New Zealand- A Review

If you are friends with me on Facebook you already know that I am in Australia! And now that I am here I find myself thinking fondly about my time in New Zealand. So I thought I would do a review- one tailored specifically to backpackers, young people, or anyone traveling on a budget.

0-5 stars?

The People: 5 stars

Across the board the people were ridiculously nice, and super accommodating. Most people are really good to talk to in any setting- from day to day interactions to in depth discussions. Imagine meeting somebody you want to hang out with every time you say hello to somebody. Look back at my hitch hiking post for some more on that!

The Places: 5 Stars

I cannot stress how beautiful NZ is- words, pictures, movies- none of them do it justice. There are so many places to find amazing views. Scenery that has no equal. It doesn't matter where you go, sure, some places are different than others- but few places are really better than others in NZ- just a different kind of awesome. Forest, rivers, mountains, beaches, cliffs, lakes, snow, sand, sea- NZ has legit places to offer in all categories.

Travelers Accommodation: 4 Stars

Backpackers/Hostels in any city you go to are not hard to find. Average price is not to bad- usually between 20-26$ NZ per night for a 8 person dorm room. Prices jack up close to airports or in tourist areas as can be expected. I didn't stay at a huge amount of hostels in NZ but the ones I did were mostly nice, clean, secure for belongings, and fun places. The camp grounds are usually clean, cheap, and have a great community feel.

Transportation: 3 Stars

A vast majority of the traveling I did was either by hitchhiking or hiking. And it was super easy. And while most of you reading this will never hitchhike anywhere, maybe not even in NZ, the other modes of transportation in NZ are great. The bus system can get you anywhere as can the trains. The only reason for the less than awesome 3 stars is the price. Most bus routes and train tickets are a bit more expensive than I'd like. Cars are also easy to purchase and worth it if you're wanting to see a bunch of different areas in NZ or are gonna be spending a long time in NZ.

Prices: 2 stars

New Zealand is unquestionably expensive. Fresh food from Pack N Save is the best way to get food. Beer? 16 bucks for a drinkable 6 pack. Tobacco? 15 bucks for a pack of cheap cigarets. Petrol aka Gasoline? $2.30 per liter! (4 liters in a gallon FYI) Everything is pretty pricey in general. Going to NZ? Buy everything you can in the states. Especially outdoor equipment of any kind. Camping, hiking, anything at all- USA quality and prices are better. I would suggest REI.com. While hostels aren't to pricey, and cheap food can be found... It all adds up

Fun Level: 5 stars

If you're willing to look hard enough, go off the beaten track, or try new things out- New Zealand could be a great place for you. Tons of fun things an opportunities to really experience joy.

Giving NZ an average of 4 stars!

I loved NZ thoroughly just really was surprised by the prices. Now I'm in Australia- Staying with a CouchSurf host, Chris, in Sydney. Soon I'll be getting up to Brisbane and celebrating my birthday! All I really want for my birthday is emails from friends!

Y'all Take Care,
Steve