We all know the best stories come from those times when you’re just about broke, in a foreign country, with an unquenchable thirst for adventure. For the nomadic spirit that wants to fill up their arsenal with ridiculous tales for a later date, New Zealand is the best place to get on the road with your pack on your back. If you’re open to it, it’s a land of unpredictable voyages and unexpected discoveries, jaw-on-the-floor natural beauty and big-hearted locals. Like many places, it rewards the free of spirit as well as the penniless adventurer – but also the well prepared.
We’ve put together a bit of a travel guide for backpacking New Zealand, including some commonly made mistakes – like arriving at a hostel in Auckland’s CBD…. and staying for six months. Yes, Auckland is a great city, but it’s really just the tip of the iceberg of the wonderland that is Aotearoa. Get even just a small taste for the rest of New Zealand and you’ll soon see that the year long working holiday visa isn’t nearly long enough.
There are so many ways to travel New Zealand, too; go for the classic van trip, stay in hostels, or find some work that will let you earn some coin and meet actual locals while you travel. From the geothermal lunar landscape of the central North Island to the mighty mountains of the South Island, there’s too much to explore not to just start packing now.
When is peak backpacking season in New Zealand?
New Zealand summer is the high season, which is from December through to February, but things start to ramp up from October right through until March.
The best time to visit the country is really in the shoulder seasons (autumn and spring). It’s not as warm, but you’ll skip out on the hoards of holidaying Kiwis as well as the majority of other travelers who visit New Zealand. You don’t need the heat of summer to enjoy New Zealand, either, and the hiking trails will be nice and quiet. However, if having the opportunity to meet lots of other backpackers floats your boat, then by all means come and join the masses.
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What do I need to know before travelling to New Zealand?
First things first. The natural beauty of this country is simply spectacular, and experiencing it first hand should be your priority. There are more hikes than you can fit in your travel journal across the North and South Island: day hikes, multi day hikes and New Zealand’s famous Great Walks. Getting out into the backcountry is remarkably accessible, with huts managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) dotted all over the wild places of New Zealand. They’re a uniquely Kiwi experience, too – hang up your boots outside, rest your weary feet and get ready to share tales over dehydrated meals with your new bunkmates.
Second, camping is a thing in New Zealand. A really big thing. If you’re choosing the van life option for your trip, that’s really good news for you, because there are an abundance of campgrounds around New Zealand to choose from, as well as places to park up and freedom camp (given there are no signs prohibiting it and you don’t leave a trace). As well as sleeping outside being the best way to experience the magnificent outdoors of New Zealand, it’s a great way to save money, too.
When it comes to campgrounds, there’s a big range, too, because Kiwis love to camp. There are holiday parks in stunning locations across New Zealand with facilities that usually include toilets, showers, kitchens and laundry at the least – laundry may not sound sexy now, but it sure is when you’ve been on the road for a week. For those on more of a budget, there are DOC campsites everywhere, which cost between $8-$15 NZD per night by honesty box (another fantastic New Zealand thing), and generally just have a toilet and some running water. Scraping the bottom of the barrel or prefer to camp without another soul around? If there are no signs forbidding it, you can freedom camp in public and DOC spaces.
There are also hostels almost everywhere, ranging from big and spacious with beer pong tournaments and organised tours to small and quirky, and everything in between. You can expect to pay $20 – 30 per night for a bunk room, and they’re a brilliant way to meet people. Whatever your style is, there’s no shortage of options for a dirty (or clean) backpacker to stay in New Zealand.
Another thing to note is that New Zealand is actually a collection of islands – the 2 main, large ones being the North Island and the South Island, with Stewart Island just a little island at the very bottom. They’re separated by Cook Strait, which can be crossed either by air or a 3.5 hour car ferry. Given that New Zealand is long and skinny, the islands are actually really different. In fact, it’s one of the best things about New Zealand travel: the ever changing view.
The South Island is home to the great mountain range of New Zealand, the Southern Alps, where the collision of two tectonic plates has given rise to a mighty range of peaks that run almost the entire length of the island. While much of the South Island is alpine, it’s also remarkably diverse in itself, with the top being subtropical and abounding in dense native palm forest. The North Island, meanwhile, is generally warmer, wetter and characterized by gorgeous beaches and bush, with its own smaller central alpine region.
And yes, for the Middle Earth fans, Lord of the Rings places of interest dot the entire country. From Isengard and Gondor in the South Island to Mount Doom in the central North Island, there’s no one to stop you making your trip entirely LOTR themed. Go for it.
Is New Zealand safe to travel alone?
Hell yeah, New Zealand is one of the safest places in the world for backpacking. That being said, it always pays to keep your wits about you. Ask around the local area before hitchhiking on your own, and don’t leave valuables lying around.
How easy is it to travel around New Zealand?
If you’ve got a car or van, it’s a piece of cake to get around New Zealand. A road trip is the best way to see New Zealand too, because you can stop at every lookout, cafe or road stall that takes your fancy. The roads are in good condition across the North island and the South island, though the more remote you get, the more gravel or dirt roads you’ll encounter – that’s all part of it though, right? Plus, it’s a better option than the public transport, which, while it’ll get you around, won’t get you to those hard to reach places.
Is public transport good in New Zealand?
The public transport in New Zealand is not known for being great. The bigger cities like Auckland have busses and trains, but they’re not overly sophisticated and tend to leave a lot of spots uncovered (or hours of the night transport-free). There are also busses that connect most towns, but they rarely go to the smaller, more remote places, which is where you really want to explore. The best option is to rent yourself a vehicle – you can find them for as little as $25 a day. Whether that still counts as backpacking, the jury’s out. But trust us, you’ll see a whole lot more if you’re planning on moving around a lot.
Is backpacking in New Zealand expensive?
Whilst there are ways to do it on a shoestring, backpacking in New Zealand can be expensive if you compare it to other popular backpacker haunts like Thailand or South America. If you’re camping, accommodation can be relatively cheap, but what’s important to budget for are the activities. From bungee jumping to white water rafting, the country is full of adventure activities that let you experience nature with a massive thrill, and they’re too tempting to pass up.
Food, while expensive, can be done cheap and nasty if you absolutely must, by living off pasta and tinned sauce, instant noodles and potatoes. After all, true adventure doesn’t need fancy fare as fuel. That being said, there is delicious local food and world class wine on offer, so if you can stretch the budget some, it’s worth it. Even just for the fish and chips.
How much money do I need to travel for a month?
Generally, a broke backpacking budget for one who still wants to do activities and drink happy hour beer, is around $60 USD a day. That’s allowing for the odd adventure activity, a splurge on the hot pools, transport and cheap accommodation, with mostly self-cooked meals.
How many days do you need to see New Zealand?
For most people who are lucky enough to have lived in New Zealand, the answer to that is infinite. But, if you absolutely must go back home after backpacking through Aotearoa, then we’d recommend at least 6 weeks. That gives you enough time to explore both the North Island and South Island, do some hikes, eat some food and drink some wine, and jump out of a plane or two.
Is 10 days enough to experience New Zealand?
10 days backpacking in New Zealand is a bit of a sacrilege, but some time is always better than no time. If you ask us, the best thing to do is to focus on one area and do it well. Fly into Christchurch, hire a car and start on the world’s best road trip – around the South Island.
What supplies should I bring for my trip?
There are a few essentials when packing for a backpacking trip in New Zealand, and the first is hiking gear. No trip to New Zealand is complete without doing at least one Great Walk, or at least a multi day or day hike. The Great Walks are a set of ‘premier walking tracks’ that have been developed and maintained by DOC to have extra sophisticated facilities. Think well-kept tracks, plenty of signage and big huts – some even have flushing toilets and gas cookers.
There are ten of them across the North Island and South Island, and they’re in the most beautiful spots throughout New Zealand. So, when packing for your trip, absolutely bring some hiking boots, walking clothes and wet weather gear.
Speaking of wet weather, it’s best to plan for four seasons in a day in New Zealand, as that’s often what you’ll get, whatever the season. Always bring waterproof layers, warm layers, togs (a bathing suit) and plenty of sunblock. Oh, and don’t forget travel insurance.
What should I pack?
If you’re packing your bag for an open ended backpacking trip to New Zealand, the most important thing, aside from your backpack and your passport, would have to be your Working Holiday Visa. There is so much to do here, and you’ll want to stay as long as possible. The Working Holiday Visa allows holders to stay in the country for 12 months, and to work if they choose. That solves the adventure activity fund problem. There are 42 eligible countries, so check if yours is on there and cancel all your appointments for the next year.
What are the best places to backpack in New Zealand?
Queenstown and Wanaka
Welcome to the adventure capital of the world, and an unbeatable place to be a backpacker. In the central South Island, Queenstown is a firecracker of a place, an alpine town tucked in the mountains that stays alive and pumping all year round. It’s home to endless chances to get your cortisol racing, as well as being a gateway to some of the most spectacular wilderness to explore by foot, air or ski. To avoid the crowds, come in the shoulder season.
Wanaka, Queenstown’s more chilled (and slightly smug) cousin, is just an hour away and is a gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, which preserves an incredible area across the bottom of the Southern Alps. It’s a mecca for hiking, mountaineering and jetboating.
Abel Tasman National Park
This National Park sits at the top of the South Island and is not to be missed if you’re travelling in New Zealand. It’s a wonderland of golden sand beaches, native rainforest and marine life, and you can explore by foot or by paddle. In fact, all the national parks in New Zealand are worth a visit, from the volcanic Mount Taranaki in the North Island to the deep mystical beauty of Fiordland.
Rotorua
Found in the central North Island, this is one of the most popular places to visit for those wanting to experience some Maori culture (and get up close and personal with the real-life sulfur smell of volcano country). Wai O Tapu Thermal Wonderland is a showcase of explosive geothermal activity, and you’ll feel like you’ve landed on the moon as you wander around. If it’s adrenaline you’re after (obviously haven’t been to Queenstown yet), there’s plenty of that in Rotorua, too, from white water rafting to ziplining.
Mount Cook
The mighty Aoraki Mt Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, and a sight that’ll take your breath away, no matter how many times you clap eyes on it. The whole area is magnificent, including just over the divide to the West Coast, where Fox and Franz Josef Glacier lie frozen to the west. They’re just next door as the crow flies, but unless you fancy a major mountaineering mission, you’ll have to take the long way around. Both the West Coast and Aoraki are absolutely unmissable if you’re backpacking around the South Island.
Milford Sound
The most famous hike in New Zealand, and dubbed ‘the finest walk in the world’, Milford Sound is truly a wonder to behold. A labyrinth of fiords flanked by cliffs of native bush, soaring waterfalls, and jagged peaks in the distance, it’ll snatch the words out of your mouth. Accessible from Te Anau, you can explore Milford Sound by taking a slow cruise through its still waters, or hike the popular track.
The intrepid backpacker doesn’t like to be overly prepared, so let’s leave the travel guide at that. The rest, you’ll learn on the road. It’s time to find some stories.
