KIWI EXPERIENCE

1. Funky Chicken National Pass

Students: 422 USD
Non-students: 444 USD

A Kiwi Experience National Pass allows you freedom, flexibility and independence and is the perfect way to see the best of New Zealand. They differ from normal travel passes in that they do not take the quickest route from one destination to another - they will happily take on dirt roads and tracks to get you to places off the beaten track so you see and experience more of the country.

How does it work?

The Funky Chicken Pass will take you to all the main centres of New Zealand in both the North and South Islands. You can start anywhere on the route shown above, and travel in one direction until you reach the point at which you started.

The towns shown on the map are the Stopover Points - this is where the bus will stop for the night, and this is where you can join or leave the bus at any stage.

Accommodation is not included in the cost of the pass, so you must pay for this as you travel around. The driver will be able to advise you of places to stay - most people stay in hostels, but you can camp or stay in a hotel if there's one around. You should note that some of the stopover towns are little more than farms, country towns or wilderness stops - but all provide shared accommodation with kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Meals are often provided at stopover points at very good rates. Or if you prefer you can self-cater using the kitchens.

Your STA Travel Voucher must be exchanged for a Funky Chicken Pass at either the Kiwi Experience office or on the bus with your driver guide when you are ready to depart.

The beauty of this pass is that you can complete the full route as quickly, or slowly, as you like. The minimum time to get all the way round is 18-21 days (depending on the season), but this could only be done if you stayed on the bus and made direct connections. But you can take up to 12 months to travel all the way round, so if you like the look of a place, just stay there as long as you like and get back onboard the bus when you feel like it!

On the bus you will receive details of the drop off/pick up times at the various stopover points so you can plan when and where to rejoin the bus. Buses typically pass through 3-4 times a week.
IMPORTANT: You must contact Kiwi Experience prior to rejoining a bus to ensure they have space for you.

On some passes, a local supplement is payable on certain sections of the route to cover meals and accommodation

what's included:

• Funky Chicken Pass allowing travel on the route shown for up to 12 months.
   
• 'Out There' Guide Book including details of accommodation enroute (issued locally).
   

important information:

You must begin your Kiwi Experience pass within 1 year of being issued with the STA voucher. Once you have begun the pass, you have a further year to complete the itinerary. 

2. Sheep Dog National Pass

Students: 314 USD
Non-students: 330 USD

The Sheep Dog Pass is ideal for those travellers flying into Auckland and out of Christchurch. It takes you to all the main centres of New Zealand in both the North and South Islands. You must start in Auckland, and finish in Christchurch, and can only travel in this direction on the route shown above

The towns shown on the map are the Stopover Points - this is where the bus will stop for the night, and this is where you can join or leave the bus at any stage.

3. Whole Kit & Caboodle National Pass

Students: 650 USD
Non-students: 684 USD

The Whole Kit and Caboodle Pass is for those who want to go everywhere and explore all that New Zealand has to offer. It takes you to all the main centres of New Zealand in both the North and South Islands. You can start anywhere on the route shown above, and travel in one direction until you reach the point at which you started.

The towns shown on the map are the Stopover Points - this is where the bus will stop for the night, and this is where you can join or leave the bus at any stage.