My friend and I are planning on backpacking through New Zealand(15-20days) and Australia(55 days) for 2&1/2 months. We are on a tight budget but want to get the best deal on a bus tour. We want flexibility on, and to have freedom to explore and be adventurous. We were thinking of purchasing a bus package through YHA and wanted to know if anyone has used their bus tours and what they thought of it? Is there any suggestions on a bus tour? We want to go to North and South Island in NZ, and in OZ leave from Melbourne head North and loop back around to Sydney.

Just how far do you go between Melbourne and Sydney? What I mean is, is it only between Sydney and Melbourne or do you go right up to the GBR and then to Sydney? What are the main centres that you go to.<BR>

try the australian and new zealand board at the thorn tree message board at www.lonelyplanet.com

Liz we will be traveling up to Alice springs over to Cairns and down the coastline to sydney.

Catie, before you decide on doing the trip by bus all the way ( gosh! I would want a medal for sitting on a bus for that distance) check out other forms of transport i.e. Qantas Boomerang passes or perhaps train passes and also look at the prices of e-tickets from the two major airlines on www.qantas.com.au and www.virginblue.com.au my guess is that you can probably get something comparable and stay in hostels or nice Caravan parks which have either cabins or on-site vans. You will probably want to spend more time at some places than is allocated on a tour and also there could be many places that you would want to spend less time in. <BR>Another cheap accommodation option are many of the pubs in Australia as most have very inexpensive accommodation and serve excellant meals. One of my favourite pub stays along the NSW coast is right on the Ocean and the verandah rooms are so well situated with the views and the cost is about $20Au per night per person. Most don't say they have accommodation but you just have to ask. The rooms will be very clean but not 5 star, mostly you will have a TV lounge area where you can make coffee or tea and rest up. I would always opt for a do it yourself as it can be cheaper in the long run.

Hi Catie,<BR>What a great holiday you are planning.<BR>do a google search<BR>kiwi/oz experience<BR>The oz experience busses travel all over Australia. <BR>It is a bus which allows you to get on &amp; off at your own pace.<BR>Most backpackers use this service.<BR>I have spoken to some people who have used this service &amp; they say it gives you a good run for your $$$ <BR>The phone no. 02.9368066 (N.S.W.)<BR>I hope this helps<BR>

Hi Catie,<BR>There's a deal on the Australian YHA website for NZ car hire and YHA accomm. packages that might be reasonable...maybe worth comparing it to the cost of a bus tour for NZ - here's the link: http://www.yha.org.au/outbound/products.cfm?DestinationID=4<BR>(Click on 'YHA and Omega Car Rental').<BR>Magic Bus has hop-on-hop-off trips around NZ that sound good - from what I've read, there are more party-animal types on Kiwi Experience than Magic Bus (apparently Magic Bus attracts a more diverse age group!!) Hope this helps.<BR>

Hi Catie,<BR><BR>I am in the process of planning a backpacking trip around NZ and have concluded that best option would be to get a bus pass through Kiwi Experience. There are a few passes available that will allow you to see both the north and south island in around 15 to 20 days. The cost is around NZ $520 to NZ$935 depending on which pass you choose. Checkout their website at http://www.kiwiexperience.com.<BR><BR>If you are interested in car rental,<BR>the rates here (I am an Aussie expat currently living and working here) are about NZ$60 per day.<BR><BR>Hope that helps.