FAQ

Backpackers World Travel is a female-owned, independent travel agency founded in 2001, specialising in backpacker and independent travel packages. We started as one of the internet's first travel forums before building out into a full booking agency. Today we're online-only, with a team that has decades of firsthand experience in the destinations we sell. We book trips across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, and South East Asia, and we're part of the Joining Journeys Collective alongside Coach Journeys New Zealand, NZ Driving Holidays, and Honeymoons New Zealand.

Yes, and we do it constantly. Nothing is locked in until you say so.

Tell us what you'd like to change (activities to add, places to swap, anything to remove) and we'll send you a revised quote within 24 hours. We can also rebuild packages with private rooms in hostels or hotels, or move you into a smaller dorm if that suits.

It varies by package, and your quote will spell it out clearly. Generally: tours, accommodation, and transport passes listed in your itinerary. Not included unless we specifically say so: meals, flights, visas, travel insurance, and personal expenses.

Not sure what's covered? Email us and we'll go through it with you.

The website is a sample. We book travel across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, South East Asia, and beyond.

Tours, accommodation (hostels, hotels, camping), transport passes, activities, multi-destination itineraries, group trips. If you have something specific in mind, send us your rough plan and we'll quote it.

Our specialities: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and South East Asia (Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines). We also do Japan.

Heading further afield? Ask us anyway, we can usually help.

Honest answer: for a single tour or one hostel, you don't need us. For a multi-stop trip across multiple operators, having someone who knows what actually fits together saves a lot of time and guesswork.

We've been doing this since 2001. We know which tours are worth it, which combos make sense, and what to watch out for. And if something goes sideways while you're on the road, you've got someone in your corner.

Plus, we price match. Find it cheaper somewhere else and we'll beat it.

Yes. Strongly. Get a comprehensive policy before you travel covering medical, trip cancellation, and the activities you're planning.

If you're doing anything that could be classed as an "adventure activity" (surfing, skydiving, diving, bungee), double-check your policy actually covers it. A lot of standard ones don't, and it's the one detail people miss.

More than okay, it's how most of our customers travel. Most of the tours and experiences we sell are group-based, so you'll meet people quickly.

Single supplements can apply for private rooms (we'll flag this clearly in any quote). Heading to Fiji solo? Read this: solo traveller's guide to Fiji.

Yes. Send us your group size and what you're thinking and we'll check availability and put together a quote. Larger groups (8+), get in touch sooner rather than later -- some tours have limited spots.

Sometimes, yes. Depends on availability with the operators. Some tours book out weeks in advance (peak season, especially), others have spots right up until departure. Tight timeframe? Get in touch straight away and we'll tell you honestly what's possible.

All ages. Families, couples, solo travellers, friend groups. Most packages have no age restriction. Some specific tours have age limits (typically 18 to 40), but it varies by operator. If you're unsure whether a particular trip works, ask and we'll check.

All major credit cards. Credit card fees apply and are non-refundable. Questions about payment for a specific booking? Just ask.

Once your booking is confirmed and paid, you'll get a voucher with everything you need. Timing varies depending on the operators, but we'll keep you updated. If you haven't heard from us within 24 hours of paying, drop us a message and we'll chase it.

Reconfirm all tours and accommodation at least 48 hours before each booking. Operators often need to share updated info (meeting times, what to bring, dietary stuff, gear hire). Some accommodation providers offer free pickups but need your arrival time. And it's a chance to confirm everything is running before you show up.

Need help reconfirming? We can take care of it for you, just ask.

Get in touch with us as soon as possible. We'll contact the operator and find out your options. What happens next depends on the provider's terms, but we'll do what we can.

This is also exactly why travel insurance matters. A missed connection rebooking fee adds up fast, and a good policy covers it.

Cancellation fees apply in most situations, and in some cases they can reach 100% of your booking value. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for this reason.

Full terms on our terms and conditions page. Thinking about cancelling? Get in touch first and we'll walk you through your options.

Yes. Find the same trip cheaper elsewhere? Send us the link and we'll beat it.

Depends on your nationality and where you're going. Visa requirements change all the time, so always check the official government immigration site for your destination before you book.

We don't process visas, but we can tell you what's typically required for the destinations we work with. Just ask.

Backpackers World Travel has been booking independent travel since 2001 -- over 25 years in the industry. We started as one of the internet's first travel forums before building out into a full booking agency, and we've been helping backpackers plan trips across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Asia ever since.

A few things that set us apart:

• Female-owned and independent. Real people who care about getting it right for you, not a faceless booking platform.
• Our team has actually been there. When we recommend something it's from real experience, not a brochure.
• 25+ years of operator relationships. We know which tours are worth it, which combos work, and which to avoid.
• Inclusive by default. Solo travellers, couples, friends, LGBTQ+ travellers, older backpackers -- all welcome.
• Quotes within 24 hours for custom packages and changes.
• Price match guarantee. Find it cheaper elsewhere and we'll beat it.
• Flexible by default. We build packages around what you actually want, not a fixed template.

Yes. Your booking is handled directly by our team and we work only with established, reputable operators and accommodation providers. We're an independent agency, not a third-party aggregator, so there's always a real person on the other end.

Both run the East Coast. The main differences are price, departure frequency, and onboard extras. We've broken it all down properly here: Greyhound vs Premier: which bus pass is right for you?

Still torn? Email us and we'll help you decide.

Bus passes give you full flexibility. Guided tours are easier and you'll meet people fast. Most travellers want a mix of both, which we can build for you.

Full breakdown here: East Coast bus pass vs tour, compared. Or browse our East Coast fully guided tours.

Almost certainly, yes. Most nationalities need an ETA, eVisitor, or Working Holiday visa before arrival. Check the official Australian Department of Home Affairs site for your nationality (Google "Australia visa finder" and use their tool).

If you're on a working holiday and want to mix work with travel, here's our complete guide to the 417 and 462 visas.

A lot of our customers are on WHVs. Most of our packages are flexible enough to work around job stints, and we can build something around your timing. Browse all our package deals or check the Australia deals page.

Useful reading if you're newly arrived: how to move to Australia, things to know before you go, and how to find farm work.

Depends where you're going. The tropical north (Cairns, Darwin, Top End) is best May to October when it's dry. The south (Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania) is best October to March when it's warm. Surprised? Most people are.

Quick reads: the truth about the Australian winter and Christmas and New Year in Australia.

We do that too. Uluru and the Red Centre, West Coast (Perth, Exmouth, Broome, Ningaloo), Darwin and the Top End, and Tasmania are all bookable.

If you've got an idea but you're not sure how to make it work, send us your rough plan and we'll build a quote.

Yes. Most of our Australia East Coast packages can be done in either direction -- starting in Sydney and heading north to Cairns, or starting in Cairns and heading south. It works either way. Just let us know your starting point and preferred flight city and we'll build the itinerary accordingly.

Different vibes. Kiwi Experience is the social one (think party bus energy, lots of 18 to 30s, easy to make mates fast). Stray is more chilled and adventure-focused, with smaller groups and more off-the-route stops. InterCity is just transport (no social side, but flexible and cheap).

Browse all NZ hop-on hop-off bus passes or read what's the best way to travel New Zealand.

Both, if you have the time. The North Island is geothermal stuff, Maori culture, beaches, and Hobbiton. The South Island is mountains, glaciers, fiords, and the proper adventure stuff (Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef).

Two weeks gets you a solid taste of one. Three to four weeks gets you both, properly.

Most visa-waiver country travellers do. The NZeTA is a quick electronic travel authorisation you apply for online before flying (it's separate from a visa). Australians don't need one.

Apply through the official Immigration New Zealand site (search "NZeTA" and use the .govt.nz one). Don't pay third-party sites to do it for you -- the official one is cheaper.

December to March is summer (warmest weather, longest days, but also peak season and busiest). June to August is winter (skiing, fewer crowds, but a lot colder, especially down south). Autumn (March to May) is genuinely beautiful and quieter.

More on this: why winter is underrated and why autumn is unreal.

Ski season runs roughly June to October. Best fields are around Queenstown and Wanaka (South Island) and Mt Ruapehu (North Island). If you want to combine skiing with travel, we can build that into a flexi pass or a multi-stop trip.

Send us your dates and we'll put together a quote.

You can, and a lot of people do. New Zealand is built for road trips. Just know that fuel, ferry crossings between islands, and freedom camping rules add up. A bus pass is often cheaper if you're solo, but a van is unbeatable if there's two or more of you.

Check our essential road trip guide to New Zealand before you commit.

Queenstown is the world capital of throwing yourself off things (bungy, skydiving, jet boats, canyon swings). Taupō and Rotorua have skydiving, white-water rafting, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Browse all NZ adrenaline activities.

A few that consistently surprise people: Kaikōura (whale watching and stunning coastal scenery, usually skipped between Christchurch and Picton), Hokitika on the West Coast (glowworm gorge, great food, gateway to the glaciers), Napier on the North Island (Art Deco architecture and wine country, often overlooked in favour of Rotorua), and the Catlins in the deep south (waterfalls, sea lions, petrified forest -- almost never on the standard itinerary).

Tell us your route and we'll flag the ones worth adding.