Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bus Passes
If you're covering a lot of ground, both
InterCity
(
www.intercity.co.nz
)
and
Naked Bus
(
www.nakedbus.com
) 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, Nomads, 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
(5/15/30 trips including the ferry cost $210/383/550, $54 less if you don't need the ferry). An InterCity
bus-pass system whereby you purchase a specific number of bus trips (eg Auckland to Tauranga would count as one
trip) in blocks of five, with or without the Cook Strait ferry trip included.
»
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
;
5/15/30 trips cost $151/318/491.) A Naked Bus pass that allows you to
buy trips in blocks of five, which you can add to at any time and book each trip as needed. An unlimited pass costs $597
- great value if you're travelling NZ for many moons.
NORTH ISLAND PASSES
»
InterCity also offers 13 hop-on/hop-off, fixed-itinerary North Island bus passes, ranging from short $43 runs between
Rotorua and Taupo, to $249 trips from Auckland to Wellington via the big sights in between. 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. North Island oper-
ators include the following:
Alpine Scenic Tours
(
www.alpinescenictours.co.nz
)
Runs tours around Taupo and into Tongariro National Park, plus
the ski fields around Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro.
Go Kiwi Shuttles
(
www.go-kiwi.co.nz
) Links Auckland with Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula daily, with ex-
tensions to Rotorua in summer.
Waitomo Wanderer
(
www.travelheadfirst.com
)
Does a loop from Rotorua or Taupo to Waitomo.
Backpacker Buses
If you feel like clocking up some kilometres with like-minded fellow travellers, the following operators run fixed-itiner-
ary bus tours, nationwide or on the North or South Island. Accommodation and hop-on/hop-off flexibility are often in-
cluded.
Adventure Tours New Zealand
(
www.adventuretours.com.au
)
Flying Kiwi
(
www.flyingkiwi.com
)
