Auckland and the "Kiwi Experience"

As I was in Auckland, something became very apparent to me. There are 2 very distinct and different types of backpackers. The first type came to New Zealand for the spectacular out door activities, the tramping, the surfing, kayaking, camping, wwoofing...you know, actually backpacking and living on a shoe string budget. The second type, who all happened to be young, European (mostly from the UK), and RICH, are in New Zealand to go hopping from pub to pub, getting sha-wasted and tyring to drop the pants of as many unsuspecting females as possble. Met a guy from New Castle who, when I asked him what Island he went on to snorkel a few days prior, he told me, "Umm I don't remember", but then proudly informed me that he had spent over 2000 pounds while he stayed in Auckland....which was only 5 days. Forreal, dude? Sweet New Zealand tip, man.

And I have one thing to blame for what has become of the backpacker circuit in New Zealand, and that is the infamous green "Kiwi Experience" Bus. The Kiwi Experience Bus is a 1000 dollar, hop on-hop off tour bus that "caters to independent travelers who are looking to go off the beaten track and see the real New Zealand". Except it's a shit fucking ton of money. And it only goes to the main tourist stops. And they book accomodation for you so the hostels that sell the kiwi experience bus pass to backpackers are then the only hostels the backpackers stay at. And there's 50 of you on a bus, so stops are a quick photo opp. And the only kiwis you meet are the kiwi flavoring in your mixed drink. And they peer pressure you into booking "activities" through them like sky diving, bungy, rafting...so youre spending 400 dollars a day on "once in a lifetime experences". Oh yeah, and since it's all one big mob of young, single, rich, and drunk backpackers, sexual debachery is encouraged and obviously ensues.

No thanks, I'd rather remember my trip and not come away with a few European STD's.

But, I will admit that doing acitvities during the day is the absolute best way to meet people. Only because it was free, I went on the Kiwi Experience Auckland day tour trip with my 2 room mates Ed and Jason. It was a pretty cool day over all, climbing the harbor bridge, overlookig Mount Eden, and watching some dude get annhiliated by 1000 paint balls after he bungy jumped. And on the bus we met a few other people who we went out with that night for a drink and free pizza. Again, never feeling alone in NZ...that night, I had a posse of friends who acted like we'd been pals for years. And I was actually sad to say goodbye to them that night; even though I was only in Auckland for 3 days, things become comfortable. There was Ed and Jason, my two hostel mates, Henrich, the German Hippie, Steph, the Canadian wwoofer, Dan from Ireland who was trying to hoop up with every female he met, and dan from england, the drummer whose story reminded me of someone from back home...

Anyway-the point of this entry was this: I was excited to get out of Auckland, but I did meet some really cool people who I was sad to say goodbye to. But that's the life of a backpacker I suppose, and New Zealand isn't that big.