There are numerous bus, coach and shuttle options available throughout New Zealand, from scheduled services to coach packages, shuttles and hop-on-hop-off bus services.

Bus and coach services depart daily from main centres and connect many smaller centres too. Bus services are usually also the cheapest and most convenient way to get around New Zealand.

Scheduled services

InterCity buses connect New Zealand’s major cities with many of its smaller towns, reaching as far north as Kaitaia and as far south as Invercargill, as far east as Gisborne and as far west as Milford Sound.

You can buy single tickets, a TravelPass or a FlexiPass. TravelPass bus passes allow you to hop-on-hop-off along your chosen itinerary – there are 15 to choose from. With a FlexiPass, you can purchase hours of travel time, and hop-on/hop-off wherever you want.

Hop-on-hop-off

Popular among backpackers and those who choose to explore at their own pace are hop-on-hop-off bus and coach services. Interislander’s FlexiPass is a great example. Kiwi Experience and Stray Travel offer hop-on-hop-off tours mainly aimed at tourists, but they offer great opportunities for Kiwis to explore the country too.

Coaches and shuttles

Smaller coaches and shuttles provide transport to smaller places, like to and from airports, up ski field access roads, or to the starts and ends of tramping tracks. Infotrack and Tracknet take care of tramping track transport around the Queenstown area, and you’ll find operators around all of New Zealand’s major walks.