On the Bus on the Cheap

New Zealand is a popular backpacking destination for Canadians with its relaxed beaches, spectacular scenery and reputation for extreme fun. The Calgary Herald’s Sarah Deveau gives advice about how to travel New Zealand on a budget. “Granted, we have no $11 a night beach huts or $2 noodle bowls, backpackers won’t have to thumb their way across the country if they travel smart,” says Gregg Anderson, a general manager with Tourism New Zealand. However, everything is priced higher on this South-Pacific Island than it is on Canuck soil, Deveau warns. She recommends the Naked-Bus “trimmed down, get-ya-there service”; the “legendary” Kiwi Experience hop-on, hop-off bus tour; and taking advantage of supermarkets for sustenance along the way.