Most travellers rely on free wifi that show up along the way in the towns that we visited through let’s say McDonalds, cafe, visitor centres, or other random access point.

At camp, a surprising number of holiday parks and campsites have their own wifi.  Some of them are paid where you have to buy a voucher code from reception, others provided a limited amount of data for free (i.e. 200MB or 500MB) before becoming paid, and there were others which were completely free with the password provided by your guide.

Cellular data is also inconsistent.  The South Island has especially large blackout zones where there is no service at all outside of the big towns.  So for those that pay for data on their phone, it’s usually a scramble to check e-mails, post on social media, send out messages, and check the news while it’s available because it can cut out at any moment while on the move.

I recommend picking up something like SkyRoam which I used on our trip.  This is essentially a wifi hotspot that uses cellular data.  What’s nice about this is that multiple people can connect to it when data is available.  This was super handy in places that didn’t have free wifi but had signal.  Check out my review of Skyroam .

Tip #5:  Keeping valuables secure

Security isn’t really a big issue in New Zealand in general but of course you have to play it smart.

The one thing that isn’t advertised is that every bus has its own safe.  This is meant to store things like passports when you need that extra layer of security.

When camping at locations for multiple nights, you have to be careful what you keep inside your tent because anyone can easily come into the campsites.  In this situation, you can move your bags back onto the bus (either front or back) but if you don’t have any valuables, a hack we learned on our trip was to use one of those TSA locks  on the main tent zipper as a deterrent.

Tip #6:  How much cash should you bring?

You have to remember that all the activities you choose to do, accommodation upgrades, and hostels in the city are all added costs.  Luckily, almost all places accept credit card which means you don’t necessarily need to bring too much cash.

Here are the exceptions:

• Sand boarding is NZ$22 and is cash only
• Laundry machines take coin only and cost in and around NZ$8
• For some accommodation upgrades, it’s more convenient to pay by cash

So the truth is you really don’t need to bring too much cash.  For our trip, we exchanged NZ$2,000 but only because we wanted to reduce the credit card exchange fees.

Tip #7:  Do a little planning ahead of time

As much as your day is well-laid out in front of you, there are still some things you want to think about every day to make sure you’re prepared and never caught off guard.

Being prepared for the day

• Camera gear – Do you need a GoPro? What mounts do you need?  How many extra batteries or memory cards?
• Extra clothing – Depending on the activity for the day, do you need extra layers?  Swim trunks?

Picking your activities

On the bus, a clip board will get passed around with information on the upcoming days’ activities and a sign up sheet.  On some days you need to put your name down and in cases like the Abel Tasman, you’ll have a few days to think about it.  It helps to know ahead of time the things you want to do so you’re not in a rush to decide.

As part of your welcome e-mail, you’ll also be notified a few of the activities that are recommended to pre-book to make sure you lock in your spot since you’re competing against the public that could potentially book out the time slot that you need.

I recommend that you look up everything ahead of time so you have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to be doing.  Also don’t be afraid to ask whether you can do multiple activities in a day.

Thinking outside the box

Something else to consider is that if you find another activity that you want to do that isn’t on the Flying Kiwi list, ask your guide and find out if it’s possible.  For instance, someone in our group really wanted to go horseback riding and she was able to do it in Paihia in the Bay of Islands even though it wasn’t a standard offering.

Tip #8:  Multiple trips are combined

This is more of a good-to-know.  Any tour you join with Flying Kiwi will be part of the Ultimate Explorer itinerary. Expect to have travel companions on your tour that may have previously been travelling together with Flying Kiwi prior to your Day 1 and travel companions may be continuing onwards with another tour after your trip concludes.

For example, we were part of the Reverse Traverse tour and this is essentially the back half of the Ultimate Explorer.  We essentially joined halfway through that group.  For us, some people ended their tour in Nelson, Picton, Wellington, and Auckland.  When we started our way up to the Bay of Islands, this was the start of a new Ultimate Explorer group.

Tip #9:  City time is short

In the bigger cities like Auckland and Wellington, there really isn’t much time to explore but if you plan things right, you can definitely squeeze a few things in.  In some instances you’ll have to wake up really early or  you’ll have to rely on grabbing a taxi/Uber.

Places that are worth considering:

• WETA Cave in Wellington
• Museum of New Zealand in Wellington
• Skytower in Auckland
• Auckland War Memorial Museum

Tip #10:  Sandflies

They’re out in full force in the South Island so make sure to pack bug repellant or pick some up once you land.  There are many natural products in New Zealand that are effective.  Even better is to just stay covered especially around camp.

Sandflies are a little different from mosquitos in that they don’t leave a welt or itchy spot right away.  They also land and latch onto your skin longer than a mosquito does.

Depending on the person, the welt comes in a few days later.  That’s when it starts to itch and usually hardens from my experience as well.  For me, my bite marks from New Zealand are still visible as they’ve stayed as dark spots.

Tip #11:  Useful apps to download

The one app that is recommended by the Flying Kiwi team and other travel companions is maps.me ( iOS / Android ).  It’s an offline map app which can be handy especially since wifi and data are sparse.

Tip #12:  Stocking up on supplies

There are a ton of opportunities to pick up snacks and other supplies (think meds or toiletries) along the way.  Flying Kiwi will often stop at a grocery store (New World or Countdown) since your guides will need to buy supplies for the meals.  This is your chance to stock up.

In regards to alcohol, these grocery stores all carry a wide variety of local and international beverages.  The bus will typically have a cooler just for drinks so you can put your purchases in there afterwards.  One thing to keep in mind of is that Kiwis are quite diligent in doing ID checks and as a foreigner, the only acceptable form of ID is a passport.

Tip #13:  Drones in New Zealand

If you’re planning on packing a drone for your trip, note that you have to be careful when it comes to National Parks and areas that are explicitly marked as no-drone-zones.  Other areas to be careful with are ones where helicopters and planes are involved but that’s a given.  That means you won’t be able to get any drone footage in Milford Sound and the glaciers.  A good example of a National Park that doesn’t allow drones is the Abel Tasman.

When I did fly the drone, I did not obtain specific licenses for New Zealand.

Tip #14:  Are accommodation upgrades worth it?

I’ll say that I was surprised how comfortable camping was especially when the weather was good.  The sleeping mats are extra plush and the sleeping bags more than warm enough.

There are a couple of situations where it makes sense to upgrade:

• You want some alone time with your significant other – Travelling as a couple, it was nice to have a couple of nights outside the tent.  Private upgrades are available almost every night.  You just need to talk to your guide ahead of time.  The prices will vary but they’re most certainly affordable and comfortable.  We especially loved our cabin upgrade at the Fox Glacier Top 10 Holiday Park .
• Travelling solo and just want to class it up – Even if you’re on your own, you can easily group up with a couple of other travellers to split the cost for an upgrade.  If you do the math, you can get a nice cabin between 3-4 of you for as little as $NZ10 in some instances.

Just remember that cabin upgrades are available most nights but not all and they based on vacancy at the property.

Tip #15:  Orders of operations

Everyone travels differently and so this may not apply to everyone but we quickly learned that you had to be smart with your time at camp if you wanted to maximize on sleep and be on time.  Here are a handful of tips that we picked up on that we learned from others and developed ourselves.

• Wake up, get dressed, and while you’re in the tent, organize all of your bags in the tent
• Have breakfast
• Take the 30 minutes before departure to load your gear onto bus and take down your tent
• This is more unpredictable since it really depends on what time you get to your campsite.
• Once you get to the campsite, if a private-ish lounge area is available, start charging right away, get laundry going before others start using it, shower before dinner (may be a bit of a challenge if you’re on cook group).

Tip #16:  Stuff, not roll your sleeping bags

You’ll be tempted to do the perfect roll to put those poofy sleeping bags back into the bag but trust me it’s much easier to just stuff it inside.  You’ll thank you me later :)

The bottom line is that Flying Kiwi is an excellent way to see New Zealand if you’re the type of traveller like us that enjoys being in the outdoors, travelling with other like-minded companions, want to see a great part of the country, and have an itch for adventure.  We enjoyed it very much and I think you will too.

If you have specific questions about the Flying Kiwi experience, feel free to leave a comment below or contact us !

What you should read next

• The Comprehensive New Zealand Travel Guide – Read Before You Go
• Chile Nativo Riverside Camp Review
• Top 10 Things To Pack For Any Camping Trip
• Ultimate Camping Must Haves Packing List

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Moscow Metro

Introduction of moscow subway system (metro).

Nowadays the Moscow Metro has 12 lines, light subway and monorail. All stations are unique and beautiful in their own way. Unfortunately, in order to visit them all, you need to spend many days. I invite guests to visit the ones that have the greatest cultural and historical interest from my point of view. Among them are the Revolution Square, Arbatskaya, Kievskaya (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line № 3); Kievskaya, Belarusskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Komsomolskaya (the Ring line number 5). Let us dwell a bit on each.

Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line

Subway station "revolution square".

Most recently - in the year 2008-2010 – the Eastern lobby was renovated. Because of the terrorist attacks in the Moscow subway that took place several hours before the planned opening of the East lobby after renovation, the solemn part of the event was canceled.

Subway station Arbatskaya

Subway Arbatskaya is located on the same subway line as the station "Revolution Square." It was founded in 1953. It received the name in honor of the Arbat Street. It has one ground lobby (Western). Initially, the lobby was in a separate building, but the new building of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense started, the lobby appeared to be in its atrium. The old exits were bricked up; a new entrance was built into the building of General Staff of the street Vozdvizhenka. There is a huge frame with a missing portrait in the ground lobby - until mid-1950 there was a portrait of Stalin. According to some reports, it survived, but closed with plaster.

The lobby was restored and partially reconstructed in 2007-2008.

The depth of the station is 41 meters.

Pylons are finished with red marble at the bottom, decorated with bouquets of flowers made from ceramics. The floor is laid out with gray granite. The walls lined with glazed ceramic tiles, white top and black bottom. The station hall is illuminated by massive bronze chandeliers in the form of rings.

Subway station Kievskaya

There are several subway stations "Kievskaya" in Moscow, located on different branches. This name is quite popular. It comes from the capital of Ukraine - one of Russia's nearest neighbors - the city of Kiev. The name is fully consistent with the idea of the subway station. The interior the station devoted to Soviet Ukraine and the reunification of Ukraine and Russia. The station is decorated with a large number of paintings .Twenty four murals depicting workers of Soviet Ukraine are placed on the arch above the pylons. The wall from the side of platform also contains frescos, mainly with images of fantastic plants. Pylons are decorated with light marble and additionally decorated with colorful ceramic cornice. The butt of the station has a large mosaic, depicting festivities to celebrate the 300 anniversary of the reunification of Ukraine and Russia.

Opened in 1953, this subway station for a long time was the final (1953-2003).

The station has one lobby, combined with the station ring line and located in the building of the Kievskaya railway station. The diameter of the central hall station is 9.5 m, the diameter of side one is 8.5 m. The depth of the station is 38 meters.

= Ring Line Subway =

It opened in 1954. The station received its name after the Kiev station, and locked the Ring line. During the construction of the station many projects were proposed, but the victory in the competition won the Kiev architects who made the construction of the station. It is the only station of the Ring Line which is not located in the Central Administrative District of Moscow.

The station has a pylon structure. Eighteen pylons are decorated with mosaic panels of glazes, decorated on the theme of Ukrainian history and friendship between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, which started in the mid-17 century.

On the front wall of the central hall of the station a large panel with molding in the form of flags and a mosaic portrait of Lenin in the center are located. There are lines of the Soviet national anthem around the portrait, and under the portrait - the words of Lenin. One of the ways out of the station was designed by French architects modeled on the Paris Subway in 2006.

At one of the mosaics – “The Struggle for Soviet power in Ukraine "- modern passengers observe a mobile phone and PDA in the hand of one of the guerrillas, and on his knees - a laptop. In fact, he uses a field telephone, which was really a heavy thing (guerrillas holds it in two hands), and thing that people see a laptop is the lid of a box with a telephone. However, these phones have begun to produce only in the second half of the 20-ies of XX century. We must assume that the mosaic depicts a foreign field telephone transmitter.

Subway station Belorusskaya

The founded of the station was in 1952. It received the name after the Belarusian railway station nearby. The station has two ground-based lobbies. The Western one goes to Tverskaya  Zastava. It is decorated with beautiful carvings. The Eastern one leads to Butyrskiy shaft and Forest Street. The Eastern lobby is known for its majolica panels.

The station Belorusskaya is located at a depth of 42.5 m below ground. The diameter of the central hall is 9.5 meters.

Pylons are faced with light marble. The walls lined with white ceramic tiles, the floor is covered with ceramic tiles, gray, white and red colors. Lamps placed on pylons, in the form of vases made of glass and marble. The theme of decoration is economy and culture of Belarus. Decorative pattern on the floor repeats the theme of traditional Belarusian embroidery. Decorations of the ceiling consist of stucco decorations and 12 mosaic panels depicting the life of the Belarusian people.

Subway station Novoslobodskaya

Built in 1952, Subway station Novoslobodskaya got its name from the eponymous street:  the station is located at the very beginning of it.

Novoslobodskaya is pylon station of deep foundation (its depth is 40 m) with three arches.

Exit to the street is through the ground lobby with column portico, located on Novoslobodskaya Street lined with gray marble. Pylons of the underground station are faced with marble from the Urals. Thirty two spectacularly illuminated stained-glasses, placed inside the pylon and bordered by steel and gilt brass are splendid decoration of the station. A remarkable mosaic "World Peace" is located at the end of the central hall. The picture depicts a happy mother with a baby in her arms; it was the face of Stalin at the picture: the child gave a hand to him. But in times of Khrushchev the face of the former leader of USSR was removed from the panel. The walls are lined with bright marble; floor is covered with white and black granite slabs, placed in a checkerboard pattern.

Subway station Komsomolskaya

The station was built in 1952 and named in honor of the Komsomolskaya Square, which is situated nearby.

This subway station is the station of the deep bedding. Its depth is 37 meters. The station has column and three- arched design. Cast iron decoration is used in the construction, monolithic slab used as a tray for a collapsible finishing. The length of the boarding hall is 190 meters; width of it is 10 meters. There are 68 octagonal columns at station.

The main theme of the interior of the station is the fighting of the Russian people for their independence. The ceiling is decorated with eight station mosaic mural made from glazes and precious stones. Six of them represent the Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry Donskoy, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov, the Soviet soldiers and officers at the walls of the Reichstag.

 Two other panels, depicting Stalin ("Victory Parade" and "Presentation of the Guards Banner"), were replaced after the dethronement of Stalin's personality cult in 1963. New panels depict Lenin's speech in front of the Red Guards and the Motherland on the background of the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower.

The yellow ceiling is decorated with mosaic and moldings. The hall is illuminated by massive chandeliers hanging between the panels; platforms are illuminated with smaller chandeliers. The columns are decorated with marble capitals and trimmed with light marble, as well as the wall station. The floor is laid with pink granite. There is a bust of Lenin at the end of the hall. At the opposite end of the escalator is a large Florentine mosaic of the Order of Victory with red banners on the background. The ground lobby of the station is decorated with bas-reliefs.

In conclusion...

Each of the stations of the Moscow subway is attractive and interesting in its own way. Each has its own long and fascinating history and is beautifully decorated. The Moscow subway is a whole world, which can be talking about for hours. I suggest you short - no more than one hour and a half - and a fascinating journey through the world of the Moscow subway. The pleasure is guaranteed!

Sculpture Park "Art Muzeon"

Mausoleum and necropolis.

• Bombing in Moscow Metro On March 29, 2010, another tragic event happened in Moscow that shocked not only the citizens of the Russian Federation, but also many people from countries that oppose the threat of terrorism. In the early morning rush hour, two women bearing suicide weapons blasted themselves in the subway trains of the Moscow Metro.
• The Best Redesign of Moscow Metropolitan Map 2013 Russia's leading internet and graphic design agency has won an online vote for the best redesign of the Moscow Metro map. Art. Lebedev Studio is a design company in Russia, founded in 1995 by Artemy Lebedev. They redrew the Moscow Metro map for a second time in three years, with even cleaner graphics and a raft of new details and won more than 50% of the online vote.

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About Me in Short

My name's Arthur Lookyanov, I'm a private tour guide, personal driver and photographer in Moscow, Russia. I work in my business and run my website Moscow-Driver.com from 2002. Read more about me and my services , check out testimonials of my former business and travel clients from all over the World, hit me up on Twitter or other social websites. I hope that you will like my photos as well.

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Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

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