New Zealand: the Kiwi Experience

Kia Ora from Aotearoa! Arriving in Auckland after a short flight from Sydney, I was ready to begin my last grand adventure before returning home to the states: a tour of New Zealand on the Kiwi Experience, a hop-on/hop-off guided tour that ferries travelers (generally of the backpacker variety) around the North and South Islands. In a giant green bus. Fantastic. Upon phoning the Kiwi Experience office and finding out that the next available bus would not be departing for another four days, I booked myself a bed at the Base Backpackers hostel and set out to see what Auckland had to offer. I was, in a word, underwhelmed. No offense to Aucklanders (Aucklandites?), but your city is very, very boring.

By the time Thursday rolled around, I was itching to get on with the Kiwi Experience! Next up, my journey through New Zealand begins ... with a giant green bus.