Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bus Passes
If you're covering a lot of ground, both InterCity and Naked Bus offer bus passes that can be cheaper than paying as you
go, but they do of course lock you into using their respective networks. InterCity also offers a 10% discount for YHA,
ISIC, Nomands, BBH or VIP card holders, and passes are generally valid for 12 months.
NATIONWIDE PASSES
»
Flexipass
A hop-on/hop-off InterCity pass, allowing travel to pretty much anywhere in NZ, in any direction, includ-
ing the Interislander ferry accross Cook Strait. The pass is purchased in blocks of travel time: minimum 15 hours ($119),
maximum 60 hours ($449). The average cost of each block becomes cheaper the more hours you buy. You can top up
the pass if you need more time.
»
Flexitrips
An InterCity bus-pass system whereby you purchase a specific number of bus trips (eg Auckland to Taur-
anga would count as one trip) in blocks of five, with or without the Cook Strait ferry trip included. Five/15/30 trip
passes including the ferry cost $210/383/550 (subtract $54 if you don't need the ferry).
»
Aotearoa Adventurer
,
Kiwi Explorer
,
Kia Ora New Zealand
and
Tiki Tour New Zealand
Hop-on/hop-off, fixed-
itinerary nationwide passes offered by InterCity. These passes link up tourist hot spots and range in price from $645 to
$1219. See
www.travelpass.co.nz
for details.
»
Naked Passport
(
www.nakedpassport.com
)
A Naked Bus pass that allows you to buy trips in blocks of five, which
you can add to any time, and book each trip as needed. Five/15/30 trips cost $151/318/491. An unlimited pass costs
$597 - great value if you're travelling NZ for many moons.
SOUTH ISLAND PASSES
On the South Island, InterCity offers 11 hop-on/hop-off fixed-itinerary passes, ranging from $43 trips between Christch-
urch and Kaikoura, to $583 loops around the whole island. See
www.travelpass.co.nz
for details.
Shuttle Buses
As well as InterCity and Naked Bus, regional shuttle buses fill in the gaps between the smaller towns. South Island re-
gional shuttle-bus operators include the following:
»
Abel Tasman Travel
(
www.abeltasmantravel.co.nz
)
Traverses the roads between Nelson, Motueka, Golden Bay, and
Kahurangi and Abel Tasman National Parks.
»
Atomic Shuttles
(
www.atomictravel.co.nz
)
Has services throughout the South Island, including to Christchurch, Du-
nedin, Invercargill, Picton, Nelson, Greymouth/Hokitika, Te Anau and Queenstown/Wanaka.
»
Cook Connection
(
www.cookconnect.co.nz
)
Triangulates between Mt Cook, Twizel and Lake Tekapo.
»
East West Coaches
(
www.eastwestcoaches.co.nz
)
Offers a service between Christchurch and Westport via Reefton.
»
Hanmer Connection
(
www.atsnz.com
) Twice-daily services between Hanmer Springs and Christchurch.
»
Knightrider
(
www.knightrider.co.nz
) Runs a nocturnal service from Christchurch to Dunedin return. (David Hassel-
hoff is nowhere to be seen…)
»
Topline Tours
(
www.toplinetours.co.nz
)
Connects Te Anau and Queenstown.
»
Tracknet
(
www.tracknet.net
)
Daily track transport (Milford, Routeburn, Hollyford, Kepler etc) between Queenstown,
Te Anau, Milford Sound, Invercargill, Fiordland and the West Coast.
