For a short holiday, travellers from Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, and several other countries don’t need a visa, but do need an NZ ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), which can be requested online here.
If you're joining the NZ Intro Work add-on, you’ll need a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). These are available to travellers aged 18–30, or 18–35 from select countries. They’re valid for 12 to 23 months depending on your nationality.
We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all! While our target age is 20-45, what matters most is mindset. If you’re looking for a backpacking-style experience, with hostel-style stays, local transport, and optional evening activities - you’re welcome to join us.
Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.
For group tours, your place will be confirmed when 6 or more people have signed up and at least four weeks (28 days) prior to the start of your tour.
For volunteer or private bookings, please wait 2-3 working days.
We will refund you the total amount if the tour is cancelled. Typically, group tours are confirmed six months before departure.
Your group leader will email you around 1 day before the tour starts.
Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No. 11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Once you’ve booked your flights, log in to the Manage My Booking area of our website and enter your flight arrival details. If you’re arriving early, we can still arrange your airport transfer. If you also need extra nights of accommodation, let us know early so we can confirm availability and pricing.
International flights are not included in the price of any tour and will need to be booked separately. You’re free to book your own flights or book here.
Most things are covered, including activities, transport, accommodation, and some meals. You’ll just need money for extra meals, drinks, shopping, and any onward travel after the tour
Yes! Travel insurance is a must for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof (on your phone or printed) to your group leader when you arrive.
Need to grab a policy? Get a quote and buy travel insurance here.
Awesome! Once you’ve booked, just let us know who you’re travelling with and we’ll make sure you’re roomed together. Easy as that!
Can’t convince your mates? No worries! Most of our travellers come solo, and it’s one of the best ways to experience a new destination.
You’ll join an instant crew, meet amazing people, and make new friends from day one. Plus, you can keep your travel plans flexible and fully your own.
Ready to roll solo? You won’t be alone for long.
We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.
This tour covers a large part of New Zealand, so you can expect some long travel days. We use a mix of private transport and public buses, and occasional delays due to traffic are possible.
This is a backpacker-style trip, with stays in budget multi-share rooms ranging from 4 to 10 beds. The accommodation is clean, social, and suited to travellers who don’t mind sharing space.
A Working Holiday Visa (WHV) lets you stay and work in New Zealand for 12 to 23 months, depending on your nationality. It’s available to young people, usually aged 18 to 30, or up to 35 for some countries.
New Zealand is great to visit year-round:
The NZ Work add-on includes everything you need to start working in New Zealand:
We recommend arriving on the official start date, as most people arrive then. There are no scheduled activities on Day 1, but the group usually meets for a welcome dinner around 7PM.
If you arrive before the start date, we’ll book you into the tour accommodation from the day you arrive.
We recommend arriving on the official start date of the tour, as this is when most travellers arrive. There are usually no scheduled activities on the first day, but the group often meets for a welcome dinner in the evening.
If you’d like time to relax or explore before the tour starts, you’re welcome to arrive a day or two early. Pre-tour accommodation can be arranged, just let us know.
Backpack or suitcase? Totally up to you. But here’s the golden rule: pack light! We recommend keeping it under 20kg.
A few quick tips:
Keep it simple. You’ll thank yourself later!
We recommend grabbing a Wise travel card. It works almost everywhere, lets you withdraw cash at ATMs, and you can use it with Google or Apple Pay.
Top tip: Convert your money to AUD (or NZD) in advance to avoid foreign exchange fees.
If you’re planning to work in Australia or New Zealand, you’ll need one! When signing up, just choose to open an Aussie or Kiwi bank account, that way you’ll be all set to get paid.
Get your Wise card here.
