Transport & Tours

Rent a car and get off the beaten track, or take advantage of New Zealand’s excellent public transport network and get to your destination with ease.

Taking a tour can offer you a stress-free way of seeing the country. You can take your pick from any number of types, from budget day trips to the most luxurious private guided tours. Many visitors to New Zealand explore the country by rental car or campervan, and this option allows maximum flexibility, but public transport lets you sit back and relax while focusing entirely on the stunning scenery.

Vehicle hire

Look for rental offices at airports, ferry terminals and city depots. Cars are a good-value option, but campervans are also popular. Equipped with beds, cooking facilities and sometimes a bathroom, they allow you to stay in camping grounds, saving on accommodation costs. You can also hire a motorcycle but make sure you’re prepared for changeable weather with protective clothing. The minimum hire age varies from 21 to 25 and you must hold a valid driver's licence from your home country or an International Driving Permit. When travelling between the North and South Islands, some companies allow you to pick up a new car on the other side of Cook Strait, saving you on ferry fares.

Bus, Rail & Ferry

If you travel by bus and rail you won’t have to pay for parking when exploring the cities. Bus and coach services depart daily from main centres and popular visitor destinations. New Zealand’s rail network is not comprehensive but there are some fantastic scenic rail journeys on offer. Ferry services operate between the North and South Island, to Stewart Island, and to various other places. Advance bookings are essential if you’re travelling with a vehicle and/or at peak times across Cook Strait, but travelling on smaller ferries – such as the vehicle ferry from Opua to Russell in the Bay of Islands – may simply be a case of turning up and waiting for the boat!

Air Travel

Daily air services connect New Zealand’s larger centres and charter flights are also available. Many visitors travel from one end of the country to the other by road and then return to the gateway city by air. New Zealand offers a range of travel passes to make your budget stretch further. Look for multi-flight air passes, coach passes and rail passes. The New Zealand Travel Pass – www.travelpass.co.nz – offers unlimited travel with InterCity Coachlines and Newmans Coachlines, plus the Interislander ferry.

Self Drive or Tour?

It’s a tough question: rent a vehicle for the road trip of a lifetime around the highways and byways or book a tour and relax, knowing everything’s taken care of?

Self Drive

Maximum independence to go where you want, when you want. Campervans are equipped with beds, cooking facilities and sometimes bathrooms, so you can stay at good-value holiday parks. Freedom camping is frowned upon – except in designated areas. New Zealand roads are generally a good standard and main highways are sealed. Most car rental companies do not allow you to drive on unsealed country roads or beaches. The minimum hire age varies from 21 to 25 years of age. Hirers must hold a valid car licence from their home country or an International Driving Permit.

Tour

No need to plan the details – just enjoy the view during the journey. Hop-on, hop-off coach passes are a good-value and flexible compromise. Some bus companies offer package deals for backpackers and aim to get off the beaten track with services to out-of-the-way places. Rail journeys are an excellent way to see some parts of the country, but the network is not entirely comprehensive. Guided tours allow you to benefit from local knowledge to see and experience things you might otherwise miss. Travelling with a group and meeting other travellers can be an enjoyable social experience.

Tour Operators

What kind of tour operator do you need?
Independent Tours Assistance with planning your itinerary; once in New Zealand you’re on your own. 
Guided Tours A tour with a knowledgeable local guide will help you discover the real New Zealand.
Group Tours Experience popular New Zealand itineraries on a multi-day group tour including accommodation.
Sightseeing Tours One-day sightseeing tours offer a deeper insight into particular areas of interest.

Travel Passes

InterCity Regional Coach Passes Regional hop-on, hop-off passes along a selected route. www.intercity.co.nz/passes
Flexi Pass Travel by the hour on a nationwide network of InterCity buses and Interislander ferries. www.flexipass.co.nz
Scenic Rail Pass Hop-on, hop-off rail travel. www.tranzscenic.co.nz
New Zealand Travel Pass Unlimited travel on InterCity and Newmans coaches, with ferry, rail and air add-ons available. www.travelpass.co.nz